• WTA

Bartoli locks out Robson at Yale

ESPN staff
August 19, 2012
Laura Robson was beaten in straight sets by Marion Bartoli © Getty Images
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British No. 3 Laura Robson appeared to suffer an Olympic hangover as she fell at the first hurdle at the New Haven Open.

Playing in her first tournament since winning silver in the mixed doubles with Andy Murray at London 2012, Robson succumbed to a 6-3 6-3 defeat to world No. 11 Marion Bartoli at Yale University.

Ranked at a career-high No. 88, Robson's hopes of getting a run of matches under her belt ahead of the US Open were dashed as she was beaten in the opening round.

The British No. 3 continued to struggle with her serve, and dropped her opening three service games as Bartoli raced to a 5-1 lead in the opening set. Robson dug deep to break back, but dropped her serve once again as her opponent wrapped up the opening set.

Bartoli carried her momentum into the second set, racing to a 4-0 lead, and although Robson dug deep to get herself back on serve, her hard work was instantly undone as Bartoli broke for a seventh time before wrapping up the win in an hour and 25 minutes.

Elsewhere, at the Texas Open, fellow Brit Heather Watson suffered a first-round defeat to Yanina Wickmayer. Watson battled throughout the contest, but was unable to match the groundstrokes of the fourth seed, who broke the Brit's serve on three occasions.

Watson broke back in the second set but it was not enough to stave off defeat as Wickmayer proved too strong from the back of the court.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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