Scottish number one Elena Baltacha has entered the $50,000 ITF event in Gifu, Japan, which begins on April 27.

Currently ranked 143 in the world, she is fighting her way back to full fitness after a back injury.

Baltacha is the top-ranked player currently entered and is likely to be top seed for the event.

Fellow Brit Melanie South reached the semi-finals of the event last year.

There will be a strong challenge from the home nation with world number 155 Tomoko Yonemura also entered along with Aiko Nakamura, a finalist in 2006.