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Konta Goes Unplugged on Historic RG Run


Roland Garros' red clay was once a sink hole for Johanna Konta.

A revitalized Konta has turned the terre battue into a spring-board for a return to second-week Slam success.

Watch: Kenin Shocks Serena

Winless in four prior Paris appearances, Konta conquered 23rd-seed Donna Vekic, 6-2, 6-4, to burst into her first French Open quarterfinal.

It's Konta's first major quarterfinal since she made the final four at the 2017 Wimbledon. Konta is the first British woman to reach the Roland Garros quarterfinals since Jo Durie did it in 1983.

The 28-year-old Briton has won nine of her last 10 clay-court matches, including her run to the Rome final last month.

So what's the reason behind her break-out?

While Konta says it's a matter of transferring her aggressive game to dirt this season, going unplugged may have helped, too.

Rather than staying in hotel, Konta rents an apartment in Paris which does not have television.

Going unplugged gives Konta, who cites baking as her hobby, a chance to disconnect from major pressure. Konta says she spends her spare time listening to "Smooth Radio", watching video of her dog and cooking.

"I think I definitely look to try and stay in places where you can disconnect a little bit," Konta said. "A lot of the times during the year obviously we stay at official hotels and they can be a bit like a player lounge, which can be a bit exhausting.

"I have stayed at this apartment for the past, I think, five, six years. I can't even remember how long. But, yeah, no, I enjoy staying there."

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

😁😁🤗🇫🇷

A post shared by Johanna Konta (@johannakonta) on



The world No. 26 will try to extend her stay against either two-time Grand Slam champion Garbiñe Muguruza or former US Open champion and 2018 Roland Garros runner-up Sloane Stephens next.

"I mean, whoever I will be playing I'll be playing a tough match, that's for sure," Konta said. "I haven't played Garbiñe on the clay, I don't think, so if I play her that will be a different experience. I know she plays well here in Paris, yeah. That will be that.

"And against Sloane, I mean, I played her recently in Rome, but what she does well is she raises her level in tough moments, as well. Whoever I'm playing I'm looking forward to it. It will be a great opportunity for me to play against one of the best players in the world, and like you said, both of them are Grand Slam champions, Garbiñe being a two-time Grand Slam champion. It's a great position for me to be in."

Photo credit Johanna Konta Instagram

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