Mirror image challenge for Laura Robson in girls' Australian final

The Briton cruised to a 6-3, 6-1 triumph in 65 minutes,

converting five of her 13 break opportunities while dropping her own serve just once. The 16-year-old lost last year's final to Ksenia Pervak when she admitted to being hampered by nerves but she hoped that would not be a problem on her return to Rod Laver Arena.

"Last year I was really nervous going into it," she said. "I didn't feel comfortable playing against the girl that I did.

"Hopefully this year I will be more comfortable going into the match. I will be playing the identical twin sister of the girl I beat so that should hopefully help me."

Robson added that she had two specific plans after reaching the final of the girls' tournament: dinner in a popular beachfront neighbourhood and then watching the men's semi-final.

Robson – who made it to the quarter- finals of the women's doubles with Australia's Sally Peers – said she is feeling better about her game this year since playing mixed doubles in the Hopman Cup with Andy Murray.

"What I've learned from him is just that he runs every ball down – and he's a lot faster than me," Robson laughed. "It's a good example."

She and Murray lost the Hopman Cup final to Spain's Tommy Robredo and Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez, but Robson believes the experience stood her in good stead. "Playing all that doubles you feel more confident coming into singles as well," said Robson, who turned 16 last week. "I have good phases and phases which could be better, but I am getting more confident."

Asked how she would prepare for her final with Karolina Pliskova, Robson said her plans did not include tennis.

"We're going to dinner at St Kilda tonight," she told a small, packed room of mostly British reporters. "I want to have dinner early so I can come back to my hotel and watch the match."

She added: "If Andy wins (the men's singles final] of course more kids are going to want to start playing. Still, if it was a Wimbledon win it'd be even more."