Baltacha insists: Eastbourne injury will not keep me out of Wimbledon

Out of action - for now: Elena Baltacha

Yet Baltacha who matched the classy Pironkova - a late entry - all the way, and was even a break up at one point, only succumbed after her opponent snatched the
set 7-5. She admitted "The pain was just too bad for me to continue.

"But it is not something that is long term. I've learned to live with fitness setbacks during my career but this is just something that comes and goes. I'm sure I'll be clear for Wimbledon."

In fact, Baltacha - who almost had to give up tennis a few years ago because of a debilitating liver complaint - plans to play on at Eastbourne in the doubles with partner Naomi Cavaday, the player she beat in the first qualifying round of
the singles in straight sets.

Sadly it was to be the only British success of a fiercely competitive qualifying tournament in which Estonia's world number 34 Kaia Kanepi was top seed.

She knocked out Britain's Georgie Stoop - ranked 379 - only after three sets of
tough toil, but other home hopes Amanda Elliott and Anna Fitzpatrick also went
out in the first qualifying round.

With British number one Anne Keothavong opting to play the Ordina Open in
Holland this week - where she has direct entry to the main draw as world number
92 - it is Yorkshire's Katie O'Brien and Surrey's Mel South who carry home hopes
at Eastbourne.

O'Brien, who won four matches to reach the second round in this tournament last
year, is just out side the world top 100 and begins her campaign later today
against former top-30 Australian Samantha Stosur who is now actually ranked
below her.

South, a quarter finalist at last week's DFS Classic in Birmingham, waits until
tomorrow to start her wild card entry against a qualifier in the £300,000 event
in which French Open champion Ana Ivanovic's withdrawal has left Russian
Svetlana Kuznetsova as top seed.

But former Wimbledon champions Amelie Mauresmo and Lindsay Davenport will add a touch of old-fashioned style.