Australian-born tennis prodigy, Laura Robson, has lost her debut World Tennis Association (WTA) tour match. She was defeated by her tough Czech opponent, Iveta Benesova.

The 14-year-old was beaten 6-1, 2-6, 3-6, and will now return to the junior circuit in preparation for the Australian Open in 2009.

The Wimbledon Girls Champion moved to England when she was just six years old but has only recently acquired British citizenship. In September, she became the youngest Brit in history to receive an invitation to enter the full, senior tennis circuit and has attended high-profile tournaments in both the UK and mainland Europe. Robson is currently ranked 554th in the world but she has already beaten senior players in the top 160.

Unfortunately, the WTA imposes strict regulations on young players. The youngster may find herself jumping back and forth between junior and senior tournaments until the powers that be are sure she can handle the pressures of the professional tennis circuit on her own.

Robson’s next tournament will take her to the United States where she will be hopeful of resurrecting her junior doubles career. Following her match against Benesova, Robson paired up with Gisela Dulko in her first senior doubles match against Vera Dushevina and Mariya Koryttseva. The Eastern European pair eventually won 6-2 6-3.

Martina Hingis, Jennifer Capriati, and Britain’s Annabel Croft, all began their senior tennis careers at a very young age, and whilst Hingis and Capriati rose to the higher echelons of superstardom, Annabel Croft grew so tired of the senior circuit that she retired at the age of 21. At the tender age of 14, Laura Robson still has a long and difficult road ahead of her.