Anne Keothavong Blog

Anne Keothavong blog: Happy New Year!
- Sun 04 Jan '09
- 5 Comments
After weeks of training during the off-season, the wait for the first tournament of 2009 is finally over…

Happy New Year to everyone! I’m in Auckland now and I was a bit of a party pooper on New Year’s Eve as I was still suffering from jet lag and I had an early practice session the following morning so it was an early night for me!

Since my last blog, I spent five weeks training in London at the National Tennis Centre in Roehampton. I worked a lot on my strength and power and on various areas of my game and by the end of that period I could feel some real improvement. It was great being in London for that length of time as I spent so much of 2008 on the road and it was nice to have some time with my family and to catch up with the friends that I tend to neglect when I’m away!

I went to the beach the other day and played a bit of beach tennis with Marina Erakovic, Nicole Vaidisova and Kimiko Date

I spent Christmas with the rest of my family at my brother’s house which he shares with his girlfriend and I overindulged a little bit like most people. Santa didn’t get me anything special as I’m quite a difficult person to buy presents for – generally if I want something then I like to get it myself. I hate anyone spending too much money on me so the gifts I get are always small and practical which is fine by me.

I’ve been in Auckland for almost a week now and it would be great if I could say I’ve been practising outdoors the whole time but that hasn’t been the case. I picked up a bug on my journey here so spent the first few days in bed.

I lost my voice completely and was coughing and spluttering a lot. I feel fine now but the weather hasn’t been too kind to us either so I’ve only had one full day practising outdoors which isn’t ideal but I guess it’s the same for everyone. Playing outdoors is so different from playing indoors, especially here as it gets so windy and the conditions make it tough.

It’s always nice to have some other British girls around at a tournament as we all get on well and we’ve been keeping our fitness trainer (Narelle) busy not just with training but with cooking for us too. Narelle and I somehow managed to get our rooms upgraded (much to the annoyance of the others) and she likes to use her kitchen to cook for everyone, whereas I can’t be bothered doing anything in my kitchen. The only thing I’ve cooked all week is spaghetti and tomato sauce – eating out or ordering room service is far easier!

I went to the beach the other day to do a promotional thing for the tournament and played a bit of beach tennis with Marina Erakovic, Nicole Vaidisova and Kimiko Date. I’d never tried beach tennis before but it was good fun and tougher than I expected. We gave out tickets to people on the beach after for the tournament and had a little dip in the sea but the water was freezing!

The draw was made today and I play Mirjana Lucic in the first round. I’ve seen her play a little bit but I don’t know too much about her. She was obviously very successful when she was younger and has been given a wild card for this tournament and I’m expecting a tough match. I’m looking forward to getting out there and competing as it feels like a while since I last played a match.

Wish me luck and I’ll let you know how it goes!
Anne Keothavong blog: My first $100K title
- Tue 11 Nov '08
The Tennishead blogger on Ikea, getting locked in car parks and winning her fourth title of 2008 in Poland.

Tennishead blogger Anne Keothavong ended her 2008 season in style last Sunday when she won her fourth singles title of the year in Krakow, Poland. The Londoner has risen over 70 places up the WTA Tour singles world rankings since January and on Monday climbed another 14 spots to a new career-high listing of No.61. Our Tuesday morning was brightened up considerably when an email from the British No.1 dropped into the Tennishead inbox. Here’s her take on last week…

I finished my 2008 season on a high by winning my first $100,000 tournament in Krakow last week but even more importantly to me, I beat world No.47 Monica Niculescu in the final! (More on her later!) Singles matches were being played on only the one court so there were some long days at the start of the week. For my first round match, I was the last match of the day and on days like that you have to find ways to keep yourself amused and relaxed before going on court.

Niculescu is one of the most awkward players to play – she’s the female version of Fabrice Santoro and behaves like John McEnroe!

After some training in the morning, one of the things I did to kill time was to visit a nearby Ikea store with my physio Sophie Scott. We kept daring each other to get into the beds and to stay there for as long as possible until someone came to ask us what we were doing. We did a few other silly and childish things which I won’t get into right now, but there really isn’t much else to do on the outskirts of Krakow.

