Laura Robson, under horrendous conditions at the Italian Open, added Venus Williams to the list of Grand Slam champions she had eliminated in the last nine months.
In a windy environment the Wimbledon- based teenager showed great control and composure, beating the five- time Wimbledon champion 6-3, 6-2 in one hour, twenty- four minutes at the historic Foro Italico Court Centrale.
With previous victories over Li Na, Kim Clijsters, Petra Kvitova and even world No. 4 Agnieszka Radwanska last week, Robson will be counting on a similar show of confidence as she proceeds to the next round against sister Serena Williams.
At the age of 32, Venus has lost her Grand Slam champion status she once maintained. She has been finding it difficult playing on clay.
The back- to- back Wimbledon champion is still ranked 24th in the world and her previous match record of 10-3 this year does not suggest any dramatic decline.
With the wind gusting all over the clay, the British No. 1 coped better, and albeit her failure to close the match out at 5-1 in the second set she claimed a third match in the following game and clinched it with an inside out forehand winner.
Robson, without a coach figure had an exquisite timing, a factor which suggests her coachless status does not have an adverse effect on her at the moment.
