Katie bows out but claims top spot

If there was little surprise in the departure of British interest from the main draw at Eastbourne yesterday, there was no dousing the hope that has sprung up this week.

Katie O'Brien, Elena Baltacha and Melanie South were knocked out of the International Women's Open at the second stage.

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This was not the usual run-ofthe- mill debacle with which we have become all too familiar in recent years, however.

O'Brien, in particular, can justifiably take pride and incentive for the future from a 6-3, 6-4 loss to former French and U.S. Open finalist Elena Dementieva that was packed with feisty rallies and opportunities

After four victories over players ranked above her on the Devonshire Park courts, O'Brien will move up to around 150 in the world and take over the mantle of British No 1.

Competing against such as Dementieva is now no longer the issue.

What will mark out the 21-year-old Yorkshire girl from the usual grass court flattery that accompanies Wimbledon season is whether she can continue the progress.

O'Brien said: "It's realistic for me now to look at getting into the main draw of the Australian Open in January.

"In the past this standard has felt like a long way away, but for the first week I feel that I can live with these players now. The difference now is perhaps more in the head than anything.

"I was a bit immature in my shot selection today. I just wish I could have stayed with her more in the rallies rather than going for glory and missing."

New head coach of British tennis Nigel Sears will have been encouraged by O'Brien's display.

Baltacha showed glimpses, too, before succumbing to the cleaner ball-striking of world No 14 Nicole Vaidisova 6-3, 6-2.

South, on the other hand, struggled to find any rhythm in a disappointing 6-1, 6-3 loss to France's Marion Bartoli.