• WTA Tour

Double joy for Brits as Baltacha and Keothavong excel

ESPN staff
February 18, 2010
Elena Baltacha is in the form of her life © Getty Images
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There was double reason for celebration for British tennis fans as Elena Baltacha and Anne Keothavong advanced to the quarter-finals of the WTA Cellular South Cup on Wednesday.

Baltacha is currently operating at No. 70 in the world, her highest career ranking, and she extended her winning streak to seven matches in Memphis. Victory over Valerie Tetreault of Canada came by a score of 6-4 6-4 and with impressive ease for the 26-year-old Brit.

Looking powerful from the baseline, Baltacha is progressively cutting out the unforced errors and she hit nine aces en route to the last eight of the competition. Standing in her way of a place in the semi-finals is Maria Sharapova, who thrashed American Bethanie Mattek-Sands 6-1 6-1.

Earlier in the day, Anne Keothavong reached the quarter-finals with a destructive 6-3 6-1 victory over Portuguese player Michelle Larcher de Brito.

Keothavong's knee injury, which interrupted her 2009 season, appears to be consigned to the past as she battled through a tough opening to emerge a comfortable winner. Karolina Sprem is next up for Keothavong after beating Ajla Tomljanovic 3-6 6-2 6-0.

Other notable names to reach the quarter-finals include third seed Kaia Kanepi, who beat Nicole Vaidisova 4-6 6-1 6-3, and second seed Melanie Oudin, who comfortably overcame compatriot Lilia Osterloh 6-2 6-1. Petra Kvitova and Sofia Arvidsson complete the last eight draw after wins over Michaella Krajicek and Vania King respectively.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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