Johanna Konta got through a tough first round at the Australian Open. The ninth seed had challenges in her 7-5, 6-2 win over Kirsten Flipkens at Margaret Court Arena on the grounds of Melbourne Park Tuesday.
This was the third time the two met with the Brit holding the series lead. The Sydney native recently won the Apia International making her a target for the opening round of the major. Despite being on two days rest, she could be at a level well enough to get back at the Belgian for her defeat back in Monterrey last season. Flipkens is in her ninth appearance at the year’s first major hoping to match her round of 16 run back in 2013. Though she’s going against last year’s semifinalist the first set jitters will determine on who is impacted more by it.
Both were impacted by the heat that came off the hard court as temperatures were already at a high level that implemented the heat rule. Flipkens began the set with a good hold of serve as Konta committed unforced errors on both the forehand and backhand. She regrouped quickly taking game point then landing a line drive winner that the Belgian swung and missed at. The pace dug in for the two players remaining on serve through four games with Konta slightly having a stronger game.
She proved that breaking the monotony in the seventh winning the challenge during the third point. It suddenly turned into a struggle to keep ahead as the unforced errors rattled her twice. She held on to a second try at game point clinching the break with Flipkens’ error into the net. The serve got back into the Brit’s hands where she looked so focused on court gaining a second straight on the Belgian. It put Flipkens in a tight spot to provide answers or fall a set down.
The errors returned on Konta’s serve for the set giving Flipkens two easy points. She got on the board using her backhand in the rally. A net front presence suddenly had her back to level pegging until a double fault put her in trouble. She got to deuce with a long ball from Flipkens giving her one more chance to get it done. It was becoming an uphill battle for her as the two drew out to five breaks with each getting their chance at the advantage. It clearly became the longest game of the match with Konta becoming desperate to end the game at all costs. Flipkens got the best of her opponent playing a volley rally that saw Konta’s smash attempt go long.
It became a set into overtime where the one to seven had the opening edge. Konta had a moment where she couldn’t get the key point in the sixth but still made the effort to stay tight and get the win. Knowing that she didn’t want to force a tiebreaker, the 25-year-old brought things all together winning a love service that gave her the set after 51 minutes.
Things went back to a regular pace in the second with Flipkens once again leading the way on serve. After continuing the hold of serve through four games, Konta made her move with a break in the fifth before holding up her end. It was there that she took a 4-2 control in the set working through two breaks to get it. The Belgian showed signs of frustration on serve in the seventh having a couple of errors that cost her the edge. Konta ran with the free points taking another break to serve for the match. She kept things together on service reaching 40-30 before a return by Flipkens landed long to end the match after 1 hour and 36 minutes
It was incredibly tricky,” Konta said about her opponent to Ian Cullen after the match. “She has the kind of game that can make any player feel really uncomfortable out there. The way she’s able to use her slice out and just general creativity; she’s really good at that. “I just knew I was gonna have to stay patient and really just try to play myself into the matches and happy to get through.”
With the first round being tricky after all, the world number ten will no doubt prepare for her second-round match playing the winner between Naomi Osaka and Luksika Kumkhum.
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