Robson's run goes on

Laura Robson has become the first British woman to reach the last 16 of the US Open since 1991 after a stunning 6-4 6-7 (5/7) 6-2 victory over Li Na.

The 18-year-old from London shocked the ninth seed to follow in the footsteps of Jo Durie in New York, while she is also the first Brit to reach the fourth round of a grand slam since Sam Smith at Wimbledon in 1998.

"I had a few break points early on and I gave them up with average returning, so when I got a chance I knew I had to go for it."
Laura Robson Quotes of the week

Fresh from ending Kim Clijsters' singles career in the last round in New York, Robson again showed off her abilities to mix it with the best.

The British No.3 had to overcome the disappointment of losing a hard-fought tie-break in the second set to see off last year's French Open champion on Louis Armstrong.

Paid off

"I knew if I kept sticking with her and playing my shots it might pay off and it did," Robson told Sky Sports.

"I had a few break points early on and I gave them up with average returning, so when I got a chance I knew I had to go for it.

"She's a great hitter so knew I had to go for it, I'm going to go back to the gym and try to recover for the next match."

The first set was rather error-strewn from both players, summed up by Robson dropping her own serve when she was serving for a 1-0 lead, only for Li to then promptly drop her serve again in the very next game.

The Chinese player showed her class at the end of a tight second set, though, proving just too strong in a tense tie-break.

It looked like Li may have dodged a bullet but instead Robson redoubled her efforts and her prodigious ball striking ultimately proved too much for her opponent.

Having threatened a break in the third game of the decider, the teenager made her move two games later despite an unlucky line call. She then broke again to cement her advantage before serving out for the match.

Her reward is a clash with reigning champion Sam Stosur, the Australian having come through against American Varvara Lepchenko by a 7-6 (7/5) 6-2 scoreline.

Stosur - the seventh seed at this year's tournament at Flushing Meadows - eventually took a 59-minute opening set on a tie-break tie-break and then lifted her game in the second to comfortably see off the home favourite.