With Olympics In Her Home Country, Keothavong Wants To Be On The Team

Written by: Staff on 9th November 2011

With Olympics In Her Home Country, Keothavong Wants To Be On The Team

Anne Keothavong of Britain returns to Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic during their second round match for the Wimbledon Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis Club, in London, Britain, 22 June 2011. EPA/GEOFF CADDICK |

Of all the athletes set to contest the 2012 Olympic Games in London, few can have born closer to the main site for the sporting action than Britain’s Anne Keothavong who hails from Hackney in the heart of the British capital’s famed East End.

Admittedly the tennis medals will be decided on the more familiar acres of the All England Club at Wimbledon. However Keothavong, who went on something of a surge at the tail end of the WTA year, maintains any thoughts she had been harboring about retirement were banished by thoughts of representing her country in the Olympics.

The British no.2 finished 2011 ranked world no. 73 after winning 16 of her last 17 matches; lifting two ITF titles and reaching a WTA semi in Luxembourg.

“I’m desperate to be on the Olympic team and would have regretted it had I quit,” said the 28-year-old who has overcome the setbacks of two career threatening knee injuries. “I definitely think I’m playing as well as I ever have in my career.”

Keothavong views London hosting the Games as a ‘once in a lifetime’ opportunity and she is in a good position to be chosen as one of Britain’s four permitted entrants alongside Elena Baltacha and youngsters Heather Watson and Laura Robson.

Her injuries meant she missed the chance of playing in Beijing or Athens. “I’ve never been part of an Olympics and for me it’s a huge ambition,” said Keothavong. “It would mean more than anything.

“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 honor.

“I’ve grown up watching the Olympics, seeing all the athletes competing in all the different sports. With it being in London, I just can’t explain how big that is.”

Keothavong concluded: “When I got injured I was at my peak. It has been a real struggle returning to full fitness, but I definitely think I’m now back to my best.”

“I was British number one before the injury and if I could get back up there it would mean a lot. I’m very determined to reclaim that position.”

“DAILY TENNIS NEWS WIRE”

Topics: 2012 Olympic Games, Anne Keothavong