Britain's Robson crashes out in Beijing

BEIJING (AFP) –

Laura Robson returns a ball to Dominguez Lino of Spain at the China Open tennis tournament in Beijing on Tuesday. The British number one lost in straight sets in the second round, bringing to an end her recent scintillating form in the country.

British number one Laura Robson lost in straight sets in the second round of China’s Open on Tuesday, bringing to an end her recent scintillating form in the country.

The 18-year-old, ranked 60th in the world, lost to Spain’s Lourdes Dominguez Lino 7-5, 6-3 in Beijing — only her second defeat in nine matches.

“I just wasn’t consistent enough in the rallies and a lot of the time I tried to go for the wins too early,” Robson told AFP.

“It was just far too inconsistent today.”

The London-based star came to Beijing on the back of becoming the first British woman to reach a WTA final since 1990 — at the Guangzhou Open — and followed up with two qualifying wins and a first round success.

“I’m happy with my week in general. I went one round further than I did last year and had three good wins, so there are a lot of positives.”

But Robson said she had plenty to work on before next week’s tournament, in Osaka, as she continues her quest to break into the top 50 in the world for the first time.

“I’m definitely going to have to work hard over the next few days so I can be ready for Osaka.

“Movement is always the big focus but for Osaka the courts there are really fast, perhaps a little bit more than the courts here, so I’m just going to work more on consistency and getting my timing back,” she said.

Robson was ranked 131st at the end of 2011 but she has enjoyed a breakthrough year, reaching the fourth round of the US Open and winning a mixed doubles silver medal with Andy Murray at the London Olympics.