IPSWICH-Based tennis star and British number one Elena Baltacha pulled off a shock at the Australian Open last night when she beat 30th-seed Kateryna Bondarenko in straight sets.

IPSWICH-Based tennis star and British number one Elena Baltacha pulled off a shock at the Australian Open last night when she beat 30th-seed Kateryna Bondarenko in straight sets.

Baltacha, who is 50 places below her opponent, won the second-round match 6-2 7-5 in one hour and 34 minutes.

The 26-year-old, daughter of former Ipswich Town star Sergei Baltalcha, will now play in the third round of a grand slam for just the third time in her career after advancing to the last 32 at Melbourne Park in 2005 and at Wimbledon in 2002.

Baltacha, who trains at Ipswich Sports Club, enjoyed only the fourth win of her career against a top-50 rival and after reaching a career-high ranking of 83 earlier this month.