After a very long day, at 11.30pm my first round match was cancelled as the singles before had split sets. I’d been drinking so much coffee to keep me awake that when I did finally go to bed, I felt wired! I think I managed to get about four hours sleep before I had to be up and ready to go again but I put in a good performance the next morning despite the lack of sleep.

Before my second round match, I was running around a car park near the tennis club with Sophie. We didn’t realise it was a private car park and were minding our own business when a Polish man started shouting at us. We looked round to see him locking us in the car park! He refused to unlock the gate and pointed to a huge dog behind another gate implying he was going to set it on us! After shouting for help, we found a way to climb over the gates thanks to a kind passer-by. It’s funny when I think about it now, but at the time we definitely weren’t laughing!

I’d been playing pretty good tennis in all my matches leading up to the final and was almost a little bit surprised by how easily I was winning them. Having said that, when my game comes together and I’m serving and moving well I think I’m a difficult player to break down.

I’m flat hunting at the moment and I’m working hard on my indoor rock climbing

Niculescu is someone I’ve lost to three times this year and I’d never got a set off her before last week’s final. I think she’s got to be one of the most awkward players to play against – she’s the female version of Fabrice Santoro in the way she plays and probably the female version of John McEnroe in the way she behaves on court. As a spectator she’s very entertaining to watch but as an opponent you have to remain very focused against her.

I stuck to my game plan and was a lot more patient than I had been in the past against her. There were a few little wobbles here and there but I got there in the end and I think beating her was more satisfying than winning the tournament!

Overall, I think I can definitely be pleased with 2008. I’ve achieved my goals and I’ve proved to myself that I’m capable of doing even better things in 2009. I’m taking a little break right now but I won’t be going abroad for a holiday as there’s too much to do in London.

I’m flat hunting at the moment, which is proving to be more stressful then I ever thought it would be and I’m working hard on my indoor rock climbing and bouldering which I’ve been getting really into recently. I’m desperate to be much better at it!

I’ll be back training towards the end of next week and I’ve decided to stay in London for my off-season this year. It would be nice to be training outdoors in a warm climate but spending time with my family is more important to me as I travel so much the rest of the year. I have a good support team around me that I trust and together we’ll be working on making me a fitter, stronger and tougher player for 2009.
Anne Keothavong blog: Gamble pays off
- Tue 14 Oct '08
Tennishead blogger Anne Keothavong writes after winning her third title of 2008 in Devon last week.

World No.75 Anne Keothavong enjoyed another good week on tour when she won the $50,000 ITF event in Barnstaple, England, on Sunday – her third singles title of 2008. Tennis pros don’t have much time to celebrate, though. After a 4am start on Monday and a short flight to Italy, Anne blogs from Ortisei, in the Dolomites, where she’s playing a $100,000 ITF event this week…

Making the long train journey from London to Barnstaple proved worthwhile after I ended up winning last week’s $50,000 ITF tournament without dropping a set. It was a bit of a last-minute decision to go to be honest as I’d planned to train at the LTA’s National Tennis Centre for the week and to give competing a miss.

I turned up at the NTC for training on Monday morning to hear that another British player, Jade Curtis, was going to withdraw from Barnstaple due to illness. Jade had been given a wild card into the event, and as qualies had already started there was nobody else to give Jade’s wild card to so I was asked if I wanted to take it.

My stomach had been churning all day and after some of the longer rallies I thought I was going to throw up

I ummed and ahhed for a few minutes but then thought ‘why not?’ I’d been back home for two weeks after a trip to Asia, rehab and practice had been going well and I felt like competing again. Had I stayed in London, I would’ve been playing mostly practice sets anyway so after a quick hit I rushed home to pack and made it in time for the last train out of London to Barnstaple.

I arrived at the tournament with high expectations for myself and I said to Claire (my coach) before I left London that anything less than winning the tournament would have been a disappointment. It’s a different kind of pressure you put on yourself when you go into a tournament as the top seed, especially when it’s on home soil.

