Flying the flag: six women taking British tennis to new heights

1 Laura Robson Age 18

Last month Robson became the first British woman since 1990 to reach a WTA tour final, losing in Guangzhou to Chang Kai-chen. She reached the fourth round of the US Open this year, beating two winners of majors, Kim Clijsters and Li Na. She is ranked No56 in the world

2 Heather Watson 20

From Guernsey, Watson is a resident at Nick Bollettieri's academy in Florida. Her win in the Japan Open is expected to take her into the world's top 50 for the first time. She reached the third round of Wimbledon this year and is a former junior US Open and Commonwealth Youth Games champion

3 Anne Keothavong 29

Turned professional in 2001 and now ranked No82 in the world, having dropped from a career high of 48 in February 2009. Reached the third round of the US Open in 2008, beating the future French Open winner Francesca Schiavone to get there. Played for Team GB at the London Olympics

4 Elena Baltacha 29

Daughter of a former Soviet Union footballer Sergei, she came to England when her father signed for Ipswich Town in 1988. Ranked 135 in the world, from a highest of 49 in 2010. Reached the third round at Wimbledon in 2002 and the Australian Open in 2005 and 2010

5 Johanna Konta 21

Born in Sydney but of Hungarian background, Konta is ranked 153 – her highest position. Qualifying for the 2012 US Open, she defeated the world No59 Timea Babos in the first round before ceding a 5-2 final-set advantage to Olga Govortsova in the second

6 Tara Moore 20

Another former pupil of Bollettieri, Moore is ranked 251 in the world, though has been 233. In 2010 the television commentator Barry Davies apologised after calling her "chunkily built"

This article was written by Daniel Harris, for The Guardian on Sunday 14th October 2012 20.09 Europe/London

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