Laura Robson rewarded with Naomi Broady tie after US Open qualification

27 August 2016 03:54

Laura Robson has been handed an all-British clash against Naomi Broady at the US Open after she beat Germany's Tatjana Maria to qualify for the first round.

Robson has been ravaged by fitness issues over the last two years but she continued her recent revival against Maria with a 7-6 (7/5) 6-1 victory.

The 22-year-old has now won eight matches in a row and her reward is an opening tie with fellow Briton Broady, whom she has never faced competitively before.

Broady has climbed to 83rd in the world and 164 spots above Robson, who is bidding to win her first grand slam match since reaching the third round at Flushing Meadows in 2013.

British number two Heather Watson, also drawn to play a qualifier, will face Holland's Richel Hogenkamp in round one.

"It's funny," Robson said. "I've played so many British people over the last few weeks in the Challengers that as soon as I saw Heather and Naomi had drawn qualifiers, I just had that feeling that I was going to play one of them.

"Naomi's playing pretty well - she's got a big serve and a big forehand so I'm just going to try and get as many returns in as possible."

A recurring wrist injury has seen Robson drop to 247th in the world but she showed her class against Maria, who is ranked 126 places above her and was seeded 15th in qualifying.

The British number five will earn 43,313 US dollars (£33,000) for her progress, but also invaluable confidence, the victory coming after she won an ITF event in Landisville earlier this month.

"I think winning a tournament was probably a bit better but it's just been a lot of matches in a row now," Robson said.

"With every one I'm getting a bit more confidence and feeling better closing it out.

"Even when my ball toss is going haywire I'm not panicking about it, I'm just taking it a point at a time and it seems to be working."

Robson is not the only player to be recovering from a wrist injury in New York after Novak Djokovic admitted he is struggling for fitness ahead of his title defence.

Djokovic also revealed that "private issues" contributed to his shock exit at Wimbledon this summer, although insisted those issues are now resolved.

"The wrist hasn't been ideal for the last three and a half weeks," Djokovic said.

"But I'm doing everything in my power with obviously the medical team to make sure that I'm as close to 100 per cent as possible during the course of this tournament, at least for the beginning of it."

Djokovic, who beat Roger Federer in the final here 12 months ago, faces Poland's Jerzy Janowicz in round one.

Source: PA