Dementieva downs Keothavong
World No.4 through in straight sets…
Anne Keothavong put up a good fight but had to settle for second best against Olympic champion Elena Dementieva in the US on Monday.
The British No.1 pushed the world No.4 all the way in the second set before succumbing 6-1, 6-4 in the first round of the Bank of the West Classic in Stanford, California.
It was both players’ first match back after taking a break following Wimbledon.
“Elena played really aggressively and made it hard for me out there today,” Keothavong said afterwards.
“It took me a while to find my range and it definitely felt like it was my first match for a while.
“I had the lead in quite a few games but couldn’t quite capitalise on it. It’s the start of a long trip for me so it’s important to stay upbeat, there are plenty of things for me to work on and I’ve got doubles this week too.”
Keothavong is back in action on Tuesday when she and Japan’s Ayumi Morita play their first round doubles match.
The British-Japanese team take on Frenchwoman Julie Coin and Canadian Marie-Eve Pelletier in the second match after a 2pm start local time.
Monday was a busy day at the $700,000 Sony Ericsson WTA Tour event with three seeds moving through to round two.
Other big names to join Dementieva in the next round were fifth seed Nadia Petrova, a 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 winner over a regular doubles partner of hers, American Bethanie Mattek-Sands, and No.7 seed Agnieszka Radwanska, who walloped Romania’s Sorana Cirstea, 6-0, 6-1.
Tuesday order of play
Court 11, from 14.00hrs
1. Kleybanova/Rodionova vs. Craybas/Hsieh
2. Keothavong/Morita vs. Coin/Pelletier (after suitable rest)