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Winning start for Konta in Acapulco

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By Ros Satar

  • Johanna Konta [4] def. Anett Kontaveit 6-3 3-6 6-4
  • Rose one place this week to a new career high of World No. 26

ACAPULCO, MEXICO – It was a good start for fourth seed and top Brit Johanna Konta as she played her first round match in Acapulco, with a tough win over Estonia’s Anett Kontaveit.

Britwatch Tennis:

Nudging up the rankings a spot on Monday saw the British No. 1 hit a new career high, in a season that started with a terrific run to the semi-final of the Australian Open on her main-draw debut.

But as always, Konta remains steadfastly down to earth about her achievements.

She told WTATennis.com: “It looks pretty cool on paper. Obviously I’m really happy to be where I am but I’m also very much focused on the process of things and just really giving my best in every match that I play.

“If do that where I’m ranked 26 or if I do that where I’m ranked 150, the objective stays the same.”

She put that in to practice in a tough opener against Kontaveit, rapidly racing into a 5-0 lead before Kontaveit managed to battle on to the score-board before getting one of the two breaks back.

After closing out the first set, the pair traded breaks before the Estonian finally took a break advantage of her own and held on to that to force a deciding set.

That momentum stuck with the World No. 91 as she broke Konta twice at the start of the third set, before Konta promptly repaid the favour to get things back on an even keel. Konta pushed the Estonian hard in the final game, bringing up four match points to break for the match.

Speaking to WTATennis.com after the match, she said: “It was a tough one, but it was a good match, she played really well. I really had to stick in there and keep fighting every single point and really just work hard for my opportunities.”

British No. 2 Heather Watson will make her bid to join Konta late on Tuesday, and the pair could well clash in the quarter-finals.

Watson faces Christina Mchale, not before 5:30pm (11:30pm GMT).