Janes ready to stand clear of mother's shadow

Amanda Janes has spent her life being introduced as the daughter of Christine Truman, the runner-up to Angela Mortimer in the last all-British women's singles final at Wimbledon, in 1961.

Amanda Janes has spent her life being introduced as the daughter of Christine Truman, the runner-up to Angela Mortimer in the last all-British women's singles final at Wimbledon, in 1961.

Today the 26-year-old Janes has an opportunity to stand alone in the spotlight when she plays Amelie Mauresmo, the world No 4, in the second round of the Hastings Direct Championships here at Devonshire Park.

"This is what I work for, to play someone like Mauresmo," Janes said. "When you go through the nasty times, this is what you think of."

Janes, a Cambridge graduate, has risen to No 2 in the British rankings since putting her mind to tennis full-time. As the world No 240, however, she had to rely on a wild card at Eastbourne, as she will at Wimbledon next week. Mauresmo, the top seed, had a bye in the first round here.

In the first round yesterday, Janes defeated a qualifier, Jie Zheng, of China, ranked 19 places above her, 7-5, 6-3. Zheng, who reached the fourth round at the French Open, was unable to breach serve of the tall, left-handed Janes, who saved all six break points against her and broke her opponent three times.

Daniela Hantuchova, of Slovakia, who spent most of last year assuring worried admirers she was not anorexic, looked in good shape and reasonable form yesterday in defeating the American Amy Frazier, 7-5, 3-6, 6-2. However, Hantuchova admitted that her confidence will not recover until she advances to the later stages of tournaments.

Jelena Dokic, of Serbia and Montenegro, is also short of self-belief. Yesterday she lost in the first round for the fifth time in a row, this time to Tina Pisnik, of Slovenia, 6-2, 6-2. "My play was appalling in general," Dokic said. "I started on the Tour when I was 16. Six years later, without stopping, it may be hurting a bit. I've played the amount of tennis of someone's career. That's a little worrying. But I like tennis, otherwise I wouldn't be playing it."