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...

Wimbledon 2019: Johanna Konta into fourth round but Harriet Dart loses

Written by 
Published in Tennis
Saturday, 06 July 2019 09:08

British number one Johanna Konta staged a determined comeback to beat American ninth seed Sloane Stephens and reach the fourth round at Wimbledon.

The 2017 semi-finalist had trailed by a set and was under pressure on her serve before regrouping to win 3-6 6-4 6-1.

She is the only home hope left in the women's singles after Harriet Dart's 6-1 6-1 loss to top seed Ashleigh Barty.

Dan Evans, the only British man still in the singles, faces Joao Sousa in the third round later on Saturday.

Konta will face Czech two-time champion Petra Kvitova for a place in the quarter-finals on Monday.

"I just kept plugging away more than anything," Konta told BBC television.

"I was fully prepared to not be coming back in that second set because she really was playing well. I was really pleased I could keep battling, I was pleased I could mix things up and I did a good job in getting her out of that zone."

Konta turns frustration into fightback

Last month Konta had dominated Stephens in a 6-1 6-4 victory in the French Open quarter-finals last month, playing some of the best tennis of her career.

But the 28-year-old struggled to find her rhythm and became frustrated with herself at times against the 26-year-old American on Court One.

After losing the first set when she netted a backhand, Konta found herself under increasing pressure on her serve in the second.

She showed glimpses of the mental negativity that has hampered her in the past, shooting glances at her coach Dimitri Zavialoff and berating herself for her wayward shots.

But she then translated that into fighting spirit in the fifth game of the second set when she was taken to deuce six times and saved three break points before eventually holding.

That proved to be the start of a comeback as she went on to break the American in the 10th game to take the set and force a decider.

From then on she did not look back - the overcooked forehands found the lines and the head-shaking at changeovers became fist pumps as she won five games in a row from late in the second set to surge ahead in the third.

And her victory was complete when Stephens hit long with just over two hours on the clock.

Dart learns 'tough lesson'

Dart exits with her head held high after a tournament that marked her first back-to-back wins at tour level.

The world number 182 had said beforehand that the match against French Open champion Barty would provide her with a good measure of where her tennis was at.

Having lost 6-0 6-0 to Maria Sharapova in her last match against a high-profile player on the main show court of a Grand Slam at January's Australian Open, she can be comforted by the fact she got herself on the scoreboard in the 53-minute defeat by Barty.

Barty - who has been beaten by only one player outside the world's top 10 this year - dropped just three points on serve in the first set, moving a double break up before the world number 182 was finally able to hold.

Dart went a double break down at the start of the second set before showing signs of her form of previous rounds, reaching four break points before allowing Barty to hold.

"It's a good learning curve for me," she said. "She played great. She didn't let me in the match at all.

"It's a tough lesson to learn. It's been a great tournament for me. I should take a lot of positives from it."

Barty, who is the first Australian to reach the women's singles fourth round at Wimbledon since 2010, said the young Briton had a bright future.

"Harriet is going to have a fantastic career. I know she will play out on Centre Court again soon," said the Australian, who will play American Alison Riske in the fourth round.

Read 500 times

Soccer

FIFA rankings: USMNT static, Canada at new high

FIFA rankings: USMNT static, Canada at new high

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsThe U.S. men's national team remained 16th in the latest FIFA ranki...

Ange: Reaction to angry Spurs fans misinterpreted

Ange: Reaction to angry Spurs fans misinterpreted

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsLONDON -- Ange Postecolgou has said his actions were misinterpreted...

Harry Kane is on a mission to finally end his long personal trophy drought

Harry Kane is on a mission to finally end his long personal trophy drought

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsHarry Kane is a man on a mission. Not just for Bayern Munich but al...

2026 FIFA


2028 LOS ANGELES OLYMPIC

UEFA

2024 PARIS OLYMPIC


Basketball

Rivers: 'Much more hope' injured Lillard returns

Rivers: 'Much more hope' injured Lillard returns

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsPHILADELPHIA -- Milwaukee Bucks coach Doc Rivers said that Damian L...

Man who conned ex-NBA star Howard gets 12 yrs.

Man who conned ex-NBA star Howard gets 12 yrs.

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsNEW YORK -- A Georgia businessman who scammed former NBA players Dw...

Baseball

Dodgers' Freeman placed on IL after shower slip

Dodgers' Freeman placed on IL after shower slip

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsLos Angeles Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman, who slipped and...

Are torpedo bats legal? Here's how they work and facts to know

Are torpedo bats legal? Here's how they work and facts to know

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsThe opening weekend of the 2025 MLB season was taken over by a surp...

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