Former British No 1 Laura Robson admits she will be cheering on one player from the commentary box at this year’s Australian Open.
Speaking to Tennis365 as she prepares to join the Eurosport and discovery+ team at the Australian Open, Robson has out Bulgaria’s Grigor Dimitrov as a player who can enjoy a big run in Melbourne after his emotional win at the Brisbane International last week.
Dimitrov claimed his first ATP Tour title since 2017 as he beat Holger Rune in straight sets to win the Brisbane to seal a ninth career title and his first since the 2017 ATP Finals and now Robson is pulling for the world No 13 to shine at the Australian Open.
“I have been vibing up Grigor Dimitrov and I just really want him to do well,” Robson told Tennis365.
“To not win a title in five years and to start 2024 playing as well as he did in Brisbane and beating Holger Rune in the final in straight sets, he has to be a player to watch at the Australian Open.
“Just the way he plays is so beautiful to watch and the variety he has in his game. It feels like he can do anything on a court.
“He almost has too many options to run through in his brain, which must be a nice option to have.
“Do I think he’s going to win the tournament? Probably not, but I want to see him go deep.”
Turning to the women’s draw, Robson is backing Coco Gauff to back up her US Open win last September to shine on a Grand Slam stage once again over the next two weeks.
Gauff defended her Auckland title as she beat Ukrainian Elina Svitolina to win the ASB Classic in three sets.
The 19-year-old American won 6-7 (4) 6-3 6-3 in just over two and a half hours to make it 10 straight wins at the event and Robson now expects her to challenge for another major in Melbourne.
“To get to the final, I will have to go with Coco,” stated Robson.
“She won on the first week of the year in Auckland and that is a tough place to play. It’s super windy, that’s a tough place to play.
“I’m sure she will get lots of time on the practice court in Melbourne and hopefully she can do very well.”
When it comes to picking a champion, Robson believes world No 1 Iga Swiatek is the player to beat.
“I will always go with Iga,” added Robson. “I think it’s now a 16-match win streak from the end of last year so she’s coming into the season with a load of confidence.
“Aryna Sabalenka was in the final of Brisbane. She won the tournament last year. She plays a really big game. Then, you throw in Elena Rybakina who she played in the final last year, who really enjoys these conditions. There’s a bunch of people thrown in there, but if I had to pick one, I would always go with Iga.
“There’s maybe five or six people that I would throw in there, but I would love to see the resurgence of Angie Kerber.”
