US Open: Laura Robson through as Heather Watson goes out

Great Britain's Laura Robson beat Samantha Crawford of the United States to secure a second-round meeting with Kim Clijsters at the US Open.

The 18-year-old, ranked 89th in the world, battled to a 6-3 7-6 (8-6) win over fellow teenager Crawford in the first round at Flushing Meadows.

However, fellow Briton Heather Watson was knocked out by China's Li Na.

Watson, the world number 71, could not handle the power and accuracy of the ninth seed as she lost 6-2 6-3.

Robson looked comfortable as she took the first set of her match against American qualifier Crawford, ranked 393 in the world, but had to come back from 3-0 down in the second.

She kept her composure to force a tie-break, and recovered from going a mini-break down to set up the second-round clash with three-time US Open champion Clijsters, who is playing her final Grand Slam before retiring.

Robson told BBC Sport: "I would have been fine to play another set out there, but it's always nice to get it done in two, and try to keep as much energy for the next match as possible.

"It's really exciting (playing Clijsters). Ever since I've been on the Tour, she's always been extremely nice to me, so it's great to finally play her. But I'm looking to win."

Watson, the 2009 US junior champion, started her match against Li in confident fashion and had a break point in the fourth game, but her opponent saved it with a big serve before racing through the first set.

The 20-year-old threatened a fightback in the second set when she broke to go 3-1.

However, 2011 French Open champion Li upped her game and took the next five games to close out the match, despite being held up by a two-and-a-half-hour rain delay at 5-3.

"It was a high-quality match, and for me it's gaining experience against these top players, learning to do the right things on the big points," said Watson.