Heather Watson defeats Kirsten Flipkens in Abierto Monterrey Afirme final to clinch third WTA Tour singles title

Heather Watson beat Kirsten Flipkens 3-6, 6-2, 6-3

Heather Watson celebrates winning a third WTA Tour singles title in Monterrey (EPA)

Great Britain's Heather Watson won her third WTA Tour singles title by beating Belgium's Kirsten Flipkens 3-6, 6-2, 6-3 in the Abierto Monterrey Afirme final.

Watson lost the opening set, concluded by Flipkens' first ace, but broke twice in the second to force a decider.

There, the two players traded service breaks before Watson crucially earned another to lead 5-3, giving her the chance to serve out the match.

She trailed 15-40 but battled back to force match point, which she took with an unreturnable body serve.

Watson, who remains without a coach following her temporary link with Judy Murray, brought on her mother Michelle as on-court coach when 5-2 down in the first set.

And Watson admitted having her mother around made it an extra special day.

In the post-match presentation, the British number two said: "It's the first time my mum's seen me win a title and it's Mother's Day back in England, so Happy Mother's day mum!"

Watson struggled in the first set, failing to even force a break point as the world number 73 Flipkens chased her second WTA title.

But, following the pep talk from her mother, Watson reeled off four of the next five games and eased through the second set.

She continued that run into the decider, winning the first three games, but Flipkens - who knocked out British number one Johanna Konta in the quarter-finals - hit back to level the set.

Again the momentum shifted as Watson held serve and then broke Flipkens, before keeping her nerve to lift her first title since Hobart in January 2015.

Watson added: "I thought Kirsten was pretty flawless in the first set and didn't give me anything. I was getting pretty frustrated but I just had to stay calm and try my best and I didn't look past the next point.

"I'm so glad to have been able to win a title here.

"I've loved playing every one of my matches and can't wait for next year to be back here."

PA