• Sony Ericsson Open

Baltacha beats Chan to qualify

ESPN staff
March 22, 2010
Australia's Alicia Molik has the second round in her sights © Getty Images
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Elena Baltacha has qualified for the Sony Ericsson Open main draw after fighting to victory over Chinese Taipei's Chan Yung-Jan in Miami.

The No. 1 Briton needed to come through a tough tie-breaker to wrap up the 6-4 7-6 win, while Katie O'Brien will not feature after suffering a 6-4 6-2 loss to Michaella Krajicek.

Baltacha took almost two hours to beat 94th-ranked Chan in a match featuring 13 breaks of serve. It's the second consecutive tournament Baltacha has had to qualify for, following her impressive run into the third round of the BNP Paribas Open.

"Another fantastic day," Baltacha wrote on her Twitter page. "I won 6-4, 7-6(6), a very tough match. A lot of respect to Chan. What a brilliant player and I'm sure a big name in the future."

Baltacha was the second-seeded player in the qualifiers behind Anastasija Sevastova, who unfortunately had to retire hurt whilst down 6-1 3-0 to Varvara Lepchenko.

Meanwhile, the main draw action got underway as the qualifiers wrapped up on Tuesday, with Baltacha's conqueror in Indian Wells, Alicia Molik, justifying her wildcard entry into the tournament with a 6-1 6-1 thrashing of American glamour girl Ashley Harkleroad.

Gisela Dulko was the biggest name to win through to the second round, while Sorana Cirstea will have the dubious privilege of facing three-time winner Venus Williams in the second round after defeating wildcard Michelle Larcher De Brito 7-5 7-6.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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