Top Ad
I DIG Radio
www.idigradio.com
Listen live to the best music from around the world!
I DIG Style
www.idigstyle.com
Learn about the latest fashion styles and more...

Britain's Konta into French Open quarters for first time

Written by 
Published in Tennis
Sunday, 02 June 2019 05:39

British number one Johanna Konta continued her charge through the French Open by impressively beating Croatian 23rd seed Donna Vekic to reach the quarter-finals.

Konta, seeded 26th, won 6-2 6-4 in baking conditions at Roland Garros.

She is hoping to emulate Jo Durie and become the first British woman to reach the semi-finals since 1983.

The 28-year-old will play 2016 champion Garbine Muguruza or Sloane Stephens - last year's runner-up - next.

Spanish 19th seed Muguruza and American seventh seed Stephens meet on Court Philippe Chatrier later on Sunday.

"To be able to win a match like this against a tough opponent is a great feeling. I felt I played well throughout the match," said Konta after reaching her first Grand Slam quarter-final since Wimbledon in 2017.

"To win like that in front of a crowd like that gives you goosebumps."

Konta is enjoying a superb clay-court season, reaching WTA finals in Morocco and Rome, and has continued to build on that form in Paris with some assured performances.

She wrapped up victory over Vekic on the first of her three match points when the Croat hit long.

Konta's clay-court joy continues

Konta had never won a main-draw match at Roland Garros before this year and appears to be reaping the rewards of her work with coach Dimitri Zavialoff, whom she employed at the end of last year.

She is trusting her ability on a surface where she has had little previous success and against Vekic, this was again evident.

Konta produced 33 winners and seven aces on her way to victory, improving her tallies in these areas from each of her previous three matches.

Former world number four Konta was rarely flustered against Vekic, who she memorably beat in a three-set thriller on her way to the Wimbledon semi-finals two years ago.

After bouncing straight back from losing her opening service game, the Briton broke again for a 5-2 lead and kept a measure of calm to see off four break points before sealing the set with an ace down the middle.

Serve ruled at the start of the second set - with only eight receiving points won in the opening six games - before Konta struck first for a 4-3 advantage.

For the first time she wobbled as three unforced errors handed the break straight back, but she managed to reset again in the next game.

Two whopping forehands, which dusted the baseline, set the tone, forcing Vekic into a panicked backhand volley wide that brought up three break points for the Briton.

Vekic saved two of them, only for Konta to take the third when she pulled off an outrageous backhand drop shot from the back of the court.

Konta took her first match point when she expertly judged a Vekic return was going long, breaking out into a broad smile and raising both arms skywards in celebration.

Analysis

BBC tennis correspondent Russell Fuller

Tennis can sometimes be a very simple game.

Fuelled by confidence, and playing with the utmost fluency, Johanna Konta looked in little doubt that a quarter-final spot was hers for the taking.

Konta arrived in the Moroccan capital Rabat at the end of April with some fine Fed Cup wins for GB under her belt, but a very sketchy career record on clay.

She saved three match points in the first round there, and has not looked back.

The win over Vekic was Konta's 14th in four tournaments, and she has nothing to fear - whichever Grand Slam champion awaits in the last eight on Tuesday.

More to follow.

Read 1324 times

Soccer

Messi held in check as Paraguay shock Argentina

Messi held in check as Paraguay shock Argentina

A stunning bicycle kick from Antonio Sanabria and a second-half header from Omar Alderete gave Parag...

Deschamps: Mbappé struggles part 'psychological'

Deschamps: Mbappé struggles part 'psychological'

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsFrance coach Didier Deschamps said Thursday that there are both phy...

Follow live: USMNT face Jamaica in first leg of Nations League quarterfinal

Follow live: USMNT face Jamaica in first leg of Nations League quarterfinal

Mexico defender Julián Araujo out indefinitely after surgeryMexico international Julián Araujo will...

2026 FIFA


2028 LOS ANGELES OLYMPIC

UEFA

2024 PARIS OLYMPIC


Basketball

Kyrie sits out vs. Jazz to rest strained shoulder

Kyrie sits out vs. Jazz to rest strained shoulder

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsSALT LAKE CITY -- Dallas guard Kyrie Irving sat out the Mavericks'...

Warriors guard Melton ruled out with ACL sprain

Warriors guard Melton ruled out with ACL sprain

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsSAN FRANCISCO -- Golden State Warriors guard De'Anthony Melton has...

Baseball

Sims to replace Sterling as Yankees radio voice

Sims to replace Sterling as Yankees radio voice

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsNEW YORK -- Dave Sims is replacing John Sterling as Suzyn Waldman's...

Sale, Crochet named comeback players of year

Sale, Crochet named comeback players of year

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsLAS VEGAS -- Left-handers Chris Sale of the Atlanta Braves and Garr...

Sports Leagues

  • FIFA

    Fédération Internationale de Football Association
  • NBA

    National Basketball Association
  • ATP

    Association of Tennis Professionals
  • MLB

    Major League Baseball
  • ITTF

    International Table Tennis Federation
  • NFL

    Nactional Football Leagues
  • FISB

    Federation Internationale de Speedball

About Us

I Dig® is a leading global brand that makes it more enjoyable to surf the internet, conduct transactions and access, share, and create information.  Today I Dig® attracts millions of users every month.r

 

Phone: (800) 737. 6040
Fax: (800) 825 5558
Website: www.idig.com
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Affiliated