Wimbledon 2013: Talking points from Day 2

Robson’s big match aptitude

Once again, when facing a big name, Laura Robson produced her best tennis adding Maria Kirilenko to an impressive list of big names unable to deal with her supreme ball striking. Aggy Radwanska, Venus Williams, Li Na, Kim Clijsters and Petra Kvitova have now all been beaten by Robson over the past 12 months. The difference this time was that Robson’s key problems – the double fault and unforced errors – dried up considerably. Was this because of Miles McLagan, her new interim coach? We can’t know for sure; but if she continues to cut down on those freebies, she is a match for everyone in the women’s game.

Of course, this brilliant performance has seen the British media and public fall into their classic trap of hyping her up to ludicrous levels. Virginia Wade in commentary even said that Serena Williams is waiting for her in the quarter finals. That’s ridiculous. She still needs to win three tough matches before that can be even discussed. What’s more interesting in the short-term is whether Robson will be able to put in this performance when she faces a supposed lesser opponent. This has been an area where she has struggled over the past six months. So against Mariana Duque, who is ranked 79 places below her, will the expectation of the British crowd hold her back, and will we see her return to spraying balls all over the courts once again?