Laura Robson surprises Na Li in the third round – US Open 2012
Ranked 89th in the WTA Premier Ranking, Laura Robson, is the youngest contestant in the world top 100. She pocked her biggest triumph after disposing the former world number four, Li Na, 6-4, 6-7(5), 6-2, in the
third round of the US Open 2012 held on the hard courts of the Flushing Meadows on Friday.
Robson told the media, “I had the opportunity to win it in two. It was a really close tiebreak, and at 5-all she played two really good points. I knew if I kept playing the way I was and kept playing how I started the first
set, very aggressive and accelerating on my forehand when I could, I knew she would struggle. I wasn't really looking past the first round, and when I heard I was playing Li Na after I played Kim, I didn't really think anything. I just knew it was going to
be an extremely tough match.”
The 18-year-old Robson sets the record of being the first British women to qualify for the pre quarter-final rounds of any Grand Slam Championship form the year 1998. Since the start, the British participant conquered her
rival in all departments, showing flawless serves and backhand shots to close the set with her 6-4 triumph.
The 30-year-old Chinese veteran got back in shape and started by equalizing the scores in the second set. The British contender dominated the set initially but her pace died down gradually in the remaining part of the opener.
Li had to labour extremely hard to equalize the scores at 6-6 in the set, enforcing a tie-breaker round.
The British underdog got the opportunity to pocket away one of the three break points in the set. On the other hand, Li clamped one of the two break chances given and had a good first serve percentage of 72. She remained
calm and conquered the tiebreaker round with a 7-6(5) score line.
In the decider, the British Olympic silver medallist stunned the Chinese with her excellent ground strokes. She remained calm and eventually over powered her rival with a 6-2 win. Robson will encounter Samantha Stosur in
the fourth round of the tournament. The defending champion, Stosur, defeated the local challenger Varvara Petrova Lepchenko 7-6, 6-2 in the previous round.
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