Victorious Robson keeps mum in dark

(PA)

Laura Robson had a ticking-off from mum yesterday. Britain's 15-year-old Wimbledon junior champion has been texting home with her results in the Australian Open girls' competition but it slipped her mind after she won her semi-final here yesterday.

''She sent me a text because I forgot,'' Robson said following her 6-4,6-3 victory over Noppawan Lertcheewakarn, the Thai girl she beat in the Wimbledon final. ''She heard from a million other people, so she asked me: 'Why didn't you send me the score first?' I also heard from my brother. He doesn't usually send texts, but he and his friends stayed up. He can't have got any sleep.''

With the final, against Russia's Ksenia Pervak, due to have started at 1pm here today (2am GMT), last night was likely to have been sleepless for most of the Robson household back home in Wimbledon as Laura attempted to become the first British winner of the girls' tournament since Annabel Croft in 1984.

Yesterday's semi-final was due to start at 3pm, when the temperature was a scorching 44C, but the match was delayed for two hours because of the heat, by which time it had dropped to a bearable 32C.

Robson has grown more tired as the week has progressed and struggled in the early stages against Lertcheewakarn, losing the first three games, but took command once she found her range on her serve and groundstrokes.

Lertcheewakarn, two years older and the world No 1 in the junior rankings, led 4-2, whereupon Robson won seven games in a row. The Thai rallied briefly in the second set, but Robson's big groundstrokes and aggressive tactics won the day.

Today's final was being played in the 15,000-capacity Rod Laver Arena. Robson (left) had her first experience of the main show court on Thursday evening, when she watched Roger Federer beat Andy Roddick.

''I'd never seen Federer play live before, so that was really good,'' she said. ''It's quite a big stadium and I'm looking forward to getting Hawk-Eye again. That's fun.'' If she wins the title, Robson said she would celebrate by going shopping.