Keothavong crashes out
Date published :
31 Aug 2010 - 20:00:52
Britain's Anne Keothavong crashed out of the US Open with a first-round defeat to Yung-Jan Chan in sweltering conditions at Flushing Meadows.
Keothavong appeared on course to join compatriot Elena Baltacha in the second round when she cruised through the opening set 6-2, but then lost 12 of the next 14 games as Chan completed a 2-6 6-1 6-1 victory on Court 14.
Keothavong had no answer to Chan's irritating use of "moon balls" - slow, defensive, looping shots - as the match progressed, the 26-year-old Londoner growing increasingly frustrated and making a raft of unforced errors.
The former world number 48 - now ranked 142nd after a long injury lay-off - lost her serve three times in the second set and then took a medical timeout after being broken again in the third game of the decider.
After receiving treatment to her feet, Keothavong was unable to convert three break points in the next game and missed another three in Chan's next service game as the match slipped away.
It was a second disappointing performance in succession in a Grand Slam for the British number three, who lost to Anastasia Rodionova in the first round at Wimbledon this summer after leading 4-0 in the final set.
