Konta reaches last eight at Wimbledon
Originally published on 10/07/17 00:00
The No.6 seed edged a tight encounter with Caroline Garcia 7-6(3) 4-6 6-4 to keep her hopes of winning a first Grand Slam title alive.
It was a big-hitting contest between two players brimming with confidence however Garcia faltered when serving to stay in the match. The Frenchwoman netted a makeable midcourt forehand and Konta raised her arms in delight after securing a landmark victory.
“It was such a tight match,” admitted Konta after reaching the last eight at the All England Club for the first time. “She [Garcia] is in such impressive form so it was really hard to get any rhythm out there when she is serving so well and getting the first strike in.
“There was very little between us today. I was just very happy with the way I was able to compete and not pay too much attention to the good things she was doing.”
Konta’s next opponent will be Simona Halep .The Romanian scored an impressive 7-6(3) 6-2 victory over two-time Grand Slam champion, Victoria Azarenka.
Garbine Muguruza edged a thrilling duel with top seed Angelique Kerber 4-6 6-4 6-4 to book her spot in the quarter-finals of Wimbledon for a second time. In a high quality affair, the Spaniard recovered from a break down in the deciding set to secure a significant victory and end her opponent’s reign as the world No.1.
For the majority of the contest, Muguruza was the aggressor and Kerber was on the defensive. There was little to choose between the former finalists in the first set but it was eventually claimed by the German after she bagged a break in the ninth game.
Muguruza made 15 unforced-errors in the first set but she continued to play on the front foot and remained eager to venture into the forecourt at every available opportunity. Her persistence was eventually rewarded in the 10th game of the second set as she broke her opponent’s serve for the first time to level the score.
Kerber appeared to have wrestled control of a pulsating decider however she was soon pegged back by the tenacious Spaniard. The former French Open winner continued to press and her outstanding backhand helped push her beyond the winning line.
Despite the defeat, Kerber remained upbeat. "It was for sure my best match for a long time,” said the German. "I think I'm on my way to playing high quality tennis again.
“I think we both play a good match, but at the end, two points decided the match. Of course I'm disappointed that I lost the match, because I was playing really good. Just one can win, though, and that was not me today.”
Muguruza will play Svetlana Kuznestova in the quarter-finals. The Russian is into the last eight for the time in ten years after a 6-2 6-4 success over Agnieszka RadwaÜska.
Jelena Ostapenko made it 11 straight wins at Grand Slam level as she defeated No.4 seed, Elina Svitolina, 6-3 7-6(6), to progress into the last eight for the first time. The Latvian squandered a second set advantage however she regrouped in the tiebreak and sealed the deal on her sixth match-point.
The French Open winner will play Venus Williams next. The only former champion left in the draw dispatched Ana Konjuh for the loss of just five games.
Coco Vandeweghe’s excellent run in SW19 goes on after she overcame Caroline Wozniacki 7-6(4) 6-4. The American has won two titles in her career, both on grass, and she is yet to drop a set in the tournament.
The 25-year-old will play a last eight debutant on Tuesday. Magdalena Rybarikova defeated Petra Martic 6-4 2-6 6-3.
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