Baltacha gets pre-Wimbledon boost

Elena Baltacha warmed up for Wimbledon by ending her barren run at the DFS Classic in Birmingham.

The British No1, who had never been past the first round at the event in three previous attempts, secured a 7-6, 6-1 victory over Ukrainian Alyona Bondarenko.

It was sweet revenge for Baltacha, who had twice lost to Bondarenko on clay in the last month.

Baltacha said: "I was determined to beat her on grass, which is my favourite surface. I wanted a bit of revenge. I was nervous because I demand 100 per cent from myself. I wanted to show I can win here."

Fellow Briton Amanda Janes, another wildcard entry, squandered four match points against Japan's Akiko Morigami to go down 6-3, 1-6, 6-7.

Former British No1 Anne Keothavong plays Laura Granville, of the United States, today.

But most eyes will be on Maria Sharapova, the Wimbledon champion, who begins the defence of her Birmingham title with a second-round match against Luxembourg's Anne Kremer.