AO R1: Elena Baltacha v Anna-Lena Groenefeld

Peter too · Tennis legend

RE: AO R1: Elena Baltacha v Anna-Lena Groenefeld

steven · Tennis legend

5 games in a row to win it, that's amazing - I don't know what Elena did in the off season, but she seems to be playing at a much higher level than last year - so much so that I was expecting her to win this, even if not quite as emphatically!

Smidster · Challenger level

Great result to wake up to!

Well done Bally - Lets hope that her and Melanie can get in a bit of a 'rankings race' and both push into top 100

Mikeduke · County player

Wow what an amazing result! Well played.

JT · Junior player

She really deserves this win after a tough couple of years last year with injuries. Some of the others might have had tougher draws but I do think Bally is still mentally tougher than the others when she's fit and healthy.

johnnylad · Tennis legend

Bally to the rescue...

seagull · Hall of fame

Great stuff - lets hope Mauresmo has one of her off days!

Happycynic · Pro player

Cool. I was right with my 'one winner' (alas). But after yesterday, I wake a happy happycynic.

160 points and counting for Elena... not enough for the top 100, but will put her in the ballpark to push on into there.

steven · Tennis legend

She should be about 111th now - a career high.

She's got a 2-month window to push on into the top 100 with only 20 points to defend, but on 6 April, her points for winning the Jersey 25K and the Torhout 75K both come off and they total what she has gained in Melbourne, so she really needs to try and make it before then.

Peter too · Tennis legend

Elena's only needs another 40 points or so to make it into the top 100, her 16th best is only 2 points so a win at $25K should be enough.

wolf · Tennis legend

Or just a win in the second round of the Australian Open.

So pleased for Bally, Groenefeld is not a bad player so to come out here and beat her as she did is a terrific result. Hopefully the Mauresmo match will be on a show court and BBC will show it.

seagull · Hall of fame

Am off on Thursday so am hoping for Mauremso/Murray as the night matches!!

Drew · Jan 20, 2009

Fab result !!!

Mauresmo was a great player....now just a good player...and can be slightly flakey...lets hope Bally has any luck going and plays the match of her life !!!