Robson sets up US Open rematch with Li

Originally published on: 29/08/13 00:00

The match was delayed before a ball had been struck in anger as rain began to fall at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center after the players had warmed up.

When they eventually returned, the British No. 1, seeded 31st in New York, was forced to scrap throughout the contest by a spirited Garcia, who served to level the match up at 6-5 in the second set when Robson double-faulted.

But the 19-year-old broke back immediately to force a tiebreak and race and sealed victory on her fourth match point with a service winner.

Robson will face Li Na in the third round, as she did last year, after the No. 5 seed beat the rain as she saw off Sofia Arvidsson 6-2 6-2 in little more than an hour.

Agnieszka Radwanska made just 10 unforced errors as she booked her spot in the third round, racing through the first set against Spain’s Maria-Teresa Torro-Flor before being pushed harder in the second set and eventually prevailing 6-0 7-5.

Venus Williams, the 2000 and 2001 champion, fought to the very last against China’s Jie Zheng, but having battled back from a set down and after training 4-1 in the final set, the 33-year-old lost an agonising tiebreak to bow out 6-3 2-6 7-6(5).

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