Johanna Konta gave a solid display of strength and focus to win at the Brisbane International on New Year’s Day. The 28-year-old earned a huge upset against third-seeded Sloane Stephens to win in straight sets 6-4, 6-3 on the court at Pat Rafter Arena on the grounds of the Queensland Tennis Centre. It was an important moment for Konta who had the support and the key to start a new rivalry against the 2017 US Open champion. Both had a strong serve percentage but tallied 80 total unforced errors in what on paper looked to be disastrous but was slightly one way for the British star.
This was the first meeting between the two stars making it an interesting first rounder in the Australian Open Series. The American had a great finish to her season making it to the final of the WTA championship. Despite losing to Elina Svitolina, she won four in a row to end on a positive note after a dismal run through Asia. Konta didn’t have a great finish to 2018 and looked to get on the right track on her home soil. The Brit made the quarterfinal last year and eyed a chance to surpass that.
When it looked as if she would get the best start to her offense, Stephens closed the 40-0 deficit. After six breaks and ten minutes of a stalemate, Konta managed to hold on against the third seed. Getting the break early from the American wasn’t going to happen as the former US Open kept the Brit back in the second game to level things early. Konta remained steadfast despite having to put a lot of effort into her serve. She and Stephens went five breaks where accurate winners helped her stay on serve.
Both were clearly on the hunt for the break of serve and for Konta, getting it was a great point in the opening set. With her forehand warmed up, she added some aggression to get the job done against the third seed and lead 3-1. Another game slipped away from Stephens who during the game complained that the racket tension was too tight. Her coach Sly Black came out telling her to make her less comfortable and be the one to dictate going forward.
She got her serve back into play but there was still some struggle in the American’s second serve and first serve returns. She faced another deficit as she let an open court situation fall apart. It was soon a 5-2 hold for Konta who soon had her first set point opportunity but let the ball land long of the baseline. It set up deuce which Stephens had yet to win one but her moment came to hold service in the eighth.
A big statement from the American came with her blanking Konta in the following battle with her getting the shot to level the playing field with the ball in hand. Konta didn’t let that be a problem for her as she fought through the difficulties to win the set after 59 minutes. Both had the first serve above 60 percent but the difference came down to returns which Stephens suffered greatly on scoring 15 of 33.
As the second got underway, Konta made it two in a row capturing another victory against the third seed. They took a break on the court due to an issue in the stands. After a near 12 minute break, the two got back to work on the court with Stephens answering Konta well in the rallies. It resulted in a victory to be in it to win it after two. Stephens added a second straight which Konta wanted to put a stop to. She did it to even up the score at two all with a break before holding to get back out front. Stephens called down Black who told her to keep up the intensity and adjust the forehand.
His words resulted in Stephens keeping Konta within reach but she once again trailed after another hold from the number one Brit came to light in the seventh. She consolidated it with a break of the American who was facing the end of the road with Konta serving for the match. Konta demonstrated a high level of consistent concentration and focus sitting two points from victory. She reached match point on a line drive winner followed by the win that came on a drive that landed long on the return for Stephens completing 1 hour and 52 minutes.
I thought it was a tough match,” Konta said. “The first three games took about a half hour so there was very little in it from the beginning. I’m just very happy that I was able to maintain my level quite consistently throughout against Sloane you have to do that because she can run away. I’m happy to have another chance at playing another match here.”
Konta will face fellow Australian Ajla Tomljanovic in the next round who she has defeated in the tournament before.
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