British number one Elena Baltacha says she will be fit to play in the Aegon Classic in Birmingham, despite suffering from heatstroke.

The 26-year-old Suffolk-based Scot kicked-off her grass season by lifting the Aegon Trophy in Nottingham on Saturday, but it came at a cost.

She told BBC Look East: "Because of a rain delay we ended up playing two matches on the Friday.

"I was so ill, I spent a day and a half in bed, but I feel much better now."

Baltacha will be looking for more success when she competes in the first round of the Aegon Classic against Estonia's Kaia Kanepi, and then the Aegon International in Eastbourne which begins on 14 June.

I always look forward to Wimbledon, it's very special to me and I've done well there in the past Elena Baltacha

Both tournaments are precursors to the pinnacle of the grass-court season at Wimbledon, where Baltacha reached the third round in 2002.

"I always look forward to Wimbledon, it's very special to me and I've done well there in the past," she said.

"Every year when it comes around I look forward to it and hopefully I can get a decent draw and do well."

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