Watson wins singles title in Osaka

While all eyes were on Andy Murray in Shanghai, the young British woman was achieving something the last two generations of female players had failed to – as she beat Chang Kai-chen of Chinese Taipei in a marathon three-setter to win her first senior international tournament.

Watson, 20, looked to have thrown away her chance of victory in the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) event when, having served for the match at 5-3 in the second set, she fell a break of serve down and faced match point in the third and deciding set.

But she showed plenty of fighting spirit to break back before finally clinching a 7-5 5-7 7-6 (7/4) win in three hours 11 minutes.

Watson’s win means she has followed in the footsteps of Sara Gomer, the last British winner of a singles title on the WTA Tour in California in 1988.

It will also move her back above compatriot Laura Robson in the world rankings, making her British number one again.

The success came just a month after Robson reached the final of a WTA event in China.

The final was a topsy-turvy encounter with both players carving out a total of 33 break points and breaking seven times each.

Watson, from Guernsey, took the first set by four breaks to three, but dropped her serve three times again in the second to let her 21-year-old opponent back into the match.

But after breaking Chang back to level the decider at 5-5, the Briton held her nerve in the tie-break to continue the rise of British women’s tennis.

Ex-British number one player Greg Rusedski said that Britain’s women tennis players were benefiting from better support from coaches and other figures in the UK game, which was being reflected in their improved performances.

“I think the women’s game is doing brilliantly at the moment,” the former US Open finalist told Sky Sports News.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if we see Heather and Laura in many finals to come”.