British number seven Helen Crook put her Wimbledon singles qualifying upset behind her to focus on doubles success as the Grand Slam tournament got underway today.
The Basildon player fell at the second qualifying round hurdle when she lost 6-2 2-6 2-6 to Romanian Andreea Vanc at Roehampton last Wednesday.
But now the 31-year-old is aiming to get past the first round of doubles at SW19 with new partner Anna Hawkins, who is from Devizes in Wiltshire.
The pair recently joined forces following the decision of Crook's long-time doubles partner Victoria Davies to quit after last year's Wimbledon tournament.
Crook and Hawkins will face Austrian Barbara Schett and Swiss Patty Schnyder in the first round of the ladies doubles this week.
" It is a good draw and it will be tough against Schnyder and Schett but we can beat them," said Crook.
"But I thought we had a good draw last year when we lost to a pair who went on to make the quarter finals."
"I have been playing pretty well recently. In February I was almost at my worst and I have now got back into it."
Published Monday, June 23, 2003
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