I don’t deserve SW19 wildcard, admits struggling Robson
TEN years on from her startling win in the Wimbledon junior event, Laura Robson has admitted she feels undeserving of a wildcard for next month’s main singles draw. And even if she happened to be offered one of the privileged entries she would be inclined to turn it down. The 24-year-old left-hander has been hit by more injuries this season and her singles ranking has fallen to 333. It is leading her towards focusing
more on doubles play, which sees her on a contrasting upward trajectory and on the cusp of the world’s top 100. ‘This year, I think even if Wimbledon offered me a main-draw wildcard, I wouldn’t take it,’ said the British No 9. ‘I don’t think it would be fair to someone
else who could have the opportunity when I have barely played all year. The qualifiers, definitely, but main draw, I don’t think so. I have had enough chances.’ Robson is this week playing in doubles only at Nottingham’s Nature Valley Open, having wrestled with a hip problem for several months. The defining injury of her career, however, was that to her wrist, which required surgery in 2014 and has stopped her fulfilling what looked to be enormous early promise. It can be easy to forget that Robson defeated Li Na, Kim Clijsters and Petra Kvitova en route to a peak singles ranking of 27 in 2013 when she was still a teenager. Being thrust into the spotlight so young by winning Wimbledon at 14 was always likely to be a mixed blessing, and so it has proved. ‘It is probably healthier for me not to think about those early moments at Wimbledon,’ she said last week in Surbiton.
‘I am where I am now. I love playing tennis, that is what keeps me going. I believe I am good enough to get back up there. Have I thought about packing it in? I think everyone has those thoughts. But I do still love what I do.’
NOVAK DJOKOVIC has accepted a wildcard into next week’s Fever-Tree Championships at Queen’s. Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray are due to make decisions about their participation later this week.