I was pleased with myself for not dropping a set all week but there were times when I made it difficult for myself in a few of my matches. Some of the sets could have been over quicker and I know I can’t afford to drop my focus like that against higher-ranked opponents in the future.

The best match I played all week was against Johanna Larsson in the quarters. I lost to her earlier this year and was determined not to make the same mistakes and I think I served as well as I could’ve throughout the match apart from in one game at the end. Actually, I think I served pretty well most of the week and it definitely got me out of trouble at times.

My match against Katie O’Brien in the semis was always going to be an awkward one as we’re good friends and we practice a lot together at the NTC. I knew Katie had had a dodgy stomach all week but I think she managed to pass her lurgy on to me too because I wasn’t feeling great either! My stomach had been churning all day and after some of the longer rallies I thought I was going to throw up. It was a good match all things considered and I was glad it didn’t go to three sets because as I hadn’t been able to eat a lot, I’m not sure I would’ve had the energy for another set.

The Tarka Tennis Centre staff did a great job in organising everything and making the players feel very welcome throughout the week. There was a good turnout for the final and that’s not something you often see at small events in Britain. I had some good support which was very much appreciated.

The first set of my final against Alberta Brianti was tough and she had points to go 4-1 up but I think I was the more aggressive and consistent player overall which is why I was able to come through in straight sets. I was rewarded with a nice trophy at the end and was pleased to get the job done.

It was my first time in Devon and I even found time to make it to the beach during the week – I was really surprised by how nice it was. With a bit of sun, you could be anywhere in the world and I’ll definitely be going back for a short holiday soon – maybe I’ll try my luck with a bit of surfing!

There wasn’t much time to celebrate, however, because I had a five-and-a-half-hour journey to Brighton ahead of me to see my physio. After that, it was up at 4am the next day to catch a flight to Italy where I am now for the $100,000 ITF in Ortisei.

I play my first match tomorrow against Andrea Klepac so wish me luck and I’ll blog from somewhere again soon!

Anne
Anne Keothavong blog: Now for shopping!
- Sun 31 Aug '08
Our blogger’s US Open is over for another year – now it’s time to treat herself to some hard-earned rewards…

My US Open is over for 2008 and I’m a little bit gutted to be honest. I’m sure in the next few days I can reflect on it and be proud of what I’ve done this week as it’s another little step in the right direction for me but I’d rather be in the car on my way back to the courts preparing for another match!

I used the same toilet and shower in the locker-rooms for two weeks

I don’t like losing but unless you win every tournament you have to find a way to deal with it. I felt like I created opportunities for myself in my match against Elena Dementieva yesterday but I didn’t make the most of them. I really felt I could’ve pushed her more but was too erratic and inconsistent. Her experience came through and she’s the Olympic Gold medallist for a reason.

I do feel like the more I can put myself in these situations, competing against the top girls, the more I can learn and improve quickly. This is all still new to me but I’m trying to take it all in, playing on a big show-court against the top girls is something I want to experience more often and if I stay focused and work hard then I’m sure I’ll get more chances.

I go through phases of being really superstitious and for this tournament I was going to the extreme a bit. I used the same toilet and shower in the locker-rooms for two weeks; I would wait if there was someone else in the one I wanted to use even if there were other toilets and showers free!

I wore the same outfit for all my singles matches and I ate at the same restaurant the night before each match with my coaches Claire and Nigel. We all had to sit on the same table, in the same seats and I would order the same thing. They could eat whatever they wanted though as long as we all shared a crème brulee for desert!

We got to the restaurant pretty late the night before my match against Dementieva as my partner Anastasia and I had lost our doubles and I was taken off to do a drugs test after the match which took ages.

There were three men sitting at the table we usually sit at in the restaurant and I was devastated – literally! Claire saw my reaction and said she would go and speak to ask them to move which then made me feel so embarrassed as there were so many other free tables around.

I had to walk out of the restaurant as I couldn’t believe what she was doing and then felt so silly when I walked back in to find they had moved tables for me! Obviously, it didn’t work and I can’t blame losing on the restaurant seating plan!

