Eleni Daniilidou ousts Anne Keothavong in final qualifying round – Western & Southern Open 2011
Commencing on Sunday was the final qualifying round of the Cincinnati Open 2011. Greek Eleni Daniilidou and the British Anne Keothavong were contesting for the fourth time in their professional career. Keothavong and Daniilidou
battled it out on hard courts of the Lindsay Tennis Centre in Mason, Ohio, for 2 sets when during the third set her Briton opponent withdrew and threw the gauntlet.
The last time they met was at the Midland event on hard courts in 2010, where Keothavong won the match in a comprehensive victory of double bread stick (6-1, 6-1). This time Daniilidou won the match with 5-7, 7-6 (5), 4-1 and not
only did she equalize the head-to-head but also secured a place in the main draw of the Cincinnati Open 2011.
Both the players had managed to save and win 50% of their break points, however, the Briton(Keothavong) had a stronger defence as she was able to break her opponent’s serve thrice, while, Daniilidou had broken her twice.
Daniilidou had a very poor return serve and only attained thirty nine percent of her total return points of the set.
When all was said and done, Keothavong was a better player and had won 53% of her total set points.
After being beaten black and blue Daniilidou had jumped right back into the game, however, the set went into a tie-breaker and the Greek won the tie at 7-5.
This time the Greek had performed relatively better than the first. She was not able to strike an ace and instead her accuracy faltered and she struck five double faults all hitting the net. Mean while the Briton had a near perfect
accuracy and struck only one double fault and neither of the players smashed an ace.
The Briton was able to hit forty nine percent of the first serve on target and won fifty four percent of her total return points. Due to a good defence she saved 5/8 break points and was able to convert three break point chances
to her advantage. The Greek was not able to save any of her break points but also managed to break her opponent thrice but because she won the tie breaker she won the set.
By the third set both the players had bagged a set and this was the final deciding set, but because of an ongoing injury Keothavong had retire the set when she was 1 down to Eleni Daniilidou’s four games.
Anne Keothavong gave up during the third set as her ongoing injury wouldn’t let her play any further and she gave the match to her opponent.
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