ROME —Briton Laura Robson beat Venus Williams 6-3, 6-2 in blustery conditions at the ATP/WTA Rome Masters on Monday and now faces the second half of a one-two punch when she next plays Williams’ sister and world No 1, Serena.
Reuters
The top-seeded American, who was watching from the stands, has targeted this week and hopes to follow up her Madrid trophy from the weekend.
“I’ve never played her and I have always wanted to,” Robson said of her Serena date. “It’ll be a good test and she is playing probably her best tennis and so she is not losing and so it’s going to be insanely tough, but I’m just going to go out there and do my best.”
The 39th-ranked Robson moved through to the second round in just under 90 minutes against Venus, the 1999 Rome winner now ranked 24th. The five-time Wimbledon winner committed six double-faults, and dropped serve five times. Robson (19) closed it out on her third match point.
Venus pulled out of her first match last week with back pain and had reportedly been training at half strength in Rome.
