Team GB picks Baltacha as a good day gets better for Scot

Chief Sports Writer

Wednesday 27 June 2012

IT was a day of ups and downs for Elena Baltacha.

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Hugh MacDonald

It ended in an all-time high for the 28-year-old from Scotland moments after a fall by Karin Knapp. The Italian dropped to the grass in the second set and seemed hampered after a long injury break. Baltacha then raced to a 4-6, 6-4, 6-0 victory before receiving the news that she longed for from her Fed Cup coach Judy Murray.

The revelation that she had received a wildcard to play for Team GB at the Olympics reduced Baltacha to tears. "I was very, very emotional at the end, especially with Judy, when she me told I had the wildcard. I have played Fed Cup for 11 years and I really wanted a spot. I cannot explain how amazing it feels. I really wanted to get an opportunity to play at the Olympics, to represent my country."She said of the moment that Judy Murray leaned over to tell her the glad tidings: "Just tears going everywhere. Same with Judy. We just kind of hugged. That was enough to make me blubber."Baltacha was a doubt for an Olympic wildcard because she had been overtaken in the rankings by Laura Robson. However, Baltacha was in the lead when the representations were made to the International Tennis Federation. The Scot's record of consistently playing in the Fed Cup must also have helped her case.She now faces Petra Kvitova, the defending champion, in the second round, but approaches that challenge with the buoyancy of someone who has achieved a lifetime's ambition to be an Olympian."I know what I am up against before I even go out," she said. "I'm going to love every second, regardless of how many winners she hits past me. I'm going to give it everything I have."Anne Keothavong was also celebrating a double last night after her 6-3, 6-3 victory over Spain's Laura Pous-Toi. Keothavong has also been awarded a wildcard for the Olympics.The numbers that may be most relevant in the match up between 18-year-old Laura Robson and the 32-year-old Francesca Schiavone concern the grand slam records of both players. Schiavone beat the English player 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 to record her 96th grand slam victory. Robson, now at 97 in the rankings, has achieved two.Her bid for a third foundered on Schiavione's experience on court but also to the Italian's ability to slow down proceedings.This was taken to the limit when the 2010 French Open champion took an injury timeout for a back and shoulder injury, yet reappeared to defeat Robson.Robson was diplomatic about the incident."It's really important to stay warm when anyone takes an injury timeout, especially when one lasted as long as that one did. I won my first service game, so I don't think it really affected me. In general, I think she took a lot of time between points, and that gave me more time to think about what I was doing. I think that's really tough."Schiavone made no effort to deny the claims. She said experience had been important in the match. Asked about the delay between points, she smiled before saying: "She wanted to be fast, and sometimes you have to stop a little bit more. But you have a lot of seconds, so sometimes we have to use them. We forget because we are in rush, but it's important to play at the best, and not running and running."Johanna Konta, who was born in Australia but received British citizenship last month, was defeated by Christina McHale of the USA 6-7 (4), 6-2, 10-8.

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Team GB picks Baltacha as a good day gets better for Scot

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