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Tag Johanna Konta

Sport

Strycova stuns Konta to reach 2019 Wimbledon semi-finals

Strycova
London, July 9, 2019 (Reuters/NAN) Unseeded Czech Barbora Strycova weathered an early storm to flatten British hopes with a 7-6(5) 6-1 defeat of Johanna Konta in the Wimbledon quarter-finals on Tuesday.

Konta powered into a 4-1 lead in the first set but Strycova never panicked.

She used her superior craft to turn the match in her favour in front of a deflated Centre Court crowd.

After playing a superb tiebreak to take the first set, the 33-year-old Strycova took complete charge of the match as Konta self-destructed with a flurry of wild errors.

Konya had raised hopes of a first British women’s singles champion at Wimbledon since 1977 with a strong run to the last eight, but she was well-beaten in the end.

World number 54 Strycova will now face seven-time champion Serena Williams in her first Grand Slam semi-final. (Reuters/NAN)
KIA/OLAL
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(Edited by Olawale Alabi)

Sport

Serena suffers career’s worst loss to Konta

Serena suffers career’s worst loss to Konta
Loss
San Jose (USA), Aug. 1, 2018 (Reuters/NAN) Twenty-three-time major champion Serena Williams suffered the worst loss of her storied career on Tuesday, falling 6-1 6-0 to Britain’s Johanna Konta in the first round of the Silicon Valley Classic.
After a routine hold to start the match, Williams lost the next 12 games in a one-sided affair that lasted less than an hour.
She stunned the partisan crowd of 3,000 at San Jose State University.
Those expecting to see Williams continue to battle back after a difficult child birth last year were left disappointed.
The 36-year-old committed 25 unforced errors to Konta’s nine and managed to put just 41 per cent of her first serves into play.
“I think she played well in the second set and I think I wasn’t sharp at all in the first set.
“She got confident and she clearly ran away with it,” the American said after the loss.
Williams, who lost the Wimbledon final earlier this month to German Angelique Kerber, had never lost a match before where she did not win at least two games since turning pro in 1995.
As poorly as Williams played, the 27-year-old Konta was sharp, firing six aces and smacking 17 winners to Williams’ nine while controlling the tempo of the match.
“She obviously wasn’t playing at her best level, nowhere near it, and I really just tried to play the match on my terms,” said Konta, who won the tournament two years ago.
“I tried to put aside the incredible champion she is and just play the player of the day,” she said.
“I felt I did better than her on the day but it’s still a humbling experience to be out here with her.”
With the loss Williams falls to 11-4 since returning to the tour and will look to bounce back when she competes in the Cincinnati Open next month.
Cincinnati will offer her another hard court tune-up ahead of this year’s U.S. Open.
Konta will face American teenager Sofia Kenin in the second round. (Reuters/NAN)
KIA/MO/SA
Edited by Omolade Michael/Salif Atojoko
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Sport

Konta beats Wozniacki to win Miami Open title

NAN-S-11
Konta
By Victor Okoye
Abuja, April 1, 2017 (NAN) Johanna Konta took the biggest title of her career with victory over Caroline Wozniacki as she became the first British woman to win the Miami Open on Saturday.

The 25-year-old British number one overpowered her Danish opponent — a former world number one — 6-4 6-3.

Konta, who in June 2015 was the world number 146, will climb to seventh from 11th in the rankings — her highest yet.

She also takes home 940,000 pounds in prize money in claiming what was her third WTA Tour success from a fourth final.

Konta won her first WTA title in July 2016 at the Bank of the West Classic.

She was defeated in the China Open final in October 2016, and in January the Briton triumphed at the Sydney International without dropping a set.

But this was her first success at a higher level — the top ‘Premier Mandatory’ rung of the WTA Tour.

Having beaten Wozniacki in their only previous meeting — in straight sets at the third round of this year’s Australian Open — Konta was pre-match favourite.

And she held her nerve with a strong all-round performance to edge her opponent in a tight match.

“Thank you so much to the crowd,” Konta said.

“You guys were incredible through the whole week. Miami is such an energetic city and you guys really bring that to the court.

“My whole team — thank you so much. We’re having a great time working hard and I’m looking forward to continuing to do so.”(NAN)
VO/OLAL
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(Edited by Olawale Alabi)