The reigning Wimbledon ladies champion Serena Williams believes that the Great Britain starlet Laura Robson has all the qualities of a top player and can go further than breaking into the top 10.

After cruising through her second round clash against Caroline Garcia 6-3 6-2 on Thursday, the US world number one praised the GB number one.

Robson, who faces Mariana Duque-Marino this afternoon in her own second round clash, has been receiving plaudits since disposing of the 10th seed Maria Kirilenko on Tuesday.

Williams said: “First of all, Laura’s a great person and I think she is at the start of a really good career. 

“She has an unbelievable game because she is so powerful and so positive.

“I think those are all qualities of what it takes to be a top player, and she definitely has them all.”

She added: “Do I think she can break into the top 10? I think she can go further than that.”

Williams faces the 42-year-old Kimiko Date-Krumm in the third round – the Japanese retired from the sport in 1996, only to make a comeback in 2008.

In 2009, she won the Hansol Korea Open to become the second oldest player in the Open era, after Billie Jean King, to win a singles title – she is now the oldest player ranked in the top 100.

Williams said: “I've never played her but I have so much respect for her. 

“I think she's so inspiring to be playing such high level tennis at her age, and she's a real danger on the grass court.

“She also has great hand to-eye co-ordination and she returns unbelievable shots. 

“It doesn't matter how hard you hit it, she sees the ball and gets it back.”