Top seed Sofia Arvidson was knocked out of the tournament yesterday by unseeded French player Pauline Parmentier.
It was a tight contest which finished 6-4, 1-6, 6-3 and pitted Parmentier against No 5 seed Irina Bulykina today.
And the other French girl still in contention is Virginie Pichet, the No 2 seed who beat Great Britain’s Sarah Borwell 6-3, 6-3 and was in action today against Britain’s Amanda Janes.
Janes beat the German qualifier Julia Babilon 7-6, 6-2 yesterday.
Baltacha came through yesterday after beating German Stephanie Weis 6-1, 7-6.
There was a little wobble in the second set, which went to a tie-break If Janes gets through today’s match the Brits will go head-to-head in the semi-finals tomorrow and thus ensure national media interest in the finals.
The lowest-ranked British player, Katie O’Brien, beat her compatriot Hannah Grady 6-0, 6-3, and meets Emma Laine of Finland, in the next round.
‘The number of spectators coming to watch, I’m sorry to say, has been on the low side,’ tournament director Hugh Raymond said today, but he added that those who have been to see the action have been astounded by the very high quality play on show.
‘People think that because these girls are outside the top 100 they’re not that good, but the standard is very high – noticably better than last year – and those who have been have really enjoyed it.
If the British girls get through there will be huge interest in the national papers, this is an important tournament on the circuit.
With the semi-finals tomorrow – and the finals on Sunday – starting at 11, I do hope that a lot more people will be able to come and watch.’ There was also plenty of excitement in yesterday’s doubles matches, with most going to three sets.
Matches at Les Ormes started at 11 this morning with singles and doubles games being played today while tomorrow’s matches start at 11 am and spectators are very welcome.
