Eastbourne champion Svetlana Kuznetsova was unable to produce a trademark comeback as she crashed out of Wimbledon.

The Russian eighth seed lost 7-6 (7-4) 3-6 6-4 to France's Virginie Razzano yesterday, dashing hopes of emulating her success on grass in the Hastings Direct Championships last weekend.

At Eastbourne's Devonshire Park, Kuznetsova fought back in the final to claim a 2-6 7-6 6-4 win against Slovakian Daniela Hantuchova.

Yesterday, Hantuchova, who is coached by Nigel Sears, of Lewes, beat Samantha Reeves of the United States 6-1 6-4 to continue her return to form.

However, American Chanda Rubin, a former two-time winner of the pre-Wimbledon Eastbourne event, went out after the 17th seed was beaten 7-6 (7-5) 6-3 by Marion Bartoli of France.

It may not have been a good day for the Russians with Elena Dementieva beaten 6-4 1-6 6-4 by big-hitting Czech Sandra Kleinova but tennis chiefs were celebrating the best performance by British women for 15 years after four of the six wild card entries reached the second round.

Elena Baltacha, the former British No. 1 who has battled back from a career-threatening liver illness, and Jane O'Donoghue both saw off well-respected opponents to join Anne Keothavong and Emily Webley-Smith in the last 64.

It may be too early to herald a renaissance in British tennis but the first-round efforts are in stark contrast to those 12 months ago when, for the first time in the Open era, not a single British player reached the second round of the women's singles.

Baltacha, 20, who was only cleared to play full-time again in January, won 6-1 6-3 over Spaniard Marta Marrero, who is ranked 270 places above her.

The Kiev-born Baltacha is now expected to meet seventh seed Jennifer Capriati, the former French and US Open champion who has twice reached the Wimbledon semi-finals.

O'Donoghue, who lost in the first round to Venus Williams two years ago, came from behind to win 2-6 6-3 6-3 against American Lindsay Lee-Waters, who is 154 places above her in the rankings.

"It's a nice change, it really is," said O'Donoghue, the 21-year-old from Wigan. "Before I went on court, I was chatting to Baltacha, saying 'come on, let's make it four'. It's nice that we're getting out there and getting the business done."

Both Baltacha and O'Donoghue burst into tears of joy after winning.

"I'm just so happy to be back and to have this second chance," said Baltacha.

O'Donoghue added: "I'm afraid I did exactly the same (cry). It's very emotional for all of us because to play at Wimbledon is the ultimate tournament.

"For me it was my third time here without winning a match. I was so pumped and when I saw a friend of mine that was it for me. It's nice you know, we're crying happy, not sad."

O'Donoghue, whose victory will lift her into the top 200, will next play Magui Serna, the world number 53 from Spain. "I've got nothing to lose," she said. "It's a big weight off my shoulder. I've won my first match here and I'm looking to win another."

Two more wins would trigger a cash windfall from Hastings Direct, who have promised £100,000 for any British woman reaching the fourth round.

"I didn't know about that but it is an incentive for sure," said O'Donoghue.

Teenager Katie O'Brien, who interrupted her A-levels to make her Wimbledon debut, lost the first set 6-4 to Maria Sanchez Lorenzo and was 5-4 down in the second when rain ended play last night.