• WTA Tour

Keothavong looking ahead to grass-court season

ESPN staff
May 24, 2010
Anne Keothavong lost 6-2 6-2 to Flavia Pennetta on Sunday © Getty Images
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Anne Keothavong has set her sights on breaking back into the world's top 100 after her first round exit at the French Open.

Keothavong was humiliated 6-0 6-0 against world No. 1 Dinara Safina in the first round at Roland Garros last year, and the British No. 2 was relieved to get on the scoreboard in her 6-2 6-2 defeat to No. 14 seed Flavia Pennetta on Sunday.

Keothavong broke into the top 50 in February last year, but her breakthrough season was cut short by a knee injury, and has since plummeted to 154 in the rankings. Having missed the remainder of the season after suffering the injury in July, Keothavong has very few ranking points to defend and is approaching the remainder of the season as a blank slate.

"On the grass last year I think what had happened here hit me quite hard and I didn't handle it that well," she said. "Once I got on the scoreboard, I had a little chuckle.

"The next few months are a real opportunity for me because I haven't got any points to defend for the rest of the year. I can go out there and play."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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