Morita injury puts Anne in last four
Keothavong into second WTA Tour semi-final of her career…
Anne Keothavong has equalled her best ever performance at a Sony Ericsson WTA Tour event by making it through to the semi-finals of the ASB Classic in Auckland, New Zealand, her first event of 2009.
The British No.1 recorded her third successive victory of the week at the $220,000 hard court tournament when her quarter-final opponent, Japan’s Ayumi Morita, retired midway through their match with a leg injury.
The Londoner will play unseeded Russian Elena Vesnina on Friday for a place in the final. Vesnina shocked second seed and world No.12 Caroline Wozniacki 6-3, 0-6, 6-3 late on day four.
Keothavong had been in full control against Morita and had taken the first set 6-0 for the loss of just 12 points when the 18-year-old qualifier decided to quit with a left hamstring strain. The contest was only 23 minutes old when Morita called it a day.
“It’s a shame Ayumi had to retire but I thought I started better today than in my previous matches and was hitting the ball pretty sweet anyway,” Anne said.
“She’s played a lot of tennis in the last few days and she was bound to be a little tired but I’m through to the semis and that’s what matters for me.
“It’s not a bad start for the first tournament of the year and I’m looking forward to tomorrow’s match. I’ve got nothing to lose and will go out there with the same focus I had today and give it my best shot.”
Keothavong’s LTA coach Nigel Sears said the Briton will be in great shape for Friday’s semi. “Anne played a superb first set today, striking the ball at her best and serving very effectively before Morita retired,” Sears told the LTA website.
“It was a great match for Anne because she is full of confidence and will go into tomorrow’s semi-final that much fresher.”
The result means the 25-year-old from Hackney is into the second WTA Tour semi-final of her career, and has got there without dropping a set so far this week.
Keothavong’s previous best was when she reached the same stage at the Kolkata Open, in India, in September 2007.
Thursday’s win follows straight-sets victories over Croatian Mirjana Lucic and eighth seed Carla Suarez Navarro, a French Open quarter-finalist last year.
In the top half of the draw No.1 seed Elena Dementieva thrashed Israeli Shahar Peer on Thursday to book a semi-final spot against Frenchwoman Aravane Rezai, who beat Romania’s Edina Gallovits.
Thursday’s results
Elena Dementieva (RUS) (1) bt Shahar Peer (ISR) 6-3, 6-1
Aravane Rezai (FRA) bt Edina Gallovits (ROM) 6-3, 6-2
Anne Keothavong (GBR) bt Ayumi Morita (JAP) 6-0 retired (left hamstring)
Elena Vesnina (RUS) bt Caroline Wozniacki (DEN) (2) 6-3, 0-6, 6-3
Friday order of play
Centre Court (12 noon start)
Elena Dementieva (RUS) v Aravane Rezai (FRA)
Anne Keothavong (GBR) v Elena Vesnina (RUS)