Thursday 23 April 2015 15:34, UK
There is a lot of scope for improvement, but it's not unrealistic for Heather Watson to break into the Top 20, claims Greg Rusedski.
Rusedski has spent time working on the practice courts in London with the British No 1, although Watson's primary coach is still Argentine Diego Veronelli.
She opened the season by landing her second career title thanks to victory in Hobart, which made her the first British woman since Anne Hobbs in 1985 to win two WTA tournaments.
Watson then achieved the biggest victory of her career by defeating former Wimbledon finalist and top-10 opponent Agnieszka Radwanska at Indian Wells.
Watson is currently ranked 40 in the world and is on course of achieving her ambition of being among the top 32 seeds at a Grand Slam for the first time at this year's French Open at Roland Garros.
Great things
And Rusedski believes the 22-year-old has all the attributes in her game to go on and achieve great things in the future.
"Diego is her full time coach at the moment and he's done a fantastic job. They won the title early on in Hobart and he's having a little break at home in Argentina so I'm helping out with Heather Watson," Rusedksi told Sky Sports 4.
"We've probably worked together about eight or nine days and I've been very impressed with her. I think she's got a fantastic game. I think there is a lot of scope for improvement and I don't think it's unrealistic for her to be in the top 20.
"She's really surprised me with a lot of things she has in her game and she is very, very capable.
"If she puts her work in and keep on listening to her coach, with a little bit of my assistance, I think she's got a very bright future and will hopefully have a bright year.
"I think she wants to do better at the majors this year and she wants to try to get into the second week at Grand Slams.
"She's won two titles, which is fantastic and I have to give a lot of credit to her coach Diego because he's done a fantastic job. He's with her 40 weeks a year and does a lot of the hard graft. I help her with little bits in her game."
We've probably worked together about eight or nine days and I've been very impressed with her. I think she's got a fantastic game. I think there is a lot of scope for improvement and I don't think it's unrealistic for her to be in the top 20.
Robson troubled
The signs don't appear to be so good for Laura Robson, who has not played since the Australian Open in January 2014 and the 21-year-old has been troubled by her wrist following surgery in March last year.
She was recently forced to cancel plans to return at the WTA Tour event in Bogota, but is targeting a return at this year's French Open in Paris.
However, with at least 16 months of catching up to do, Sky Sports tennis expert Barry Cowan accepts all her preparation should be geared towards Wimbledon, where she reached the fourth round two years ago.
"She's entered for the French Open so I gather she's looking at playing a couple of second tier tournaments and the more matches that Laura can have going into the grass-court period is only going to help her.
"At the moment, forget the ranking. She just needs to get back on court and back competing and if she can have a few matches under her belt there is no reason why she can't make life difficult for a lot of women on the grass.
"There is no pressure and no expectation and sometimes Laura has played her best tennis when that has been the case.
"You don't want to come back when you're not fit - look at (Juan Martin) Del Potro."
At the moment, forget the ranking. She just needs to get back on court and back competing and if she can have a few matches under her belt there is no reason why she can't make life difficult for a lot of women on the grass.
Rusedski added: "Nobody has ever questioned her potential, or talent, or ability. She's always had that. The question mark is being consistent, being professional, putting in the work and making sure she's as physically strong as she can be.
"I look at her as a player and she reminds me of a left-handed Lindsey Davenport. For me that would be an ideal mix because neither one is going to move like a Justine Henin but they know how to use the court craft, use their weapons, set up points and really think about what they have to do.
"It's going to be a long road back, but the potential is there."
