• WTA

Keothavong stuns No. 2 seed, Robson & Watson bow out

Anne Keothavong shook off jetlag to beat Dominika Cibulkova © Getty Images

Enlarge

Related Links

• News: Keothavong falls in Thailand
  
• News: Sharapova avoids a stumble in Paris
  
• Profile: Laura Robson | Heather Watson

Anne Keothavong claimed one of the biggest victories of her career as she progressed to the second round of the Pattaya Open, but fellow Brit Laura Robson was forced to withdraw with a wrist injury.

Keothavong, ranked No. 88 in the world, claimed her first win over a top-20 player as she defeated second seed Dominika Cibulkova 6-4 6-1 in Thailand on Tuesday.

Fresh from Britain's Fed Cup heroics in Israel, the British No. 2 clinched the opening set with a single break of serve before powering to victory in an hour and 22 minutes. Her reward is a meeting with Sania Mirza, who claimed a 3-6 6-1 6-2 win over Ayumi Morita.

"I didn't have too many expectations going in to today's match as I felt a little under-cooked having only arrived yesterday from Fed Cup in Israel but I surprised myself," Keothavong said. "The courts are super fast here and it's hot and humid. [Cibulkova] only arrived yesterday too but I think the courts favoured my game more and I was quicker to adjust."

However, British youngsters Heather Watson and Laura Robson crashed out of the Pattaya Open, the latter due to injury.

Robson faced Akgul Amanmuradova in a first round match, but was forced to leave the court with a wrist problem. The score was 5-2 in Amanmuradova's favour at the time. During her time on court the Brit was clearly affected by the injury, sending down five double-faults in four service games. She will now get the problem checked out before deciding upon her return to action.

Watson faced a stiff test in the shape of American eighth seed Vania King, who had little problem dismissing her rival 6-4 6-2. In one-and-a-half hours on court, the Brit was broken three times. Like Robson, Watson's serve was poor as she coughed up six double faults and fired only 50 per cent of her first efforts on target. There were two break chances for Watson but she failed to take either.

Elsewhere, top seed Vera Zvonareva is safely through to the second round with a 6-2 7-5 victory over qualifier Varatchaya Wongteanchai.

Meanwhile at the Open GDF Suez in Paris, French Open champion Li Na was forced to withdraw from her opening round match with a sore back. Returning to Paris for the first time since her victory at Roland Garros, Li lost the opening set against Tsvetana Pironkova before retiring with the score at 7-6(5) 3-2 in the Bulgarian's favour.

German trio Angelique Kerber, Julia Goerges and Mona Barthel all progressed in Paris. Kerber defeated Lucie Safarova 6-2 7-6(3) while Goerges saw off Shahar Peer 6-1 6-3. Qualifier Barthel continued her impressive run of form with a 6-3 6-2 win over Barbora Zahlavova Strycova.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.