Robson wins Wimbledon girls' singles title, ends drought for Britain

WIMBLEDON, England -- Laura Robson gave Britain its first Wimbledon singles title in 24 years.

The 14-year-old Robson, who was born in Australia but moved to England when she was 6, won the girls' title at the All England Club on Saturday. She beat 16-year-old Noppawan Lertcheewakarn of Thailand 6-3, 3-6, 6-1.

"Being Wimbledon girls' champion sounds really good," Robson said. "It was great today because the crowd were behind me and it was such an experience.

"I didn't feel relaxed and composed. I thought I was going to be sick when I walked onto court because there were so many people watching. In the second set I went a bit mad but got it back together and managed to win."

Robson is the youngest girls' Wimbledon champion since 13-year-old Martina Hingis won in 1994, and the first British singles champion at Wimbledon since Annabel Croft won the girls' title in 1984.

There is no prize money, but Robson hopes the victory on Court 1 will earn her a wild card into next year's main draw. Last year's girls' champion, Urszula Radwanska, lost to eventual women's finalist Serena Williams in the second round.

Laura Robson is the youngest champion since Martina Hingis at 13 in 1994. (Getty Images)

"I'd take her down," Robson jokingly said of Williams, who lost to older sister Venus 7-5, 6-4 in Saturday's women's final.

Cheers erupted on Centre Court during the men's doubles final when news of Robson's victory was flashed on the scoreboard.

The last British singles player to win a main draw title was Virginia Wade in 1977. Fred Perry, in 1936, was the last man to win a singles title at Wimbledon.

When an Australian journalist asked Robson at her post-match news conference whether she felt any connection to her birthplace, the question was greeted by British reporters with shouts of "Go away -- she's ours!" She then firmly replied, "No."

Robson, who lives near the All England Club in southwest London, appears to still be without a date for the champions ball after saying she would be interested in going with men's semifinalist Marat Safin.

"He's turned me down, unfortunately, but I think he's a bit old for me anyway," Robson said of the 28-year-old Russian.