Wimbledon 2013: Laura Robson first British woman in last-16 since 1998
Robson came from a set and 3-5 down to defeat New Zealand's Marina Erakovic, 1-6, 7-5, 6-3.
- Agence France-Presse
- Updated: June 29, 2013 09:14 pm IST
Laura Robson became the first British woman to reach the Wimbledon fourth round in 15 years when she came from a set and 3-5 down to defeat New Zealand's Marina Erakovic, 1-6, 7-5, 6-3 on Saturday.
The 19-year-old will go on to face either Alison Riske of the United States or Kaia Kanepi of Estonia, a former All England Club quarter-finalist.
Sam Smith, in 1998, was the last British woman to make the last 16 at Wimbledon.
Robson, currently ranked 38 in the world, will also break into the top 30 after the tournament, the first British woman to break that barrier since Jo Durie in April 1987.
"I was getting my b**t kicked in the first set," said Robson.
"I was struggling to return her serve in the first set and Marina was playing really well.
"But I told myself just to keep working hard, she will get nervous and that's what happened."
Erakovic, bidding to become the first New Zealand woman to reach the round of 16 at Wimbledon in the Open Era, served for the match at 5-4 in the second set before her nerve failed her and Robson went off on a key eight-game winning streak.