The Golden Robson

The upcoming 2010 Australian Open tennis tournament won't start until January 18 during the NFL playoffs. Most media hypes scrutinize the top and well-known players: Roger Federer, Williams sisters, Justine Henin, Maria Sharapova, Rafael Nadal, and others. Questions arise of which players can win it or not. Lower seed or qualifying players don't get much attention before a tournament only when they beat a top seed during the tournament. In this case, my hype goes to this junior turned pro player named Laura Robson from England.

Laura is only fifteen and turned pro at 13 years old (still played juniors until last year). She hasn't won much, though. She probably will have to play a qualifying tournament to enter the Australian Open against a top seed. Hard luck for these type of players. But, because her career is just starting, these youngsters do get wild-cards to play in major tournaments. How they are judged, is a matter of debate. Though she is citizen of Great Britain, her birthplace is Australia. See the connection? She is allowed certain amount of wild-card entries to tournaments on a yearly basis. Likewise, you have to apply for these entries on a lottery attempt. Some tournaments will give you one, others will not.

She is well-coached and has powerful ground strokes (two-handed backhand and a forehand), great attitude, and great composure under pressure. Her main edge is that she is one of the few lefties on tour so many right-handed players have a tough time adjusting her shots and her game. However, she is very slow in her lateral movements and needs to work on her fitness. Likewise, she doesn't have a power shot off her strokes in tough situations. Finally, she doesn't have the experience to put players away when they are down. She needs more time and matches to develop her game.

If she doesn't make the tournament by qualifying, she deserves a wild-card simply because of her left-handed serve. That serve alone is worth the price of admission. You don't know where its going to go? To her own side? Her opponent side? To the stands? But when it goes in, it is tough to return. It either comes hard or soft with wicked movement. The spin of the ball is that of cricket bowler or a baseball pitcher that throws the slider. The returners can't tell where she is going to locate her serve because her motion is tough to read. She reminds me of now former baseball pitcher, Randy Johnson. Very unpredictable.
　
With the upcoming Australian Open, media always mention about top players who can win the tournament or why they won't. Low seeds or qualifiers don't get much press before a tournament but only during a major if they win against a top seed. My hope is that Laura Robson from England gets some attention due to her potential in being a top player and an unpredictability that entertains and thrills fans? Doubles, anyone?