• WTA

Heather Watson books maiden WTA final

ESPN staff
October 13, 2012
Heather Watson broke five times against Misaki Doi © PA Photos
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Great Britain's Heather Watson will contest the first WTA final of her blossoming career after winning Saturday's HP Open semi-final.

Watson, currently ranked 71 in the world, met Misaki Doi in Osaka, and she emerged from a two-hour struggle with a 7-6(2) 7-5 victory. The result is guaranteed to boost her ranking when the new list is released on Monday.

The 20-year-old's achievement comes three weeks after fellow Brit Laura Robson secured her own maiden final at the Guangzhou International. Robson was beaten on that occasion, so Watson has the chance to go one better this weekend.

World No. 123 Doi shared two breaks of serve with Watson in the opening set, but Watson is developing a killer instinct in tiebreakers and came through with some ease.

The second set was a different story with both players broken three times as the match advanced towards another breaker. However, Watson saved herself the tense finish by finding a late breakthrough, courtesy of some fantastic returning.

She will need to improve on a first serve that remains highly penetrable, but Watson will be favourite heading into the final against surprise opponent Kai-Chen Chang of Chinese Taipei. The world No. 134 beat top seed Sam Stosur in the second semi, triumphing 6-4 4-6 7-6(3).

Chang beat Robson in the quarter-finals, so Watson has the chance to exact revenge in Sunday's final. Only two points divided Chang and Stosur in a match lasting nearly two-and-a-half hours, but the underdog's victory means both weekend finalists are gunning for their maiden WTA title.

The Generali Ladies Linz final in Austria will be contested by fifth seed Julia Goerges, who beat Kirsten Flipkens 1-6 6-2 6-3. Goerges will meet world No. 1 Victoria Azarenka, who overcame Irina-Camelia Begu 6-2 6-1.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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