Mel South reaches second round at AEGON Classic

 BRITISH number four Mel South insists she can break the world top 50 after coming through an epic three set encounter against compatriot Katie O'Brien at the AEGON Classic in Edgbaston.

HIGH HOPES: Melanie South reaches AEGON Classic second round and targets world top 50

South, a quarter-finalist at Edgbaston last year, won 6-4, 1-6. 7-6 (5) against the British number three to set-up a second round match with number one seed Jie Zheng.

The Surrey player's ranking had slipped after she took two months off to work on her fitness but the training seems to be paying dividends now.

"My first aim is to get back into the top 100," said South. "There are a lot of ranking points available over this period.

"With all the training I've done I know I can break the top 50 in the world."

South is joined in the second round by Naomi Cavaday after the British number six knocked out American Julie Ditty in straight sets, 6-2, 7-6 (2).

Naomi Broady completed a successful day for the Brits when the 19-year-old came from a set down to beat American Abigail Spears 6-7 (4), 6-3, 6-3 in the final round of qualifying.

"I wasn't really expected to win any of my matches so this is amazing," said Broady. "Grass is my favourite surface and I've got a good serve, so it all just clicked today. It's the first time I've ever qualified for a WTA main draw, so I'm over the moon."

And Elena Baltacha, fresh from her semi-final appearance at the AEGON Trophy in Nottingham last week, overcame fellow Brit Georgie Stoop 6-3, 6-4.

Former world number one Maria Sharapova comfortably progressed through to the second round although Russia's tenth seed Maria Kirilenko was dumped out in straight sets by 18-year-old Polish player Urszula Radwanska.

Leading life assurance and pensions company AEGON is lead partner of British Tennis and is backing the sport at all levels, from grass roots to world class tennis events. For tickets and further information visit www.lta.org.uk