Anne Keothavong delays retirement for possible spot at 2012 Olympics – Tennis News
World No.73, Anne Keothavong, delays her retirement in the hunt for a place in Olympics 2012. British No.2 was thought to be retiring earlier this year but a possible Olympic appearance next year changed her plans and motivated
her to work hard and represent her country at the one of the most prestigious stages of the world.
She said “I'm desperate to be on the Olympic team and would have regretted it had I quit. I definitely think I'm playing as well as I ever have in my career. I've never been part of an Olympics and for me it's a huge ambition.
It would mean more than anything”. Olympics matches will be played at her hometown, London and it would have been really harsh if she had retired before playing at her hometown in front of her fans.
Keothavong has won 16 of her last 17 games and clinched two titles this year coupled with a semi- final appearance at WTA. She will probably get a wildcard entry for the Olympics as per the rule that top 56 directly qualify and
there are six wildcard entrants but only four players per nation can qualify for this tournament. Being British No.2 it is obvious that she will definitely get a wildcard entry into the tournament.
The rule of four qualifications per nation is not in favour of countries like Serbia, Russia, Czech Republic, Germany, Spain and France as there are a lot of world class performers from these nations but as far as Great Britain
is concerned it’s perfectly fine because there are not many players amongst top 100 from this part of the world.
Briton tennis ace showed his concern over lack of tennis talent in Great Britain and said “In tennis we don't get to be part of a team too often and I want to be part of a team, representing Great Britain. I take a lot of pride
in that; it would be the ultimate honour”.
Start of the season was extremely commendable as she reached the second round of Australian Open but couldn’t manage to secure more wins to her tally, first round exits in US Open and French Open, doubled her despair. She only
won 13 matches from 21 tournament appearances but since then she has turned around the tables and has been continuously winning all her matches that helped her clinch two major title wins at Barnstaple and Ismaning.
She dropped out of top 100 but fought her way back with his supreme touch and is willing to reclaim the British number one spot from Baltacha. She is definitely here to stay and please her fans with some more scintillating show
at Olympics next year.
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