Laura Robson ready to put injury nightmare behind her in 2016

Laura Robson is confident she is ready to put her injury nightmare behind her and get back to her best in 2016.

The former British No 1 managed to play in only eight tournaments this summer after missing a year and a half following wrist surgery before the problems in her left hand resurfaced in September.

Robson was dumped put in the first round of the US Open, losing 6-3 3-6 5-7 to Russia's Alena Vesnina, but after taking the rest of the year off she feels she is ready to hit the ground running next season.

"The hardest part was from a couple of weeks before the US Open when I started feeling pain again. That really sucked," Robson told WTA Insider.

"It was pain where it was going on and off, and on and off, and I didn't know what it was and I didn't tell anyone about it for a while because I didn't want to go through that whole process again.

"So after New York when it was more on than off I went and saw my surgeon again and fixed it all up. But it was a tough few weeks there. Being in the brace again was just awful.

"It's definitely been a long process. When everyone else says, 'Oh, I've been injured…' I'm like, 'No, I think I have you there'.

"It's been a long process and it's still not over. I have a ranking again, which is nice. But there is still a lot of work to put in. It's going to be a long way back. But if I didn't want to do it I would have quit a long time ago."

Although Robson is now healthy, she has decided against playing at the Australian Open next month and instead aims to return at low-key events, probably in February.

A target for returning to the main tour is Indian Wells in March, one of the biggest WTA tournaments.

Robson was able to use her protected ranking of 58, a safety net which is given to players who are unfortunate enough to suffer long-term injuries, to play at the US Open but only has the option of using it at one more Grand Slam.

The 21-year-old admitted not playing in Melbourne was a tough decision but said she would rather play her way into form early in the season and then use her protected ranking to compete in the French Open.

Robson, who is currently ranked 553rd, said: "I would have loved to have played. I obviously wanted to be there just as everyone else does. It's my favourite place to start the year off.

"I get two Slams with my protected [ranking]. One I used in New York. I figured I'd get as many matches behind me as possible and use the second one in Paris.

"I could have asked for a wild card but, at this point, I think it's better for me to get as many matches as I can in, get my ranking up to where I can get into tournaments by myself and not worry about asking for wild cards and using my protected.

"I think I have seven tournaments left including one Slam, so there's plenty of time."