• WTA Tour

Brits fall at the final hurdle in Linz

ESPN staff
October 9, 2011
Naomi Broady fell to Petra Martic in straight sets © PA Photos
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British pair Naomi Broady and Anne Keothavong failed to reach the main draw of the Generali Ladies Linz tournament in Austria.

Broady, who had claimed the scalp of Arantxa Rus and Aleksandra Wozniak in her opening two matches, was unable to pull off another upset at the hands of top seed Petra Martic in the final qualifying round.

Despite being ranked 157 places below her opponent, Broady matched the Croatian stroke for stroke in the opening set - a single break of serve proving the difference as Broady was left to rue her inability to convert her break point opportunity.

Despite firing eight aces, the British No. 5 was unable to avoid defeat as Martic wrapped up a 6-4 6-2 victory to seal her place in the main draw.

British No. 3 Keothavong also fell at the final hurdle in her bid to qualify for the WTA International event. Unlike Broady, Keothavong was the favourite to beat Russian Vitalia Diatchenko, but the world No. 96 was beaten in straight sets by her opponent, ranked 32 places below her.

Keothavong served six double faults in a topsy turvy match in which both players struggled to hold onto their serves - Diatchenko was broken three times, but Keothavong lost six service games as she slumped to a 6-4 6-2 defeat.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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