Tennis News : Murray positive as Britons crash

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Australian Open



  • Venue: Melbourne Park

  • Date: 16-29 January

  • Time: 0000 GMT

  • Coverage: Watch live on Eurosport; singles finals and one men's semi-final on BBC Two/Red Button/HD channel/website; listen on BBC Radio 5 live; text commentaries and reports on the BBC Sport website




Laura Robson is beaten in the first round of the Australian Open

Robson is ranked 134 in the world

Fed Cup captain Judy Murray believes there are plenty of positives to take despite five Britons crashing out of the Australian Open in the first round.


Six British players qualified for the tournament - the first time this had happened at a Grand Slam since 1992 - two of the women were under 20.


Laura Robson and Heather Watson were knocked out in straight sets but the Murray believes the future is bright.


"It's a great learning experience for them," she told BBC Sport.


Speaking to BBC Radio 5 live, Murray added: "If they can learn from that and look carefully with their coaches at what they have to work on to make the difference from where they are now and getting up towards that level and up towards the top players in the world then that's what it's all about.



Analysis


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Elena Baltacha probably had the best chance of a win, against Stephanie Foretz-Gacon, but sprayed the ball around, squandered break point chances and lost in straight sets. And while Laura Robson and Heather Watson were up against class acts - potential champion Victoria Azarenka and former number one Jelena Jankovic - both will believe they can play better than they did.





"I don't think anybody was expecting them to get through that and for those kids to be able to play against two of the best players in the world at the start of the year is a great test and a great lesson for them.


"It shows them what they are up against and what the level is like at the top of the game."


Three of the four women qualified by right due to their world ranking, while Robson, 17, battled through qualifying, beating Olga Savchuk of the Ukraine, Italian Anna Floris and American Melanie Oudin.


"Laura coming through qualifiers was a bonus particularly as she was on crutches about four weeks ago so it was really great to get her through."


She spent two weeks on crutches after doctors diagnosed the early signs of a stress fracture of the left shin.


































Anne Keothavong and Elena Baltacha also crashed out at the first round stage and they will join Robson and Watson ahead of next month's Fed Cup in Israel.


Keothavong will remain in Melbourne though as she is set to play in the ladies doubles partnering German Mona Barthel, who beat her in the singles draw, when she was forced to withdraw with food poisoning.


They face Petra Martic of Croatia and Kristina Mladenovic of France in the first round.





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