Sony Ericsson WTA Tour chief Stacey Allaster believes it would be "fantastic" for British women's tennis to have its own Andy Murray, but has warned of the dangers of placing a burden of expectation on Laura Robson.
While the rise of Murray has served as a great boost to the ATP Tour, the British women's game has lacked a true star since Virginia Wade and Sue Barker enjoyed great success in the 1970s.
Fellow Grand Slam countries such as Australia, France and the United States all have athletes ranked inside the WTA Tour top 20, and while 16-year-old Robson has shown the potential to become a future star, Allaster has insisted she needs time to develop.
"It would be fantastic for Laura Robson and it would be fantastic for British tennis if she could make the step up," WTA Tour chairman and CEO Allaster said on www.thesportbriefing.com.
"However we don't want to put too much pressure on her. She is young, but is performing very well for her age.
"But if we just look to the transformation of British tennis that Andy Murray has provided there is no doubt that Brits love their tennis and love their own. It would be fantastic for women's tennis to have our own version of Andy Murray."
Allaster has also hit back at criticism of a perceived lack of depth on the Tour.
Last year saw critics line up to attack the Tour for poor quality matches, while Dinara Safina enjoyed a lengthy spell at world number one without a grand slam title to her name.
However, the returns of Justine Henin and Kim Clijsters to the Tour, allied to the emergence of several new stars, has left the WTA chief positive as she enters her first full year at the head of the women's game.
"I completely disagree with these accusations of a lack of depth," Allaster said.
"If anything the Tour has more depth now than at any point in the history of the sport. I think what is happening is every day a top 10 player can be beaten - and that's depth.
"What Kim Clijsters has said is that on her return she can see the difference in the quality of play in a first or second-round match compared to two or three years ago.
"So the athletes themselves are taking care of the depth issue, while the Tour has to help with the promotion of these great players.
"Whether it be Victoria Azarenka, Caroline Wozniacki, who's now number two in the world, Agnieszka Radwanska or Li Na, we have more global diversity of our top players.
While the rise of Murray has served as a great boost to the ATP Tour, the British women's game has lacked a true star since Virginia Wade and Sue Barker enjoyed great success in the 1970s.
Fellow Grand Slam countries such as Australia, France and the United States all have athletes ranked inside the WTA Tour top 20, and while 16-year-old Robson has shown the potential to become a future star, Allaster has insisted she needs time to develop.
"It would be fantastic for Laura Robson and it would be fantastic for British tennis if she could make the step up," WTA Tour chairman and CEO Allaster said on www.thesportbriefing.com.
"However we don't want to put too much pressure on her. She is young, but is performing very well for her age.
"But if we just look to the transformation of British tennis that Andy Murray has provided there is no doubt that Brits love their tennis and love their own. It would be fantastic for women's tennis to have our own version of Andy Murray."
Allaster has also hit back at criticism of a perceived lack of depth on the Tour.
Last year saw critics line up to attack the Tour for poor quality matches, while Dinara Safina enjoyed a lengthy spell at world number one without a grand slam title to her name.
However, the returns of Justine Henin and Kim Clijsters to the Tour, allied to the emergence of several new stars, has left the WTA chief positive as she enters her first full year at the head of the women's game.
"I completely disagree with these accusations of a lack of depth," Allaster said.
"If anything the Tour has more depth now than at any point in the history of the sport. I think what is happening is every day a top 10 player can be beaten - and that's depth.
"What Kim Clijsters has said is that on her return she can see the difference in the quality of play in a first or second-round match compared to two or three years ago.
"So the athletes themselves are taking care of the depth issue, while the Tour has to help with the promotion of these great players.
"Whether it be Victoria Azarenka, Caroline Wozniacki, who's now number two in the world, Agnieszka Radwanska or Li Na, we have more global diversity of our top players.
