Keothavong shocks 25th seed Schiavone at US Open
Anne Keothavong into third round of US Open after victory over 25th seed Francesca Schiavone
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Wednesday, 27, Aug 2008 11:17
Great Britain's Anne Keothavong has made it through to the third round of the US Open after a surprise three-set victory over 25th seed Francesca Schiavone.
The victory marks the first time Keothavong has been to this stage at a grand slam event as she bounced back from a break down against the Italian to win 6-2 3-6 6-4.
Keothavong looked in good form as she eased through the first set, but Schiavone hit back by taking the second set in equally impressive fashion.
The match looked to be slipping away from the Briton in the third set as Schiavone gained in confidence to break for 3-2 in the decider.
But when the seeded player's serve began to seize up, Keothavong wrestled the initiative away from her opponent, breaking back and going 5-4 in front.
The final blow to the Italian came when Keothavong earned a match point, and Schiavone gifted away the win when she served a double fault.
Elsewhere in the women's draw, the 2004 winner and last year's runner-up - Svetlana Kuznetsova - is through to the third stage of the competition after beating Romania's Sorana Cirstea 7-6 6-1.