The theme for British women's tennis these days is better late than never' and no-one sums that up better than Scotland's Elena Baltacha. In keeping with the rest of a late-blooming group, Baltacha believes that only now does she understand how to make the most of her talent.

Baltacha will take on Anna-Lena Groenefeld in the first round of the Australian Open tonight after coming through qualifying in Melbourne for the second time in her career.

Groenefeld has been ranked inside the world's top 20 and cannot be regarded as an easy draw by any stretch of the imagination, but after three difficult matches against quality opposition on the mid-paced courts at Melbourne Park, Baltacha has every chance of emulating her run there of 2005, when she qualified and went on to to reach the third round.

The difference between now and then is marked, though, for Baltacha is not just older and wiser but fitter, faster and even more motivated. "I'm 25 and, hopefully, I've got another five, six years left in me and when you are at that age then you really want to quickly build on a lot of things. You aren't going to waste a lot of things like you do when you are 18 because when you are that young you think you've got another 100 years playing sport," said Baltacha.

Baltacha battled with so many health problems when she was younger - including liver damage sustained after taking too many antibiotics and a back so crocked that it required surgery in 2006 - that she feels she is younger than her years, however much the march of time is an extra incentive to make the most of now.

"I think she feels she can do so much more," said Nigel Sears, head coach of women's tennis at the Lawn Tennis Association. "She has had a rough time over the years with injury and illness and it's a question of being able to do the day-in, day-out stuff she needs to do, and the priorities she needs to zone in for a consistent period of time. That has always been the issue.

"If I could say she would have that stretch of time to do it every day, I think the future could see good things for Bally. This is a big opportunity she has earned for herself and I am particularly pleased. She has come through qualifying here strongly and has looked good in each match. So she will be really ready for her challenge."

The zoning in' that Sears talks about has taken the form of a fitness and movement programme tailored to suit her powerful, big-serving game and instituted by Sears and his team after Baltacha's 10-year coaching relationship with Alan Jones and Jo Durie ended 11 months ago.

After years of being something of an outsider, Baltacha came into the LTA fold and took advantage of a regime change at the organisation which has seen the British women improve beyond measure. British No.1 Anne Keothavong is up to a career-high ranking of 53, while Mel South is ranked just outside the top 100 and Katie O'Brien also qualified, which meant that this year's Australian Open began with more British women in the main draw - four - than any other grand slam outside of Wimbledon since 1992.

"It just gives you that extra bit of confidence," said Baltacha, when asked about her improved fitness. "What's huge is that if you can find confidence from something, it just gives you that edge up here," she said tapping her head. "If you think you have that edge then it's amazing what it can do. That usually comes from the physical side."

Sears added: "The expertise that we can now tap into in that field is a big asset but the girls still have to get out there and do it every day. It's not just the training and the speed and everything, it's everything that comes with a higher level of physical activity.

"It's all the rehab and pre-hab and physios. It plays a massive part in being able to show the girls a routine for their bodies and keep them healthy for longer because it is the consistent approach. All these things are inter-linked and it's taking care of every detail, and we are in a privileged position with the resources we have that we can take care of all those little details. That makes the difference at the top level."