Keothavong calls it a day

Former British number 1 and world number 48 Anne Keothavong has announced her retirement from tennis. The 29 year old has won a string of ITF titles but unfortunately never won a WTA singles title. During her career Keothavong has been affected with a series of knee injuries which has been full of ups and downs. Her career best grand slam performance was reaching the third round of the US open in 2008. Recently Keothavong has slipped down to 285 in the rankings which will no doubt be part oif the influence on her decision. Her win loss this year has however been 9-7 thanks to a sucessful victory at the $50,000 itf tournment in Croissy-Beaubourg earlier this year. Quoting wta.com she said:-

"I have given my decision a lot of thought and I believe this is the right time to move on to the next stage of my career," Keothavong said of the announcement. "I have had some magical moments along the way and I would like to thank my family for their unwavering support and encouragement, the LTA for their fantastic backing, my coach Jeremy Bates and also Nigel Sears who have both been very influential in my tennis career and of course, the great tennis fans in Britain and all over the world. - See more at: http://www.wtatennis.com/news/article/3326857/title/keothavong-announces-retirement#sthash.c3mPuOpy.dpuf

Keothavong will now be embarking upon a career broadcasting with new channel BT Sport. She will be joining fellow ex tennis players Sam Smith and the great martina navratilova. She said ‘I am now focusing on my exciting new challenge with BT Sport, where I hope I can provide insight and analysis for tennis fans.’

Heres some of her career highlights:-

• career win/loss- 351-263

• 20 ITF titles:-

2013	$50,000 Croissy-Beaubourg (IH);
2011	$75,000 Barnstaple (IH); $50,000+H Ismaning (IC);
2008	$25,000 Capriolo (IC); $50,000+H Jounieh (CL); $50,000 Barnstaple (IH); $100,000+H Krakow (IH);
2007	$50,000 Vancouver (H);
2006	$25,000 Jersey (IH); $25,000 Prerov (IC);
2005	$10,000 Bolton (IH); $10,000 Bath 1 (IH); $10,000 Nottingham 2 (H); $25,000 Lagos 2 (H);
2004	$25,000 Redding, CA (H);
2003	$25,000 Belfort (IH);
2002	$10,000 Bath (H); $10,000 London (H); $10,000 Sunderland (IH);
2001	$10,000 Jersey (IH);

• In 2009 she became the first British women to break in to the top 50 for 16 years.
  
• Reached the semi finals in Warsaw in 2009, which was the best British result at a Premier level clay-court event since Jo Durie was a semi-finalist at the 1983 French Open.