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Konta sets up second final match-up against Radwanska in Sydney

Ros Satar
Tennis

 

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By Ros Satar

  • Johanna Konta eased past Eugenie Bouchard to set up her first final of the year beating her 6-2 6-2
  • She will face 2013 champion and No. 2 seed Agnieszka Radwanska
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA – Johanna Konta’s consistency seems to be rounding nicely into form as she booked her place in the Sydney final.

 

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Johanna Konta [6] def. Genie Bouchard [WC] 6-2 6-2

British No. 1 Johanna Konta continued a fine turn of form at the start of the year by beating a resurgent Genie Bouchard in convincing fashion to set up her first final of the year.

Having lost to her at Wimbledon last year, after advancing in the main draw for the first time, there was a touch of sweet revenge as Konta capably handled everything the Canadian could throw at her.

Konta broke early but was broken straight back. She held her nerve to put in another break, and kept that barrage going, breaking the Canadian for a third time, before wrapping up the first set.

From there, the momentum was firmly in the Brit’s camp, jumping out to a 3-0 lead. Bouchard was not quite done and her fighting spirit earned her a break back only to lose her serve for the third time.

She got another game on the board but it was not enough to deny Konta a shot at her first silverware of 2017.

 

 

Konta v Agnieszka Radwanska [2] – H2H: Radwanska leads 2-0.

Will it be third time’s the charm for Konta against the versatile Agnieszka Radwanska? The Pole was not in a mood to waste any time as she coasted past Barbora Strycova, who struggled after her three hour marathon against Caroline Wozniacki in the previous round.

Radwanska is no stranger to long drawn out matches, but she battered Strycova in the first set, losing just three points on serve in the second set. She maybe had a less than stellar start to her season with an earlier than expected exit in Shenzhen quarter-finals, but she looks to be picking up the pace in each match.

Her game can flummox Konta who has been playing some very solid, aggressive tennis while she eases into a new coaching relationship with Wim Fissette. She can expect Radwanska to throw in every trick in the book to try and neutralise Konta’s natural instincts to come forward and pick off balls with winning volleys.

Konta has fair movement but you would have to give the edge on court coverage to Radwanska, on her day. Konta will need to mix up her game and perhaps be patient and prepared to defend a lot more than she would like, in order to take her opportunities.

When they met in Cincinnati, Konta folded after a dumped unforced error into the net. She seemed a little less daunted when they met in the Beijing final but Radwanska had the measure of her, keeping her at bay for a straight sets win.

Prediction: Radwanska in three sets.

 

Konta and Radwanska are scheduled on the Ken Rosewall Arena, not before 6:30pm (7:30am GMT).

 

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