I can beat all of the top girls, says Anne Keothavong
Anne Keothavong has put her current success down to one simple factor - she has finally discovered that the top players can be beaten.
Keothavong became the first British women to reach the US Open second round for 11 years, after beating American qualifier Alexa Glatch 6-2, 6-2, yesterday.
She has risen to No87 in the rankings and has her eyes set on breaking into the top 50 and will get close to that target if she can defeat Italy's 25th seed Francesca Schiavone.
The 24-year-old Londoner made a significant statement with her Flushing Meadows debut win over Glatch and another victory could earn a third-round clash with Elena Dementieva, the Olympic singles champion.
"I don't think the gap to where I am to where the top girls are is as big as I thought," she said.
"I am constantly testing myself against the better players and I do believe I can build on my ranking from where I am and, hopefully, break into the top 50." Keothavong had little trouble in easing past an opponent 179 places lower than her in the rankings and said: "I'm obviously pleased with the result. I thought I played a good solid match.
"I feel I'm definitely on the right path. I am moving forward and feeling confident. I have practised with a lot of the top girls and I can stay with them. The difference is in the mind at this level. We can all hit forehands and backhands but most of it is in the head.
"I am definitely looking at the Schiavone match as one I can win. She will be tough but it would be nice to get through.
"But I am no Federer or Nadal and I'm just looking at one match at a time."
Andy Murray added his support to Keothavong and praised her part in improving the women's game in Britain. He said: "It's getting better slowly and it's great that she won her first match. I am sure that will move her ranking up and give her some confidence."
Second seed Jelena Jankovic defeated 16-year-old American wild card CoCo Vandeweghe 6-3, 6-1, but tenth seed Anna Chakvetadze was the biggest women's casualty on the first day, losing 1-6, 6-2, 6-3 to fellow Russian Ekaterina Makarova.
