ANOTHER sunny Saturday, another ultimately emphatic defeat for British tennis. But whereas last week’s Davis Cup demise once again underlined the fact Andy Murray stands in a class of his own in the men’s game, Laura Robson had already done more than enough in her early tiptoeing into the professional game to suggest decades of paucity on the female side may be at an end.

The starkest reading of the record books might suggest Robson, the 14-year-old who entranced the nation’s tennis hopefuls by winning the Wimbledon girls title less than three months ago, was put firmly in her place by a 6-2 3-6 6-0 beating in the Lawn Tennis Association’s $75,000 tournament at Shrewsbury.

Barely 16 hours earlier she had pummelled an opponent old enough to be her mother, but the combination of Estonia’s Maret Ani, who is ranked 105 in the world but is a long-term member of the top 100, and the fatigue of playing four exacting matches in as many days finally took its toll.

Murray, who a week ago implored his lacklustre Davis Cup teammates to show more emotion, would have been proud of Robson. More than once, when grimacing a pained look at either her mother Kathy standing on the balcony of the Welti Centre or her coach Martijn Bok and fitness trainer Steve Cotter didn’t suffice as an antidote to her annoyance, she hurled her racket noisily down on the court.

Once the infuriation of defeat had subsided, a philosophical attitude that overnight success is unattainable in today’s top flight tennis and her progression from junior to senior will be an extended process came to bear. She is £1,579.95 richer after making the semi-final of her first British outing and she now has sufficient evidence to believe she can start making inroads into the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour.

“I now know I can play with the women players but they have got so much more experience,” said Robson, who needs to contest one more tournament at this level to attain a world ranking. “I’m still going to play juniors in the big events next year and just work my way into the women’s tour because there is no rush at all.” The need for patience has been impressed upon Robson by her management company Octagon and those paid handsomely by the Lawn Tennis Association to finally produce a female player capable of banishing the sad fact that no British woman has made Wimbledon’s quarter-finals since Jo Durie nearly a quarter of a century ago.

Since her Wimbledon experience, refreshing to the tennis public but termed “outrageous” by her management company, Robson has been effectively gagged by Octagon along with her parents and her coaches. The fear is that too much exposure would be counterproductive for a player so young.

Finally she was allowed to divulge her thoughts, revealing: “This has been a bit of a surprise this week and I only brought enough clothes for one or two matches. So my mum had to bring up more stuff from home.” And has she been surprised at becoming a minor sporting celebrity?

The question is met by a predictable girly giggle before answering: “I can sign autographs without looking now and I’ve heard I’ve got a couple of fans sites but I haven’t looked at them.” Meanwhile optimism continues to grow. Carl Maes, the LTA’s head of women’s tennis who worked with former world No 1 Kim Clijsters at a similar age, enthused: “For her level of experience the quarter-final against [Tzipi] Obziler was a near perfect performance and I only saw one unforced error.

“Losing to Ani was understandable because it was another step up in class of opposition but she will learn and be better next time.” And Nigel Sears, the LTA’s head women’s coach, who when his daughter brings her boyfriend round for Sunday lunch is confronted by Andy Murray, added: “To me there are distinct similarities between Laura and Andy. You cannot fail to recognise such a depth of class when they are both on a tennis court.”

Jennifer Capriati In 1990, she became the youngest French Open semi-finalist, at 14. In 1993, she took a break and was arrested for shoplifting and possession of drugs. Came back to win grand slams in 2001 and 2002

Andrea Jaeger In 1980, aged 15, she became the youngest US Open semi-finalist. She reached two grand slam finals, but injury and disillusionment led to her retirement in 1985. She is now a nun

Tracy Austin The youngest to win a pro tournament, aged 14, in 1977. In 1979, she became the youngest ever US Open champion, and won again in 1981. Back injury ended her career