Keothavong draws Chakvetadze in Melbourne
Anne to play Russian 17th seed in first round…
British No.1 Anne Keothavong has been handed a first round clash with Russian 17th seed Anna Chakvetadze at the Australian Open which begins on Monday.
I’m feeling good about my own tennis and I’m playing with lots of confidence
The 25-year-old from London will be making her main draw debut at the Melbourne slam – her first round is the fourth match on court three on Monday.
Keothavong has enjoyed a fine start to the year, reaching the last four at her first event of 2009, the ASB Classic in Auckland, before beating Hungarian world No.25 Agnes Szavay in the first round in Hobart this week.
Chakvetadze, the world No.18, hasn’t enjoyed such a good start to 2009. The 21-year-old, who was ranked as high as No.5 in September 2007, lost to Carla Suarez Navarro in the first round in Hobart, the Spaniard Keothavong beat in straight sets in the second round in New Zealand.
“I’m really excited to be here in Melbourne and making my first main draw appearance in the Aussie Open,” Anne said.
“Chakvetadze will be a tough opponent, she’s been a top 10 player and is still inside the top 20 but I’m feeling good about my own tennis and I’m playing with lots of confidence. I’ll go out there and give it my all and hopefully I can cause an upset.”
The winner of the Keothavong-Chakvetadze contest will go through to play either Aussie hope Jelena Dokic or Austrian Tamira Paszek.
Potentially waiting in round three would be 11th seed Caroline Wozniacki providing the young Dane gets through her first two matches. Also lurking in the same quarter of the draw are third seed Dinara Safina and fifth seed Ana Ivanovic.
Keothavong is also playing doubles in Melbourne with Mervana Jugic-Salkic from Croatia. The doubles draw is yet to be announced.