Robson the brave

Laura Robson's shock victory over three-time US Open Champion Kim Clijsters was no fluke, according to Annabel Croft.

"It was a wonderful match - probably the best match of the women's tournament so far and long may it continue for Laura. I think she's going to really springboard from this."
Annabel Croft Quotes of the week

Robson, 18, came back from 5-2 down in the first set to win 7-6 7-6 and bring the career of the Belgian - who had previously announced her singles retirement - to an abrupt end.

Clijsters won the title on her last three US Open appearances in 2005, 2009 and 2010 but, in Croft's view, was outclassed by her British opponent this time around.

"It wasn't as if Kim sprayed balls around or was below-par - Laura literally outplayed one of the great champions of our game," Croft told Sky Sports.

"She was matching Kim for pace and power, as well as the heaviness of the strike on the forehand side. She was very much inside that baseline for the whole match, dictating the points.

"I think I was more surprised that Kim wasn't able to expose her movement from the back of the court. She really took her game apart and I think Kim was running out of ideas.

"It was a wonderful match - probably the best match of the women's tournament so far and long may it continue for Laura. I think she's going to really springboard from this."

Fearless

Robson is now in the third round of a Grand Slam for the first time but will face another stiff test when she plays ninth seed Li Na, who rallied from 4-0 down in the second set to beat Casey Dellacqua 6-4 6-4.

Na reached the US Open quarter-finals in 2009 and enjoyed a stellar 2011, reaching the final of the Australian Open before being crowned French Open champion.

Nevertheless, Croft believes that Briton Robson has the game to unsettle her opponent and will not be intimidated by the task that awaits her.

"I think she's pretty fearless, to be honest," she reflected. "I think that her game seems to be very devastating for quite a few players because of these weapons she has.

"She has improved so much in the movement department. Her serve was a real weapon - it was very difficult when she swung it out to the left court; there was very little that Kim could do with it.

"The other really devastating factor was Laura's return of serve because she really stepped in and gave it a good crack as she said that she needed to do.

"She dictated from that moment on. It was a really, really mature performance; she was incredibly composed."

Unpredictable

Andy Murray has cruised through to the third round after a straight sets 6-2 6-1 6-3 win over Croatia's Ivan Dodig under the lights on the Arthur Ashe Court, and is now unbeaten in five matches under the floodlights at Flushing Meadows.

And there was success too for Wimbledon Champions Jonathan Marray and Frederik Nielsen, who beat Flavio Cipolla and Fabio Fognini 7-5, 6-3 in the first round of the men's doubles.

However Sky Sports pundit Greg Rusedski said that talk of the pair winning another title, in New York, was premature.

"It's a little bit different on the hardcourts here in New York than it is at Wimbledon on the grass because when doubles on grass is a little bit more unpredictable.

"But the reason the combination works is that the two personalities mix together and they play together so well. Some people just complement or suit your style better.

"Nobody can ever take away that they are Wimbledon champions and if they have a great run here, that would be an excellent performance and we might see them at the end of the season at the O2."