Baltacha & O'Brien make progress

Britain's Elena Baltacha and Katie O'Brien moved to within one win of the Australian Open main draw following victories in Melbourne on Friday.

Baltacha defeated Carly Gullickson of the USA 5-7 6-0 6-0 in the second round of qualifying, and O'Brien beat American Julie Ditty 3-6 6-3 6-3.

Fellow Briton Georgie Stoop missed two match points in an epic 6-3 5-7 14-12 defeat by Germany's Kathrin Woerle.

All four British men in qualifying went out in the first two rounds.

Alex Bogdanovic lost to France's Sebastien de Chaunac in the second round on Thursday, after Josh Goodall, Alexander Slabinsky and James Ward all crashed out in the first round.

Baltacha and O'Brien are seeking to join Anne Keothavong and Melanie South in the main draw.

Andy Murray, who has been seeded fourth, will be the only British male competing in the singles event.

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