Laura Robson qualifies as lucky loser in French Open

Laura Robson's French Open heartbreak turned to joy today as she earned a place in the main draw as a lucky loser courtesy of Silvia Soler-Espinosa's ankle injury.

The 18-year-old held two match points in her final qualifying round clash with Czech Karolina Pliskova on Friday but could not take them and eventually lost in three sets.

However, Robson was the first alternate and it seemed almost certain she would get in when Soler-Espinosa hurt her ankle in practice yesterday, and the news was confirmed today.

The Londoner will find it tough to make it further, though, as she slots in against 29th seed and clay-court specialist Anabel Medina Garrigues of Spain.

The pair have met once before, in the second round of the US Open last year, where the extra experience of Medina Garrigues counted in a straight-sets win.

Today's news means Robson has now made the main draw at four successive grand slams having earned a wild card at Wimbledon and qualified at the US Open and Australian Open.

Robson joined fellow qualifier Heather Watson, Elena Baltacha and Anne Keothavong in the main draw, making it the most British women in the first round at Roland Garros for 21 years.

PA