Draw opens up for Heather Watson after fine victory

Heather Watson upset sixth seed Anabel Medina Garrigues 6-7, 6-2, 6-3 to reach the quarter-finals of the Japan Open today.

The British No2 has a great chance to reach the last four after her expected opponent, No 2 seed Zheng Jie, was toppled 6-3, 6-3 by Pauline Parmentier. Watson is ranked two places higher than the Frenchwoman.

Watson lost a tight first set on the tie-break but in the second set the world No71 broke the Spaniard and served out — saving four break points — to level the match.

She then bossed the decider, grabbing an early break to put her in command before breaking once again to secure the victory.

There was more success for Britain in Osaka as Laura Robson defeated China’s Yi Miao Zhou 6-4, 6-4.