Henman defends Robson for calling her rival players 'sluts'

London, Jun 2 (ANI): British legend Tim Henman has defended teen tennis star Laura Robson, who sparked a controversy after branding her rivals on the circuit as "sluts who go with every guy".

"Some of the tennis girls, they go with every guy and make a bad name for themselves. You don't want to be known for stuff like that. You want to be more discreet," said Robson, 16.

Robson, who trains in Paris, claimed to lead a clean-living life in comparison. "We're tucked in by 10pm. My coach knows I'm sensible. I don't like the taste of alcohol and I hate smoke. Some go to nightclubs but I'm not interested."

Henman believes the experience is all part of the process of growing up after Robson insisted that the quotes in an interview for Vogue magazine were "taken out of context".

"I haven't read the article but I've obviously heard about it. It's a steep learning curve. She's young, she's probably said something that she didn't mean to say and she'll learn from it," The Guardian quoted the former British No1, as saying.

Since winning the girls' Wimbledon title as a 14-year-old in 2008, Robson has been regarded as Britain's most exciting prospect.

She is ranked 262 in the world following some promising results on the ITF circuit, which is a rung below the main WTA tour - and she is expected to be given a wild card into Wimbledon in three weeks' time.

"I was a million miles away from Wimbledon at Laura's age. I think that" where it's harder for the girls, because they do mature so much younger and they're thrown into that spotlight so early," Henman said. (ANI)