British number one Laura Robson is into the third round of Wimbledon for the first time thanks to a comfortable 6-4 6-1 win over Mariana Duque-Marino.
Robson’s serve was fragile at times but her attacking game proved too much for the Colombian to contain in the opener.
The 19-year-old broke at the first opportunity in the second and completed victory in an hour and 13 minutes under the Centre Court roof.
“If we’re getting excited today can you imagine what it’s going to be like in the rest of the tournament. She’s a very normal 19-year-old with an extraordinary talent, but what was important about today was the handling of the match.”
Robson plays New Zealand’s world number 71 Marina Erakovic in the last 32.
“It’s a big win for me. Any match on Centre Court is a big one and it was a great atmosphere out there,” Robson told BBC Sport.
“I didn’t think I played my best, my timing was a bit off, but I just had to accept that and try to control it,” she said.
“I was feeling nervous but then thought she was probably more nervous than I was.”
The teenager’s win over Maria Kirilenko in the first round added to a list of high-profile career victories that already includes Li Na, Kim Clijsters and Venus Williams.
Robson, whose best display in a Grand Slam is reaching the fourth round at the 2012 US Open, was due to play Duque-Marino on Court Two on Thursday but the match was postponed because of rain.
Ranked 162 in the world and more comfortable on clay, Duque-Marino is a far less celebrated name, but the 23-year-old broke first as Robson’s groundstrokes initially strayed.
The British number one, ranked 38 in the world, soon found her range and her powerful ball-striking had Duque-Marino chasing in vain as she took a 4-2 lead in the sixth game.
Service jitters undermined Robson’s efforts, with double faults offering up two break-back points, before Marino-Duque ‘s defensive slices took her back on serve at 5-4.
But Duque-Marino’s own serve lacked venom and she surrendered the set in the next game.
A superb dipping forehand pass from Robson flummoxed Duque-Marino and gave the Briton a second break point in the second game of the second set and she barely looked back.
Duque-Marino’s defences were undone again in the penultimate game as Robson advanced in impressive fashion, with possible meetings with Agnieszka Radwanska and Serena Williams ahead if she win her match with Erakovic.
