The debate that will unfold in British tennis over the next few years will not be all about Andy Murray's pursuit of a grand slam title. Just as intriguing, after a fascinating few days at Flushing Meadows, will be the side-by-side development of Laura Robson and Heather Watson.
Watson went out gloriously against Maria Sharapova on Monday, cheered to the blue New York skies on the showcase Arthur Ashe Court in the finest performance of her young career. Her friend and rival Robson, two years younger at 17, followed her home from the 2011 US Open in rather less spectacular manner out on Court 13.
She failed to build on an encouraging start against the steady Spaniard Anabel Medina Garrigues, who won 6-2, 6-3 in an hour and 14 minutes in draining midday heat.
Robson hit 20 clear winners, most of them spectacular, to nine by Medina, who stroked the ball with far more conservatism and patience. And that proved the difference. Just as Watson's virtues of lateral movement and deep, hard hitting are sometimes offset by lapses in concentration, so Robson, a more intuitive player, can undo her best work through overambition.
Hers is not so much a dilemma of shot selection as consistent shot execution; many of her 32 unforced errors were miscued rather than ill-conceived, one blistering forehand at 30-40 on Medina's serve in the second set that skidded outside the white line was a case in point. Half an inch the other way, and Robson was 4-2 up with her opponent rattled. But Medina held when Robson went for another high-risk crosscourt forehand, burying it in the upper net.
She handed the 30th seed break point again with a double fault in the seventh game – and dropped serve with yet another overcooked forehand which would have left Medina stranded at the baseline had it not strayed into the tramlines.
Medina belted her third ace, down the middle, to hold at 5-3 but, serving to stay in the tournament, Robson double-faulted for the third time for deuce – and on match point another Robson ground stroke with way too much on it to an open court sailed beyond the baseline.