Watson keeps plan afloat

HEATHER WATSON hopes taking to the water in Vancouver can help her make a big splash at the US Open after qualifying for the main draw.

The 26-year-old defeated fellow Brit Katie Swan 6-2 6-4 in the final qualifying round to join Jo Konta in the women’s event.

It continued Guernsey girl Watson’s recent impressive form and she now faces Russian Ekaterina Makarova, who reached the semi-final at Flushing Meadows in 2014, in the first round tomorrow.

Watson hadn’t managed a victory in New York since lifting the junior title in 2009 but three qualifying wins on the spin have left her feeling confident.

And she puts her run down to keeping busy off the court following a spot of canoeing with coach Morgan Phillips and swimming and diving in Canada, where she reached the final of a recent ITF event in Vancouver.

Watched

Watson also watched the New York Mets in action yesterday at the Citi Field and said: “I’ve been focusing on myself and being happy.

“I’ve been doing a lot of things off the court at tournaments such as sightseeing.

“It has kept me fresh rather than just practicing and then going to bed.

“I went canoeing in a river in Vancouver which was very peaceful and relaxing, but Morgan capsized three times and had cuts all over his feet and legs.”

Watson, who has dropped to 116 in the world, admitted she had to forget that she was playing close friend Swan in the final qualifier.

She said: “Katie is a good friend of mine and we get on really well.

“I’m not playing the person but the ball I receive,” she added.