MX23RW : Wednesday, November 27 06:34:13| >> :600:360253199:360253199:

Live Commentary: Laura Robson vs. Mariana Duque-Marino - as it happened

Read how Laura Robson reached the third round of Wimbledon with a comfortable victory over Mariana Duque-Marino.
2

British teenager Laura Robson went into this afternoon's second-round Wimbledon match as favourite against Colombia's Mariana Duque-Marino.

After a nervy start, the British number one got into her stride and saw off her opponent to reach the third round at SW19.

Read how it all unfolded in our game-by-game updates below.


Sort:
Newest
Oldest
Afternoon all! The roof on Centre Court was used for the first time yesterday and it's going to be in action again today with rain falling in SW19.

There's been no play so far on day five of the Championships. The rain isn't particularly heavy but the clouds don't look like subsiding anytime soon.

Fortunately, that makes no difference to Centre Court as we have the roof! The tournament organisers definitely seem to have put the home players' interests to the fore, with Robson and then Andy Murray in action on the main showcourt.

Murray is third up on Centre after Nicolas Almagro's match against Jerzy Janowicz. You'll be able to follow all three matches right here on SM, one after the other.

Anyway, enough waffling. Let's get down to business. First up on Centre we have young Miss Robson. The Australian-born 19-year-old is the highest-ranked British player at 38 in the world. She is heavy favourite to progress today at around 1/10 with the bookies.

If she does make it through today, it will be another unseeded player in the next round for Robson in New Zealand's Marina Erakovic. The Kiwi saw off 24th seed Peng Shuai 7-6 6-2 yesterday.

WHO? You might not have heard of Robson's opponent today so hear's a quick factfile. Mariana Duque-Marino is a 23-year-old Colombian, born in Bogota, who currently occupies the world ranking of 117. She has one WTA singles title to her name and that came at the Copa Sony Ericsson Colsanitas in her hometown where she beat Germany's Angelique Kerber 6-3 6-4.

Marino reached this match today by seeing off another German - Julia Goerges - in the first round 6-4 6-7 7-5. These two were supposed to play yesterday but because of the rain it couldn't go ahead.

The two young women walk out to a warm reception on Centre Court. It's going to be a tough afternoon for Marino as almost everyone inside the famous will be rooting for the Brit.

I will of course keep you posted with any weather updates and if play will begin on the outside courts.

Just as I say that, the covers are being taken off on the outside courts. The rain has eased a little but the forecast remains dodgy all afternoon. I'll be keeping my eyes on No. 3 Court where 29th seed Grigor Dimitrov and Grega Zemlja had to finish yesterday locked at 9-8 in the final set!

The two players are taking a little longer as they were given a 10-minute warm-up to get used to the indoor conditions. We should be underway by quarter past.

Duque-Marino won the toss and chose to receive.

"First set, Miss Robson to serve. Ready, play."

A bit of a stumble early on as Robson's second serve is called out but the umpire says it was good and she'll have another two serves.

Her second serve is definitely in this time and Duque-Marino hits out. First point to the teenager.

Robson moves to 40-15 with some big forehands. It is her best shot and an excellent weapon.

A comfortable hold to 15 as Duque-Marino nets the return.

Two first serves from Duque-Marino and Robson can't get either back. She then shoots long with a simple forehand and the Colombian has three game points.

Robson attempts a big up-the-line winner off the return but it slaps into the net and we're level.

Best shot of the match so far as Duque-Marino steps into a forehand and dips it onto the baseline. 0-15.

Two iffy backhands from Robson and Duque-Marino has THREE BREAK POINTS.

The first is saved with an excellent serve out-wide.

The first ACE of the match saves the second. Can she do the same on the third?

BREAK! Nope. Duque-Marino hits down the line off the second serve and then puts away the volley as Robson can only spoon it up for her opponent. I'm surprised that Robson is the first to snap.

Superb start from Robson as she looks to break back, fizzing a backhand return right into the corner.

Mirror journalist Ollie Holt (@OllieHolt22) on Twitter: "Centre Court one third empty for Robson match at moment, totally bizarre, not like there's a lot of action elsewhere."

BREAK BACK! Robson pushes the Colombian to deuce before breaking back with an easy pass after Duque-Marino popped up an easy half-volley for Robson to put away.

Much better from Robson, she's showing her artillery now after that extremely nervous. She moves to 40-0 with an OK drop shot but then wins the point with a crosscourt backhand pass.

She converts the game at the first time of asking as Duque-Marino wildly hits a second serve out.

Both women have really settled down now and they've just had the longest rally of the match at 14 strokes. Robson wins it as Duque-Marino's forehand barely gets halfway up the net.

