US OPEN – Coming into these championships, British Johanna Konta, currently ranked 97 in the world, won two ITF (International Tennis Federation) events for a total of ten matches. Then she came through 3 rounds of qualifications for the main draw of the Open and then found herself in the 2nd round having won 14 straight matches. This win streak is impressive not just for the sheer physical effort but also the mental strength it takes to accomplish. Coming up against Garbiñe Muguruza (9), Konta showed that both her mental and physical games are at very high levels as she upset this year’s Wimbledon finalist 7-6 6-7 6-2 in what turned out to be the longest women’s singles match in US Open history at 3 hours and 23 minutes. Konta was ready for a fight against Muguruza despite her recent success, “[I]f I would go out again some of these players and see them as their ranking, then I probably would have already lost before I even stepped on the court.”
This is the third meeting between the two players having most recently played each other at Eastbourne where Konta won. Konta got the early lead at 5-3 and served for the opening set at 5-4. Muguruza who is far more experienced in these types of situation, was able to break to level the set 5-5. They both held serve and forced the matter to be decided in a tiebreaker. In the end, it was Konta who won the opening set 7-6(4) which lasted an hour and 20 minutes. It was clear that these ladies were in for a fight.
In the 2nd set, it turned out to be a near verse of the first with Muguruza having the early lead. She served for the set up 5-4 but Konta broke back and again the set was to be decided by a tiebreaker. Konta got into it with the chair umpire owing to what she thought was a poor decision to give Muguruza a point due to an incorrect call from a linesperson. Muguruza seized up this momentary lapse in concentration to level the match at a set apiece 7-6(4). Muguruza would later state in her press conference that since Wimbledon she is feeling some pressure to perform. She has not won a match on the American hardcourt events coming into this tournament. The Spaniard admitted that despite the matches look easier on paper since being in the top 10, it was still a tough battle out on court.
In the 3rd set, Konta did not sit idly by particularly in the hot and humid conditions. She began to be far more assertive on court. She raced out to a 4-0 lead. Muguruza stated that Konta believed in herself and her game on the important points. She believed that she could win and cause the upset again. Konta would later say, “I felt I had a very clear idea of how I wanted to be out there. Whether it was going to be win or lose, I wanted things to happen on my terms.” Muguruza held serve twice as Konta served it for the win and her debut in the 3rd round of a major 7-6 6-7 6-2 in nearly 3 and half hours.
“I’m very happy to come back and fight another day. I’m very tired right now … it’s a good tired because it just shows that, you know, I left everything out there,” Konta said after the match. Muguruza too said the same for her performance that despite being disappointed in the lost, she felt that she fought hard on court and did not give up. It was simply unfortunate that her tennis could not see her through for the win. Both women were battling from the baseline where they played the majority of the points. Konta only ventured to net 13 times winning 12 of those points. Muguruza won 18/26 points at the net. Konta had 36 winners to 34 errors whereas Muguruza had a 45 to 59 winners to errors ratio. Interestingly enough, Konta only won 9 more points than Muguruza for the entire match, 142 to 133.
Konta will next face Andrea Petkovic (18) in the 3rd round. Petkovic took out Elena Vesnina 6-3 7-6(5). Of the matchup, Konta said, “[I]t will be a challenge. I’m expecting a very tough competitor because that’s what she is.” The Briton, now on a 15-match win streak, is not getting too far ahead of herself at these championships as she said, “Obviously I’m happy that I have been able to stay healthy enough to be competing as much as I have. You know, I am going to lose sooner or later.”
