Anne Keothavong accuses men of racial abuse
Hackney-born ace on way into hotel when abuse thrown.
HACKNEY tennis ace Anne Keothavong has accused three men of racially abusing her outside the hotel she was staying in during a competition.
Ms Keothavong, 27, who went to Kingsland High School and learnt tennis on Hackney Downs, claims she was subject to racial abuse as she made her way into the Royal Fortescue Hotel in Devon on Sunday October 3.
Ms Keothavong said on her Twitter account: “I’m fuming. Just received a barrage of racial abuse from a group of guys as I walked from the car park to the hotel. Disgusted.”
She later added: “I was on my own and completely out numbered. Gave a statement to the police, hoping CCTV will get them. Trying to enjoy X Factor now.”
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Ms Keothavong is in Devon to take part in the AEGON GB Pro-Series Open tournament in Barnstaple, which began on Monday.
She won the tournament in 2008.
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A Devon Police spokeswoman said: “Police can confirm that a 27 year old woman from London has made an allegation of a racially aggravated incident where she was verbally insulted outside the Royal and Fortescue Hotel in Barnstaple.
“Three men aged 20, 25 and 23 have been arrested for this offence and for a separate shop lifting incident. They remain in police custody waiting to be interviewed. Police investigations continue.”
Ms Keothavong is currently ranked 147 in the world but reached the heights of 53 last year before a hip injury forced her into a long lay-off.
A spokesman for Ms Keothavong said: “I don’t have any comment to make on the subject. All I can confirm is that she will be competing in the Barnstaple event as planned and is preparing as normal.”
