Advertisement

'So sad': Tennis fans gutted by star's devastating announcement

Laura Robson, pictured here announcing her third hip surgery.
Laura Robson's once-promising tennis career could be over. Image: Instagram/Getty

Tennis fans have been left gutted after Australian-born British player Laura Robson announced she’d undergone a third surgery on her hip.

The former junior Wimbledon champion, once regarded as the next great hope of British women’s tennis, announced the news on Instagram on her 27th birthday on Thursday.

‘DISGRACE’: Outrage over top award for Margaret Court

‘BAD NEWS’: Australian Open player's positive virus test

Robson acknowledged the latest setback to her hopes of a comeback could mark the end of her once richly-promising tennis career.

“For my birthday this year I got crutches,” wrote Robson.

“Sadly I had to undergo a third operation on my hip last week. I was desperate to carry on with training but was in so much pain that surgery was unavoidable.

“Following the advice of the surgeon and other doctors, a decision has been made to prioritise the long term health of my hip.

“Where that leaves me with tennis I'm really not sure, it will depend on how things heal in the next few months.

“More than anything my goal is to have a happy, pain free life.

“This whole process has been incredibly mentally draining and I'm so grateful to the physios/family/friends that have been there to guide me through it (socially distanced of course).”

Robson’s promising career ruined by injuries

Robson was born in Melbourne before her family relocated to Singapore when she was 18 months old and then on to the UK when she was six.

The 27-year-old was a prodigious junior talent and tipped for the very top after winning the Wimbledon girls’ title at the age of just 14.

Although she became the British No.1, injuries consistently interrupted her progress and she first underwent hip surgery in July 2018, returning to the match court in the spring of 2019 only for the pain to remain.

The high point of her career was winning a silver medal in mixed doubles alongside Andy Murray at the London Olympics in 2012.

She reached her highest ranking of World No.27 the following year while still a teenager.

But serious wrist problems surfaced at the end of 2013 and she has never been the same player since.

Sadly, it now appears she may go down as one of the great unfulfilled tennis talents.

Fans were left gutted by her announcement, sending their condolences on social media.

with AAP

Click here to sign up to our newsletter for all the latest and breaking stories from Australia and around the world.