• WTA

Robson out after service woes

ESPN staff
April 29, 2013
Laura Robson hit ten double faults in her first round defeat to Ayumi Morita © Getty Images
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Laura Robson crashed out of the Portugal Open on Monday after suffering a 6-2 7-5 first round defeat to Ayumi Morita in Oeiras.

The British No. 1's serve proved her Achilles' heel once again, as Robson struggled to find consistency with her first serve under pressure from her Japanese opponent.

Robson suffered an early break in the first set as world No. 43 Morita took the opening game against the serve. Despite landing 62% of her first serve it was individual errors that really cost Robson, as three double faults handed Morita the advantage.

Morita, two places below Robson in the world rankings, seized the momentum and served out to take the first set for an early lead.

It proved a similar scenario in the second set for Robson - as more service woes continued to disrupt the 19-year-old's rhythm. The first serve dropped to the 50% mark and a further seven double faults scuppered the Brit's momentum, taking her match total to double figures.

The pivotal break came for Morita with both players locked at 5-5 in the second, before the 23-year-old held her nerve to convert the last of three match points and advance to the second round - taking victory in less than 90 minutes on court and leaving Robson to reflect on costly errors once again.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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