Laura Robson scales heights with destruction of world No 4 Agnieszka Radwanska

British youngster in action at the Madrid Open

Laura Robson of Great Britain plays a backhand in her match against Magdalena Rybarikova of Slovakia during the Mutua Madrid Open tennis tournament at the Caja Magica (Getty)

Laura Robson confirmed her reputation as a player for the big occasion by moving into the third round of the Madrid Open on Monday after one of the biggest victories of her career. The 19-year-old Briton, who had won only two matches in her previous six tournaments before arriving in the Spanish capital, beat the world No 4, Agnieszka Radwanska, 6-3, 6-1 in just an hour and 13 minutes.

While Robson's victories over Kim Clijsters and Li Na at last year's US Open and over Petra Kvitova at this year's Australian Open were more significant, Radwanska was the highest-ranked opponent she has beaten. The 24-year-old Pole reached last summer's Wimbledon final and has been performing with her usual consistency this year.

Robson has had trouble with her serve recently, but the former Wimbledon junior champion did not have to defend a single break point in the first set, in which she made the only break in the eighth game. Robson served out for the set, which she took with a big forehand winner.

Radwanska was broken in all four of her service games in the second set as the Briton drove home her advantage. Robson next faces the winner of Tuesday's meeting between Serbia's Ana Ivanovic and South Africa's Chanelle Scheepers.

Andy Murray will also play his first match on Tuesday. He faces Germany's Florian Mayer, the world No 26, who lost his only previous meeting with the Scot in Rome two years ago. Novak Djokovic, the world No 1, meets Bulgaria's Grigor Dimitrov in his opening match, while Roger Federer begins the defence of his title against Radek Stepanek. In the third round Federer could face Kei Nishikori, who beat Austria's Jürgen Melzer 6-3, 6-2 in his opening match. Milos Raonic, the world No 14, earned a second-round meeting with Fernando Verdasco.