Elena Baltacha finding her feet on clay

Elena Baltacha is hoping her new-found confidence on clay can carry her into the third round of a Grand Slam for the fourth time in her career.

Having achieved the feat at Wimbledon and twice at the Australian Open, the 27-year-old would be the first to say the French Open was not the tournament she expected would be next on her list.

But, after an impressive performance to beat US teenager Sloane Stephens yesterday, that is the prize that awaits the winner of Baltacha's clash with another American, Vania King, today.

The British No 1 has struggled for wins on clay throughout her career but encouraged by coach Nino Severino to give the surface a go, she headed to Spain for some preparation last month, and the hard work has paid off.

Baltacha reached the semi-finals of a top ITF tournament in Nice, beating top seed Kristina Barrois along the way, before this week securing a first main-draw win at Roland Garros.

The Scot said of her preparation: "I've noticed that on the clay I've really started to fall back on my experience. I'm actually really enjoying it, because I'm beginning to find out that there are more ways of hurting your opponent than hitting every ball at a million miles an hour."