Never Mind Murray. Look Out for Laura

Who needs Andy Murray? Britain's best prospect for men's single's victory may have crashed out of Wimbledon, but yesterday a 14-year-old who lives minutes from the All England Club reignited a nation's beleaguered hopes after winning through to the final.

Laura Robson saw off Slovak Romana Tabakova, three years her senior, in straight sets to become the first Briton to reach the junior Wimbledon final since Annabel Croft won in 1984.

Robson's victory may not have attracted quite the same attention as Murray's defeat on Wednesday, but as with all sporting dramas, it came with a dash of controversy. Tabakova was loudly booed after serving underarm to win one of her second set games, a move that is not illegal but is seen as extremely unsporting. "That was the first time I've ever seen that in my life," Robson said afterwards, "but it worked, so fair play to her. But I don't think the crowd liked it very much."

The teenager, who trains at the National Tennis Centre in Roehampton, Surrey, is the highest-ranked 14-year-old in the world and the British junior No 2, and has been described as "one to watch" by Roger Draper, chief executive of the Lawn Tennis Association. The tennis authorities have taken steps to protect her from the potentially crushing weight of expectation, however: after her third round match she was not allowed to give a press conference because it was "past her bedtime".

Yesterday was a different matter. Asked had she worked out how she would sign her autograph when asked, Robson said: "Yeah, kind of. You just put your little signature there." Was she worried that she was already being billed as the future of English tennis? "I try not to think about it too much. But it's nice in a way 'cos that means that everyone's thinking you are really, really good." Ladbrokes yesterday shortened the odds against Robson winning Wimbledon by 2020 from 50-1 to 20-1.

The teenager was watched on court by her parents Kathy and Andrew, and brother Nicholas, 16. "The camera was focusing in on them. My brother actually winked at the camera, so that was slightly embarrassing."

Mrs Robson, a former professional basketball player, said after the match: "I think it is fantastic. She is a good girl." Laura had moved into her brother's bedroom so her coach can sleep in her bed, she said, adding: "Laura had to pack the dishwasher this morning, like always."

Robson plays the 16-year-old Thai Noppawan Lertcheewakarn today.

There were no surprises elsewhere yesterday as Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, the No 1 and No 2 seeds respectively, saw off the Russian Marat Safin and Rainer Schuettler of Germany, both in straight sets, to square up for a repeat of last year's final tomorrow.

With heavy rain predicted all day, however, bookmakers are offering the shortest odds ever at 6-4 for a complete washout.

Today Venus and Serena Williams meet in their third ladies' final.