French Open
Venue: Roland Garros, Paris Date: 23 May-6 June
Coverage: BBC red button from 1000 BST and Eurosport; 5 live; streamed on BBC website with live text coverage from 1000 BST. Details of BBC coverage

Coach takes Baltacha to new heights

British number one Elena Baltacha is confident she will be fit for the French Open, despite retiring from the Strasbourg International with injury.

Baltacha, 26, was leading Russia's Anastasia Rodionova 2-1 in the first set of Wednesday's second-round game when a back injury forced her to quit.

But with the French Open set to start on Sunday, Baltacha is optimistic.

"I've got five or six days to recover and when I've had this problem in the past that's been enough," she said.

It was a blow for the Scot who had impressed when beating 2009 French Open quarter-finalist Sorana Cirstea in the first round.

606: DEBATE How will Baltacha perform at the French Open?

But Baltacha admitted she had not felt right prior to the match.

"It's very frustrating," said Baltacha. "I woke up this morning and straight away I knew there was a problem. I gave it a go but there was no way I could continue.

"With so many big tournaments coming up it's better not to take any chances.

"I'm pretty optimistic about Roland Garros."

Britain's Naomi Cavaday, 21, will definitely not be playing in the French Open after losing 6-3 7-5 to Spain's Beatriz Garcia Vidagany, the world number 183, in the first round of qualifying.

Elsewhere in Strasbourg, Russia's Maria Sharapova beat Dia Evtimova of Bulgaria 6-3 6-0 to cruise into the quarter-finals.

She will next face Julia Goerges of Germany, who defeated sixth-seeded Sybille Bammer of Austria 6-1 7-6 (8-6).

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