By Chris Oddo | Sunday March 6, 2016
Heather Watson overcame an early deficit to claim her third career title in Mexico on Sunday.
Photo: Abierty Monterrey Afirme
Not to be outdone by Andy Murray on this fantastic week for British tennis, Guernsey-born Heather Watson made a mad dash to her third career title at the Abierto Monterrey Afirme on Sunday, battling back from a set down to defeat Kirsten Flipkens, 3-6, 6-2, 6-3.
Watson, who defeated second-seeded Caroline Wozniacki and fifth-seeded Caroline Garcia in consecutive matches without the loss of a set to reach the final, reeled off nine of eleven games to take control of the match from the Belgian after dropping the opener. But Flipkens responded late, winning three consecutive games to level at three-all, before Watson raced to the finish winning the final three games on the trot.
Watson wins for the first time in three career tilts with Flipkens, and improves to an impressive 3-0 in career finals. The 23-year-old has won eight of nine career finals, including Challenger-level events.
"I was so nervous coming into the match because I'd never beaten Kirsten before,” Watson said. “She's a great player and really makes you work. I thought she was pretty flawless in the first set and I was getting frustrated, but I just had to stay calm and try my best. I never looked past the next point."
Watson jumps 31 spots in the WTA rankings with the title, from 84 to 53.
Flipkens drops to 1-2 in career finals, but rises 14 spots to 59 in the rankings.