From Russia with regret for Baltacha

British women's hopes are buried as experience upstages young ambition and Venus Williams wins battle of nerves

Britain's last hope in the women's singles disappeared with the 6-4 7-6 third-round defeat of the 18-year-old Elena Baltacha by the Russian Elena Likhovtseva, on Court Two. On this sunny afternoon the graveyard of champions became a burial ground for young ambition.

Baltacha, who at 295 in the rankings was more than 250 places below Likhovtseva, gave everything. But it rarely looked like being enough against an experienced 26-year-old who was making her ninth Wimbledon appearance. The flat, hard hitting of the Russian gave her an advantage when rallies developed but invariably Baltacha hung in there, chiselling the points when she was able, and frequently it paid handsomely. Whenever she was able to snatch brief ascendancy, the British teenager struck hard. Many of her serves were around the 110mph mark but she still lacks the toughness of experience at this level.

Perhaps there was a residue of bitterness from their match at Eastbourne a week ago, won 7-6 7-5 by the Russian, but Likhovtseva arrived at the trot nine minutes late, just after Baltacha had enquired politely of the American umpire, Lynn Welch, whether an opponent would ever turn up. Likhovtseva was fortunate not to collect a reprimand. At the end of the warm-up Baltacha decided to take a toilet break and the tit-for-tat continued, with the players alternating delaying tactics such as shoelace-tieing sessions.

Afterwards her coach, Alan Jones, said, "It has been a big learning curve for Bally. She found out today about tennis mind games. Likhovtseva is a very experienced player who knows a few tricks and she used them to unsettle Bally. She was late out on court, she went to the bathroom after taking the first set, she gave our girl plenty of time to think about everything.

"If you want to be positive, and I do, Likhovtseva beat Kim Clijsters easily before beating Bally. There are plenty of things to work with and it can only get better. She comes with tremendous credentials. She is green behind the ears but this match was the right sort of lesson for her."

Flags of England and Scotland, but none from her birthplace of the Ukraine, were waved in support of Baltacha, the daughter of a Russian international footballer who moved with his family to Scotland, where she was brought up. A break of serve in the opening game settled the destination of the first set, the spare-framed Russian announcing her intentions with a perfect lob on the first point and achieving the break at the third opportunity. Likhovtseva conceded just seven points on serve in that set.

Then came the Likhovtseva disappearing act, while Baltacha sat forlornly, towel round her shoulders. She certainly seemed unsettled by the ploy, needing to save four break points in the second set's opening game. But, possibly fuelled by annoyance, she broke the Russian to go 2-0 up. Likhovtseva fell awkwardly to go break point down when stretching for a service return, which could be construed as unlucky, but the responsibility was all her own for the next gaffe, a weak double-fault.

With the packed court behind her, Baltacha moved 3-0 ahead with a coruscating backhand down the line, and both women were now alternating grunts and shrieks. Baltacha stretched the lead to 4-1 with another confident service game, but then the Russian counter-attack got under way. Baltacha's second service loss of the afternoon reduced the lead to 4-3 as she walloped a forehand into the netting. "Come on Elena, dig deep!" yelled a fan. But all the British girl was digging now was a pit for her hopes.

There was one last blast after Likhovtseva had broken again to go 6-5 up and served for the match. Baltacha promptly broke back, assisted by the umpire, who ruled one of Likhovtseva's shots out to put her break point down, which was followed by a dead ball net cord. However, Baltacha never got near in the subsequent tie-break, a backhand error leaving her beaten by seven points to two in the one hour 36 minute match.

Baltacha refused to become involved in a dispute about Likhovtseva's actions. "She is a great player," she insisted. "I really enjoyed the match. I have had a brilliant week, I learnt a lot and it has given me a boost, but there are still things to improve on. For instance, I don't think I am quick enough, and I need to read the game more." There was consolation, of course. Elena will collect a cheque for £17,000 as a third-round loser, more than she won all last year. "I am going to go shopping now, treat myself," she smiled.

Venus Williams, who perhaps coins that amount per day, surprised the Centre Court patrons by looking considerably less than assured while assembling her 17th consecutive Wimbledon singles victory. Sporting a patch on her left knee and looking less mobile than usual, the defending champion had the mortification of dropping the first set to Maureen Drake, a 31-year-old from Toronto who dwells at 110 in the rankings, before running out a 5-7 6-2 6-1 winner.

Treating the world No 1 with what bordered on contempt in the opening set, Drake broke Williams to love in the first game. Then, after seeing a 3-1 lead evaporate, Drake broke Williams twice more to take the first set that Venus has lost at Wimbledon this time. Drake tried to stoke up the crowd and get them more involved, but it was Venus who became more involved, though again she suffered the indignity of being broken to love as she served for the match.