Keothavong run ended in the semis
Keothavong lost 2-6 5-7 to Bondarenko, the eighth seed
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Earlier rain and damp conditions underfoot at Headingley has forced the abandonment of the first one-day international between England and the West Indies. |  |
Friday, 22, May 2009 11:43
British number one Anne Keothavong is out of the Warsaw Open after losing her semi-final against eighth seed Alona Bondarenko in straight sets.
The Ukranian, who defeated former Wimbledon champion and world number one Maria Sharapova earlier in the WTA Tour event, proved too strong for the Britain, winning 6-2 7-5.
Keothavong became the first British female tennis player to reach a WTA Tour semi-final on clay since 1983 when she beat Romanian qualifier Ioana Raluca Olaru in the last eight.
In the final Bondarenko will meet another Romanian qualifier, Alexandra Dulgheru. Ranked 201st in the world, Dulgheru clinched a shock victory over sixth seed Daniela Hantuchova in the other semi-final, winning 6-4 6-7 (2-7) 6-1.
The Britain admitted that defeating the number eight seed proved one hurdle too far after an impressive tournament ahead of the French Open.
"It wasn’t one of my best matches but Alona’s a tough opponent," Keothavong said.
"She makes you play every ball and she moves pretty well. I ended up forcing a little bit too much at times," the 25-year-old continued.
"I was getting better as the match wore on but it wasn’t enough. You win some; you lose some," she added.
Keothavong, now ranked 56th in the world rankings, faces an extremely tough draw in Paris against the top seed, Russia's Dinara Safina.
Katie O'Brien and Elena Baltacha lost out in the qualification stages today, but Mel South - along with Keothavong - has earned direct entry into the main draw.