Tennis News

The top half of the draw will round out the semifinals on Wednesday in Miami.

Wednesday

Quarterfinals

[3] Simona Halep (ROU #5) vs. [10] Johanna Konta (GBR #11)
Head-to-head: Konta leads, 1-0
Key Stat: Halep can climb back to No.4 in the rankings by reaching the final in Miami.

Not only has Simona Halep won consecutive matches for the first time all season this week in Miami, now the Romanian is also pulling rabbits out of hats. Halep saved a match point in the second set to edge No.14-seeded Sam Stosur 4-6, 7-5, 6-2 on Monday to book a clash with Johanna Konta in the quarterfinals. Could this inspirational victory be a turning point for Halep in 2017? Maybe, but first and foremost the Romanian is just happy to be showing the world that she can still play at a high level. “Match point down and I came back,” she said after the win. “I’m happy about this, shows I can still play some tennis.”

As for the challenge of facing red-hot Johanna Konta, Halep is cautious, but eager for the test. “It will be tough,” Halep said. “She’s in a good form now, she’s near Top 10. And she plays great. It’s going to be a tough one, but here every match is tough so I don’t expect an easy one.” Konta improved to 16-3 with her Round of 16 win over Spain’s Lara Arruabarrena. The British No.1 was pleased about how she was able to find her level against the World No.72 on Monday. “As the match went on, I felt clearer and clearer on how I wanted to play and what I wanted to do out there from my perspective,” Konta told reporters afterwards.

Konta defeated Halep in their lone meeting at Wuhan in 2015 when she was still outside of the Top 50. She would break into the Top 50 the following week and never look back. Will she continue her climb up the rankings by reaching her first Miami Open semifinal, or will Halep build on her momentum with another noteworthy win?

Pick: Konta in three

[1] Angelique Kerber (GER #1) vs. [11] Venus Williams (USA #12)
Head-to-head: Kerber leads, 4-2
Key Stat: Kerber is 0-3 against Top 20 competition this season.

Two former Grand Slam champions will clash in a marquee quarterfinal on Wednesday as World No.1 Angelique Kerber and Venus Williams lock horns for the seventh time. It was Kerber who emerged victorious when the pair last met at last year’s Wimbledon semifinals. The German executed very well in that contest, winning 43 percent of first-serve return points and breaking Williams’ serve five times on eleven opportunities. She was aggressive, because she knew she had to be. “I was trying to move her,” Kerber said. “That was the plan. That is always the plan when you play against Venus because when she has the ball on the racquet she just hits the ball from left to right, and you just run.”

Nine months later it will be interesting to see if Kerber can implement and execute a similar gameplan. The German has struggled to summon her best tennis this season, and she has lost six of eight matches against Top 50 opponents. Will she have the confidence to attack an in-form Williams?

Williams was in stellar form on Monday as she worked her way past No.7-seeded Svetlana Kuznetsova in straight sets. The American saved three of four break points and won 78 of her first-serve points, and she’ll need to be strong on serve again in order to defeat Kerber and earn her first win over a Reigning World No.1 since 2014.

Pick: Williams in three

By the Numbers
1 – Number of unseeded players to reach the quarterfinals this year at Miami (Safarova).
2 – Konta has reached the quarterfinals at Miami in her two career appearances at the event.
3 – Venus Williams is the only former remaining champion remaining in the draw. The three-time champion last won the title in Miami in 2001.
9 – Halep snapped a nine-match losing streak when losing the first set on Monday when she defeated Samantha Stosur in three.
13 – Williams owns 13 wins over reigning World No.1s, seven of which have come against Martina Hingis.

Vote: March’s WTA Shot Of The Month

April 03, 2017

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CHARLESTON, SC, USA – Britain’s No.1 Johanna Konta has withdrawn from the Volvo Car Open, the tournament announced on Monday morning.

Fresh from taking home the Miami Open trophy – the biggest title of her career – the Brit was looking forward to hitting the green clay of Charleston and kicking off the clay season, but was forced to withdraw citing illness and a lingering right shoulder injury.

“I’m very sorry to have to withdraw,” Konta said in a statement. “I was battling a slight shoulder injury and sickness during Miami which has taken hold.”

Johanna Konta has withdrawn from the #VolvoCarOpen due to a right shoulder injury.

We wish Jo the best and a speedy recovery! (?: Getty) pic.twitter.com/OOu98I9sNF

— Volvo Car Open (@VolvoCarOpen) 3 de abril de 2017

Konta was the No.2 seed in Charleston, and as a result of her withdrawal the draw will be shifted as per official WTA rules.

As the withdrawal came after the release of the schedule but prior to the commencement of the first match, the following procedure applies:
– Daria Gavrilova, the highest seed without a bye, takes Konta’s vacated position
– Grace Min, a qualifier, takes the spot created by the move and will start against Sara Errani

BIRMINGHAM, Great Britain – No.9 seed Johanna Konta made quick work of Japan’s Misaki Doi, needing just two sets to move past her and into the second round of the Aegon Classic Birmingham.

Watch live action from Birmingham and Mallorca this week on WTA Live powered by TennisTV!

Konta stayed toe to toe with Doi for in the first set before going on to dominate in the tiebreak, winning the first six points and converting on her fourth set point. She allowed Doi just one game in the second set, firing off nine aces during the match to advance 7-6(3), 6-1.

Konta, like much of the player field in Birmingham, has struggled with the British summer weather; her first round match against Doi was originally scheduled to be played on Tuesday but a streak of rainy days pushed play to begin today.

She deals with the delays with her usual aplomb and a bit of the typical stiff upper lip her countrymen are known for.

“[I] just really kind of keep a light mind. I am lucky I have my parents around and my coach, having a laugh with them and some of the other girls,” Konta said.

“I think it’s just important to keep reminding yourself to not get stressed about things that are completely out of your control.”

In fact, the rain has thrown off the schedule so much that Konta was originally supposed to play three matches today: along with her first round against Doi, she was slated to play her second round singles match against Yanina Wickmayer and a first round doubles match with partner Elina Svitolina.

“You don’t really think about it. You just prepare like any other day, any other match day. I guess you really need to keep yourself present. You don’t think about it.”

The Brit makes a habit of keeping things in perspective and taking the changes in stride, in everything from rain delays to her meteoric rise to the top.

This time last year, Britain’s No.1 was ranked No.139 – her breakout performance at the US Open would come about a month and a half later. Since then, she’s climbed to No.18 and admits that now she gets stopped for autographs.

“I’ve always wanted to be successful at what I do and I continue to want to be so,” Konta said. “Now, I guess, success in this field comes with maybe more recognition and getting recognized more outside.

“It’s not why I play the sport. It’s not why I want to be the best I can be. It’s just very much a side product.

“But really nothing has changed. I promise you, I’m very much the same.”