Great Britain’s Johanna Konta has made a solid start at the Cincinnati Open by defeating Croatia’s Donna Vekic 6-2, 6-3.
The tenth seed endured some tough resistance against the Croatian player, but had the ability to dominate proceedings throughout the match with the help of four aces and 21 winners. Konta has now won 11 out of her 13 matches during the US hard-court series this season.
“I think that as long as I am satisfied with the work I’m putting in every day, that’s all I can control.” Konta said about her current form.
“I just want to make sure that I go to bed every night knowing that I gave it my best.” she added.
Konta faces a tougher task in her next match against Agnieszka Radwanska. The world No.5 dropped only one game during her dominating 6-0, 6-1, win over Andrea Petkovic, who was feeling the after effects of her first round match.
Angelique Kerber began her campaign with a convincing 6-0, 7-5, win over France’s Kristina Mladenovic. Kerber faced seven break points during the second set, but successfully saved six of them. The top seed will play Barbora Strýcová in the next round.
Finally, Dominika Cibulkova recovered from a set and a break down to defeat Sweden’s Johana Larsson 6-7(5), 6-4, 7-5. Cibulkova will next play Timeas Babos.
Full list of results
| Barbora Strycova def. Samantha Stosur [14] | 7-6(11), 6-3 | |
| Roberta Vinci [6] def. Tsvetana Pironkova | 7-5, 6-3 | |
| Simona Halep [3] def. Annika Beck | 6-3, 6-1 | |
| Daria Gavrilova def. Elina Svitolina [17] | 6-2, 6-2 | |
| Johanna Konta [10] def. Donna Vekic | 6-2, 6-3 | |
| Timea Babos def. Belinda Bencic [13] | 7-5, 6-2 | |
| Garbine Muguruza [4] def. Coco Vandeweghe | 7-6(4), 6-2 | |
| Carla Suarez Navarro [9] def. Alize Cornet | 6-2, 1-0 (ret.) | |
| Agnieszka Radwanska [5] def. Andrea Petkovic | 6-0, 6-1 | |
| Timea Bacsinszky [12] def. Lesia Tsurenko | 6-3, 6-0 | |
| Angelique Kerber [2] def. Kristina Mladenovic | 6-0, 7-5 |
