Watson = Pride Of Britain!

(Rank/Seed)

This week a few of the top players were playing international level tournaments in Linz, Austria and Osaka, Japan.

Linz

1/1 Azarenka strolled through the week, extending her post US Open winning streak to 13 matches in taking her 6th title of the year. She didn't drop a set all week and equalled S. Williams trophy haul this season in beating (19/5) Goerges 63 64 in the final, having initially led 5-0 in the 2nd set. The biggest shock of the week was when former 2 time champion (12/2) Ivanovic was crushed 64 60 in the quarter finals by Flipkens. Just as in Beijing last week against Oprandi, Ivanovic struggled with her opponents mix of pace. (17/4) Safarova was also bundled out early in the 1st round by Arvidsson 26 63 75!

Osaka

Finally, Britain has a female champion! Watson did what Robson failed to do 3 weeks ago and became the 1st British WTA champion since Sara Gomer at Aptos 1988, beating Chang 75 57 76(4)! Having served for the match at 75 53, Watson wasted a match point on a dreaed double fault and would face 4 match points down 4-5 in the 3rd, but came through! Chang had stunned (9/1) Stosur 64 46 76(3) in the semifinals and like Watson, had never gone beyond a tour quarter final before. Well done Watson! She now overtakes Robson as British number one.