By Glenys Furness
- Heather Watson claimed ITF W50 Nottingham title
- Brit was second seed
- Only dropped one set en route
NOTTINGHAM, UK – Heather Watson entered the ITF event and was the second seed. The Brit lifted the singles title. Naiktha Bains & Amelia Rajecki claimed the doubles.
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Heather Watson entered the ITF event and was the second seed. The Brit was looking to start her hard court season with a bang. Having had a very indifferent grass season, the Brit needed to find some early form. In the first round Watson was against Katie Swan. The second seed dominated the first set and eased into the lead. The second set was much closer as Swan found some form. Neither gave an inch and a tiebreak ensued. Watson dominated the tiebreak and moved into the next round in straight sets 6-1, 7-6(2).
The second round found the Brit against Ella McDonald. The first set was very close and looked to be heading to a tiebreak, however, McDonald broke right at the end to take the lead. Watson re-grouped in the second set, breaking McDonald to level up the match. The final set saw the second seed dominate and move into the next round 5-7, 6-3, 6-2.
In the quarter-final the Brit was against eighth seed Sayaka Ishii. The Japanese stayed with Watson at the start of the first set, before the Brit secured the break of serve and moved into the lead. The second set saw the Brit dominate the eighth seed and move into the next round in straight sets 6-3, 6-1.
The semi-final saw Watson against Mingge Xu. The young Brit, who enjoyed a remarkable week at Wimbledon and made the final of the junior doubles, found the second seed too good in the first set. Watson dominated and moved ahead. The second set saw Xu stay with the seed at the start of the set, before Watson secured the break of serve needed and moved into the final 6-2, 6-3.
In the final Watson was against third seed Manon Leonard. The Frenchwoman stayed with the Brit at first, before the second seed broke serve and moved ahead. The second set saw the Brit dominate the third seed. Watson didn’t drop a game and lifted the title 6-3, 6-0.
Doubles
Naiktha Bains & Amelia Rajecki teamed up for the doubles and were the third seeds. In the first round the seeds were against Abigail Amos & Emma Wilson. The seeds dominated the first set, easing into the lead. The second set was a little closer, as Amos & Wilson tried to fight back. However, the seeds broke serve and moved into the lead 6-2, 6-3.
The quarter-final saw the third seeds against Danielle Daly and Eliz Maloney. The first set was started close as both pairs went toe-to-toe. Eventually, Bains & Rajecki broke serve to take the lead. The second set was a little easier, as the seeds broke early and moved into the next round in straight sets 6-4, 6-3.
In the semi-final the third seeds were against Victoria Allen & Amelia Bissett. Bains & Rajecki had to fight hard to secure the break of serve in the first set, but took the lead. The second set was a little easier as the seeds got the early break of serve and moved into the next round in straight sets 6-4, 6-3.
The final saw Bains & Rajecki against Katie Swan & Mingge Xu. The unseeded pair dominated the first set, surprising the seeds. However, the second set saw the third seeds re-group and battle hard. Bains & Rajecki broke serve to level up the match. The ensuing match tiebreak was very tight. Eventually, it was the seeds that edged through and took the title 1-6, 6-4, 10-8.
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WTA 50 Nottingham Round Up
Naiktha Bains was defeated by Grace Piper in the first round 3-6, 7-5, 6-4.
Eliz Maloney was defeated by Manon Leonard in the first round 6-3, 7-5.
Emma Wilson was defeated by Lauryn John-Baptiste in the first round 6-4, 6-2.
Hephzibah Oluwadare was defeated by Amelia Rajecki in the first round 6-4, 6-2.
Victoria Allen was defeated by Danielle Daly in the first round 6-4, 6-3.
Amarni Banks was defeated by Mingge Xu in the first round 4-6, 7-5, 6-4.
Abigail Amos was defeated by Sayaka Ishii in the first round 6-2, 6-0.
Brooke Black & Sophie Drakeford-Lewis were defeated by Viktoria Hruncakova & Ankita Raina in the first round 0-6, 7-5, 10-3.
Annabelle Davis & Francesca Davis were defeated by Victoria Allen & Amelia Bissett in the first round 6-3, 6-2.
Lauryn John-Baptiste with Alexandra Osborn were defeated by Sayaka Ishii & Ena Koike in the first round 6-1, 6-1.
Lily Hutchins & Jessica Matthews were defeated by Hephzibah Oluwadare & Mia Slama in the first round 6-0, 6-0.
Grace Piper was defeated by Sarah Beth Grey in the second round 6-2, 6-4.
Amelia Bissett was defeated by Manon Leonard in the second round 1-6, 7-6(7), 6-0.
Lauryn John-Baptiste was defeated by Clara Vlasselaer in the second round 3-6, 6-4, 7-5.
Amelia Rajecki was defeated by Ankita Raina in the second round 6-2, 4-6, 6-0.
Danielle Daly was defeated by Mingge Xu in the second round 6-4, 6-3.
Alice Gillan was defeated by Sayaka Ishii in the second round 6-4, 6-0.
Sarah Beth Grey was defeated by Tamira Paszek in the quarter-final 6-2, 6-3.
Hephzibah Oluwadare & Mia Slama were defeated by Madeline Brooks & Sarah Beth Grey in the quarter-final 6-2, 6-1.
Madeline Brooks & Sarah Beth Grey were defeated by Katie Swan and Mingge Xu in the semi-final 6-2, 6-4.
Next Week Brits play in Atlanta, Kitzbuhel, Verona, Tampere, Chicago, Segovia, Spain, USA, Portugal, France, Tunisia, Warsaw, Romania & Slovenia.
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