Melanie South is refusing to set any targets ahead of this year’s Wimbledon Championships - but is confident she has the game to trouble anyone she may come up against.

The New Malden star will enter the tournament at the first round stage courtesy of her world ranking of 130.

And having seen off top-100 ranked players Varvara Lepchenko and Nicole Vaidisova in Eastbourne this week, the 23-year-old is aiming to beat her best-ever display at SW19 when she reached the second round in 2006.

South said: “I never like to set myself a goal before a tournament because you never know who you are going to come up against in the draw.

“I know I have the game to go deep in the draw but it is all about who you have to play.

“The big positive for me is that I have played a number of tough matches on grass and done well and I am playing with a lot of confidence.

“I’m match-fit, I’m feeling really sharp and I feel very strong.

“This is the best preparation I have had for any Wimbledon and I am really looking forward to it.”

South has seen her world ranking slip from a career-high 99 in February due to taking time out to improve her fitness before the French Open.

And the British number four insists that was the right decision to make.

She added: “I needed that time out to work on my strength and I do not regret it at all.

“I’m feeling better than I ever have before and I am really set up to have a strong finish to the year and hopefully get back into the top 100 again.

“There are quite a few British players that are around the 100 mark now and we are all pushing each other on.

“We are all very supportive of each other and if we can push each other into the top 100 then that is fantastic.”

The attentions of the tennis world will obviously switch to Wimbledon from Monday as the cream of the game come to town.

And South admits she still gets goosebumps before stepping out on court.

She added: “I still get really nervous before playing there but if you do not get nervous then you shouldn’t be out there.

“I think the adrenaline really helps and gives you that boost.

“I also have the experience now of playing matches on the big stage and that gives you a lot of confidence and hopefully I can show that at Wimbledon.”