Fourth seed Johanna Konta won the battle of the Brits as she defeated Heather Watson 6-4 7-6(5) to reach the quarter-finals in Nottingham.
Last year’s runner-up made a positive start as she served well especially to the Watson backhand. The world number 22 broke in the fifth game and then saved two break points to take a 4-2 lead. The lower-ranked Brit struggled with her returns as she continued to hold serve and force Konta to serve for the opening set. However despite Watson keeping the pressure on, Konta closed out the opening set in 42 minutes.
The second set saw the world number 91 respond with authority as she started to succeed with her forehand with many dangerous combinations as she stormed to a 4-1 lead. The break lead didn’t last long though as a frustrated Konta broke straight back by increasing the number of winners and cutting down the unforced errors. The second set eventually went to a second set tiebreak, which Konta edged to seal her place in the last eight.
After the win Konta felt relieved and admitted it was hard facing her fellow compatriot, “One hundred per cent it was not easy and conditions made it that much harder. It’s never easy to play a compatriot. I just tried to keep my focus on my side of the court. I feel fortunate to come through, there was very little in it.”
In other results, Katie Boulter produced one of the best results of her career by defeating former US Open champion Sam Stosur, 7-6(6) 6-1. The world number 156 converted four of her five break point opportunities to grab the biggest win of her career.
There were also straight set victories for top seed Ashleigh Barty and defending champion Donna Vekic. Here is tomorrow’s quarter-final line-up, with play starting at 11am:
Ashleigh Barty (1) v Katie Boulter
Naomi Osaka (3) v Mihaela Buzarnescu (5)
Dalila Jakupovic v Johanna Konta (4)
Donna Vekic (6) v Mona Barthel
