Robson and Watson progress

 

Originally published on: 26/02/10 12:48

On a cool and breezy day at Flushing Meadows as New York braced itself for a deluge of rain, Robson, the 15-year-old 2008 Wimbledon girls’ champion, defeated 12th seed Tamaryn Hendler of Belgium 6-2 6-1.

She was followed onto Court Eight by 11th seed Watson, who took care of Germany’s Annika Beck 6-4 7-5.

“I liked her game style,” Robson said of Hendler. “I liked how she hit it hard, it was easier for me. I was looking to hit percentage shots rather than going for the lines so I think that’s why it seemed a bit more fluid.

“It was a lot harder than the score suggests because there were a lot of games that went to deuce and she had a couple of break point chances.

“So it wasn’t a routine match but I thought I played well.”

Robson will now face American wild card Lauren Davis for a place in the last four of the junior grand slam.

Watson’s last-eight opponent will be second seed, Noppawan Lertcheewakarn of Thailand, who was beaten by Robson in last year’s Wimbledon girls’ final.

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