Anne shocks fifth seed Szavay
British No.1 gets past world No.25 in Hobart…
Anne Keothavong continued her excellent start to 2009 by beating world No.25 Agnes Szavay in the first round of the Moorilla Hobart International in Tasmania, Australia, on Monday.
“I think it’s one of my best wins to date”
The British No.1, who began the year by reaching the second Sony Ericsson WTA Tour semi-final of her career in Auckland last week, produced another assured performance against a higher-ranked player to win 6-3, 7-5 in one hour, 26 minutes.
The win earns Keothavong a second round meeting with Virginie Razzano after the world No.62 from France beat Italian qualifier Maria Elena Camerin 6-1, 6-2 on Monday.
Szavay is regarded as one of the most talented young players on the tour. The 20-year-old reached the final of the WTA Tour tier 2 Paris event early last year where she beat household names Daniela Hantuchova and Elena Dementieva.
The Hungarian also reached the fourth round at Wimbledon and beat current world No.3 Dinara Safina in Charleston last April.
“I had a good win today,” Anne said. “I think it’s one of my best wins to date and I was pleased with my performance.
“There’s always a sea breeze in the afternoons here in Hobart and today it was pretty blustery but I think I handled it better than she did.
“I got a high percentage of first serves in which is important in conditions like this and I hustled well and stayed calm throughout the match.
“Next up is Virginie Razzano – we’ve played each other before but it was a long time ago and I’m a different player now.”
There was more good news for Keothavong on Monday when the new Sony Ericsson singles world rankings were published.
The 25-year-old from London climbed seven places to a new career-high of No.53 on the back of her three victories at the ASB Classic last week.
Her new listing is the highest by a British woman since Jo Durie was ranked No.52 in April 1993.
Click here to Read Anne’s new blog on tennishead
Hobart – Monday results
(1) Flavia Pennetta (ITA) d. Shahar Peer (ISR) 62 76(5)
Carla Suárez Navarro (ESP) d. (3) Anna Chakvetadze (RUS) 76(5) 16 75
(4) Zheng Jie (CHN) d. Marina Erakovic (NZL) 61 46 61
Anne Keothavong (GBR) d. (5) Agnes Szavay (HUN) 63 75
(Q) Urszula Radwanska (POL) d. (6) Aleksandra Wozniak (CAN) 36 76(3) 75
Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (RUS) d. (WC) Olivia Rogowska (AUS) 63 61
Olga Govortsova (BLR) d. (WC) Jessica Moore (AUS) 60 63
Gisela Dulko (ARG) d. (Q) Stefanie Voegele (SUI) 62 63
Virginie Razzano (FRA) d. (Q) Maria Elena Camerin (ITA) 61 62
Mara Santangelo (ITA) d. Nicole Vaidisova (CZE) 61 61
(Q) Melinda Czink (HUN) d. Tathiana Garbin (ITA) 62 16 75
Tuesday order of play
Centre Court (from 11.00hrs)
1. Zheng vs. Dulko
2. A.Bondarenko vs. Kvitova
3. Pennetta vs. Rybarikova
4. Govortsova vs. Pironkova (NB 19.00hrs)
5. Bondarenko/Bondarenko vs. Keothavong/Santangelo
Court 1 (from 11.00hrs)
1. Pavlyuchenkova vs. Suárez Navarro
2. Santangelo vs. Benesova
3. Czink vs. U.Radwanska
4. Benesova/Zahlavova Strycova vs. Borwell/Nagle
Court 8 (from 11.00hrs)
1. Camerin/Domínguez Lino vs. Gallovits/Parra Santonja
2. Keothavong vs. Razzano
3. Dulko/Pennetta vs. Szavay/Vesnina (NB 15.00hrs)