Laura Robson - youngest British player ever to win Junior Wimbledon

When Laura beat third seed Noppawan Lertcheewakarn in the final of the 2008 Girls Singles at Wimbledon on Saturday 5th July 2008, the world sat up and took notice. She had already beaten the number 1 and number 9 seeds on her way to the final and seemed unfazed by the Court 1 experience.

However, many in the tennis world have been aware of Laura's precocious talent for years. She was the first British 13 year old (boy or girl) ever to win an ITF International U18 tournament. And now she is the youngest British player ever to win Junior Wimbledon.

Indeed you only have to look at the rest of her family to appreciate why Laura Robson is arguably the most exciting tennis player of her age in the world.

Laura's mum was a professional basketball player, while her brother swam an Olympic qualifying time. One of her cousins represents Australia in kayaking, another pulls on the Australian colours in hockey. Sporting success through-and-through.


Laura has a big future ahead of her. She’s the number one in her age group in the world, and is already number 5 in the ITF U18 world ranking, which at the age of 14 is an exceptional achievement. She is higher than any of the worlds current top 10 at the same age.

In December 2006, Robson won the prestigious Eddie Herr International tournament, beating the top seed in a close final.

Weeks later she reached the last four of the Junior Orange Bowl. Both tournaments attract the very best juniors in the world, and the roll-call of previous winners of the Eddie Herr International include Steffi Graf and Anna Kournikova.

Earlier in 2006, Robson won the leading international U13 tournament in Annecy, France despite being a year younger than the age group she entered. She also made the final of the Auray Open Super 12 in France.

In 2007 Robson reached the final of her second ever ITF U18 event – the Prokom Cup in Poland. The following week she won one of the toughest ETA U14 events in Holland – the Cup Carl Gantois event.


Personal details

Date of birth: 21 January 1994

County: Middlesex

Honours and achievements

2008: Wins Girls' singles title at Wimbledon

2008: Finalist Les Petits As, Tarbes

2007: Wins Eddie Herr tournament (G14 Florida USA)

2007: Wins singles title at ITF junior tournament in Finland

2006: Semi Finals of Orange Bowl U14 tournament

2006: Champion Eddie Herr International U12 tournament

2006: Champion Annecy U13 tournament

2005: Winner of U14 Ariel indoor series

2003: Reached third round of ETA U12 event when only 10

2003: Represented GB in U12 ETA team event

2003: Represented GB in U12 ETA team event