US Open, Flushing Meadows

Third-round result:

A Keothavong (GB)* v E DEMENTIEVA (Rus)

3-6 4-6

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By Sarah Holt

SECOND SET

2012: So that ends Anne Keothavong's journey in the US Open. She gave it a good go against Dementieva and she will return to Hackney pretty pleased after becoming the first British woman to reach the third round in 17 years. The British flag is now handed over to one Andy Murray, who's up on Saturday against Jurgen Melzer.

Here's what BBC Radio 5 Live analyst Phillip Studd has to say on the matter:

"That scoreline doesn't begin to express how close that match was. The way Dementieva celebrated that win shows she knew she was in a match there. She was certainly tested today."

Keothavong 3-6 4-6 Dementieva
Keothavong loses the first point on her serve as she nets the ball. Another all-court rally goes the Russian's way too as the Briton nets her volley for 0-30. An ill-timed double fault - her third of the match - has the axe hanging over Keothavong now. The 24-year-old rescues a point as Dementieva nets. The Russian's return pings off the net and goes out for 30-40. But that's it for Special K as Dementieva conjures a classy backhand to break and seal the match.

Keothavong 3-6 4-5 Dementieva
Dementieva is getting on with her job at Flushing Meadows and snuffs out two break points to move just one game away from the match.

"Keothavong has played extremely well but she has come across a player with a good deal more class, who is a proven winner."
BBC Radio 5 Live's Phillip Studd

Keothavong 3-6 4-4 Dementieva
An attempted drop-shot, a looping, long ball and a ball into the net sees Keothavong slide to 15-40. She overcooks another forehand and the Russian breaks back. Hmmm.

Keothavong 3-6 4-3 Dementieva
Keothavong is making in-roads on Dementieva's second serve and produces a clean, cross-court winner at 30-30. Not content with one, the Briton only pulls out another clean winner for a break point and makes it three to finish the job. Apparently the Australians call those sort of hot shots "cold winners". So there.

Keothavong 3-6 3-3 Dementieva
A close game for Keothavong as she looks to consolidate her break but an almighty serve helps the Briton hold and she's back on level terms.

Keothavong 3-6 2-3 Dementieva
A clean cross-court winner from Special K earns her another break point just at the right time. She lures Dementieva into the net and the Russian isn't happy with that as she nets. Keothavong breaks and gets back on level terms.

"She absorbed every single blow that Dementieva sent her way and she's still in there."
BBC Radio 5 Live commentator David Law

Keothavong 3-6 1-3 Dementieva
Some hard-hitting returns from Dementieva see Keothavong fall to 0-30. A pacy forehand whizzes into the corner and that's three break points for the Russian. A double fault from the Briton tamely hands Dementieva the crucial break. There are more errors creeping into Keothavong's game and she's struggling with her first serves. Is the Brit down arrow of doom hanging over the 24-year-old Londoner?

1940: "Ann must use her forehand as much as possible, because her backhand leaves much to be desired"
North Bank Upper on 606

Keothavong 3-6 1-2 Dementieva
Keothavong pushes Dementieva hard and takes the Russian to deuce twice but the Olympic champion has enough to serve out the game.

Keothavong 3-6 1-1 Dementieva
A couple of shaky moments for Keothavong but she wallops down an ace at 175kph and forces the Russian long to hold. Just in case you were missing out on a dose of gossip, a colleague of mine reports that Keothavong gets her hair cut in Newington Green, which is near Highbury apparently.

Keothavong 3-6 0-1 Dementieva
An intriguing game sees Keothavong come out fighting and she returns Dementieva's serve with interest to move to 0-40. The Briton has five break points chances in all but doesn't manage to put away any of them. A combination of mishits from Keothavong matched with Dementieva playing the big points well sees the Russia claim the longest game of the match and the first of the second set.

