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Ros Satar

Robson & Konta out of French Open

Ros Satar
Tennis

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By Ros Satar

  • Andrea Petkovic [28] def. Laura Robson 6-2 6-2
  • Julia Goerges def. Johanna Konta [20] 6-2 6-3

PARIS, FRANCE – Laura Robson and Johanna Konta became the latest British casualties at Roland Garros, joining Naomi Broady who exited on Monday.

Britwatch Tennis:

Andrea Petkovic [28] def. Laura Robson 6-2 6-2

Despite having had a pretty dismal start to her clay court season, Petkovic came out firing on all cylinders. With Robson using up her protected ranking of 58, she once more showed flashes of the power and accuracy that she possessed, but the errors were also there, smacking 37 in all.

The pair played a competitive match, both bringing up break points with the German just a little more efficient as she broke Robson twice in quick succession with the Brit getting one back, only to hand back the advantage in the next game.

Robson’s best chance of making the match more competitive came at the start of the second set, forcing Petkovic to save three break points. The pair traded breaks but the German came out on top with two more breaks to serve out the match.

The signs are encouraging though for Robson. Now thankfully playing pain free, she has really made the most of her protected ranking over the clay court season, but with it running out next month, she will have to rely on getting a wildcard to play at Wimbledon.

 

Julia Goerges def. Johanna Konta [20] 6-2 6-3

The British No. 1 closed out a disappointing clay court season after her success at the start of the year. There was to be no repeat of her breakthrough Slam run from Melbourne, as she came up against a tricky clay court player in Goerges.

Despite the drop to her rankings and Goerges’ inconsistencies, the German was once in the Top 15 and she showed why, as she broke early for an advantage in the first set, finishing it off with a second break. Konta has shown in the past that her confidence has grown with tough matches, but it was always going to be a long way back after she fell behind 2-5 in the second set, and despite holding her serve, Goerges was on fire, closing out with no issues.

Konta will have a very busy grass court season, as last year – down to play Nottingham, Birmingham and Eastbourne but this time in the draw on her own merit and not relying on wildcards. Her spin up through the rankings really started here last year, backed up with a good run at the US Open, so all is not lost for the No. 1 Brit.

Heather Watson continues to fly the flag for the British women, as she takes former French Open champion Svetlana Kuznetsova, on Wednesday.