Laura Robson gives glimpse of a stellar future

Laura Robson showed enough power and poise to give British tennis real hope that she could become a top player on the circuit. Photograph: Paul Gilham/Getty Images

Laura Robson was understandably upset. She was also proud. Her first grand slam match ended in defeat against the experienced Daniela Hantuchova of Slovakia but the 15-year-old Robson, last year's junior Wimbledon champion, did enough to show the near capacity crowd on the new No2 court why the tennis world is expecting her to follow Andy Murray's path to the top. Hantuchova won 3–6, 6–4, 6–2, though it took the former world No5 every ounce of her professional acumen to prevent the British teenager from winning in straight sets after she established a 6–3, 3–2 lead with a break of serve.

"It's different to the juniors but it's not that much different," said Robson, who was runner-up at this year's junior Australian Open. Summer in Britain is a little less severe, though here was an intensity of pressure that she had never experienced before, in front of 4,000 spectators. "If I would have got killed love and love, then I would have a different opinion but it was not too different from the level I am already playing."

When she won the junior Wimbledon title last year her brother, Nick, took to shouting out "mess her up" to encourage her. "This time he changed it to like a woof? Completely random. Apparently he did it quite often but I didn't hear it," said a smiling Robson. She is endearingly sparky off court, though also immensely and naturally shrewd for one so young. Her brother may be barking (if temporarily) but she clearly knows precisely where she is going and how she is going to get there. And the general opinion within the game is that this will be towards the pinnacle.

For the moment it is all a learning process and that process will become all the more difficult as the leading women get to know her game and begin to work out how best to play her. "Actually she reminded me a lot of myself at that age," said Hantuchova, who at No32 in the world was 456 places higher than Robson and with nearly nine years' more experience at major level. "She's got a great feel and is not afraid to go for her shots. She had nothing to lose and could just take a swing at the ball. I was thinking, 'Gosh, that feeling is so good.' It was nice to see."

It would not have been so nice if Hantuchova, whose career has never taken off as it should, had lost. Robson, serving for a 4–2 lead in the second set, pressed a little too much and double-faulted twice, two of 14 in all. The serve is her most potent weapon and Robson conceded that "the whole atmosphere and all the nerves" had affected her. Her calm temperament frayed towards the end of the second set and she banged a ball into the lush turf in frustration. However, this show of annoyance is much better than any limp response towards adversity. Hantuchova gradually, almost imperceptibly, increased the pressure, making sure she held her own serve and forcing Robson to make the play.

"Obviously she's got talent and she's a nice girl. It's important now that she has the right people around her," said Hantuchova. "Its still a long way for her to go. Her serve is very good and she is very smart how she varies it. Obviously she still has a lot of things to improve but she is on the right way for sure. I tried to keep focused, keep focused. I didn't feel very good being a set down and getting kicked by a girl 11 years younger than me."

Junior tennis is all about hitting winners; at Tour and grand slam level the emphasis is on the right shot at the right time. It is something Robson struggled with at first when she began working with her LTA employed Dutch coach, Martijn Bok. "I just banged the ball again and again, like in the same place. I basically always hit it down the line but now we have worked on mixing it up and that has really helped."

There is much more to come from Robson, who next week will defend her junior title. Her principal limitation is her movement, although that is sure to improve. This morning she will doubtless think she should have beaten Hantuchova and, but for those double faults, she might have. "I thought I played really, really well for a good part of the match. I'm a little bit upset but I'm pretty proud of myself." And so she should be.

source: .guardian.co.