Heather Watson is through to the semi-finals of the Japan Open but British No1 Laura Robson bowed out today.
Watson needed only two sets but almost two hours to overcome France’s Pauline Parmentier — ranked two places below her at 73rd in the world — to win 7-5, 6-3.
The match in Osaka featured 12 breaks of serve in 21 games with the Briton claiming four of those in the first set and three in the second.
Tomorrow, she will face Misaki Doe, who beat seventh seed Chanelle Scheepers 2-6, 6-1, 6-3 and the odds favour Watson given that the Japanese player is ranked 123 in the world.
Robson, seeded eighth for the tournament, was beaten in a third‑set tie-break by Kai-Chen Chang, going down 6-4, 3-6, 7-6.
The victor, from Chinese Taipei, now plays top seed Samantha Stosur after the Australian beat Jamie Hampton 6-2, 6-4.
