
Fifth seed Johanna Konta survived a tough test in her opening match of the season after edging her way past Madison Keys 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, in the first round of the Brisbane International.
The world No.9 was pushed to her limits during the early stages of the match as she saved break points in three consecutive service games before Keys broke at 5-4 to snatch the opening set. Despite the blip, Konta rallied from behind with the help of some solid platy to prevail in three sets. Setting up her with a second round clash against Ajla Tomljanović.
”To get the chance to play such a high-quality match so early on is only a good thing to me,” Konta said. ”And to be able to come through in a three-set match as well and to get that much court time, it’s a good thing.’
Konta is eager to revive her performance on the tour following a disappointing end to 2017. Suffering first-match losses at four consecutive tournaments. She then opted to end her season early in order to recover from a foot injury.
“It definitely was good to be back playing matches and I really enjoyed it,” Konta recently told The Independent. “I missed it a lot. I’m really looking forward to getting the season started and starting to compete again.”
US Open finalist Keys is also maintaining a positive mindset despite losing. Her match against Konta was only her second since Flushing Meadows. The American has been absent from the tour due to a wrist injury, which also bothered her at the start of 2017.
”It was good tennis today – I haven’t played a match in four months, so it’s like a win for me.” Said Keys, who fired 11 aces past Konta. “I Played really well. She played better. I’m not that upset about it.”
Svitolina targets No.1 ranking
Elina Svitolina encountered few problems during her 6-4, 6-2, win over five-time grand slam quarter-finalist Carla Suarez Navarro. Svitolina, who won five WTA titles in 2017, produced 11 aces and won 80% of her first service points during the match.
Climbing to a high of third in the WTA rankings last September. Svitolina has a clear goal on her mind. To become the first Ukrainian player to reach world No.1. An unsurprising revelation for a player who has already defeated three world No.1 players since 2016 – Serena Williams, Simona Halep and Angelique Kerber.
“Of course this is the goal, but I don’t want to have this pressure,” she said. “(I just want to) play my best and improve each tournament, each match and be strong mentally – there’s lots of things (I want to achieve), not only being No.1.
“There was some tough moments, was struggling with a few injuries … but I think we’re on the right path.”
Svitolina will next take on Ana Konjuh. A player who she has a 1-1 head-to-head record against.
Elsewhere at the tournament, Petra Kvitova was forced to pull out due to illness. Set to take on Estonia’s Anett Kontaveit, she was replaced in the draw by Heather Watson. Watson crashed out 6-0, 6-3, to Kontaveit. Meanwhile, 2012 champion Kaia Kanepi breezed past Daria Kasatkina 6-2, 6-2.