Laura Robson

TomTraubert · Futures level

RE: Laura Robson

WD40 · Club Coach

Charleston is a Premier event, and I was referring to the latter part of this year and the future. I think she may play a few more events than 16-17 as she still has to build up her experience at these events.

philwrig · Hall of fame

She'll still play a few 220k's but when there is a big tournament alternative that is likely to be the option she takes.

Helen40 · Grand Slam Champion

Any news on whether she's staying with Miles yet?

philwrig · Hall of fame

Helen40 wrote:
Any news on whether she's staying with Miles yet?

I think she's sticking with him for the US hard court swing, but no permanent deal has been struck yet.

indiana · Tennis legend

Yes, as TomTraubert indicated Laura has played in quite a number of WTA internationals this year in addition to the now inevitably increased number of Premier and above tournaments.

I make it 16 tournaments in all already this year in addition to the Fed Cup weeks. I'd say that's plenty and am quite happy to see her taking a few weeks off and maybe work on a few things rather than chase round further WTA Internationals.

I remember thinking around spingtime that she seemed to be jetting around a bit much, especially when apparently not fully healthy. As it is she will still probably end the year not far off the mid 20s in tournaments played.

indiana · Tennis legend

As for the future, I have not heard or seen any indication that Laura intends to cut down to as little as 16-17 tournaments a year in the foreseeable future.

She may cut down a bit, but low 20s still seems eminently readonable as she continues to learn and hopefully progress.

tony_orient · ATP qualifying

I think Laura's schedule for the US Open Series makes a lot of sense. She had had a week off after Wimbledon, followed by a decent training block. Once she is in the US she may as well play tournaments every week which is currently the schedule. If she does unexpectedly well in one of the first 3 lead up tournaments she could always withdraw from another one to have a bit of a rest.

I think players generally cut down to 16-17 tournaments once they are consistently playing several matches in each event. Laura doesn't have that consistency yet, so she needs to play more events.

WD40 · Club Coach

Anyone else notice that Laura has now taken the GB No.1 spot in doubles from Heather now as well as the singles?

Helen40 · Grand Slam Champion

Nope, that's interesting. I hope Hev gets better soon though. I am generally a Laura fan more than a Hev one, but competition will drive them both, and they're both Brits.

tony_orient · ATP qualifying

Looks like Laura will be changing agency to IMG from Octagon based on this Daily Mail article (though once you read the article it's clear the news is not confirmed yet): http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/tennis/article-2375433/British-tennis-star-Laura-Robson-set-to-IMG-agency-cash-growing-profile.html

In one respect it is perfect timing for Laura to be negotiating a new deal as her profile has never been higher. On the negative side she has already had a lot of changes this year with her parents moving to Greece and changing coach so this will be another new thing to contend with.

WD40 · Club Coach

This on her Facebook page for all her young fans to see.

-- Edited by WD40 on Thursday 25th of July 2013 05:34:41 PM

WD40 · Club Coach

I will admit that that fact does worry me a bit............but having followed Laura it is more than likely that the first thing she does win will be either a Premier event or a GS LOL!

-- Edited by WD40 on Thursday 25th of July 2013 05:44:50 PM

steven · Tennis legend

WD40 wrote:

This on her Facebook page for all her young fans to see.

Ah, not being a Facebooker, I hadn't seen that. I'm glad she lets her young fans see that it's hard work as well as play - I'm sure she does work very hard (even with her level of natural talent, you can't reach the top 40 as a teenager without a huge amount of effort) but sometimes get the impression she thinks it's uncool to admit to it.

Obviously it's up to Laura what she tells people about, but given how many girls probably want to be her (which is brilliant - much better that they want to be her than just wanting to be famous for doing next to nothing), the more she manages to get across the impression of "you have to work really, really hard but it's all worth it," the better

She seems to have her head screwed on the right way too, in all the important ways, so the worry is simply that she comes under too much pressure / temptation to do the celeb stuff in a period that could end up defining how far she goes in the game. Not her fault (quite the opposite) but still a concern.

-- Edited by steven on Thursday 25th of July 2013 06:52:37 PM

korriban · Challenger level

I can sort of understand it, given all the hoopla at Wimbledon, but the announcement of Laura changing agents/management companies at the age of 19 smacks a little of cart before horse.

As a reminder, she may have reached the 4th round of both the US Open and now Wimbledon, but she hasn't actually won a tournament of any description, WTA or ITF, singles or doubles, pro or junior since the age of 14!!!! Not one! I can think of another very famous female tennis icon who in the end became famous not for her tennis, but her looks.....and her tennis results got worse and worse to the point of becoming a running joke. She never won a WTA singles tournment.

I am absolutely convinced Laura would be a fantastic "face of" for pretty much any cosmetics, fashion, sports or jewellery company on the planet.....even now before any actual achievements. This worries me, because my impression is that she'd love every second of all the distraction that goes along with it, but there's so much hard work needed to get her close to the top 10, let alone to be a GS contender.

By the way, here's an article from today's Mirror. It's a tabloid, so there's always a need to create stories.......but is there a single person on this forum who would EVER imagine a Murray hanging out in this sort of company.....especially before he'd achieved anything in the game?

http://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/celebrity-news/laura-robson-arg-towie-tom-2088074

My point is that there's a danger of doing the "superstar" thing, without actually being one.....and that if everyone around you keeps telling you that you are fantastic, the next big thing, and super talented....this is the worst possible thing for someone at her stage of career development. BE CAREFUL!