How a Wigan teenager plans to beat Venus

Jane O'Donoghue must play mind games against the champion, writes Richard Jago.

It is not often that grand slam champions have the limelight taken away from them when they are starting the defence of a title. But this is exactly what could happen tomorrow when Venus Williams begins her Wimbledon hat-trick attempt on centre court.

And that unlikely role reversal would come despite the biggest star in the women's game facing an opponent whose greatest achievement has been to win two small satellite events in the south of England this year.

She is Jane O'Donoghue, a 19-year-old wild-card entry from Wigan, whose Wimbledon debut against the champion sits well with Britain's traditional love for the underdog. Tomorrow's match-up also has a familiar echo. For Williams read Pete Sampras. For O'Donoghue read Barry Cowan. And for motivation, there is Gloria Budd.

Budd is the sports psychologist who helped Cowan, the left-handed Lancastrian, take Sampras, then the men's title-holder, to five sets last year. Cowan bolstered himself with the aid of a Walkman and the Liverpool anthem You'll Never Walk Alone. With Budd's assistance O'Donoghue will attempt it by imagining Williams as someone other than the tall figure with the bulging biceps and striking outfits which most see when the American strides out.

"I will encourage Jane to visualise Venus differently," said Budd. "To visualise her as an opponent, but just another opponent, and this as another day and another match. To play the game and not the occasion. By using certain techniques you can visualise everything in a different way."

Admittedly, it will take some doing. Williams is world No1, O'Donoghue 347. Williams has $10m (£7m) in career prize money, O'Donoghue $10,000. Williams has 25 tour titles, O'Donoghue none. Williams is 6ft 1in, O'Donoghue 5in shorter.

O'Donoghue has recovered so well from a knee injury which sidelined her for six months that she has become the most improved player in Britain this year. She declares: "A lot of players have been intimidated by Venus, but I don't think I will be. I have to go out there and beat her. But actually I won't be thinking a lot about her. Gloria has helped transform my game."

A good performance against the champion would, in the words of Britain's Fed Cup captain Nick Brown, "stand Jane in good stead for three years further down the line when she can play there again".

She is already much improved. When she was 15 her tennis was "ugly", according to Brown. "Technically she was a disaster - that's wrong, she was poor," he remembers. It was another coach, Phil Fowler, who helped produce her current game.

With Fowler's help she has "caught up three years in one year", Brown said, due to a desire so outstanding that they now use it as a yardstick to measure other young hopefuls.

Fowler, who works with Brown at the All England club, believes O'Donoghue has improved a serve which was "a bit iffy" and has acquired a forehand which is one of the best in the country. He will have stressed the need to show Williams a physical presence.

O'Donoghue does, however, have one edge. Because the All England Club allows Britain's leading women to use its facilities all year round, Wimbledon is a second home to her. That is a feeling she must carry out on to centre court - and, crucially, into her performance.

· You've read the piece, now have your say. Email your comments, as sharp or as stupid as you like, to the sport.editor@guardianunlimited.co.uk.