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July 6th, 2008, 10:57 AM
A British girl has won Wimbledon's Girls' title for the first time since 1984.
Laura Robson, who lives just a minute away from the All England Club in south west London, beat Thailand's Lertcheewakarn in yesterday's Final.
Around 10,000 mostly British fans packed into Centre Court to watch the game. British crowds at Wimbledon are notoriously partisan and very supportive of the British players
From next year, Robson may compete in the Senior Wimbledon tournament.
By Piers Newbery
BBC Sport at Wimbledon
WIMBLEDON GIRLS' FINALS
ROBSON ..................6 3 6
LERTCHEEWAKARN......3 6 1
14-year-old Londoner Laura Robson on her way to victory in the Wimbledon Girls' Final in front of 10,000 British fans.
Laura Robson became the first Briton to win the Wimbledon girls' title since 1984 with victory over Thai third seed Noppawan Lertcheewakarn on Court One.
The 14-year-old Londoner came through 6-3 3-6 6-1 to match Annabel Croft's achievement of 24 years ago and win an event open to players aged up to 18.
Robson was playing in front of the biggest crowd of her life and against an opponent two years older than her.
But she held her nerve to dominate a tense final set in blustery conditions.
Robson is the first Briton to claim the girls' title since Annabel Croft won it 24 years ago
"It was so good today as all the crowd were behind me and it was an overhwelming experience," she told BBC Sport.
"I thought I was going to be sick when I walked on court as there were so many people watching.
"In the second set I went a bit mad but I got it back together and that is how I won I think."
Robson was born in Australia and spent the first six years of her life in Singapore, but now lives just five minutes' walk from the All England Club.
She follows the likes of Amelie Mauresmo, Martina Hingis and Tracy Austin as a winner of the junior singles title.
The victory means she will be considered for a wildcard into next year's senior event at the All England Club.
Robson, who does not turn 15 until 21 January, was the youngest player in any event at this year's Wimbledon and plans to start competing in senior events next year.
The pressure was on the home favourite, with LTA chief Roger Draper and GB Fed Cup coach Nigel Sears among the crowd on a packed Court One.
But despite the crowd and the windy conditions, the Briton remained as unruffled as she has throughout the tournament, breaking at the first opportunity.
Robson, just 14, wins the match 6-3 3-6 6-1 to the delight of the crowd on Court One
Lertcheewakarn got back on level terms when Robson netted a forehand in game five, but from that moment the Briton took charge of the set.
The second followed a similar pattern at first, with Robson twice going a break up, before the Thai finally found her rhythm off the ground and reeled off four straight games.
Robson grabbed the initiative in the opening game of the decider with a blistering forehand from outside the tram lines.
Again she broke at the first opportunity before handing the initiative straight back, but the key this time was that Robson managed to consolidate the next break to lead 4-1.
She was able to relax and really attack the next Lertcheewakarn service game, breaking again before serving out the match on her second championship point.
Speaking immediately afterwards, Robson was keen to look ahead to the 2009 Championships.
"Hopefully they will give me a wildcard into next year's senior event," she said. "I think last year they gave it to the winners of the juniors so hopefully they wil give it to me."
Asked if she had received any response from Marat Safin after saying on Friday that she would like to escort the Russian to the champions' ball, she said: "His agent gave me a letter from him today and it said… I've got it memorised actually… 'To Laura, I'm sorry I couldn't come to the ball but good luck for the final' and then he signed his name. It was really nice."
And should she get a wildcard for next year's event and find herself drawn against champion Venus Williams, Robson will not be lacking in confidence.
"I will take her down!" she joked.
Robson later came into the Royal Box on Centre Court, after the women's doubles final, to rapturous applause to be presented with her trophy in front of the crowd there.
news.bbc.co.uk/sport
A British girl has won Wimbledon's Girls' title for the first time since 1984.
Laura Robson, who lives just a minute away from the All England Club in south west London, beat Thailand's Lertcheewakarn in yesterday's Final.
Around 10,000 mostly British fans packed into Centre Court to watch the game. British crowds at Wimbledon are notoriously partisan and very supportive of the British players
From next year, Robson may compete in the Senior Wimbledon tournament.
By Piers Newbery
BBC Sport at Wimbledon
WIMBLEDON GIRLS' FINALS
ROBSON ..................6 3 6
LERTCHEEWAKARN......3 6 1
14-year-old Londoner Laura Robson on her way to victory in the Wimbledon Girls' Final in front of 10,000 British fans.
Laura Robson became the first Briton to win the Wimbledon girls' title since 1984 with victory over Thai third seed Noppawan Lertcheewakarn on Court One.
The 14-year-old Londoner came through 6-3 3-6 6-1 to match Annabel Croft's achievement of 24 years ago and win an event open to players aged up to 18.
Robson was playing in front of the biggest crowd of her life and against an opponent two years older than her.
But she held her nerve to dominate a tense final set in blustery conditions.
Robson is the first Briton to claim the girls' title since Annabel Croft won it 24 years ago
"It was so good today as all the crowd were behind me and it was an overhwelming experience," she told BBC Sport.
"I thought I was going to be sick when I walked on court as there were so many people watching.
"In the second set I went a bit mad but I got it back together and that is how I won I think."
Robson was born in Australia and spent the first six years of her life in Singapore, but now lives just five minutes' walk from the All England Club.
She follows the likes of Amelie Mauresmo, Martina Hingis and Tracy Austin as a winner of the junior singles title.
The victory means she will be considered for a wildcard into next year's senior event at the All England Club.
Robson, who does not turn 15 until 21 January, was the youngest player in any event at this year's Wimbledon and plans to start competing in senior events next year.
The pressure was on the home favourite, with LTA chief Roger Draper and GB Fed Cup coach Nigel Sears among the crowd on a packed Court One.
But despite the crowd and the windy conditions, the Briton remained as unruffled as she has throughout the tournament, breaking at the first opportunity.
Robson, just 14, wins the match 6-3 3-6 6-1 to the delight of the crowd on Court One
Lertcheewakarn got back on level terms when Robson netted a forehand in game five, but from that moment the Briton took charge of the set.
The second followed a similar pattern at first, with Robson twice going a break up, before the Thai finally found her rhythm off the ground and reeled off four straight games.
Robson grabbed the initiative in the opening game of the decider with a blistering forehand from outside the tram lines.
Again she broke at the first opportunity before handing the initiative straight back, but the key this time was that Robson managed to consolidate the next break to lead 4-1.
She was able to relax and really attack the next Lertcheewakarn service game, breaking again before serving out the match on her second championship point.
Speaking immediately afterwards, Robson was keen to look ahead to the 2009 Championships.
"Hopefully they will give me a wildcard into next year's senior event," she said. "I think last year they gave it to the winners of the juniors so hopefully they wil give it to me."
Asked if she had received any response from Marat Safin after saying on Friday that she would like to escort the Russian to the champions' ball, she said: "His agent gave me a letter from him today and it said… I've got it memorised actually… 'To Laura, I'm sorry I couldn't come to the ball but good luck for the final' and then he signed his name. It was really nice."
And should she get a wildcard for next year's event and find herself drawn against champion Venus Williams, Robson will not be lacking in confidence.
"I will take her down!" she joked.
Robson later came into the Royal Box on Centre Court, after the women's doubles final, to rapturous applause to be presented with her trophy in front of the crowd there.
news.bbc.co.uk/sport
