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By Adrianna Outlaw | Tuesday, April 26, 2016

 
Laura Robson

Laura Robson needed just 51 minutes to win her Rabat return, her first WTA victory since September, 2013.

Photo credit: Christopher Levy

Patience is a virtue, but prolonged career separation is be painful.

Perhaps that's why Laura Robson wasted no time earning her first WTA win in more than two years today.

Watch: Wimbledon Unveils New Court 1

Robson needed just 51 minutes to power past wild card Ghita Benhadi, 6-1, 6-1 in her Rabat comeback match.

The 22-year-old Briton scored her first WTA since September, 2013 when she defeated then world No. 32 Klara Koukalova in Beijing.


 

When the yoga mood strikes... #touristing

A photo posted by Laura Robson (@laurarobson5) on



Robson's return propelled a winning return.

The former world No. 27 won 17 of 23 points played on the 18-year-old Moroccan wild card's serve and converted six of seven break points. Benhadi, who is winless in 11 career matches, was an ideal comeback opponent for Robson.

Left wrist surgery has sidelined Robson causing her ranking to plummet to No. 426. She's projected to rise back to the Top 300 following this win.


The former British No. 1 plans to ride her protected ranking, which expires at Eastbourne next month, into as many tournaments as she can between now and then.

"As much as I'd like to get more matches in at qualifying level and things like that, it would be a waste not to use [my protected ranking]," Robson told WTATennis.com. "I plan to play virtually all the clay-court season and the French Open and I think I'll still have one left for the first week of the grass."


Next up for the former Wimbledon junior champion is a second-round clash with Timea Babos.

The fifth-seeded Babos beat Polona Hercog, 6-3, 6-7 (8), 6-1.

Top-seeded Timea Bacsinszky defeated wild card Anna Blinkova, 6-4, 6-2.

Lucky loser Richel Hogenkamp upset fourth-seeded Irina-Camelia Begu, 6-3, 6-4.

No. 8-seeded Yulia Putintseva dispatched American Alison Riske, 6-3, 7-6 (1). Putintseva will play Tatjana Maria next.


Robson is perhaps best known for defeating Kim Clijsters in the second round of the 2012 US Open in what was the Belgian's final professional match.


 

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