Keothavong suffers first-round KO

Anne Keothavong
12 April 2012

Anne Keothavong became the first British casualty of this year's French Open after losing in the opening round for the second straight year.

The 26-year-old managed to avoid the 6-0 6-0 humiliation she suffered at the hands of Dinara Safina in 2009, but she nevertheless proved no match for 14th seed Flavia Pennetta, who cruised to a 6-2 6-2 win on Court One at Roland Garros.

The signs were ominous when the British number three dropped serve in the opening game.

Two games later, she won her first French Open game at the 15th attempt and came close to levelling when she had break point in the fourth.

But her Italian opponent saved that comfortably and continued to punish Keothavong every time the latter conceded break point.

The Brit improved at the start of the second set, twice holding serve, but she collapsed again, losing the next four games and saving only one of five break points in the match overall.

Keothavong was philosophical about her defeat, joking her whitewash against Safina had crossed her mind.

"I don't think this match was particularly bad," she said. "But, yeah, once I got on the scoreboard, I had a little chuckle to myself."

Keothavong felt she had been dealt a harsh draw for the second straight year, saying: "It was a tough draw against Flavia.

"She's a tough opponent and she's done well here in the past. I think she had to play well against me to win the way she did."

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