Australian Open - Baltacha scares Mauresmo

Briton Elena Baltacha threatened to dump out 2006 Australian Open champion Amelie Mauresmo before succumbing 4-6 6-3 6-2 in the second round in Melbourne.

The British number three gave the former world number one a scare with an accomplished first set taken 6-4, although there were signs that she was unable to close out games at key points.

After an immediate break from Mauresmo, Baltacha hit straight back by earning three break points, converting the last of them.

Mauresmo gave up another break with a double fault but came from 30-0 down at 5-3 to remain in the set; however Baltacha won the set in style, dropping a wonderful winner from deep that left her rival standing.

Frenchwoman Mauresmo was struggling on her serve and made many errors, but was more willing to come into the net and volley than Ukraine-born Baltacha.

She preferred to stay on the baseline, and paid for it in the second set when a break in the first game proved too much, the remainder of the set going with serve until the final game.

On several occasions Baltacha moved ahead on her opponent's service, but seemed to freeze at the crucial moment; she eventually rolled over on her serve at the last to go down 6-3.

A stunning pass from the baseline put Baltacha a break up in the deciding set in the first game, but she allowed Mauresmo back into it after throwing away four game points on her serve to level the scores at two games apiece.

Baltacha's confidence drained from that moment. Another break followed as she lost 15 points from 16 until the final game.

From 0-30 down the Brit fought briefly to remain in the match, but an error saw 20 seed Mauresmo earn a place opposite Tathiana Garbin or 13 seed Victoria Azarenka in the third round.