Home
Tennis
Johanna Konta at the Nature Valley Open, WTA Nottingham 2018
Johanna Konta at the Nature Valley Open, WTA Nottingham 2018 | (Photo by Ben Hoskins/Getty Images for LTA)

Tennis | Roland Garros 2021 | Konta and Watson out in first round

Britwatch Team
Tennis

  • Sorana Cirstea def. Johanna Konta [19] 7-6(5) 6-2
  • Zarina Dyas def. Heather Watson 6-4 7-5

PARIS, FRANCE – Britain’s involvement in the women’s singles ended on the second day of Roland Garros as both Johanna Konta and Heather Watson lost in round one.

 

[table “ADPDAll” not found /]

 

Sorana Cirstea def. Johanna Konta [19] 7-6(5) 6-2

Embed from Getty Images

British No. 1 Johanna Konta continues to search for form as the clay court season came to an end for her with a straight sets loss to Sorana Cirstea.

Coming in to this match, Cirstea had lost just one match on clay. Konta has yet to record back to back wins.

There were moments of sharpness from the Brit, who started aggressively, but it was a fight all the way for Konta, who saw her lead whittled away by an equally aggressive Cirstea.

At 3-3 in the resulting tie-break, a mini-break to Cirstea turned the tide of the set, and eventually the match, as she took the first set and kept that momentum to ease through the second set.

After the match she said: “I think I did a lot of good things out there but obviously not enough. I think she found her footing quite well, and I couldn’t quite adapt well enough to how she was doing.”

 

Browse the Britwatch Sports Amazon Page for our latest Tennis equipment recommendations

 

Zarina Dyas def. Heather Watson 6-4 7-5

Embed from Getty Images

Things were more frustrating for British No. 2 Heather Watson who twice was in a leading position only for Zarina Diyas to flip the tables and edge past the Brit.

Watson also has had a fragmented year, and a terrible clay court season.

After the match, she said: “I felt I started pretty well. I definitely could have broadened the gap. I missed a fair few opportunities. But tennis-wise I felt like my game was there. I was hitting well. I just struggled physically today. Wasn’t able to focus on executing my game plan and stuff, because I just didn’t feel well physically. Just struggled with energy and stuff. Yeah, didn’t feel good.”

Both Konta and Watson have direct entry into Nottingham which, because of Roland Garros moving for a week, starts in the second week of the tournament.

Play continues at Roland Garros on Day Three at 11am (10am BST).

 

 

Support Britwatch – Sign up to PBLC for free to support ongoing contributions from Britwatch Sports