• US Open

Strong start for Laura Robson at US Open

ESPN staff
August 26, 2013
Laura Robson stormed to the win © Getty Images
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Laura Robson recovered from an early wobble to reach the second round of the US Open, overcoming Lourdes Dominguez Lino 7-5 6-0.

The British No. 1 arrives to a grand slam seeded for the first time, and is back at the tournament where she marked her best run at a major in knocking out two former grand slam champions en route to the fourth round 12 months ago.

Robson made a positive start to the match, seizing the break with a forehand to wrong foot her opponent and open up a 2-0 lead.

However, all of her hard work was undone as a sloppy slice into the net gifted the break back, and very quickly she found herself 3-2 behind.

After recomposing herself, Robson moved 4-3 in front thanks to a fourth ace of the encounter, but it was Dominguez Lino's turn to gain the momentum, and a forehand error from Robson enabled Dominguez Lino to serve for the opening set at 5-4.

But for a second time, Robson dug deep to prevent the Spaniard, and after saving a flurry of break points in the 11th game, it was Robson who went 6-5 up. Following a topsy-turvy first set, Robson on her third set point claimed it 7-5.

Robson kicked off the second set in the same way she did the first, breaking to go 2-0 up, but unlike where she surrendered the advantage, instead she fended off break points and crucially held for 3-0.

And that third game seemed to have been the killer one for Dominguez Lino, who could not recover as Robson put her foot on the gas to storm to the win and seal her place in the second round.

"I love these courts and I think they suit me quite well," Robson said to Sky Sports. "I love New York and I love the atmosphere. There were so many British people on court today and that was amazing."

In other results, third seed Agnieszka Radwanska made light work of Silvia Soler-Espinosa, winning 6-1 6-2, while former French Open champion Li Na overcome Olga Govortsova 6-2 6-2. Two-time champion Venus Williams also made it through, recording her 215th grand slam victory after easing past Kirsten Flipkens 6-1 6-2.

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