Wimbledon 2011: Baltacha and Keothavong ease through

British duo Elena Baltacha and Anne Keothavong both advanced to the second round of Wimbledon with straight-sets victories on day two at the All England Club.

British No1 and world No68 Baltacha beat Germany’s Mona Barthel 6-2 6-4, while Keothavong overcame compatriot Naomi Broady 6-2 6-4 on Court 12.

Their progress ensures that two British women will fight for a place in the third round for the first time in five years, with Heather Watson and Laura Robson still looking to join the pair after their openers were moved to Wednesday.

“I’m very satisfied,” said Baltacha, who will next play Shuai Peng or Kirsten Flipkens. “I felt I was playing two players, one Barthel and the other my demons.

“I handled my emotions well from the start. I knew I was so much better than last year, in a tennis sense and in the head.”

The 27-year-old added: “I felt like I was in control the whole match. Hopefully it will encourage the other British girls that me and Anne are through.”

Meanwhile, world No111 Keothavong admitted facing a fellow Brit in her SW19 opener was not an easy task.

“That was a really difficult match to play,” said the 27-year-old, who lost 3-6 6-2 6-4 to Anastasia Rodionova in last year’s first round.

“It’s nice to kind of banish the memories I have of last year. I made it a point of sitting on the other side of the umpire’s chair. I had friends and family seated in different places.

“It has been a tough year. I’ve had some good wins, but some terrible losses. I’m at the stage in my career where I just want to go out there and give it my best.

“This is a life that I’m not going to have forever. I don’t know how long I’ve got in this game. From my point of view I had to go out there as if it was my last Wimbledon.

“There’s no guarantee that I’ll be back again next year. I just want to know that I’ve given it everything when I do hang up my racquets. I’ll be able to live with that.”