• Australian Open, Day Four

Robson playing with great expectations in Melbourne

Laura Robson stunned No. 8 Petra Kvitova in Melbourne © AP

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Laura Robson admits she is playing with greater expectations at the Australian Open following her giant-killing run at last year's US Open.

Robson stunned former grand slam champions Kim Clijsters and Li Na en route to the fourth round in New York in September and she was at it again in Melbourne as she came from behind to stun former Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova 2-6 6-3 11-9.

Twelve months ago Robson crashed out of the first round of the Australian Open following a resounding defeat to Jelena Jankovic, but following a breakthrough 2012 season she set her sights much higher at this year's tournament.

"Last year it was difficult because I came in with absolutely no preparation," Robson said. "I had no idea how I was going to do it. I wasn't even sure I was going to qualify. So in a way that was a good result for me, even though I got absolutely trashed by Jankovic.

"This year, you know, I set my expectations a bit higher, and I'm obviously playing a lot better than I was then, so I would have been disappointed to lose today, for sure."

Next up for Robson is world No. 25 Sloane Stephens, in a match-up between the two top-ranked teenagers in the world.

"We first played each other when I was 10 or 11, I think," Robson said of her third-round opponent. "She beat me last week in Hobart, and it was a pretty close match, but I definitely feel like I could play a lot better than I did last week, and it's going to be really tough, for sure.

She's in good form at the moment. She's a good mover, good ball striker. It's always going to be a tough match, but yeah, hopefully I can play better than I did today. I think it's very easy to see how naturally well she hits the ball and how easy everything sort of comes to her."

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