High-flying Watson is new British No. 1 tennis player

Heather Watson has taken over as the highest-ranked British woman tennis player.

Watson has risen to No. 71 in the new WTA list – the first time she has led the quartet completed by Anne Keothavong (76), Laura Robson (91) and Elena Baltacha (100).

It is the first time Britain has had with four players inside the top 100 since March 12, 1991 when Jo Durie (62), Sara Gomer (89), Sarah Loosemore (93) and Monique Javer (100) made the list. Twenty-year-old Watson captured the Bank of West Classic doubles title at the weekend with partner Marina Erakovic, beating Vania King and Jarmila Gajdosova 7-5, 7-6 (9/7).

Watson, Keothavong, Robson and Baltacha have all been named in the GB team for the Olympic Tennis Event at Wimbledon. Watson and Keothavong are competing at the Mercury Insurance Open in Carlsbad, California this week while Robson is participating in the Sony Swedish Open.