Watson is given Jersey wildcard

Watson's last junior match was at the Australian Open in January

Guernsey's Heather Watson has been given a wildcard entry for next week's AEGON Pro-Series event in Jersey.

It is the first wild card for a senior tennis event that the 16-year-old Watson, who is the world junior number 14, has been given in her career.

Watson made her senior debut in the $10,000 event in Bath last week where she lost in straight sets to Slovakia's Lucia Vrskova.

Watson's first round game will be at 1830 GMT on Wednesday, 25 March.

Her match will be one of the early highlights for the event at Jersey's Les Ormes tennis club which, as well as hosting the women's event, is also hosting a $50,000 ATP men's tournament.

"It's great for local tennis and it also says that people can be successful having come from small places like the Channel Islands," the tournament's organiser Hugh Raymond told BBC Jersey.

"I think with the interest shown and the number of calls we've had from people she will bump the crowd up. She'll be the only game on Wednesday evening so more people can come and watch her."

Les Ormes will be the UK's top indoor tennis venue of 2009 as it hosts two ATP tournaments and two more challenger events.