BRITISH girls took centre stage as the ITF Women's $50,000 indoor tennis tournament got under way in Southampton today.

After two days of qualifying competition at the Hampshire Tennis & Health Club, the main draw began with six Brits scheduled to battle for second-round places.

Ten of Britain's top 11 women - number six Sam Smith being the only exception - are playing in Southampton but such is the quality of the opposition that British number one Louise Latimer, the world number 133, is ranked only 13th for the third most important women's event in the country after Wimbledon and Eastbourne.

British number two Julie Pullin had a tough match against Belgian Patty Van Acker, rated 18 places above her in the world list. But home supporters were also anxious to see teenager Hannah Collin, from Surrey, who beat Pullin in three sets in the $25,000 event at Welwyn last week and only lost to eventual champion Laurence Andretto of France. Collin is up against world number 86 Els Callens of Belgium.

Another British youngster battling to reach the first round proper was 16-year-old Anna Keothavong, from Essex.

Converted for the new archive on 25 January 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.