Laura Robson: is her career over after latest injury setback?

Fears have been raised over the future of British tennis player Laura Robson after she announced that she was withdrawing from competition for the rest of the year, amid claims of another wrist injury.

The 21-year-old former Wimbledon junior chamion has endured a miserable two years and there are concerns that her chance of stardom has gone. The promising star was ruled out for 17 months after a wrist injury in 2013 that required surgery.

She made her comeback in June this year but things have not gone well. She has played eight tournaments since then and managed only three victories. Her two Grand Slam appearances, at Wimbledon and the US Open, ended with first-round defeats.

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Her last appearance was at ITF event in Monterrey a month ago, and The Guardian claims she is suffering more wrist problems.

"Laura’s team made a decision a few weeks ago that it’s more effective for her to spend the rest of the season focusing on training and fitness, and not spending the time travelling to the tournaments," said a spokesperson.

She will be able to take part in the Australian Open in January as she has a protected ranking, designed to help players affected by long term injuries. However, the future does not look good says Russell Fuller of the BBC: "The last two years have been a virtual write-off and, for all her talent, it will take a lot of willpower to get back where she once was."

Some do not believe she will be able to do it. "The growing belief among those involved in British tennis is that we have seen the best of the player who appeared such a prodigious talent on her way to the junior Wimbledon title aged 14," says Barry Flatman of The Times.

"It is understood that Robson, an Olympic silver medal-winner in the doubles with Andy Murray at London 2012, is not training, and after spending time in the United States and visiting her parents in Greece, is believed to be in London."

He says that Robson's decline casts a shadow over what would otherwise be a positive year for British tennis, with a Davis Cup final, Andy Murray back in the top four and Johanna Konta rising through the ranks.