Champion has Laura confidence

Jul 6 2008 By Gavin Berry

RISING star Laura Robson wrote herself into the Wimbledon history books as the first British winner of the Girls Singles title for 24 years.

Robson may be just 14 but she's already dreaming of a possible showdown with newly-crowned women's champion Venus Williams next year.

The Aussie-born youngster would love a wild card for the main event and said: "Hopefully they will give me one. Last year they gave it to the winners of the juniors so hopefully they will give it to me.

"I will take Venus Williams down if I play her next year!"

Robson certainly doesn't lack confidence but mum Cathy revealed the kid champ will be brought back down to earth today by being made to do housework after a celebratory dinner at Pizza Hut last night.

That was a reminder of just how young this new hero is after an impressive 6-3 3-6 6-1 victory over 16-year-old Thai third seed Noppawan Lertcheewakarn.

Robson played in front of the biggest crowd of her life on Court One but didn't take stage fright as she emulated Annabel Croft who won the event in 1984.

Proud mum Cathy - a former professional basketball player - said: "Laura is just like any normal teenager.

"We are planning on going out to Pizza Hut for a meal tonight and hopefully she'll come with us and then on Sunday she'll be back to doing the usual housework."

Robson will have an extra chore - a trophy to polish - as well as dusting down the furniture after holding her nerve in windy conditions to thrill her followers.

She follows the likes of Amelie Mauresmo, Martina Hingis and Tracy Austin as junior singles winners and her feat is amazing considering she doesn't turn 15 until January.

Ecstatic Robson said: "It was so good today as all the crowd were behind me and it was an overwhelming experience.

"I didn't feel relaxed and I thought I was going to be sick when I walked on court as there were so many people watching. In the second set I went a bit mad but I got it back together and that is how I won."

Asked if she had received any response from Marat Safin after saying on Friday she would like to escort the Russian to the Champions Ball she said: "I got a letter from Safin's agent and I've memorised it.

"It said, 'Sorry I cannot come to the ball but good luck tomorrow'. I think he is a bit too old for me anyway."

Left-hander Robson lives just five minutes from the All England Club which will be handy if she gets a wild card. She was born in Melbourne when her father was working there and later lived in Singapore before moving to England where she has spent most of her life.

There was joy for the British when Jeremy Bates teamed up with Sweden's Anders Jarryd to defeat Henri Leconte and famous Iranian Mansour Bahrami 6-4 4-6 10-7 in the men's senior invitational doubles.