By Richard Pagliaro | Wednesday, September 30, 2015
Qualifier Johanna Konta won six straight games to topple top-seeded Simona Halep, 6-3, 3-6, 7-5, and set up a Wuhan quarterfinal with Venus Williams.
Photo credit: Wuhan Open
Building a 5-1 lead in the final set, Simona Halep could see the finish line as clearly as the baseline, but British qualifier Johanna Konta wouldn't let her get any closer.
Konta used a strong finishing kick to complete a spirited comeback. Konta reeled off six straight games to complete a rousing rally and topple the top-seeded Halep, 6-3, 3-6, 7-5.
More: Venus Williams Wins Again in Wuhan
The 66th-ranked Konta scored her first career win over a Top 5 player to set up a Wuhan quarterfinal with Venus Williams.
“She (Halep) is No. 2 for a reason, and that is an incredibly humbling experience for me, that I can compete with such a player,” said 24-year-old Konta. “But in terms of the result, I'm just really happy I get to come back tomorrow and play against someone like Venus. It’s actually a bit of childhood dream I guess. I grew up watching Venus. So as a child, I'm like, Wow. But as a competitor now, I'm just looking forward to the challenge.”
A day after scoring her 700th career victory, Williams swept seventh-seeded Spaniard Carla Suarez Navarro, 6-3, 6-4.
“We’ve had some great matches, and when I play her I always have to stay concentrated because she’s a great competitor who’s always played well against me," said Williams of Suarez Navarro, who beat her in Miami earlier this year. "It’s not just her single handed backhand, she just hits it so well. I was lucky because she missed a few today and gave me some openings.”
The top 4 seeds have all departed the draw before the quarterfinals.
US Open finalist Roberta Vinci defeated defending champion Petra Kvitova, 7-6 (3), 6-2. The 15th-seeded Italian will face No. 8-seeded Karolina Pliskova, a 2-6, 6-4, 6-4 victor over 12th-seeded Elina Svitolina, in the quarterfinals.
The third-seeded Kvitova joins Halep, second-seeded Maria Sharapova and fourth-seeded Caroline Wozniacki in exiting the field before the quarterfinals.
Halep arrived in Wuhan leading the WTA in hard-court wins this season (39) and seemed to be in complete command with a 5-1 lead in the decider. Konta had other ideas.
Despite the fact she played through qualifying to reach the main draw, was up against one of the game's fastest movers and was facing a deep deficit amid humid conditions, Konta dug in and delivered a brilliant comeback.
"It was two hours and 17 minutes of very, very tough tennis for me," Konta said in her post-match interview. "She really played an unbelievable level at times. I know she may not be feeling her best, but I'm really happy I was able to take a few of the chances I created. I just feel humbled I'm able to come back tomorrow and compete."
It's been a breakthrough summer for Konta, who qualified for the US Open and rode a 16-match winning streak into the Flushing Meadows round of 16 before bowing to Petra Kvitova. By virtue of her performance in Wuhan, Konta will supplant compatriot Heather Watson as the new British No. 1 when the new WTA rankings are released on Monday.
The 2014 French Open finalist suffered her seventh loss of the season to a player ranked outside the Top 10. Halep looked dispirited at times by the running angles the Briton produced.
It was a match of abrupt shifts and contrasting streaks.
Halep broke a for a 3-1 second-set lead before buzzing a backhand winner down the line holding for 4-1. Halep hammered a serve winner wide to take the 43-minute second set, 6-3.
Riding momentum, Halep broke to open the decider. She backed up the break—her fourth straight game—for a 2-0 lead.
Konta high backhand volley to earn break point in the fourth game. Halep saved it and fought through the challenge holding for 3-1. She eventually extended the lead to 5-1.
Sweat dripping from her shoulders, Konta broke for 3-5 and exuded more energy and urgency for the rest of the battle. An inside-out forehand winner gave Konta another break to level at 5-5. Halep tried to stop the bleeding reaching deuce in the 11th game, but Konta responded with her fifth straight game for a 6-5 lead.
When the US Open semifinalist put a backhand into net, Konta completed her comeback in two hours, 17 minutes.
Wimbledon finalist Garbine Muguruza, who defeated Ana Ivanovic, 4-6, 6-1, 6-0, is the highest seed still standing. The fifth-seeded Spaniard will play Anna Karolina Schmiedlova for a final four spot. Muguruza has made the last eight in doubles with Suarez Navarro.