Johanna Konta produced her best tennis when it mattered most to beat Sloane Stephens 3-6 6-4 6-1 and book her place in the last 16 at Wimbledon.
The Brit, 28, lost the first set and she under immense pressure on her serve in the second set, but she found a way to change the momentum of the match and eventually prevailed in terrific style.
“I’m really pleased I was able to keep battling and keep trying to find a way,” Konta said in her post-match interview. “I thought I did a good job of mixing things up to get her out of the zone she was in.”
She continued, “It was an incredibly tough match because she is an incredibly good player and, when she plays at her best, she is very, very tough to play. I really had to work hard to get myself into the match and get my level up to hers and I’m really pleased I was able to do that.”
There was nothing between the players in the first seven games. They both served well and demonstrated impressive consistency from the back of the court.
Then Stephens changed the rhythm of the match with a brilliant drop shot-lob combination that earned her the first point in Konta’s service game.
The Brit missed a straightforward backhand to fall further behind, and the American sensed her moment. She dragged Konta all over the court with clever shots to set up a forehand winner that earned her two break points, and then took the first one when the World No.18 hit a forehand wide.
Konta put pressure on Stephens’ serve in game nine, but the American kept her composure and held to clinch the first set 6-3.
Konta battles back
In the third game of the second set, Konta led 40-0. However, Stephens then attacked the Brit’s serve and won four points in a row to earn a break point. The World No.18 saved it and survived the game, but the warning signs were there.
The American threatened again in game five as the Brit made several errors under pressure. She steadied herself well to save three break points and eventually clung on to her serve after 11 nervous minutes.
In the eighth game, it was Stephens’ turn to struggle on serve. Konta forced a break point, but the American saved it and held to make it 4-4.
Buoyed by this encouraging game, the Brit raised her level. She served two aces during a comfortable hold, and then produced some superb groundstrokes to earn a set point against the Stephens serve in game ten. The World No.9 saved it in style with a forehand winner.
However, Konta played another aggressive point and finished it with a smash to earn another set point. She then hit a crisp forehand winner to seize it and level the match at one-set-all.
Konta shines in the decider
The Brit looked so assured at the start of the deciding set. She held to love and then hit a couple of delightful winners as she broke to establish a 2-0 lead.
Konta withstood pressure from Stephens to hold serve and consolidate the break, and then held again to move 4-1 ahead.
With the confidence oozing through her veins, the Brit forced a break point in game six. She took it in style when she finished a brilliantly-played point with a calm forehand volley.
Konta clinically served for the match and let out a cry of delight when she won the final point. She will face two-time champion Petra Kvitova in round four.
“I’m really pleased with the tennis I’m playing and looking forward to playing Petra,” Konta said. “It will be a nice opportunity to play one of the best players in the world. That’s the position I work to be in and I’m really pleased that I was able to give myself that opportunity.”
