Episode Four: Laura's Story

Laura Robson, Alfie Hewett and Jack Draper return for the fourth episode of their pre-Wimbledon series celebrating one hundred years of Centre Court.   Laura's been asking most of the questions so far; now the tables are turned!   What was it like winning the Wimbledon juniors at 14 and then making her Centre Court debut in the main draw at 16?   This was one of the most promising junior careers the game has ever seen.  Winning an Olympic silver medal at 18 was a highlight; likewise making the last 16 of both Wimbledon and the US Open.  But that success brought it's own unique pressures and injuries soon started to disrupt the trajectory.  Before Laura's 21st birthday, she was experiencing pain which would ultimately prevent her tennis career hitting the absolute heights.   This is the full story of an injury-blighted career, the full list of surgeries which cut short the dream.  Now new chapters begin...
Full time codes:
00:55.  So how's this working?!  Jack's ready to turn the tables, but where's Alfie?!
01:25.  Laura's run to the junior title in 2008 came at the ripe old age of 14.  What was the real incentive?!
02:30.  Jack's keen to know how things happened so quickly, so early in her junior career.
03:05.  Alfie drills down into how things changed after winning Wimbledon, a tournament at the end of her road.  Things get "creepy"..
04:25.  Jack also had a stellar junior career; they compare training schedules.  Would Laura have done anything differently with hindsight?
06:15.  Alfie wants to dive deeper into the lessons Laura learned from hitting stardom so young.  It's a story...
07:15.  In 2012, at the age of 18, Laura's nervously waiting for a place in London Olympics.  She comes from "a huge Olympics family" so why is she still bitter to this day?!
08:45.  Alfie shares memories of Olympic/Paralympic Opening Ceremonies before Jack delves for Shazza stories...
10:30.  Laura's best moment at 2012 came in the Mixed Doubles, partnering Andy Murray.  So how did that combo come about?!
11:15.  Preparation for her Mixed Gold Medal match was rather bizarre; she watched her partner play the singles final from the players' box!
12:10.  Kathy Robson goes walkabout.  It's a family affair, as it transpires... Jack was 10.  He was there.
14:00. She may not remember the podium, but she what happened next still grates... Whole Foods, Cincinnati, gets an unlikely mention.
15:30. It's Tim Henman time!
16:40. We fast-forward to 2014.  The second-half of this pod is not masses of fun for Laura.  Sorry, L!
17:40. Jack wants to clarify exactly how many surgeries Laura had.  Most of us lost count...
18:10.  She's only 20 at this point.  After such a promising junior career, she's heading back to square one "so many times".
19:05. Jack and Alfie are stacking up the questions now.  How did she stay positive and retain belief?  
19:50. Things get "brutal".  Alfie asks the thing that's on everyone's mind...
21:05. It took until May 2022 for Laura to confirm her retirement.  So, asks Jack, how many times did she think about it before?
22:30. Time to take this pod back to planet positive!  With all that off her chest, what does the future now hold for Laura?
23:40. Laura accepts she's still so young and feels excitement for the future.  Dark and negative times are in the past, she says...
24:10. Watch Wimbledon Uncovered in 360, powered by Vodafone.
24:30. Thoughts ahead of Wimbledon; is Alfie going to win the singles, is Jack going to draw Novak again?!

The whole series is now available. Enjoy!