- Johanna Konta [8] def. Vera Zvonareva 6-4 6-2
- Will face 13th seed Maria Sakkari in the quarter-final
NEW YORK, USA – Johanna Konta continued to impress and improve as she eased past Vera Zvonareva to set up a quarter-final clash with Maria Sakkari.
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Johanna Konta [8] def. Vera Zvonareva 6-4 6-2
British No. 1 Johanna Konta achieved her best result at the Western & Southern Open (albeit in their temporary home in New York) when she reached the quarter-finals for the first time with another confident straight sets win, this time over Vera Zvonareva.
With balls being set deep from the Russian. Konta exhibited patience as a first break chance came and went for her before being rewarded with the lead, closing it out for the first set.
Confidence on her side, Konta broke early in the second set and again broke the Russian in the penultimate game, although she did need three match points to close out her place in the quarter-final.
She said, after the match: “I think more than anything just adapting to how she was playing. And also the conditions, they were quite tricky. She’s a very tricky player to play, as well.
“It was quite blustery out there. The wind was definitely moving the ball around. And also, her balls can be quite tricky to adapt to, as well.
“I was happy overall in how I was playing with the conditions out there and my opponent. And really just finding the court and opening the court up, I thought I did that well. I think I also served quite well today, as well, especially under the conditions.”
READ MORE | Tennis | WTA Western & Southern Open 2020 | Latest Tennis Schedule & Draws
Konta v Maria Sakkari [13] | Konta leads H2H 3-1
There was no shortage of drama late into the evening as Maria Sakkari ousted Serena Williams, having to come back from two match points down before she rallied to force a tie-break before storming through the decider.
Matches between this pair can put in the hours and Konta joked that her comparatively easy route through this tournament was most likely to end in a three set match, and she probably is not wrong.
Sakkari’s strength is her patience in how she constructs her points from the baseline, so the key for Konta again will be having her serve firing well – often the rest of her game smoothly slots in well once that is working.
Konta has looked very much like she has been working to a firm game plan, looking to hot cross-court, and opening up the court to finish points off – but in the past Konta has proved to be predictable with her patterns of play, and once players have figured her out, things have unravelled.
Sakkari has looked in very confident form, but Konta has really clicked into gear, so expect this to be a three-setter.
Prediction: Konta in three sets.
Konta & Sakkari are scheduled on Grandstand Court, not before 5pm (10pm BST).
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