Konta on top in battle of British at Nottingham

By Derren Howard
Watch more of our videos on Shots! 
and live on Freeview channel 276
Visit Shots! now

Johanna Konta said she felt fortunate to advance to the quarter-finals at the Nottingham Open following her tight tussle with British player Heather Watson on Wednesday afternoon.

Konta, who is seeded fourth for the tournament, won a keenly contested two set match 6-4 7-6 (7-5), played in gusty conditions.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“It was not easy for either us and the conditions made it harder here,” said Konta. “It is never easy playing a compatriot, I feel fortunate because there was very little in it.”

Johanna Konta in action at Nottingham Picture: B&O PRESS PHOTOJohanna Konta in action at Nottingham Picture: B&O PRESS PHOTO
Johanna Konta in action at Nottingham Picture: B&O PRESS PHOTO

Konta, 26, broke for a 3-2 lead in the first set against her Fed Cup team-mate. Watson passed-up two break points in the following game before Konta served out to take the first.

Watson, the British No 2, is ranked 91st in the world and moved 3-1 ahead in the second set. But Konta broke back and went on to the win the match 7-5 in a tight tie-break.

Konta, who reached the Wimbledon semi-finals last year, will play Slovenia’s Dalila Jakupovic in the quarter-finals.

The Eastbourne player reached a career-high ranking of fourth in the world after her fine run to the last four at Wimbledon last year. She has since slipped down the rankings to 22nd.