London 2012 Olympics: Baltacha happy with decision not to attend opening ceremony

Team leader Paul Hutchins had requested late starts for all eight British players to give them the chance to attend the ceremony but, although none of them is playing until later today, it was decided a trip to Stratford would be detrimental to their chances.

The British Olympic Association left it up to each sport to decide whether their athletes would attend the ceremony, and tennis is one of a number of sports that chose not be present.

Baltacha said she was looking forward to watching the spectacular show on TV instead at her base in Wimbledon, and last night said: “We’re all playing tomorrow so that’s fine. We’re here to compete. It would have been really nice to go but we’re here for a reason and that has to come first. If we were to go we wouldn’t be back until late and that’s not the best preparation.

“It is a shame but we can watch it on TV. That’s what I’ll be doing with my mum. And if we did go we wouldn’t have seen it anyway. We would have been stuck in a room for quite a few hours.

“I’ve heard it’s unbelievable. Someone I know went to the rehearsal and was saying how amazing it was so I’m really looking forward to watching it.”

There was very good news for the British team yesterday, meanwhile, with the confirmation Laura Robson will play in singles as well as doubles, meaning the host nation will have the full complement of four players in the women’s singles. The 18-year-old has spent the last three days as first alternate since doubles partner Heather Watson replaced Alona Bondarenko on Tuesday, but Croatia’s Petra Martic was known to be struggling and her withdrawal was announced yesterday.

World No 96 Robson slots into the draw in the bottom half and will play Czech Lucie Safarova in the first round tomorrow, with the carrot of a probable second-round meeting with third seed Maria Sharapova, whom she pushed at Wimbledon last year.

Robson plays her first Olympic match tonight in the women’s doubles with Watson, the pair taking on fifth seeds Angelique Kerber and Sabine Lisicki from Germany on Court 12.

Baltacha is likely to be the first British player in action when she meets Hungary’s Agnes Szavay in the first round of the women’s singles in the third match on Court 18. She added: “I can’t believe how quickly the time’s passed and it’s all kicking off tonight. It’s an amazing feeling to be part of it and I can’t wait to start my match.”

Baltacha has struggled for form this season but Szavay has played only one match in more than a year because of back problems and does not even have a world ranking. Baltacha said: “It’s a good draw for the first round. You can’t take anyone lightly but hopefully I can go out and do my thing.”

Anne Keothavong has the toughest draw of any of the British players against eighth seed and former world number one Caroline Wozniacki but she is rewarded with an appearance on Centre Court. The Murray brothers begin their men’s doubles campaign fourth on Court Two against Austria’s Jurgen Melzer and Alexander Peya.

Murray will play his first singles match tomorrow against good friend Stanislas Wawrinka, who has been given today off after carrying Switzerland’s flag in the opening ceremony. Colin Fleming and Ross Hutchins are last on Court 14 against French duo Richard Gasquet and Julien Benneteau.