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Heather Watson into world's top-50

Heather Watson won the HP Open on Sunday © Getty Images

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Heather Watson will wake up on Monday morning to see she has cracked the world's top-50 for the first time in her professional career.

Watson won her maiden WTA singles title at the HP Open on Sunday, beating Kai-Chen Chang of Chinese Taipei in three sets to end Britain's 24-year wait for success at a women's championship.

The previous winner, Sara Gomer, last gave British women's tennis something to celebrate when she triumphed in California in 1988. In a sporting coincidence she retired in the year that Watson was born, which only serves to highlight the fact Watson is still only 20 years of age.

Gomer now expects the youngster to crack the top-20, saying in the Daily Telegraph: "I just hope she does really well. It's a fantastic way to earn a living. From the small amount I saw of her she's got what it takes to make the top-20."

Watson's victory moves her back above compatriot Laura Robson in the WTA rankings, with Robson two places behind her at No. 52.

"Being in the top-50 was a real goal for me and it will push me to make harder goals for myself," Watson said. "I'm excited to have a break but I am looking forward to working hard again because it motivates me to achieve more."

Roger Federer, meanwhile, begins his 300th week as a world No. 1 after reaching the semi-finals of the Shanghai Masters. The Swiss was eventually beaten by Andy Murray in the last four.

Novak Djokovic remains at world No. 2 despite his dramatic triumph over Murray in the final, with the only significant move in the rankings seeing Tomas Berdych leapfrog Jo-Wilfried Tsonga into sixth position.

Women's Rankings: 1. Victoria Azarenka (BLR), 2. Maria Sharapova (RUS), 3. Serena Williams (USA), 4. Agnieszka Radwanska (POL), 5. Petra Kvitova (CZE), 6. Angelique Kerber (GER), 7. Li Na (CHI), 8. Sara Errani (ITA), 9. Sam Stosur (AUS), 10. Marion Bartoli (FRA)

Men's Rankings: 1. Roger Federer (SWI), 2. Novak Djokovic (SRB), 3. Andy Murray (GBR), 4. Rafael Nadal (SPA), 5. David Ferrer (SPA), 6. Tomas Berdych (CZE), 7. Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (FRA), 8. Juan Martin Del Potro (ARG), 9. Janko Tipsarevic (SRB), 10. Juan Monaco (ARG)

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