Week 41 - WTA ($220K) - Osaka, Japan - Hard

Jan · Hall of fame

RE: Week 41 - WTA ($220K) - Osaka, Japan - Hard

insomniacfolder · Challenger level

Heather's 4 saved MP's in that 10th game of the final set is the second highest total for any player en route to winning a tournament this year - aggregated throughout the event.
Only Paszek saved more, 5 - d. Kerber 57 63 75 (Eastbourne F - 5mp at 5-3 third set). No one else has managed more than 2.

If she can win the doubles, she'll join very select company. Only Serena & Errani have managed it this year - twice each.

BritInMilwaukee · Improver

Speaking of Heather's titles and the possibility of a 3rd doubles title of this year, looking at the worst source ever, Wikipedia, it appears that should Heather manage to win, she would become only the 7th woman to win at least 3 doubles titles this year. Errani and Vinci have 8 together, Raymond and Huber have 4 together, and their opponents Kops-Jones and Spears have 3 together. (BZS also has 2 and is in the Linz doubles final)

Just an interesting little factoid (assuming wiki is correct) about the possibilities that could also come later after Heather has recovered from that grueling last three hours.

Maza1987 · Challenger level

Hope she gets all the plaudits she deserves. With Andy and the f1, it will probably just be gobbled up.
But we all know what a superb effort it has been this week. Chang was playing superb this week, and was going to take some beating. Tight match, both won the smae amount of points andf brole 7 times each. But when it mattered, heather had more.

Jan · Hall of fame

Thanks for the commentary - what a nailbiter! She just wasn't going to let that one go, was she?

Fantastic time for British tennis!

tony_orient · ATP qualifying

What an incredible final and what a result for Heather. Tremendous fight from both girls but Heather found a way to get over the line in the MTB. I'm sure she was thinking I've let this slip from MP up so there's no way that's happening again. Top 50 and GB No.1 really just fringe benefits in comparison to a title.

DF · Tennis legend

Superb wim

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

Just got up for a lazy Sunday morning and seen the fantastic news. Massive congratulations to HW on what by the sounds of it was a stunning win against the odds - well, it must have been against the odds when Chang was *5-4 40-0 in the 3rd anyway.

I am sure this will be the first of many for Heather.

SMC1809 · All-time great

Trending at No.6 sounds impressive until you see the top 5!

Thanks IF for the updates. It's great to be able to follow the scores and get a feel for the way the match ebbed and flowed before seeing the final outcome.

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

insomniacfolder wrote:

Today's Guardian has a timely article about young girls flocking to Tennis inspired by our girls achievements...........

-- Edited by insomniacfolder on Sunday 14th of October 2012 06:44:05 AM

Yes. Great article. But typically they get their stats wrong.

Victory in Japan would put Watson close to joining Robson in the top 50.

Did I miss something ?

NotAClue · Lower Club Player

Photo from a Japanese Tennis Journo of Heather after having won - she is pleased, honestly. http://p.twipple.jp/ewUbG

Maza1987 · Challenger level

Calm down, lads. Still got the dubs to go. Then the bubbly and the infamous kool and the gang vid.

tony_orient · ATP qualifying

Hopefully Heather's win will generate a good amount of press coverage, but it's kind of typical given Heather's relatively low profile (compared to Laura) that her big win happened in the early hours of the morning and in just about the only WTA final no-one could watch live.

Madeline · Admin:Moderator + Tennis Legend

Brilliant news - and well done Heather, your very first (but I suspect not last) main tour title. Go now and get the doubles one as well.

NotAClue · Lower Club Player

Doubles has started.
Hope for more great news when I get back, but much more than satisfied already