BBC SPORT | Tennis | Wimbledon | SOL at Wimbledon | Briton relishes Venus challenge

"She's the greatest player in the world. But I've nothing to be scared about, I'll just go out there and play my game."

The teenager's relaxed attitude may have something to do with the up and down nature of her career.

Touted as a decent prospect for the future, she spent six months on the sidelines with a knee injury last year and her prospects for recovery looked bleak.

"There was a time I thought I would never play again but a lot of people had belief in my ability," she said.

Day one: Women's round-up

"My coach, Nick Brown, and my family were very supportive. They said keep working and you'll be back.

"When last year's final was taking place, I was in the physio room. I remember that day very clearly, it's one to forget. It was a pretty bad time.

"But a year later I'm playing Wimbledon, and I'm physically fine and feel very fit."

Despite her positive outlook, it would undoubtedly be the biggest upset in the history of the Championships were O'Donoghue to topple the champion

But there is some reason to believe that she could trouble the world number one.

Venus Williams is looking for a third successive Wimbledon title
Defeat for Williams would be a huge shock
In her favour, there is the reality that Williams rarely begins a tournament at her dominant best and that the Briton will have a rabid crowd hungry for home success on her side.

"The country is desperate for a female British player to do well and hopefully myself or one or two of the other girls can come up with the goods," she said.

"It's about time we had a British player who started to do things and hopefully the crowd will be cheering for me."

And if the crowd fails to lift her, she will not have to look much further for inspiration.

O'Donoghue will be mentally prepared for her Centre Court debut by psychologist Gloria Budd, who carried out the same task with last year's unlikely British hero Barry Cowan.

Williams sisters set to dominate

Cowan pushed seven-times champion Pete Sampras to five sets on his Centre Court debut last year, and Budd will encourage O'Donoghue to perform with the same fearless attitude.

"I will encourage Jane to visualise Venus as an opponent, but just another opponent, and this as another day and another match," said Budd.

"By using certain techniques, you can visualise everything in a difference way."

It will be some job to imagine Williams as anything other than a 6ft 1in powerhouse, winner of four Grand Slams and the dominant force in women's tennis.

But O'Donoghue refuses to see it that way.

"Of course I have a chance, anything can happen," she said.

"Jelena Dokic beat Martina Hingis, didn't she? There have been stranger upsets.

"Nobody is unbeatable. I've got to go out there and be aggressive and believe I can beat her."


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