Comeback queen Keothavong's just wild about a journey to Venus

Anne Keothavong probably didn't know whether to laugh or cry. The 24-year-old from Hackney, whose parents hail from Laos, started the week probably best known as the first British woman since Sam Smith in 1999 to qualify by right for the main draw after breaking into the world's top 100.

Venus trap: Anne Keothavong will play Venus Williams in round two at Wimbledon

And she showed her desire not to return to the ranks of wild cards by battling from a set down to clinch a stirring 4-6, 6-2, 6-3 success against American Vania King. Victory means she faces the mighty Williams who was made to fight for her place in the next round by another gritty Brit, Naomi Cavaday.

The packed gallery at Court Two did not hesitate in saluting Keothavong, as she lapped up the applause. True, there were no Elena Baltacha-style tears, but she enjoyed the moment.

Perhaps it was the thought of having claimed only her second win in eight years at the All England Club, the other in 2004 against Nicole Pratt of Australia. She lost to eventual champion Maria Sharapova in the next round.

The secret of her success? Could it have been the lengthy comfort break she took to refocus after losing the first set?

'I needed the toilet,' she said. 'I had to re-group. I was in there shaking because I was so annoyed with myself. I was so frustrated after the performance I'd just given. It was nerves and the expectation I put on myself. I had put quite a bit of pressure on myself to win and it wasn't quite happening but I managed to find a way. And next is Venus and I'm really excited about it.'

So Keothavong joined compatriot and opening-day heroine Baltacha in the second round. But the sun-drenched crowds could have been contemplating an all-British affair tomorrow, until Williams rediscovered something like her true form against Cavaday.

What had been mooted as one of the Centre Court entrees to the main course of Murraymania suddenly threatened to become a shock of seismic proportions as the Briton claimed an early break before forcing a first-set tie-break against the American.

The 19-year-old, ranked 197 in the world, forced Williams to scurry around the court with her left-handed groundstrokes throughout the first set. She looked anything but a British No 5 and ensured her opponent was similarly less reminiscent of a Wimbledon champion in what was meant to be a comfortable first-round match for the American.

Such a shame, then, that it could not last, with seventh-seed Williams romping through the second set to clinch a 7-6, 6-1 win.

'I'm sure I'll speak to Naomi about her experience,' said Keothavong. 'I heard she put up a good fight in the first set.

But it's what you play tennis for, to take part in these big matches. She's defending champion. She's won God knows how many Grand Slams. I've got nothing to lose, I'm looking forward to it.' In truth, Williams probably is, too. She will start as the red-hot favourite and probably feed off the partisan support for her opponent.

She seemed to enjoy her victory yesterday, despite the testing start. Never one to shower her opponents with praise, she made an exception with Cavaday.

'She played excellent, she took advantage of her opportunities and played with poise for this occasion, on the Centre Court in front of a home crowd,' said the champion. 'I had some opportunities and made a couple of errors in a row but, all in all, she just played well.'

Bright and personable as Cavaday is, getting in better physical condition has to be the priority after bouts of illness and injury. Williams even suggested that her father, Richard, should coach her. Cavaday said: 'If I'm honest, I can play great matches but then my level can drop quite a lot. I was pretty nervous before I went on but as soon as the doors opened I walked on and felt comfortable, it was fantastic.

'I know there is a lot of work ahead of me. I would like to get straight into the main draw next year without a wild card.'

Just like victorious Keothavong.