Timeline: Laura Robson_Ñés career
Originally published on: 27/09/12 00:00
When tennishead spoke with Laura Robson at the beginning of the grass-court season the 18-year-old Brit explained that her main goal for the year was to remain injury free. Now – an Olympic silver medal, a fourth round appearance at the US Open and a maiden WTA final appearance later – we’re starting to think Robson may have had some bigger plans in mind.
Robson, who now sits at a career high No.57 in the singles rankings, has little points to defend between now and June of next year, and if her performances over the last two months are anything to go by the Briton's star looks set to continue rising.
Laura Robson's career timeline:
July, 2008: At 14 years old Robson becomes the first Briton since Annabel Croft in 1984 to win the Wimbledon girls’ title, defeating Noppawan Lertcheewakarn of Thailand.
October, 2008: Courtesy of a wild card, Robson competes in her first WTA level event in Luxembourg falling in the first round to Iveta Benesova of the Czech Republic in three sets. After the match Robson attributes her composure to her Mom, who had threatened to give away her daughter’s X Factor tickets if she acted out during the game.
November, 2008: Robson wins her first ITF tournament at a $10,000 level event in Sunderland, finishing the season ranked No.559 in the world.
June, 2009: After leading by a set and a break, Robson loses to Daniela Hantuchova in the first round of Wimbledon but creates history in the process by becoming the youngest player to compete at Wimbledon since Martina Hingis in 1995, and the youngest Brit since the open era began. “Before I went on I was completely fine, not nervous at all,” said a 15-year-old Robson. “I was thinking about what the towels on court would be like. They were really nice last year.”
October, 2009: Robson captures her first top 100 win by beating world No.76 Julia Goerges in the qualifying rounds of a WTA event in Luxembourg.
June, 2010: The left-hander powers her way to a maiden tour-level win by beating Switzerland’s Stefanie Voegele in the first round of Birmingham.
June, 2011: The Wimbledon resident earns her first Grand Slam win in her home town, beating Angelique Kerber in three tight sets before losing to former champion Maria Sharapova in the second round. “I felt I really played well on the big points and that's what made the difference,” said an elated Robson after victory over Kerber. "I always knew I could play really well but this year I've been injured quite a lot.”
August, 2011: Robson comes through qualifying to reach the main draw at the US Open for the first time. The young Brit creates another first by collecting her first top 50 win against world No.47 Ayumi Morita in round one before falling to experienced vet Anabel Medina Garrigues.
January, 2012: Robson, who was born Down Under, qualifies for the Australian Open for the first time before losing to Serbia’s Jelena Jankovic in the main draw.
May, 2012: Robson completes the full set of Grand Slam appearances after qualifying for the French Open where she once more fell in the first round to Medina Garrigues.
June, 2012: After back-to-back second round appearances in both Birmingham and Eastbourne, Robson breaks into the world’s top 100 for the first time debuting at No.97.
July, 2012: The 18-year-old becomes an Olympian for the first time and caps it off by winning a silver-medal in the mixed doubles with partner Andy Murray. “It was tough to lose [in the final],” she said. “I just want to thank Andy for playing with me. It's been one of the best weeks of my life. I was just happy to be in the final.”
August, 2012: Robson announces herself on the world stage at Flushing Meadows by beating world No.25 Kim Clijsters and world No.8 Li Na to reach the fourth round of the US Open. “I think the level has always been there,” she said. “I have always thought that I can play with the top girls. Whenever I've practiced with Caroline [Wozniacki] or Maria [Sharapova], I've always felt that the level was there. It was just taking that on to the match court and keeping the level up for the whole match.”
September, 2012: Robson backs up her US Open form with a run to the final of the WTA event in Guangzhou beating China’s top two players Jie Zheng and Shuai Peng in the process. After falling to the tricky Su-Wei Hsieh in the final, Robson reaches a career high ranking of No.57 to cap off a break-through two months. “I have to do well in Beijing and Osaka to make the top 50,” Robson said of her plans for the remainder of the year.
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