O'Brien eases through

(UKPA)

British number two Katie O'Brien joined Elena Baltacha in the second round of the Australian Open after a straight sets win over Patricia Mayr.

The Hull-born 23-year-old won 6-3 6-3 to progress past the first round of a grand slam for just the second time in her career.

O'Brien's best ever result at a major was reaching the second round at Wimbledon in 2007 and a confident display, against a player ranked three places behind her in 90th, ensured she would at least match that.

A difficult task, however, awaits in the next round where she will play eighth seed Jelena Jankovic.

O'Brien quickly found her stride, breaking her Austrian opponent in the fifth game to go 3-2 ahead and then with Mayr serving to stay in the set broke again to take the advantage.

Mayr broke early in the second set, but from there the Austrian's serve let her down. O'Brien pounced on the opportunity and broke on three consecutive occasions to surge ahead before wrapping up the match when Mayr dumped a forehand into the net.

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