Justine Henin Ends Baltacha's Challenge

Justine Henin ended Britain’s number one Elena Baltacha’s hopes of progressing to the third round of the Australian Open as she dropped just four games in a straight sets win.

Baltacha was just one of two British women who were left in the draw but she couldn’t live with the pace and power of Henin, who looked in much better form than in her first round match.

Henin broke Baltacha in her first service game and was immediately in control of the opening set as the Scot struggled to compete with the former world number one.

Despite losing the opener 6-1 Baltacha shoed more fight in the second set as the first six games went with serve as they were locked together at 3-3.

Henin edged ahead again as she held for 4-3 before making the move in the very next game, breaking Baltacha to leave herself serving for the match.

And the Belgian, who is returning from an elbow injury, made no mistake as she wrapped up an impressive 6-1 6-3 victory.

Speaking after her defeat Baltacha said: “ I feel great. I knew going into the match it was going to be very difficult and it would have to be an unbelievable performance (to win).

"But it was quite interesting actually. I learnt so much about the match, the positives of what I've improved in my game from last year when playing a top player and the things I have to get better at.

"It's been another great year here for me. I always love coming back here, I've got very special memories here.”

Henin will now face fellow former French Open champion Svetlana Kuznetsova, in what promises to be one of the clashes of the third round, as the Russian saw off Arantxa Rus 6-1 6-4.

And there was little for Brit fans to cheer about today as Anne Keothavong as the British number two also crashed out of the tournament.

Keothavong was a set and a break up in the match against the misfiring German Andrea Petkovic, who is the thirtieth seed.

But Petkovic picked up her game in that second set to break back and level the match at a set a piece. Into the third and Keothavong’s challenge faded as she finally fell 6-2 5-7 0-6.

FemaleFirst Helen Earnshaw