Tennis: Keothavong is a Memphis belle for Britain

BRITISH tennis player Anne Keothavong advanced to the second round of the Cellular South Cup in Memphis with a straight-sets victory over sixth seed Kristina Barrois.

The 26-year-old Londoner, ranked No.3 in the UK, overcame her German opponent 6-1, 6-3 to set up a second-round clash with Portuguese teenager Michelle Larcher de Brito.

Meanwhile, Britain's No.1, Scot Elena Baltacha, who has moved up to 70th in the world rankings after winning the ITF Dow Corning Classic in Michigan on Sunday, is seeded eighth in Memphis and will take on Czech Republic's Renata Voracova later this week.

British number two Katie O'Brien was eliminated on Sunday, going down 6-2, 6-1 to American wild card Bethanie Mattek-Sands.