Elena Baltacha makes it through to second round

British women's number one Elena Baltacha booked her place in the second round at the Australian Open following a rain-affected match against France's Pauline Parmentier.

The Kiev-born Baltacha took her chances in an evenly-contested match to win 6-4 3-6 7-5 in two hours and 25 minutes.

The world number 83 will next play 30th-seed Kateryna Bondarenko, from Ukraine, in the second round.

Baltacha had easily won her only previous meeting with Parmentier at Sunderland five years ago 6-2 6-2, and looked on course for a repeat of that result when she converted her only break point of the opening set to win it 6-4.

But the 26-year-old was made to pay for not taking her chances in the second set, failing to convert all three break points she earned, and it was this time Parmentier who needed one opportunity to grab the decisive break and level the match.

Parmentier then broke again at the start of the third set, only to concede it back before the rain came with the scores level at 3-3.

A 20-minute delay ensued and when the players returned the contest remained poised until 6-5 in the decisive set.

Parmentier had to serve to stay in the match, but failed to do so as Baltacha won with her second match point.

Baltacha admitted the rain delay had come at the perfect time after she had been struggling with cramp.

The Briton was able to get attention from physiotherapists she would have otherwise have been denied due to the new rules which prohibit players a medical time out for cramp.

"Thankfully it started raining at 3-3 (in the third set)," she said.

"The physios were fantastic. They gave me ice and I got plenty of electrolytes. It calmed everything down. I'm just really delighted I came through."

The win also served to cement Baltacha in the top 100 after rising to her career-high ranking of 83 last week.

"I knew if I didn't win a round here I was going to come straight out of the top 100," she added.

"I now fully believe I'm a top 100, maybe a top 50."

Baltacha will play Kateryna Bondarenko in the second round and is optimistic she can cause an upset.

"I have nothing to lose against Kateryna," she said.

"She's a seed so I'll give it everything I have."