British hopeful Katie O'Brien has her mind set on the AEGON Classic in Birmingham

Jun 6 2010 by Andy Walker, Sunday Mercury

THE BRAINBOX of the Brit pack, Katie O’Brien, is hoping to do the business in Birmingham this week.

The British number two will be one of several stars on show at the Edgbaston Priory Club having been handed a place in the main draw of the AEGON Classic last Wednesday.

Yorkshire-born O’Brien will be looking to bounce back from her AEGON Trophy defeat in Nottingham on Thursday when American Carly Gullickson denied her a place in the quarter-finals.

Like fellow British hopefuls Elena Baltacha and Anne Keothavong, O’Brien will be using this latest grass tournament as the perfect preparation for the pressure-cooker that is Wimbledon.

Yet the 24-year-old has her own way of dealing with the weight of expectation that will greet any competitor from these shores in SW19 later this month.

When not mastering her backhand, O’Brien buries her head in business studies books.

The world number 123 has been studying for a degree in the subject from the Open University since 2008 and she admits that it’s the perfect preparation for a big tournament.

“I’m about halfway through my degree and I’m really enjoying it,” she said.

“It keeps my mind switched off from tennis during my down time and it’s something that I might pursue when I finish tennis.

“You have to complete a certain amount of modules to complete the degree.

“It’s hard work but at tournaments there’s a lot of hanging around so it’s good that I can use my time productively.

“You can suffer a career-threatening injury at any stage and having that to fall back on has made me able to relax and really go for it in my tennis career.

“I love what I’m doing at the moment and I would definitely like to stay in sport. I’m interested in the marketing side.”

However, thoughts of accounting and economics will be pushed to the back of O’Brien’s mind over the coming months as she aims to climb up the rankings.

She reached her career-high singles ranking of World No.84 earlier this year and will be hoping to get back to that level.

O’Brien continued: “Next week will be great preparation for Wimbledon.

“I’ve played on the grass in Birmingham for the last five years and I’m looking forward to it.

“I’m hoping it will help me run into some good form.”

Meanwhile, defending AEGON Classic champion Magdelena Rybarikova will start her singles title defence at the Edgbaston Priory Club against Russian Regina Kulikova.

Elsewhere, British numbers one and two, Elena Baltacha and O’Brien, will face winners of yesterday’s qualifiers in the first round.

Fellow Brit Anne Keothavong will take on France’s Pauline Parmentier while wild cards Naomi Broady, Melanie South and Heather Watson will face American Shenay Perry and Russians Anna Chakvetadze and Alla Kudryavtseva respectively.

The top eight seeds, including Maria Sharapova, have all received byes to the second round following yesterday’s main draw.