Laura Robson on brink of reaching first WTA tour final after beating Peng Shuai in Guangzhou International Open The 7-5, 5-7, 6-2 victory continued the impressive run of form for the 18-year-old, who became British No 1 earlier this week after sweeping aside Kim Clijsters and Li Na to reach the last 16 at the US Open. Robson is confident she can, with the right application, rise higher than her current world ranking of 74, which is one above fellow Briton Heather Watson. Top coach Brad Gilbert believes so, saying on Twitter on Thursday that he believes Robson can finish the year in the top 40. Robson, who had already defeated second seed Zheng Zi, broke her Chinese opponent three times, including a telling break in game 12, on the way to taking a tight opening set but then lost an equally combative second set to send the match into a decider. However, she registered three more breaks in a more straightforward third set to seal victory after three hours on court. She will now face third seed Sorana Cirstea of Romania in the semi-finals. "It's going to be a really tough match," said Robson. Sorana's a very aggressive player and hits a lot of winners, so I'm going to have to be ready to run a lot, that's for sure. I am pretty tired right now but I've had a massage and an ice bath so I'll be fine for tomorrow. It wasn't that hot, it's just incredibly humid here. Robson's superb summer began when she teamed up with Andy Murray to win the mixed doubles silver medal at the Olympics, and she has been buoyed not just by her own New York success but also that of Murray in winning his first grand slam title. I think we all feel it. The support that all of us have had on Twitter and Facebook and stuff like that over the summer has been incredible. I couldn't stop watching Andy's final, it was so good. I was getting so pumped up in front of my TV. I didn't cry but I was just incredibly happy for him.