French Open Expectations: Once, Twice Three Times a Lady

As another Grand Slam begins another giant leap is made for Britain’s Lawn Tennis Association.

Predictably Andy Murray’s direct entry provides the sole representation for British hopes in the men’s draw, but the recent revolution for the involvement of Brits in the women’s game continues. This is because three of the countries vastly improved female players have gained access to a first round position on the clay courts of the French Open.

Sadly Elena Baltacha, arguably the strongest chance of a second round berth based on her previous grand slam form faltered in the final qualifying round losing comprehensively to the top qualifying seed on a surface she finds most tricky.

But with Anne Keothavong, Katie O’Brien, and Melanie South forcing their names into the main draw the British girls continue their qualification success, following on from recent triumphs in the Australian Open and Wimbledon.

One can optimistically hope that Anne Keothavong due to her peak in the rankings accompanied with Britain’s first female appearance in the semifinal of a WTA event for some time can produce spectacular displays of on court action to slide her way into further rounds.

South and O’Brien also can catapult their ranking status with a first-round victory and accompany Keothavong into a top-100 placing.

You would expect that on the clay courts neither of the girls stands a massive chance of progressing through the tournament.

However the defining feature is that they are actually there.

Wimbledon and the Australian Open have proven not to be a one trick pony for the trio. When all three alongside Baltacha reached the first round proper of the Australian Open the British tennis tabloids were inspired and the deserved exposure allowed the girls a greater determination to succeed as well as rare column inches.

Encompassed within them became an increased level of nationalistic pride not seen in the women’s side of the LTA for many years. After years of Henman and then Murray grabbing sole headlines a change was in the air.

All three will of course be preparing themselves for their greatest opportunity in a few weeks time on the SW19 courts of Wimbledon, but maybe just maybe at least one of them can strike a sensational headline for the British media and raise the hopes that once again Great Britain will actually have a female tennis player capable of taking the fight to the big guns.

No longer would we have to suffer inevitable first round whitewashes and the game itself can gain some much needed credibility with the schools and training programmes we count upon to nurture future talents.

If South, O’Brien and Keothavong don’t etch their names into history books with landmark victories at least they can confess as to helping a lost cause regain its focus and bring a side of a game rarely given much attention back to our attention.