Laura Robson’s rise places two Britons in top 50

Laura Robson’s rise in the WTA rankings means Great Britain have two players in the top 50 for the first time since 1987.

The 18-year-old occupies 50th place after a first-round win at the Shenzhen Open last week, while Heather Watson is at a career-high 47.

The last Brits to be simultaneously in the top 50 were Jo Durie and Sara Gomer back in July, 1987.

There are no other Britons in the top 100, with Anne Keothavong down in No 142, Johanna Konta at No 153 and Elena Baltacha further back at No 181.

Meanwhile, captain Judy Murray yesterday named her team for the Fed Cup clash in Israel next month.

The four-strong party consists of Robson, Watson, debutant Konta and Keothavong. Seasoned campaigner Baltacha is injured and will miss out but will travel with the team regardless.

“We have a great squad and will be aiming to put ourselves in World Group contention again,” Murray said.

Great Britain, along with 15 other nations, are vying to take one of the top two spots on offer and progress to the World Group II play-offs in April. The tie takes place between 6 and 9 February.

Watson is currently racing to be fit to play in the Australian Open after pulling out of this week’s Hobart International because of a right elbow injury suffered in her three-set loss to Kiki Bertens of the Netherlands at the Auckland Classic in New Zealand.