Three Brits show grit

The whiff of a British revival in women's tennis swirled around Devonshire Park in Eastbourne yesterday with a trio of successes.

Pride and ambition have never been problems for Elena Baltacha. It is her body which has stunted her progress at every turn.

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Where others suffer niggles and strains, Baltacha's ills have been of the more fundamental variety.

From tonsillitis, chickenpox, a liver infection to a back operation 13 months ago, the 23-year-old Scot has struggled.

But yesterday's 6-1, 6-1 win over Germany's Julia Schruff to reach the main draw of the International Women's Open and a match against current British No 1 Anne Keothavong was emphatic.

Baltacha said: "I just hope I can get a break and get even a run of six months at least to travel, play tournaments and just be a normal player."

Katie O'Brien's march to the main draw has been equally impressive. Having already beaten two ex-top 100 players, she fought her way to a 7-6, 2-6, 6-2 win over Jill Craybas, the veteran American.

With the dew rising and an evening chill in the air, Britain's Melanie South completed a memorable day with a 1-6, 6-3, 7-6 win over former world No 8 Alicia Molik that owed everything to her tenacity.

South, who upset the 11th seed Francesca Schiavone at Wimbledon last year, thrilled those spectators who remained by scrapping her way to the second round — even saving a match point in what was further evidence of the new spirit within British tennis.