Tennis: British girls at the double

LAURA ROBSON celebrated her 16th birthday by winning her women's doubles first-round match at the Australian Open.

Robson teamed with Australia's Sally Peers to beat experienced American duo Jill Craybas and Abigail Spears 6-3, 7-5.

It was a good morning for the British women in doubles action with Scotland's Elena Baltacha and Sarah Borwell also progressing to the second round in their respective matches.

Baltacha followed her upset victory over 30th seed Kateryna Bondarenko in the singles yesterday by partnering Liga Dekmeijere to a 7-5, 6-2 victory over Lucie Safarova and Aleksandra Wozniak.

Borwell then completed a hat-trick of win alongside American Raquel Kops-Jones.

The pair defeated Polona Hercog and Petra Martic 6-4, 7-6 (7/3).

In the women's singles, sixth seed Venus Williams romped through to the third round with a comfortable 6-2, 7-5 victory over Austria's Sybille Bammer.

Denmark's Caroline Wozniacki, the fourth seed, enjoyed a 6-3, 6-1 win over Germany's Julia Goerges.

Former finalist Ana Ivanovic, of Serbia, (No.20) was beaten 6-7, 7-5, 6-4 by the unseeded Gisela Dulko.