AUSTRALIAN OPEN
Venue: Melbourne Park Date: 18-31 January
BBC coverage: Every Murray match live on BBC 1 or 2
Daily from 0800 GMT: live on BBC Red Button/website, 5 Live sports extra
Daily from 0000 GMT: text commentary on BBC Sport website

Briton Laura Robson lost in the Australian Open girls' final for the second year running, going down 6-1 7-6 (7-5) to Czech Karolina Pliskova.

Robson had dropped just one set before the final, and had beaten Pliskova's twin sister Kristyna in the semi-final.

But 16-year-old Robson was out of sorts in the final on Rod Laver Arena, making 31 unforced errors.

Sixth seed Pliskova, 18, came back from 4-1 down in the tie-break to seal victory in one hour 20 minutes.

"I wasn't really nervous I was just not quick off the mark and she took advantage of that," said Robson, who double-faulted on match point.

I'm tired, but I've had a really good month in Australia so I can go home happy Laura Robson

"In the first set I didn't play well so I started getting a bit annoyed with that. I tried to make a new start in the second set and I wasn't going to be able to do that with the mindset I had in the first set.

"But she served really well in the whole match so I was just looking for a chance to break her and I finally got one and then in the tie-break I let myself down a bit.

"I didn't hit any double faults until the tie-break so at that point I just lost focus."

Robson began the year by playing alongside Andy Murray in the Hopman Cup in Perth, where she beat a top-30 player, Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez, for the first time.

606: DEBATE What did you think of Robson's run in this year's tournament?

She also partnered Australian Sally Peers to reach the quarter-finals of the women's doubles at Melbourne Park.

"I'm tired, but I've had a really good month in Australia so I can go home happy," said Robson, who flies back to England on Saturday night.

"I've played a lot of matches and so it's just good to go home."

E-mail this to a friend

Printable version