Laura Robson's debut on the WTA Tour ended in defeat today but only after she had taken the first set off world No42 Iveta Benesova.

Robson became the youngest British player to compete in a main tour event when she stepped on court for her first-round match at the Fortis Championships in Luxembourg.

But the 14-year-old Wimbledon girls' champion, who has had some success on the secondary International Tennis Federation circuit, made a dream start, breaking her Czech opponent's serve in the second game and taking the opening set 6-1.
Unsurprisingly, the Surrey schoolgirl could not maintain her dominance and Benesova hit back to win the match 1-6, 6-2, 6-3.

Robson, who entered the senior rankings for the first time at No550 last week, was given a wildcard into the event but will now return to the junior circuit. Last month she reached the semi-finals of an ITF tournament in Shrewsbury.

Paul Hutchins is to stand down as the LTA's head of men's tennis at the end of the year to concentrate on the international structure in Britain. Steven Martens, the LTA player director, will replace him and work alongside coaches Paul Annacone and Leon Smith.