Robson can be last Brit at French Open despite Wozniacki draw
Published:Tough draws have become almost second nature to Laura Robson at Grand Slams, with Jelena Jankovic (twice), Angelique Kerber and Francesca Schiavone among her previous opening-round opponents.
Based on name value, the French Open appears to represent her toughest challenge yet as she has been paired with Caroline Wozniacki in the first round, but there is every reason to believe the Brit may actually be favourite to reach round two.
Robson has already beaten world number four Agnieska Radwanska and Venus Williams on clay this year, with her latest two defeats coming in a final-set tie-break to Ana Ivanovic and then to world number one Serena Williams.
This is in comparison to Wozniacki, who has lost all of her four matches on red clay in 2013 and these have also all been against opponents of a far lesser world ranking.
Therefore, it may be worth taking that Robson goes the furthest of the three female Brits in the women’s draw.
The other two Brits have both avoided seeds in the opening round, unlike Robson, and Heather Watson will be looking to reach the second round at Roland Garros for the third successive year.
She has Stefanie Voegele first and the result is likely to hinge on the state of Watson’s game after two months out with glandular fever. Meanwhile, Voegele dropped only three games in beating Watson indoors in Memphis earlier this year.
Voegele is 8/13 to triumph again, with Watson the slight underdog at 6/5.
The final Brit is Elena Baltacha, who has only ever won one game at the French Open and that was against a qualifier.
She has drawn Marina Erakovic first, which is winnable as the Kiwi is far from a clay-court specialist herself.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publication
