http://www.wimbledon.org/en_GB/news/match_reports/2009-06-29/200906291246305568609.htmlRobson recovers after nervy startLaura Robson, the defending girl’s champion, could easily have been mistaken for a nervous wild card as she started her 2009 campaign by dropping her serve in front of a huge crowd in Court 14. But Robson fought back to eventually earn a 6-3, 6-2 victory over Katarena Paliivets of Canada.
The British girl quickly made amends for her poor start by breaking Paliivets in the following game, before stretching ahead to a 3-1 lead. But she was blowing hot and cold, striking the ball like a professional one moment, and a kid in the park the next, as the late evening shadow of the broadcast centre crept over the court.
Robson was shaking her head, her body language far from positive, until she had claimed first set. Superior technically and physically, her battle was to get her mind right, and make the right plays during the points.
Having last week played the likes of Daniela Hantuchova in the singles, and Amelie Mauresmo and Svetlana Kuznetsova in the doubles, perhaps Robson was struggling to come to terms with the reality of rejoining her peers at junior level.
But in the second set the real Robson appeared. Her first serve percentage increased to 56%, she hit eight aces and by taking control of her service games she raced away to a 6-2 win.
Despite the scoreline, Robson’s performance casts real doubt over whether she can become the first girl in 19 years to defend her title. It is a much stronger field this year and the amount of unforced errors accrued by the champion here – 29 – will be cause for concern.
"I thought the girl today was tricky because she really kind of rushed on her own service game, so it was hard for me to get a rhythm the first couple games. But once I got into it, I felt that I really took control in the rallies more and that she couldn't really do anything."
The positives she can take are that in the year since she won the title, her forehand has a lot more weight on it, her first serve is more dangerous and when she concentrates she possesses the gift of great timing and consistency at the baseline, and now at the net.
Added to those benefits, Robson knows she will have the weight of home support behind her every step of the way.
