Heather Watson 'won because she had a smile on her face,' says her first tennis coach

Heather Watson won the mixed doubles title at Wimbledon because she played like she did when she was a child - with a smile on her face, her first tennis coach said today.

The 24-year-old tennis star from Guernsey collected her first Grand Slam title with Finnish partner Henri Kontinen in the first tournament the unseeded couple had played together.

She had never made it past the third round in either the singles or doubles of a Grand Slam before.

Former coach Jo Robinson, 56, who first taught Watson aged seven at the Guernsey Tennis Club, told the Standard she won because she was having so much fun.

“I loved seeing her smiling during the match because that’s how I remember her as a kid. She brought back that energy and enjoyment to the court.

“Even as a kid she had that star quality, she was a special player and it was such fun teaching her and now following her journey. The whole of Guernsey is celebrating her victory.

“She was incredibly bubbly as a child, always up for a practical joke and made everyone around her laugh. It was that positive attitude that helped her win.”

After picking up the trophy, Watson - who crashed out of the women’s singles competition in the first round against German Annika Beck - told crowds: “I can’t stop smiling. I just can’t describe how happy I am.”

She posted a picture of her and Kontinen embracing on court on Instagram with the caption “Wimbledon effing champions!!!!”

Mrs Robinson added: “I think her mother Michelle also deserves a lot of credit, she knew what it took to make Heather a champion and got her there.

“They took the decision to move to Florida so she could be training with high quality players, and now it’s really paid off.”

Watson was one of five Britons to claim Wimbledon victory in this year’s competition. As well as Andy Murray claiming the men’s singles title, wheelchair players Gordon Reid, Alfie Hewett and Jordanne Whiley also took home trophies.

Reid, 24, won the inaugural men’s single’s wheelchair final - having already won the men’s wheelchair doubles with 18-year-old Hewett on Saturday.

Whiley won the women’s wheelchair doubles final with partner Yui Kamiki of Japan.