Ever since the glorious midsummer of 1977, when the darling of Wimbledon, Virginia Wade, held every Centre Court heart in her hands, the British have been searching for a new, crisp cotton-clad heroine to entrust a little piece of their dreams to.

The ghosts of Centre Court still echo to the sound of a clearly choked and semi-incoherent Dan Maskell, who had always been known for his calm detachment and eloquence as the doyen of sports commentary. That day Maskell could barely offer a strangled cry of: “She’s done it, she’s done it”

Though the fashions and fabrics may have changed, one constant has always been the plethora of false dawns that have risen and set over that venerable old stadium, cooling the optimism of summers past for British tennis dreams.

Bristol's Jo Durie offered hope with a stellar rise towards the top, until her star foundered upon injury and related fitness issues. Reaching No.5 in the world in April, 1984, Durie would climb no higher, and fade gradually away.

In Hackney, London, around this time, a six-month-old girl called Anne Keothavong was taking her first tentative steps in the world. Who could have then predicted that it would take 25 years before it would be Keothavong herself, who next would make British pulses race in the belief that finally the wait for a genuine new contender was over.

Keothovong, talented in the extreme, has been no stranger to injury herself. It seemed that every time she was about to realise her talent injury intervened to stall her progress. But a combination of fortitude and courage to keep going in adversity was perhaps, more than anything, what marked her out as having the ‘right stuff' to truly make it.

If 2008 was the breakthrough year for the feisty Londoner, then 2009 has been designated 'the year of hope’ for fans of British women’s tennis. Keothavong has come out of the off-season blocks like an Olympic sprinter determined to seize the opportunities that her ability and determination demand.

Her first tournament of the year, a prelude to the Australian Open, ended after a gritty run and narrow three-set defeat in an epic semi-final of the ASB Classic in Auckland. Guided by the experienced and respected coach Nigel Sears it must be reassuring to see somebody in your box who has real experience at this level. In two years with Daniela Hantuchova, Sears presided over a stunning rise from 80 in the world to number eight.

If this was not enough to stir even the hardest heart, then Keothavong has followed this up with another stunning win in her latest tournament, over the world number 25 Agnes Szavey. This presents the British world No.53 with another opportunity to enhance her glowing resume still further as one of the form players already of 2009.

It seems that finally the phrase that 'the Brits are coming' has some credence, and with Keothavong leading the charge it seems that others are poised to follow in her wake. Mel South the big hitting Surrey 22-year-old, also enjoyed a career year in 2008 and starts 2009 on the verge of breaking the top 100.

Anna Fitzpatrick reached the semi-finals of Junior Wimbledon in 2007 as the tennis nation held its breath, and she is currently recovering from the debilitating foot injury which prematurely curtailed her career last year in a parallel with Keothovong's career. Those who have followed her progress know that she also can be a very special player indeed in the years to come.

Last but not least, the precocious talent of 14-year-old Laura Robson needs little introduction after her 2008 Junior Wimbledon victory. Her charming persona off court, as displayed when smilingly threatening to “take Venus Williams down”, will become familiar to us all in the coming years as her burgeoning talent and feisty determination catapults her towards the top.

It seems that the challenge for lovers of British women’s tennis in the future will not be the long wait for the next player, but instead deciding on a favourite from the many prospects set to take Britain back to the pinnacle of the game.