I’ve now got two days in New York with my family before I head back to London. Today will be spent mostly shopping I would imagine. I said to my mum if I won my second round match then I would buy her a nice handbag. I prefer buying things for other people when I shop but today I think I’ll treat myself to a nice pair of earrings and stock up on jeans and maybe a nice pair of heels, a dress too perhaps…

It’s been absolutely lovely for me to have my family around this week supporting me and I’m sure they’ve really enjoyed it out here. My parents did so much for me when I was younger to give me the best opportunities in tennis and to play well in front of them means a lot to me.

I wish I could take my little brother Mark with me everywhere, he makes me laugh so much and I spoil him a lot because I don’t get to spend enough time with him. Every freebie I get, whether it’s a phone, camera or whatever goes straight to him.

I hope you’ve all enjoyed reading my blogs and thank you all so much for the support. I really appreciate it and hope it continues! I’ll spend some time back in London now before playing Guangzhou or Tokyo, Beijing or Seoul and then Tashkent. I think I’ll play another three WTA tournies back in Europe after that to finish my year off.

Catch you all soon…

Anne
Anne Keothavong blog: Beating Schiavone
- Thu 28 Aug '08
Anne writes exclusively for Tennishead about her US Open second round victory – and eating ice cream before going to bed.

I’m through to the third round of the US Open and I’m so happy right now! The highs and lows of tennis can be quite something and I’m definitely on a high right now. Beating Francesca Schiavone in two-and-a-half hours was tough, scrappy at times and very accurate at other times. Fortunately, today I was more accurate than her.

Keothavong V Schiavone photo gallery

I always get nervous before every match and today was no different. I think I like to get myself nervous to get myself going and feel some adrenaline – that may sound a bit weird but it’s true.

Next is Dementieva. She’s the Olympic gold medallist so must be feeling pretty good at the moment – but then so am I!

I thought I got off to a really good start in the first set and was pretty aggressive. She was shanking quite a bit to start off with but I was told that’s how she is sometimes and I just tried to focus on what I was doing.

We had an epic game at 5-2 but I finally managed to win it on my sixth or seventh set point after I changed my racket at the final deuce. It’s so humid here and I was sweating so much, but I obviously couldn’t change my grip during a game so a change of racket it was – god knows why I hadn’t done it earlier!

The start of the second set was a different story. I played a few loose points and lost my intensity a bit then found myself 4-0 down in a flash. She took a lengthy toilet break at 4-1 but I didn’t allow it to affect my focus and kept myself loose by stretching and practising my serve. Still, I ended up losing that set 6-3.

The third set was going on serve until she broke me to go 3-2 up and my racket went flying out of my hand at that point! It’s not something I do very often but I do get frustrated at at times – but it only fires me up even more to win.

At 4-2 down in the final set I never stopped believing in myself, I always felt it was a match I could win and I felt I stepped up to the challenge by going for it more to win the next four games.

She double-faulted on match point but I had a feeling at the time that she might. I’d been stepping in and attacking her second serve well throughout the match and I think she definitely felt the pressure there.

Next up is Elena Dementieva. She’s the Olympic gold medallist so must be feeling pretty good at the moment – but then so am I! I can’t wait to get on court against her, I’ve got nothing to lose, I’m feeling confident and I’m in good shape so I’ll give it my all.

I’m not sure whether that match will be on Friday or Saturday but before that I’ll have to play my doubles with Anastasia Pavlychenkova. We play Mara Santangelo and Lucie Safarova which will be tough but my partner really smacks it so between us I’m sure we have a good shot at winning!

I’ve been told that by reaching the third round of a slam I’ve generated a bit more publicity in women’s tennis back home. That’s nice to hear and I’m glad it’s positive stuff as we usually get more of the opposite!

Apparently Jo Durie was the last British woman to do that here in New York back in 1991 – hopefully we won’t have to wait another 17 years before someone does it again!

I would write more but I’m so tired as it’s been a long day and I want to get an ice-cream before I go to bed! And talking of food… in my next blog I’ll tell you more about one of my superstitions and the French restaurant I have to eat at every night with my coaches Claire Curran and Nigel Sears!

Until then…

Anne