Robson crushes Duque to reach third round

0
207

Laura Robson moved into the third round at Wimbledon after a convincing 6-4 6-1 win over Mariana Duque-Marino.

British number one Robson, 19, broke her Colombian opponent three times to two in the first set before dominating the second, winning through in one hour and 13 minutes.

The match was delayed from Thursday due to rain and played under the roof of a packed Centre Court.

Robson started slowly, allowing herself to be broken early in the opening stanza before taking the lead, only to fail to close the set out as her serve let her down repeatedly.

But she broke again at the end of the set before going on to show some of her best tennis in the second, blitzing the Colombian qualifier with power and precision.

Robson, who surprised 10th seed Maria Kirilenko in the first round, served out the match to love to set up a last-32 clash with New Zealand’s Marina Erakovic.

“It was a great atmosphere out there today and the roof being closed just makes it louder which is really exciting,” said Robson, who initially seemed nervous but grew into the match using her trademark thunderous winners.

With British tennis in the doldrums for many years, Robson’s progress has boosted a nation that usually views Andy Murray as its only hope.

Spain’s 19th seed Carla Suarez Navarro, Italy’s Flavia Pennetta and Belgian number 20 seed Kirsten Flipkens all took advantage of some breaks in the cloud to reach the last 16.

However, the fall of the seeds continued as Germany’s Angelique Kerber, seeded seventh and who had been a potential fourth round opponent for Britain’s Robson, lost her delayed second round match against Estonia’s Kaia Kanepi.

Round 2 results

Kaia Kanepi (Estonia) beat 7-Angelique Kerber (Germany) 3-6 7-6(6) 6-3

Laura Robson (Britain) beat Mariana Duque (Colombia) 6-4 6-1

Alison Riske (U.S.) beat Urszula Radwanska (Poland) 4-6 6-3 6-4

Round 3 results

15-Marion Bartoli (France) beat Camila Giorgi (Italy) 6-4 7-5

19-Carla Suarez Navarro (Spain) beat Eugenie Bouchard (Canada) 7-5 6-2

20-Kirsten Flipkens (Belgium) beat Vesna Dolonc (Serbia) 6-4 6-2

Flavia Pennetta (Italy) beat 29-Alize Cornet (France) 0-6 7-6(4) 6-2

Karin Knapp (Italy) beat Michelle Larcher de Brito (Portugal) 7-5 6-2