Injury Forces Laura Robson Out of Auckland

Written by: Bob Larson Tennis on 27th December 2013

Injury Forces Laura Robson Out of Auckland

epa03841081 Laura Robson of Great Britain hits a return to Caroline Garcia of France during their match on the third day of the 2013 US Open Tennis Championship at the USTA National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, New York, USA, 28 August 2013. The US Open runs through Monday 09 September, a 15-day schedule for the first time. EPA/JASON SZENES |

Laura Robson has worked tirelessly throughout the off season in Florida under new coaching team of Nick Saviano and Jesse Witten but it appears she may have toiled a little too hard as the world no.44 has been forced to withdraw from next week’s ASB Classic in Auckland because of an injured left wrist.

Robson’s withdrawal is the second blow to be suffered by the Auckland tournament in a matter of days. Russian Elena Vesnina, who would have been the event’s fourth seed, pulled out last week citing an ankle injury.

The 19 year-old spent just a matter of hours at home in London after returning from her Fort Lauderdale training base and heading off for the Southern Hemisphere.

Sadly just a couple of practice sessions in Melbourne, the city of her birth where an older sister still lives, were sufficient to convince 19 year-old left-hander Robson that early competition was out of the question.

Robson, now managed by IMG’s Max Eisenbud and competitively inactive since a first round defeat at the Japan Women’s Open in Osaka back in early October, still traveled to Auckland to complete all the requisite obligations. However she decided not to risk any time on court and was forced to inform tournament organizers that she’s unable to compete.

Tournament director Karl Budge, who specifically targeted Robson when he started to put his playing field together midway through the year, reported : ‘It’s something she’s had for the last couple of weeks. I think she needs a couple of extra days to recover.

“Laura said to me that she’s about 95% and just needs a couple of extra days before she can get back out on the court.

Robson injured her right wrist in the aftermath of Wimbledon and missed several tournaments in the build up to the US Open in August. At the time revealed she was putting her left arm under added pressure to compensate.

The top highest ranked British performer in the women’s tour remains hopeful of being fully fit for the Australian Open that begins at Melbourne Park on January 13. However she will be replaced in the main draw in Auckland by Austria’s 179th Tamira Paszek who while being sympathetic, views the news as some welcome good fortune.

“It is always tough to start the year with injuries. I am really sorry for Laura, but it’s really fortunate for me,” said Paszek who was preparing to play the qualifying rounds.

“A big thank you to Karl, the tournament director and I’m very excited to be participating in the main draw here.

“It’s two more days of the off-season. I feel good and healthy, I was ready to play tomorrow, but now I’m ready to play on Monday.

“I had a rough year, so it’s nice to start the year in the main draw, thanks to the tournament director here hopefully I’ll get some good wins and some confidence, I’ll try my best.”

New Zealand’s Marina Erakovic is now the ninth-highest ranked player in the tournament, meaning that if there is an injury to any of the players above her she will be seeded at the Classic for the first time.

Topics: 10sballs, Auckland, Elena Vesnina, Laura Robson, Marina Erakovic, Sports, Tennis, Tennis News, US Open, Wimbledon