Keothavong taking patient approach on return from injury

She had drawn the world No 1, Dinara Safina, in the first round of the French Open and was looking forward to testing herself on tennis' biggest stage.

But a chastening 12 games later, none of which Keothavong won, the picture looked somewhat different. Wimbledon was just around the corner, of course, but that would offer no comfort.

As the British No 1 and one of the few home players to draw a player ranked below her, much was expected of Keothavong against Patricia Mayr.

But she could not capitalise on a good start and the tears flowed at her post-match press conference.

Twelve months on and Keothavong's outlook has changed again. Five weeks after her Wimbledon disappointment, the 26-year-old collided with a fence while playing doubles in America and ruptured the cruciate ligament in her left knee.

It was the second time Keothavong had suffered such an injury, having damaged her right knee in 2004, and her enforced absence of more than six months meant all her hard work at first breaking into the top 100 and then the top 50 had been undone.

"I guess that's life," said Keothavong. "I wasn't very lucky there but these things happen in sport.

"When it happened at least I'd done it before in one sense so I kind of knew what the rehab process was going to be and I threw myself into that and it was just a case of this is what it is and you've got to get on with it."

Keothavong returned to action in February and immediately reached her fourth main tour semi-final in Memphis, but it has been a slow road back and she goes into Wimbledon ranked well outside the top 100.

She said: "The main thing is my knee's holding up and I'm being sensible and just trying to plan my schedule sensibly. My consistency still needs quite a bit of work but the more I put myself out there, the better I'll get.

"My tennis isn't where it was when I was inside the top 50 last year but that's normal. It wasn't like I just took a break, I'm recovering from a serious injury so it does take a bit of time to get back into it."

Keothavong lost in the first round in Paris this year as well, 6-2 6-2 to 14th seed Flavia Pennetta, but this time she is determined there will be no hangover.

"It was quite a knock-on effect last year from the French Open," said Keothavong, who has won only two matches in nine main-draw appearances at Wimbledon. "Losing that match to Safina hit my confidence pretty hard. I don't think I handled that particular loss too well."

Keothavong is one of two British women, alongside top-70 player Elena Baltacha, to have earned direct entry into the singles draw.

Beverley's Katie O'Brien, Mel South and Heather Watson have been given wild cards along with 2008 junior champion Laura Robson, who has begun to make her mark in the senior ranks and will also play in the mixed doubles with Jamie Murray and in the junior tournament.

O'Brien, 24, has been drawn against Ukranian Alona Bondarenko, the 24th seed, as she bids to reach the second round for only the second time.

"All the seeds are going to be tough but it's not a terrible draw and I'm definitely in with a chance," said O'Brien. "I remember Bally beat her in the first round last year and I don't think grass is her favourite surface and being a Brit means I always get inspired at Wimbledon."