HOPE springs eternal for Britain's six women after most received favourable ties in the first round.
Elena Baltacha, who has been struggling with a neck injury and has recently lost her place as Britain's No 1 to Anne Keothavong, was looking on the bright side after being paired against Karin Knapp of Italy, a 25-year-old ranked eight places below her at 109 in the world. They have never played each other and Knapp has been in the main draw just once, in 2007, when she lost to Nicole Vaidisova.
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