Elena Baltacha in grand slam hope

15/12/2011

Leading British female tennis player Elena Baltacha has said she is on the brink of "something really special" after improving her game in the last 12 months.

The World number 51 said she believes reaching the second week of a grand slam tournament is "definitely possible", something those enjoying corporate hospitality at Wimbledon may hope to see.

Baltacha noted that the womens' game in the UK has improved, with three players in the top 100, with Anne Keothavong at 73 and Heather Watson ranked 93rd.

And she expects the Federation Cup performances to improve following the "absolutely fantastic" decision to appoint Judy Murray as captain.

"She [Murray] brings so much experience to it, so much knowledge and it will just be so nice to have her there," Baltacha stated.

Elena Baltacha has represented Great Britain despite being born in Kiev, with her footballing father Sergei coming to the UK from the USSR to play professionally in the late 1980s at the time of Glasnost and Perestroika.

By Liz Johnstone