Robson and Baltacha miss US Open

 

Originally published on: 26/02/10 12:45

The 15-year-old former Wimbledon junior champion lost her final qualifying round match, falling 7-6 (8/6) 4-6 7-6 (7/4) to Eva Hrdinova of the Czech Republic.

Robson’s fellow Briton Elena Baltacha will also miss the final grand slam event of the year. Seeded second in the qualifying tournament, Baltacha lost her rain-delayed final-round match 4-6 6-2 6-4 to Russian-born Australian Anastasia Rodionova, seeded 30.

World number 460 Robson had scored two big upsets in getting to the final qualifying round, beating players high above her in the rankings to set up her tie with Hrdinova, ranked 203.

And having had their match suspended on Friday with the Czech a set up, Robson went 3-0 down in the second before winning four games in a row on her way to levelling the match.

The Briton looked all set to claim a place in next week’s first round as she raced into a 4-0 lead in the third set only for Hrdinova to win five games in a row and retake the initiative as Robson racked up 13 double faults in the deciding set.

Robson won the next game to love but both players failed to hold their service games and the match went to a final-set tiebreaker, Hrdinova wasting two match points before finally pulling rank and closing out the match.

Britain will be without representation in the women’s singles, number one Anne Keothavong having been ruled out for the rest of the season with a knee injury.

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