ALEX Bogdanovic believes he is on track to break into the world's top 100 after reaching the third round of the Artois Championships at Queen's. The Globe left-hander produced one of his best wins on grass to beat the world No 42

By Patrick Mooney

ALEX Bogdanovic believes he is on track to break into the world's top 100 after reaching the third round of the Artois Championships at Queen's.

The Globe left-hander produced one of his best wins on grass to beat the world No 42 Hyung-Taik Lee 6-4, 6-4 on Monday and came from behind to defeat fellow Briton Jamie Baker in three tough sets 4-6, 7-6 (7-4), 6-3 on Wednesday.

And the reward for the British No 3 was a plum centre court clash with three-time champion Andy Ruddock yesterday. He has also been awarded a wildcard for Wimbledon.

"This week has been a great opportunity to play good players and every match I win will help me move forward," Bogdanovic told Wood&Vale Sport.

"When I break into the top 100 - and I'm confident I will - it will be tough playing players like this every week.

"I didn't play well against Baker. I was a set and a break down. Six months ago I would have crumbled after the first set because nothing was going my way. But I dealt with the occasion pretty well just to turn the whole match around when he was the better player throughout."

In the past Bogdanovic, who started his career under Peter Neathey at South Hampstead CC, has been guilty of freezing on the big occasion.

But the 23-year-old has showed the benefit of working with Peter Lundgren, the former coach of Roger Federer and Marat Safin, and Brad Gilbert, who coaches Andy Murray and also works with other British players.

"Peter is trying to get to stay aggressive out there and play one point at a time, not worry what's happened before or what's going to happen ahead," he said.

"He has helped me a lot mentally. I had a lot of pressure going into the Baker match because I wanted to win and give myself the chance of playing Ruddock. I'm mentally a better player now, also physically I'm stronger."

l Cumberland's British No 1 Anne Keothavong has also been granted a wildcard for Wimbledon and warmed up at the DFS Classic this week.

Keothavong looked to be on course for a shock win over world No 55 Tamira Paszek when she won the first set 6-2. However, the Austrian hit back to win 2-6, 6-2, 6-4 in two hours and two minutes.

pat.mooney@hamhigh.co.uk