Tonight:
5°c
Fans cheer last British tennis hope
Jack Lefley and Shekhar Bhatia4 Jul 2008
Reigning champion Roger Federer may be playing in the men's semi-finals, but at Wimbledon there was no doubt about the big attraction today - British teenage sensation Laura Robson.
Tennis fans packed Court Three to see the 14- year- old beat unseeded Slovakian Romana Tabakova, 17, 6-2 7-5 in the girls' semi-final.
Federer's semi-final against Marat Safin on Centre Court? That could wait.
Murad Humza, 27, of Bradford,Wiltshire, said: "My wife and I have Centre Court seats, but we won't be rushing off to see Roger until Laura has finished. I know she is only 14, but she could be Wimbledon champion in four years and I don't want to miss this chance." As she stepped out on court Laura - who was born in Australia but has lived in Britain since she was six - was cheered by her mother Kathy and father Andrew, an executive with Shell.
Laura, who lives in Wimbledon, comes from a sporting family. Mrs Robson was a professional basketball player, while her brother is a professional swimmer. One cousin represents Australia in kayaking, while another plays hockey for his country.
Fans were determined to make sure they got a chance to see the girl who has been compared to a young Martina Hingis - and who is, after the departure of Andy Murray, the last British player in any of the singles competitions, even if it is one limited to girls under the age of 18. She will play Noppawan Lertcheewakarn, 17, of Thailand in the final on Sunday.
Barbara Parodi of Lee-on-Solent took a bench with her family 90 minutes before the start, despite having tickets for Centre Court.
She said: "A few years ago we were advised to watch a girl called Maria in the girls' competition. It turned out to be Maria Sharapova.
"I want to see Laura today and on Centre Court in a few years." Friends Nadia Christie and Charlie Watson were in no doubt about what the biggest match was. Nadia, 21, from Wiltshire, said: "This is the hottest ticket in town and I wouldn't want to be anywhere else." Charlie, 19, of Chiswick, added: "Apparently there is some bloke playing on Centre Court. Roger who?"
Hannah Franklin, 19, who also had a Centre Court ticket, said: "She is the last Brit standing in the singles so I had to come and support her. I'll go on to Centre Court afterwards but I want to see the end of this one first."
Officials were drawing up plans for the tournament to go into a third week as weathermen warn of heavy rain disrupting the men's final on Sunday and the possibility of showers affecting the women's final tomorrow.
If the men's final does run into Monday it will be for the last time - next year Centre Court will have a fully retractable roof.
Reader views (1)
Superb performance by this young lady with the accent on lady, what a fine example.
- Michael Bell, basingstoke england, 05/07/2008 19:33
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