Tennis: Heather Watson is British No 1 after doubles title win

The last time Britain had four females inside the top 100 was on 12 March, 1991 with Jo Durie (62), Sara Gomer (89), Sarah Loosemore (93) and Monique Javer (100). The news caps a productive few days for 20-year-old Watson, who, at the weekend, captured the Bank of West Classic doubles title with partner Marina Erakovic. Watson and Erakovic beat 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. Watson claimed the first WTA Tour title of her career on Sunday night as she and New Zealand partner battled hard to win in straight sets.

The pair had already beaten the second and third seeds on their way to the final, and the duo they beat in the final were ranked seventh and 37th in the world. After breaking three times to win the opening set, Watson and Erakovic fell a break down at the start of the second.

They battled back to serve for the match at 5-3 but were broken, then threw away two match points on their opponents’ serve, but held firm to take the second set on a tie-break. For Watson, who reached the second round in the singles draw, it was the perfect warm-up for the Olympics, where she will represent Great Britain in the doubles as Robson’s partner. She will play in the Mercury Insurance Open in California next week before heading back to Britain for the start of London 2012.

Meanwhile, Roger Federer surpassed Pete Sampras yesterday to set the record for the most weeks at No 1 in the ATP rankings. After winning Wimbledon a week ago, Federer returned to the top for the first time since June 2010. Monday marked his 287th week at No 1, one more than Sampras. The 17-time Grand Slam champion also tied Sampras’ record of seven Wimbledon titles. Federer first became No 1 in 2004 and said it was an “amazing feeling” to be back at the top. “I had set a goal with my team to try and get back to the top of the rankings, but I never thought with the depth in the game this year that I would have been able to get it back so quickly,” Federer said. “I am extremely proud and honoured to have beaten Pete’s record as he was my childhood hero and I have always looked up to him.”

The Swiss star will enter the Olympics next week as the world’s top-ranked player following his four-set win over Andy Murray in the final at Wimbledon, which also will host the Olympic tennis competition. Federer spent 237 consecutive weeks at No 1 between February 2004 and August 2008 and overtook Novak Djokovic atop the rankings with his win at Wimbledon. “Great effort,” said Sampras. “The hardest thing to do in sports is to stay on top. Roger has been able to do so.”