Johanna Konta in the second round of the 2021 Miami Open, Florida, USA
Johanna Konta in the second round of the 2021 Miami Open, Florida, USA | (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)

Tennis | WTA Rome | Johanna Konta takes on Jelena Ostapenko in a tough Rome opener

  • Johanna Konta [16] v Jelena Ostapenko
  • H2H: Konta leads 3-2
ROME, ITALY – Johanna Konta is still in search of some stable form as she opens in Rome against Jelena Ostapenko.

 

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H2H & Match Fundamentals

Johanna Konta [16] v Jelena Ostapenko H2H: Komta
ATP Rome Rome, Italy
Clay (O) Prize Money: €8,670
Night match on Centre Court, 6pm (5pm BST) Amazon Prime Video <– Sign up for trial

It has been a short season so far for Johanna Konta and she is still looking for a first back-to-back win on any surface. In fairness Jelena Ostapenko could still do with being more consistent.

 

Tale of the Tape – Key Stats (2021 – Clay)

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H2H: Johanna Konta (WR 18) Jelena Ostapenko (WR 49)
Tournament Previous Best Final (2019) QF (2018)
1st Serve Return Points Won % 41 36.4
Return Points Won % 43.9 42.6
Break Point Conversion % 33.3 38.7
Break Points Saved % 65 63.6
Total Points Won % 48.7 50.7

Despite having played a lot less on the dirt than Ostapenko, Konta is surprisingly strong in some areas in their head-to-head, although Ostapenko has been a bit stronger in taking those break point chances.

 

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Playing Styles and Prediction

If both players are on their game, then fear for the cover of the little yellow fluffies as they both batter the life out of the balls. Ostapenko will be looking to move Konta around as much as possible, and with Konta having worked hard to contain a knee injury that has been a concern now for a couple of seasons.

Konta will have to play a lot more aggressively and be willing to come in, and try those dropshots, but she lacks the finesse at the net sometimes, and try to draw errors out of Ostapenko’s sometimes more high-risk approach to play.

Ostapenko is fearless – and Konta can be a little tentative is she can’t dominate for first strike tennis – so this could sadly be another quick exit for the Brit.

Prediction: Ostapenko in three sets.

 

 

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