Robson moves into round two
Monday, 07 June 2010
Laura Robson reached the second round of the Aegon Classic in Birmingham on Monday. Sixteen year old Robson had taken the first set against Stefanie Voegele, and was trailing 0-1 in the second, when her Swiss opponent was forced to retire with a back injury.
The British number six, who qualified for the event, will now play the third seed Yanina Wickmayer of Belgium in round two.
Another upcoming British player, Heather Watson, was defeated by Russian Alla Kudryavtseva. Kudryavtseva won in straight sets, 6-4, 6-3.
Watson, who was awarded a wild card into the tournament, will now turn her attention to the Doubles, where she is partnering Laura Robson.
British number two Katie O'Brien, lost her first round match to Sesil Karatantcheva of Kazakhstan. Karatantcheva, who qualified for the tournament, went through to the next round in straight sets, 6-3, 6-4.
O'Brien's compatriots, Melanie South and Naomi Broady, also failed to progress. South, who had been handed a wild card for the event, took the first set against Anna Chakvetadze of Russia.
However, her opponent fought back to win the remaining two sets, and the match, 3-6, 6-4, 6-4. Chakvetadze slipped out of the top one hundred in May, for the first time in six seasons. The 23 year old, a former world number five, has won seven Singles titles on the WTA Tour.
Naomi Broady lost out to American Shenay Perry, a former top 50 player, in straight sets, 6-4, 6-4.