• US Open

Laura Robson crashes out of US Open

Laura Robson held the break in the second set but could not force a decider © Getty Images

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Laura Robson's US Open has come to an end after the British No. 1 was beaten by Li Na in straight sets.

A year ago Robson defeated Li en route to the fourth round of Flushing Meadows, but she could not repeat the feat as Li continues to show a return to the form which propelled her to the French Open in 2011, winning 6-2 7-5.

Robson, seeded at a grand slam for the first time, had impressed at the US Open so far with solid wins over Lourdes Dominguez Lino and Caroline Garcia, but up against Li she dropped concentration at crucial times, enabling her opponent to take full advantage as a former major winner.

Li made a quick start to the encounter to get the break and open up a 2-0 lead. Robson had yet to settle, and soon she found herself 4-1 down as Li dominated the rallies.

While Li went within one game of the set, Robson collected a second to close the gap to 5-2. However, Li sealed the set 6-2 in 29 minutes.

With plenty of work to do, Robson kicked off the second set in fine style to go 3-0 up, and with it was playing with confidence. But, Li came roaring back to take three games on the spin and get the set back on serve.

Robson managed to stop the rot by clinching the seventh game, but making plenty of errors she was punished by the fifth seed, crucially dropping serve in the 11th game to fall 6-5 down, and with it went on to lose the set 7-5 and the match, with her US Open campaign coming to a disappointing end when it looked as though she may have forced a decider.

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