Keothavong crashes out of Wimbledon
Anne Keothavong devastated by loss
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Tuesday, 23, Jun 2009 10:01
British number one Anne Keothavong suffered a shock 7-5 6-2 defeat Austrian Patricia Mayr – a player 29 places below her in the world rankings.
Keothavong looked to be on course to take the first set as she broke in to lead 5-3, but then wasted a set point which proved to be crucial. The 25-year-old failed to serve out for the set in the next game and then a terrible run saw her lose seven games in a row.
The Londoner found herself 3-0 down in the second set and there was no way back as she lost it 6-2 to tumble out in the first round.
An emotional Keothavong broke down in the press conference, but went on to say: "I felt like I was on the way to winning that first set and doing what I had to do, and then it all just seemed to fall apart.
"She hung in there well and the errors crept in my game. It just wasn't very good. I just feel today, when it got tight, I got tentative. In that second set I didn't really push her or anything. I was just pushing the ball.
"I feel like I've let myself down more than anything. Wimbledon is such a special tournament to me," added the world number 51.
British number two Elena Baltacha was the only Brit to make it into the second round as she put in a superb display to fight back from a set down to beat world number 33 Alona Bondarenko 3-6 6-3 6-4.
It was a disappointing day for the rest of the British women as Katie O'Brien and Georgie Stoop exited the tournament.
O'Brien did brilliantly to fight back from a set down and led world number Iveta Benesova 3-1 in the decider, but was then broken twice as she lost the match 6-2 5-7 6-4.
The 21-year-old Stoop showed her potential as she pushed world number seven Vera Zvonareva all the way before being edged-out 7-6 4-6 6-4.
It was an easy day for the top seeds with world number one Dinara Safina beating Spain's Lourdes Dominguez Lino 7-5 6-3 and tournament favourite Venus Williams overcoming Switzerland's Stefanie Voegele 6-3 6-2.