TENNIS starlet Katharine Baker came within an ace of marking her return to competitive action with her first major tournament success in Denmark last week.

At the Team Leschly Danish Junior Cup Under 18 singles, an ITF Group Four tournament the gutsy left-hander reached the semi-final, earning sufficient ranking points to move into the top 360 juniors in the world and catapult herself back into the top ten juniors in Great Britain.

Baker confirmed her return to form with a first-round victory in this week's ITF Group Three tournament in Tunisia where she was joined in the draw by her Batchwood Tennis Centre partner Claire Ricketts.

July 5, 2002 12:30