Buoyant Balatcha pulls off best win of her career

ELENA Baltacha played one of the matches of her life to record the best win of her career on Friday night, battling past Li Na, the world No 10, to reach the third round of the BNP Paribas Open here in California.

It is the first time since 1998 that a British woman has beaten a top-ten player. The last was Sam Smith, who beat Conchita Martinez to reach the fourth round of Wimbledon.

"I was quite nervous and excited," said Baltacha, who beat the Australian Open semi-finalist 7-6 (10-8), 2-6, 7-6 (9-7). "I think it kind of took me like ten seconds to actually realise that she hit that backhand wide at the end. It is amazing."

It had been a titanic struggle as for ten minutes short of three hours the two stood toe to toe. But as world No 65 Baltacha fought her way to the final tiebreak, Li suddenly started to pull rank as a top-ten player and the Scot was soon 5-1 down. As she double faulted to give Li a third match point, it did seem that the Chinese No 7 seed would close out the win. Then Li double faulted, they were all square at 7-7 and Baltacha managed to push on to the third round.

Today Baltacha takes on Alicia Molik, the current world No 138 but a player who was once ranked as high as No 8. The Australian will prove a tough opponent, but the threat of having a let down after the highs of Friday is just as dangerous a foe for the 26-year-old.

"I've experienced that situation a few times now where I've had a really big match, and then you have a day off, and the day after you're really flat," she said. "So I know how to react now in that kind of situation. I'll definitely be up for it.

"But playing Alicia – that's a good third round. She's been up there and she's a good player. I've got nothing to lose. I'm really excited I'm in the third round, and I'll go out there and do my best and fight my heart out as always."