Heather Watson has become the first British woman to win a Women's Tennis Association (WTA) singles title in 24 years.

The 20-year-old from Guernsey beat Chang Kai-chen of Taiwan in a marathon final at the HP Open in Osaka, Japan, on Saturday.

Watson looked like she had lost her chance of victory, after having served for the match at 5-3 in the second set, she fell a break of serve down and faced match point in the third and deciding set.

But she managed to turn it around, breaking back before finally clinching a 7-5 5-7 7-6 (7/4) win in three hours and 11 minutes.

It was a nail-biting final, with both players carving out a total of 33 break points and breaking seven times each.

Watson's win means she has followed in the footsteps of Sara Gomer, the last British winner of a singles title on the WTA Tour in California in 1988.

The win will also move her back above Laura Robson in the world rankings, Robson was knocked out by Chang Kai-chen in the quarter finals.

The victory makes Watson British number one again.