ROUND-UP Heather in the semis

Briton has straight-sets win in the Hobart International

Last summer’s run at Eastbourne was the only time she had reached the last four since she won her third WTA title in Monterrey in March 2016.

The British No 2 won the title in Tasmania three years ago and was in brilliant form for most of the match against Vekic, opening up a 6-0 5-0 lead.

The 25-year-old has never won a professional match without dropping a game and Vekic threatened a comeback by winning four games in a row.

However, Watson stopped the rot to clinch victory and will face second seed Elise Mertens in the semi-finals.

NAOMI Broady battled through to the second round of qualifying at the Australian Open but there were defeats for Scot Cameron Norrie and Katie Boulter. Broady, the seventh seed, dropped the second set to Kathinka von Deichmann but recovered to win 7-6 (7/4) 5-7 6-3 in Melbourne. She now faces Bibiane Schoofs.

HEATHER Watson reached just her second WTA Tour semi-final in nearly two years by beating Donna Vekic 6-0 6-4 at the Hobart International.