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Everything Hunky Dory for Jo Konta


After her match against Naomi Osaka on Rod Laver Arena this morning, Jo Konta said she had not had a chance to find a favourite gelato haunt in Melbourne but that she had been enjoying fish dinners from local restaurant Hunky Dory.

A healthy diet of grilled fish and rice fuelled an impressive performance for the No.9 seed who today defeated 19 year old hard hitting Naomi Osaki 6-4 6-2 in an hour and nine minutes on Rod Laver Arena

Konta had two break points in the fifth game of the first set which she was unable to capitalise on and as the 15,000 seater stadium began to fill up, Osaka had her own break points in the eighth game which she also failed to take. Konta, who served well throughout the match, serving her fourth ace to save the break point.

In her characteristic dry humoured way, Osaka said after the match, “I was kind of wondering if my return was really bad or her serve was really good.”

Serving at 4-4, Osaka double faulted and made two errors, giving Konta three more break points. The first Osaka saved with an ace, the second Konta returned wide down the line but on the third, Konta hit a backhand winner and let out a cry as she finally secured the break she had been pushing so hard for. In the following service game, Konta needed only one set point to wrap up the first set 6-4.

Konta was always in command in the second set, despite some heavy hitting from both players. The Briton broke Osaka in the third game and again in the seventh, as more errors crept into Osaka’s game.

“I gained some momentum, and I think I did a good job at keeping pressure on her. I mean, from my side, I don’t believe she actually did much wrong,” Konta said. “I felt the few opportunities that I got, I was quite quick to take them, so I think I made it difficult for her.”

As was the case throughout the whole match, Konta was made to work hard to convert her third match point, which she won demonstrating some lightning reactions at the net as Osaka tried to pass her down the line. The ball clipped the top of the net but Konta managed to get to it and send the ball back down the line past her 19-year-old opponent.

“I was definitely keen on making my stamp in the match, “ Konta said, “and I feel like I managed to do that as the match went on.”

Konta served nine aces, had an average serve speed of 161kph and won 89% of her first serve points. She will meet No.17 seed, Caroline Wozniacki in the third round after the former world No.1 beat Donna Vekic 6-1 6-3.

“It will be an incredibly tough one,” Konta said. “Every round so far has been. I think my first round and also today, they were incredibly competent opponents. Rarely do we get any easy rounds.”


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Tim Farthing, Tennishead Editorial Director & Owner, has been a huge tennis fan his whole life. He's a tennis journalist and entrepreneur as well as playing tennis to a national standard. He also helps manage his local club and volunteers for his local tennis organisation. He's a specialist in content about the administration of professional tennis and tennis coaching for all levels.