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Anne Keothavong has every right to feel frustrated as her world ranking continues to plummet while she recovers from a freak knee injury. But the 26-year-old - down to No79 from a career-high 48 in February - is putting any negative thoughts to one side as she focuses on coming back stronger than ever.
Nine weeks after a second knee reconstruction operation in five years, Keothavong has just returned to the courts in the midst of a punishing rehabilitation programme to get her ready for Britain's Fed Cup match in February.
By then, Keothavong will have lost her status as the country's No1 woman player to either Katie O'Brien, now at 92 in the world, or Elena Baltacha, who is a place further behind.
The Hackney-born right-hander is determined to get back to her best and said: "I don't look at my ranking because there is nothing I can do about it. When I do come back, I will be a stronger player and I believe I belong in the top 50. Losing the British No1 ranking is going to happen.
"I know there is no easy road back and being very driven I have set a February comeback date. I could be ready for the Australian Open in January but I need to allow more time. I am not going to come back by taking part in Challenger events, I want to go into the tour level where I was when the injury happened. I want to go back in at the deep end."
Although Keothavong has been making her mark in singles, her injury came in a first-round doubles match at the Stanford tournament in California just a month before the US Open.
Chasing down a shot, Keothavong's left knee buckled as she desperately tried to stop herself crashing into a courtside fence, resulting in knee ligament damage.
"I can still see that ball I was chasing at Stanford and people have asked how I could run into a fence," she said. "I didn't hear anything but I felt a rip through my knee and having done it before on the other leg I knew straight away that was the end of my season.
"I was crying on court because I knew that was me done. It was also my first tournament after Wimbledon and the period in the United States leading into the US Open is my favourite time of the year."
Keothavong's knee was operated on by surgeon Jonathan Webb, who performed the same procedure on her right leg in 2004. Webb is a former England rugby full-back, and his sporting past gave him an extra insight into Keothavong's plight.
Keothavong said: "As a child, I was able to hyper-extend my joints and maybe that extra movement contributed to the two injuries. Now, after Jonathan's excellent surgery, they are much stronger and I hope that means an end to this kind of injury."
Having endured lengthy injury rehabilitation before, it is remarkable that Keothavong is so positive as she deals with the daily routine of weights work, limited hitting on court, sessions on an exercise bike and swimming.
Working at the £40million National Tennis Centre in Roehampton has certainly helped. The state-of-the-art facility was opened in 2007 and Keothavong said: "When I was injured five years ago, I was based at Queen's Club and that was very different to the NTC.
"I am nine weeks from the surgery and the load I am putting through my leg is more than last time at a similar stage. We didn't have these kind of facilities. I had a programme five years ago but did things on my own while now there are lots of people around at the NTC who offer advice and encouragement."
With Andy Murray, the world No4, the only Briton inside the top 180 on the men's side, it is falling to the women to prove British tennis has depth. Keothavong is confident the recent positive strides will continue, particularly with AEGON's £30m sponsorship of British tennis providing vital support, including backing rising stars Laura Robson and Heather Watson.
Keothavong, a member of the elite Team AEGON group who are off to South Africa for a training camp next month, said: "All the girls have different programmes and get on with improving our rankings.
"There is healthy rivalry and it motivates everyone. I am really impressed with Laura and Heather and you always want the next generation to be better than the one before it."
