Watson is aiming to improve both her junior and senior rankings

The father of Guernsey tennis player Heather Watson says the next year will be crucial in her quest to make it as a professional tennis player.

The 16-year-old gained her first senior ranking points after reaching the AEGON Pro-Series event second round.

The victory in Jersey was the world junior number 15's first as a senior.

"The next 12 months will certainly be the most difficult because she's betwixt and between juniors and seniors," father Ian told BBC Guernsey.

"She'll be trying to hold onto her junior ranking while at the same time get a senior one."

Watson, who plays and studies at the world-famous Bollettieri Tennis Academy in Florida has not played a junior tournament since she made the quarter-finals of the Australian Open in January.

But she says her aim now is to get wins in at least three senior tournaments in order to get herself a world ranking.

I'll be playing a few more women's tournaments this year but I'll also keep going in junior Grand Slams to keep my ranking as high as it was which was 13 Heather Watson

"It's like a whole other world from junior tennis. There's much more competition and it's intense.

"I've been preparing for it and it's what I really want so I'm determined to go out there and win some matches," she said.

Watson says her next junior tournament will most likely be the French Open in May.

"I'll be playing a few more women's tournaments this year but I'll also keep going in junior Grand Slams to keep my ranking as high as it was which was 13," she added.

She is playing her first match in Guernsey since leaving for Florida on Tuesday as she takes on former British professional Nick Crawley in an exhibition game at the King's Club.

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