"That could be a really important game. In truth when she had break chances, Keothavong did nothing wrong."
BBC Radio 5 Live commentator David Law

FIRST SET

1919: "Come Anne, I'm giving up the pub for this!"
Karl via text on 81111

Keothavong 3-6 Dementieva
Dementieva is dictating the pace of the set now as she moves to 15-30 on the Briton's serve. A huge diagonal forehand clips the line to leave Keothavong bamboozled with its spoonful of top spin and that brings up set point for the fifth seed. Keothavong puts her forehand wide and that's the first set to Dementieva. Special K (and that's an official nickname by the way) doesn't look down and out yet though.

Keothavong 3-5 Dementieva
A pretty straightforward game from Dementieva, who is just one game away from the first set. Check out this for a stat. Dementieva has got 81% of her first serves in and that's proving the difference right now.

Keothavong 3-4 Dementieva
Dementieva moves to the net and then duly gets passed by Keothavong at 30-15. The British world number 87 closes out the game as the Russian mishits a forehand volley. The good news is that Keothavong is staying in touch but probably needs to find a little bit more to get back past the Russian. BBC Radio 5 Live analyst Phillip Studd says: "Consistency is the key. Keothavong has definitely got some steel and mental fortitude."

Keothavong 2-4 Dementieva
Keothavong is trying to play an aggressive game but that's resulting in a few more unforced errors. The Russian fifth seed runs the Briton around and around the court and then finishes it off with a lovely sliced shot to move two games ahead once more.

1904: "Re 1843 Good start. She actually lost the toss and Elena elected to receive."
Anonymous via text on 81111

Ooops apologies Anonymous. Thank you for your eagled-eyed awareness.

Keothavong 2-3 Dementieva
Hanging on to her own serve is a good way to start getting herself back into this set and Keothavong delivers an ace and a couple of physical strokes to do just that.

Keothavong 1-3 Dementieva
Dementieva consolidates her lead with a half smash at the net. It looks like the Olympic champion has got her shaky serve under control now after years of it undermining the rest of her game. Her opponents knew that would be one area they could really attack but it looks like Keothavong might have to try different tactics.

Keothavong 1-2 Dementieva
The pendulum swings back in Dementieva's favour as she collects two break points. The Russian challenges a call which would have saved deuce for Keothavong and Hawk-Eye shows she was right to do so. The replayed point goes Dementieva's way as she breaks the Brit to edge ahead.

Keothavong 1-1 Dementieva
Dementieva must be giving the ball some welly out there as she is uhhhing and ahhhing with every stroke. Keothavong pings a good backhand down the line, forcing Dementieva to go wide at 40-30 and the Russian nets as the ball drops low over the net. Deuce. The Londoner earns a break-back point with another looping shot which clips the line and she earns the break as Dementieva nets. The scattered crowd respond with, well, scattered applause.

Keothavong 0-1 Dementieva
Some early nerves for Keothavong as she hands Dementieva three break points. She rescues one with a powerful forehand but is beaten by a thumping diagonal shot to hand the Russian an early break. Still a long way to go though.

1843: The omens could be good for Keothavong; she wins the toss and elects to serve.

1842: Keothavong and Dementieva get the two-minute warning as they warm up on Louis Armstrong Court. The sun is shining in New York and the players are looking pretty relaxed.

1838: "Can't help feeling that Dementieva will be too good for her (unless ED's serve goes completely off the rails)."
Dummy Half on 606

1830: Hello, Friday night out on the town or Friday night witnessing the biggest day in Anne Keothavong's professional life? Come on, you know you want to stay right here with me.

So, Keothavang is preparing to play in the third round of a Grand Slam tournament for the first time. In keeping with the prestigious nature of the event, she will take on the world number six and newly-crowned Olympic champion Elena Dementieva. It will the the first time the pair have played each other.

"I've practised with her in the past, and it will definitely be another tough match for me," said the Brit.

"I never played against her actually. I don't know much about her," responded the Russian. Eh?

Can Keothavong win the match? I want you to get involved as much as possible so text me on 81111 (UK users only) or comment on 606. Your thoughts on the action

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