Tennis: Elena Baltacha faces stern test

ELENA Baltacha will go into the opening day of play at the French Open confident she can pull off a huge shock against US Open champion Samantha Stosur this afternoon.

The British No.1 has struggled for form this year and could certainly have done without being drawn against the Australian, who reached the final at Roland Garros in 2010.

“It’s not a great draw, let’s be honest, but you can’t always get those,” said world No.67 Baltacha, who has won only five tour matches this year.

“I have massive respect for Sam because of what she’s achieved and also how she goes about things but I do believe I have a chance against her.

“It will be a big match on a show court and I usually play well in those situations and I’ll always fight for every ball. It’s going to take one hell of a match from me but I’ve beaten top players before and I know what I’m capable of. I’m looking forward to it.”

Baltacha is one of three British women in the main draw for the second year in a row after Heather Watson breezed past Anna Floris 6-0, 6-1 in the final round of qualifying.

The 20-year-old, who will face Russia’s Elena Vesnina in round one, joins Baltacha and Anne Keothavong, up against Hungary’s Melinda Czink, but Laura Robson was unable to join them. The 18-year-old had two match points in the second set of her final qualifier against Karolina Pliskova but eventually lost out 4-6, 7-5, 6-4.