Brits fail to join Murray and Baltacha

Patricia Mayr For the second consecutive day, one of Britain's bright young stars had victory within her grasp after an impressive start but failed to secure a victory that would have ensured Elena Baltacha was joined in the second round by at least one female compatriot. Rather like Laura Robson yesterday, Katie O’Brien failed to capitalise on a strong early position against the Czech Iveta Benesova, and ended up on the wrong end of a 6-2, 5-7, 6-4 scoreline. O’Brien had an inspired spell to take the second set on a break of serve, finally getting it with a wide service return which 26-year-old Benesova could only plop into the net. The 23-year-old Briton, ranked 73 places below her opponent, should have had the upper hand, serving first in the final set. But after seven minutes, the Czech showed her greater tenacity and direction by breaking O’Brien. After several breaks of serve, Benesova's greater experience came to the fore, whilst O’Brien’s game became too loose to bank the winners. Benesova had the luxury of serving for the match, a feat she accomplished with some ease. And there was more disappointment to come for the British ladies. Britain’s leading woman, Anne Keothavong, was out of sorts in her first round match against Austria’s Patricia Mayr, ranked nearly 30 places lower. It was the 22-year-old Austrian who won in straight sets, 7-5, 6-2. Despite a closely fought first set, lasting nearly an hour, which could really have gone either way, Keothavong had a disappointing match. In the second set, she was too wayward to make enough shots count and no amount of running around the ball to strike forehands could rescue her. She struggled to keep her composure during the post-match press conference, but still defended herself and her colleagues, saying: “You can't guarantee the results at the end of the day, but I think you can definitely guarantee that all the British girls have tried 110%.” Georgie Stoop, in a match carried over from Day One, was another who tried hard but failed to salvage the British record. Her valiant efforts against 7th seed Vera Zvonareva ended with a 7-6 (7-0), 4-6, 6-4 to the Russian. Over in the men’s singles, 25-year-old Alex Bogdanovic, with his eighth wildcard entry, searched in vain for his first Wimbledon win. He was up against the 20th seed Tomas Berdych, but was simply no match for him. The 23-year-old Czech won in straight sets, 6-3, 6-4, 6-4. Berdych did have a couple of lucky net cord calls, but all he really had to do was move up half a gear at the significant moments. A break of serve in the seventh. Hold serve. Hold serve. Finish with an ace for flourish. Job done. A good day at the office. Bogdanovic later agreed: “Just when it came down to crucial points, games towards the end, you know, I made a few mistakes. He obviously took advantage of that.” But was he worried about being a long-term wild card entrant? “It's tough. I come here every year expecting myself to win. I can't get past the first round. But you look back at the draws I've had. They haven't been easy. All you can do is just go out there and do your best.” Elsewhere, Daniel Evans, playing in his first Wimbledon, was no match for 12th seed Nikolay Davydenko, a veteran of eight visits to SW19. The Russian made short shrift of 305-ranked Evans, winning in straight sets, 6-2, 6-3, 6-3. After the match, 19-year-old Evans said: “If you look at it on paper, it's horrible for me. But I think I did well out there.”

Keothavong in tears at press interview

Anne Keothavong falling apart mentally as she feels the match slipping away from her as she loses her first round tie to Austrian Patricia Mayr. No defeat is ever easy to swallow but Anne Keothavong was reduced to tears and momentarily forced to leave the press interview room following her first round loss to Patricia Mayr this afternoon. The British number one, who is ranked 51 in the world, bowed out to her Austrian opponent 7-5, 6-2 and it did not take long for the media pack to start serving up the inevitable, harsh questions. “You say [you have had] a disappointing grass court season. Obviously is it more disappointing because everyone has seen your results over the past 12 months, and thought great. You haven’t really been able to show them?” To which Keothavong rallied: “There’s no way round it. It’s been disappointing. You know, I have higher expectations for myself. I feel like I’m a better tennis player, well, now compared to where I was this time last year.” Of course, the Briton is still trying to get to grips with her swift exit from the French Open a few weeks ago where she was swept aside by the hands of Dinara Safina 6-0, 6-0. “Maybe that match in Paris actually dented my confidence more than I realised at the time,” Keothavong admitted. “You know, every week, Birmingham, Eastbourne, here, I’ve always been on the back foot. I haven’t really been imposing myself or putting my opponents under enough pressure.” Then the press really began to turn the knife. “This is not an accusation, but do you feel as though you’ve let a few people down today,” one journalist demanded. “I feel like I’ve let myself down more than anything,” the 25-year-old volleyed back. “Wimbledon is such a special tournament to me. And, you know, this year especially, I just felt, I’ve overcome so much just to get where I am,” at which point her eyes began to well up with tears. “Did you put more pressure on yourself, do you think?” another reporter enquired, at which point emotion overcame Keothavong, she lost her voice and dropped her head. “Can we stop for a few minutes” the moderator asked as Keothavong was led out in floods of tears mustering an apology on her way. It was a heartbreaking moment and served a purpose in reminding the press and public that players are only human. A few moments later she emerged composed and ready to continue the press conference. The questions did not get any easier. “The way the Brits are going out today, it’s shaping to be a pretty dark day for British tennis at Wimbledon. Do you feel sort of a collective responsibility, or are you solely focused on your own results?" But this time Keothavong was ready. “I can only focus on my own tennis. That’s hard enough as it is...You can’t guarantee the results as the end of the day, but I think you can definitely guarantee that all British girls have tried 100%.” That told them.