Seemingly undaunted by the occasion Robson crafted an early break on Lertcheewakarn’s serve. Lertcheewakarn got a chance to break back at 2-0 down and 15-40, but wasted both breakpoints with a few too many errors. At 3-0 down Lertcheewakarn straightened her back and most of her more risky shot started falling inside the lines, giving the 16-year old Thai another chance to break at 3-1. The pressure finally told on Robson, causing her to dump her forehand to the net to gift the break back to Lertcheewakarn, who then followed the break with a servicehold of her own to 3-3.

Robson then held her nerve to edge ahead to 4-3, only to see herself with 2 more chances to break on her opponents serve. Another one of her many strong returns forced Lertcheewakarn into an error. With the crowd on her side Robson showed great resolve when serving for the set, serving it out with a powerful unreturned serve.

In the second set Robson seemed to gain an early and possibly deciding break with a backhand error by Lertcheewakarn. Lertcheewakarn wasn’t done, however, increasing the risk in her game even more, hitting ever closer to the lines and forcing Robson into a forehand error to break back to 1-1. The risk in her game also backfired for the Thai youngster, as she made a telling backhand error at 2-2 and 30-40 down on her own serve. But again Lertcheewakarn showed tremendous fighting spirit to break back once more, as her continued pressure on her opponent caused her to double fault at advantage Lertcheewakarn. Lertcheewakarn then held serve for the second time in the set and continued to pressurize Robson into mistakes and the youngster from Great Britain started to show signs of frustration. At 15-40 Lertcheewakarn had 2 chances to grab herself a chance to serve out the set, but failed to convert her first on a backhand error. The second one was converted, however, as a strong backhand return by Lertcheewakarn forced a backhand error out of Robson. At  5-3 up Lertcheewakarn continued to hold steady, despite the crowd trying to elevate their favorite to even greater hights. At 40-30 Robson saved a first setpoint for Lertcheewakarn, pressurizing her opponent by moving into the forecourt, making Lertcheewakarn put her lob outside the lines. A second setpoint meant the set for Lertcheewakarn, however, as Robson succumbed to the pressure of her opponent with a forehand into the net.

At the start of the final set Robson showed a surprising maturity, holding her own serve with ease and then forcing herself 3 breakpoints with patient and powerful play. The first 2 breakpoints were saved by Lertcheewakarn, but the third proved the decider, as a gust of wind caused Lertcheewakarn to misshit a backhand far out. But again Lertcheewakarn refused to go away and she got herself another break on a double fault by Robson.

Again Robson showed maturity beyond her years, constantly forcing Lertcheewakarn on the defensive with her powerful and accurate groundstrokes. At 15-40 on Lertcheewakarn’s serve Robson got her 6th break of the match, following a missed forehand by Lertcheewakarn. At 3-1 down Lertcheewakarn got another chance to break Robson back, but this time Robson refused to back down, serving strongly and then putting away her opponent with an accurate crosscourt forehand winner. With a 4-1 lead Robson continued  to ride the crest of a wave of elation going through the British crowd. Another break soon followed, all but ending the match after a missed crosscourt forehand by Lertcheewakarn. Robson then served out the match with little doubt or any sign of nerve for a well-deserved 6-1 win in the final set. With this match both players warranted being in the final, as they both gave an incredible show of what’s to come for womens tennis. As the only player to take a set off Robson Lertcheewakarn deserved her place in the final, but ultimately the Thai wasn’t strong enough for the courtcraft and strong serving of Robson.

After the match a dumbfounded Robson said: “I had hoped to take Marat Safin to the Champions dinner, but today I got a letter from his agent saying that unfortunately he cannot attend, but that he wished me the best of luck in the final…..and it was actually signed by himself!” On the question what she would do if she met Venus Williams, the winner of the this year’s womens title, she answered: “Bring her on”. Which would say everything about this fearless, soon to be world beating, youngster. At least she achieved one thing already: she will be getting a wildcard into the main draw of Wimbledon.

 

 

Laura Robson (GBR) d. Noppawan Lertcheewakarn (THA,3) 6-3 3-6 6-1

 

Profile Laura Robson:

Birthdate: 21-01-1994

Birthplace: Melbourne, Australia

Residence: London, England
Plays: Left-handed (two-handed backhand)
Favourite surface: Hard
Age started tennis: 7
Junior titles:  2 (2007: Nokia Junior Cup (Grade 4); 2008: Wimbledon (Grade A))
Career high position (before Wimbledon): 36 (30 June 2008)
Career high WTA ranking: --