British tennis sensation Laura Robson took some time out to be with nature this morning at Bonorong Wildlife Park ahead of her opening round match at the Moorilla Hobart International.
“I have had a really great morning at the wildlife centre,” said the Olympic Silver medalist after hand-feeding kangaroos and coming face to face with a Tasmanian devil on her first visit to the Island State.
Robson is coming off the back of a huge year in 2012 in which she paired with British powerhouse Andy Murray to take Olympic silver in mixed doubles at the London Games. “The Olympics in general were a highlight for me. For the last 4 or 5 years all I wanted to do was play at my home games, so to come away with a medal was pretty exciting,” she said.
But 2013 is a new year and the 18-year old can expect a tough first round match when she comes up against eighth seed Sloane Stephens of the United States.
Stephens, the current world No.38, was touted as a future world No. 1 by 15 time grand slam champion and 2007 Moorilla Hobart International competitor, Serena Williams, after their quarterfinal match-up at the Brisbane International on Thursday.
“It’s definitely going to be a tough match,” said Robson, “I watched her game against Serena in Brisbane and she played really well there.”
If Robson can get past Stephens in her first round match she will surely be eyeing off a maiden WTA title. “I’ve had a semi-final and a final, so it would be pretty good to win one,” she said, “Hopefully it will be this week.”
By Nick Cuthbertson