Former Wimbledon champion Martina Hingis has backed British hopeful Laura Robson to break the women's top ten rankings.

The 18-year-old, who won the Wimbledon girls' title in 2008, kicks off her campaign at SW19 this afternoon against Francesca Schiavone.

Hingis said that Robson's style will prove troublesome for the 2010 French Open champion problems and believes that she could cause an upset.

"I believe that Laura Robson has the potential to be a top-10 player," Hingis told thetennisspace.com. "Laura can certainly get as high as the top 20, and after that it's all about desire, and how much she wants to succeed.

"She could be very annoying for Francesca Schiavone. I certainly think Laura could win the match, especially as Schiavone hasn't been having the best year.

"Laura's a lefty, has a lot of promise, and she's playing in her own backyard, and she will cause Schiavone a lot of problems."

Hingis completed the Grand Slam in 1997.