We're now at deuce as Robson wins the battle of the slices before changing it up and firing a backhand crosscourt that Duque-Marino can't get back.

BREAK! Three games in a row for Robson as she once again dominates the baseline, pushing Duque-Marino from side-to-side off both wings. Impressive.

Robson really has grown into this and she's now a game from the first set as she holds to 15.

The Royal Box at Wimbledon is always full of famous faces and in there today we have Sir Bobby Charlton, Alastair Strauss, Alastair Cook and Geoffrey Boycott. Lots of cricket royalty in there, HOWZAT?

Set point Robson on the Duque-Marino serve...

Brilliantly saved by the Colombian as she rockets a top-spin forehand up the line.

A fist pump from Duque-Marino as she bangs down a big serve that Robson hits high into the air and out. The Brit will now serve for the opening set...

Lovely backhand slice that fizzes over the net from Duque-Marino and we're at 30-30.

Robson DOUBLE FAULTS and it's break-back point for the Colombian.

Robson saves it by getting a first serve in and then hitting a backhand that Duque-Marino can only wallop long.

Another double fault! Her third of the match and Duque-Marino has a second chance to break.

Again it's saved as Duque-Marino mishits the return long.

BREAK BACK! Duque-Marino converts at the third time of asking. Robson dominated the rally but was brought forward by a short ball and couldn't dip her forehand up and over the net.

The pair sit down and Robson needs to remember that she has already broken the Colombian twice in this set and doing so again will win her the set.

It's looking good at 0-30 for Robson as she attacks Duque-Marino's weak second serve.

SET! Robson has a pair of set points at 40-15. She misses on the first but takes the second, forcing Duque-Marino into a low volley that the Colombian can't guide over the tape.

I think Robson will be more relieved than elated at winning the set. Her serving was below-par there and against many others she would have lost the set.

Big slice of luck for Robson as her backhand plops onto the other side of the net after hitting the tape. 40-15.

A first serve is lashed out by Duque-Marino and Robson is off and running in the second.

At 30-30, Duque-Marino hits a high, arcing forehand that wrongfoots Robson and dips into the corner.

Good length from Robson at deuce, not going for the corners but keeping it deep and she has a BREAK POINT...

Miraculously saved by the Colombian. She hit a good wide serve but Robson was there to whack it back. Duque-Marino had left her baseline and started to come forward but still managed to nonchalantly volley it into the open court from no-mans land.

BREAK! Robson with another chance to move ahead and this time she takes it, passing Duque-Marino with a crosscourt backhand.

Over on No. 3 Court, Zemlja has just beaten 29th seed Dimitrov 11-9 in the final set with a brilliant pass on the Bulgarian's serve. Another seed bites the dust at the All England Club.

A mighty forehand from Robson and that's a comfortable hold. She's now three games ahead in the second.

At 30-0, Duque-Marino is looking good to get on the board in the second but Robson zips a return down the line that the Colombian can only pop up for an easy put-away.

Unbelievable! Duque-Marino has the easiest of smashes but Robson guesses right and manages to plop her on-the-reach backhand just over the net and the Colombian can't volley over.

That miss must have angered Duque-Marino as she then bangs down her first two ACES to wrap up the game.

What a point! It's 30-0 on Robson's serve and the pair exchanges blows and then slices before Duque-Marino's forehand looks like a winner. Robson gets her racket to it though and rifles a forehand down the line that Duque-Marino does even better to pick up on the half-volley. Great stuff.

That brilliance from Duque-Marino is all forgotten as Robson holds to 15 and is now within two of a place in round three.

Robson has three break points and they're virtual match points in all honesty...

DOUBLE BREAK! She misses with a lob on the first but will now serve for the match as Duque-Marino goes long with a forehand.

Three match points for Robson as she batters Duque-Marino with her forehand.

GAME, SET AND MATCH ROBSON!

Big hitting from both women in the final rally but yet again it goes Robson's way as Duque-Marino hits long.

Yes, Robson was heavy favourite to win today but she showed a lot of class after what was a very nervous start to the match.

Next up for the teenager is New Zealand's Marina Erakovic - another unseeded opponent. She'll feel good about reaching the fourth round and a possible meeting with seventh seed Angelique Kerber.

Thanks for joining SM for updates on this match. Look out for our commentary on the next match on Centre which is Nicolas Almagro vs. Jerzy Janowicz. That will be live on site shortly. See you there.

ID:91040: cacheID:91040:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:21892:
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Great Britain's Laura Robson celebrates winning the first set against Russia's Maria Kirilenko on June 25, 2013
Read Next:
Williams praises 'powerful' Robson
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!