The upcoming 2010 Australian Open tennis tournament won't start until January 18. Most media hypes scrutinize the top and well-known players: Roger Federer, the Williams sisters, Justine Henin, Maria Sharapova, Rafael Nadal, and others. They hype their potential to either win or command attention. Lower seed or qualifying players don't get much attention unless they beat a top-seeded player. If you don't have the potential to win often, no one cares.
Nevertheless, my hype goes to this junior turned pro named Laura Robson from England.
The girl is only 15 and turned pro at 13 (she still plays juniors). She hasn't won much, though. She will play a qualifying tournament to enter the Australian Open against a top seed. It's hard luck for these type of players. But because her career is just starting, these youngsters do get wild cards to play in major tournaments. How they are judged is a matter of debate. Though she is citizen of Great Britain, her birthplace is Australia. See the connection? Even so, she is only allowed a certain amount of wild cards to tournaments on a yearly basis. Likewise, you have to apply for these entries on a lottery attempt. Some tournaments will give you one, others will not.
If she doesn't make the tournament by qualifying, she deserves a wild card simply because of her left-handed serve. That serve alone is worth the price of admission. You don't know where it's going to go? To her own side? Her opponent side? To the stands? But when it goes in, it is tough to return. It either comes hard or soft with wicked movement. The spin of the ball is that of cricket bowler or a baseball pitcher that throws the slider. The returners can't tell where she is going to locate her serve because her motion is tough to read. She reminds me of a baseball pitcher, Billy Wagner. Very unpredictable.
She is well-coached, has powerful ground strokes (two-handed backhand and forehand), great attitude, and great composure under pressure. Her main edge is that she is one of the few lefties on tour. However, she is very slow in her lateral movements and has a gunslinger mentality for low-percentage shots in odd situations. Likewise, she doesn't have a go-to shot in tough situations. Finally, she needs time to gain more match-play experience.
With the upcoming Australian Open, media always mention about top players who can win the tournament or not. Low seeds or qualifiers don't get much press before a tournament, but only during a major if they win against a top seed. My hope is that Laura Robson from England gets some attention due to her potential in being a top player and an unpredictability that entertains and thrills fans. As of now, she just played the Hopman Cup representing Great Britain along with Andy Murray. Doubles, anyone?
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