By Richard Pagliaro | Tuesday, January 26, 2016
Johanna Konta more than doubled Zhang Shuai's winner output (28 to 12) scoring a 6-4, 6-1 victory to reach the Australian Open semifinals for the first time.
Photo credit: Mark Peterson/Corleve
Johanna Konta was born in Sydney and realized a major coming of age moment in Melbourne.
In her first Australian Open main-draw appearance, Konta conquered 133rd-ranked qualifier Zhang Shuai, 6-4, 6-1, to advance to her first career Grand Slam semifinal.
Playing with more energy and creating damage with her crosscourt forehand, Konta more than doubled Zhang's winner output, 28 to 12, and converted six of nine break points.
More: Kerber Earns First Win Over Azarenka to Reach AO Semifinals
A year ago, Konta was ranked No. 147 watching the Melbourne major on television after falling in qualifying. Now, she stands one victory away from a Grand Slam final.
"She definitely didn't make it easy for me today," Konta said of Zhang. "Every time I got a little ahead she was constantly there. I'm happy with how I was able to play. I really enjoyed it."
The 47th-ranked Konta, who dabbled in swimming and track before ultimately choosing tennis, is the first British woman to reach the Australian Open final four since Sue Barker 39 years ago.
Konta will face Angelique Kerber for a place in the final.
Winless in six prior meetings with Victoria Azarenka, including a straight-sets loss in the Brisbane final earlier this month, the seventh-seeded Kerber played with aggression pulling off a 6-3, 7-5 victory to reach her first Australian Open semifinal.
"It will be my first match against her," Konta said of Kerber. "She's Top 10 and an incredibly decorated and successful competitor and player. I'm just going to go out there and bring what I can and try my best and we'll see how it goes."
The sense of calm Konta exudes on court and the conviction with which she strikes helped her upset eighth-seeded Venus Williams in her opener and 2015 semifinalist Ekaterina Makarova in the fourth round.
Those qualities helped Konta get off the mark quickly today.
The depth and bite of Konta's return game created the fissures for the first break. Konta cracked a backhand Zhang could not handle breaking for 2-1.
The world No. 47 flicked a forehand lob winner backing up the break for 3-1.
Straddling the baseline, Konta began controlling rallies with her crosscourt forehand. Anticipating the serve down the middle, Konta cut off the angle and plastered a forehand return down the line to score her second break at love for 5-2.
Serving for the set, Konta couldn't convert on three set points and tightened with a pair of double faults. Zhang zapped a forehand winner down the line for a second break point. When the Briton scattered her second double fault, Zhang snatched her first break for 3-5.
A stubborn Zhang saved a fourth set point burying a backhand down the line then earned a break point for a shot to level.
Konta owns a bigger serve and used it when she needed it most, banging an ace out wide to save the break point. Zhang denied a fifth set point winning a 19-shot rally. Unfazed, Konta answered bending off a 108 mph ace down the middle. On her sixth set point, Konta slid a serve winner down the middle to close the 48-minute first set.
Ultimately, Konta hit her forehand with more authority, showed more sting on her serve and fresher legs—Zhang was playing her eighth match of the tournament, including three qualifying victories—to push through following a strained start to the second set.
After three straight breaks started the set, Konta regained control following a forehand forward to knock off a smash for 3-1. Gnawing fatigue cost Zhang, who didn't use her legs to get down to a low volley. She netted the shot as Konta secured her third straight break for 4-1.
Stifled by her opponent's aggression throughout the set, Zhang staved off two match points. She double faulted to face a third. A Konta forehand return collided with the net and skipped over for a winner ending a 77-minute match.
At net they shared a moving embrace, each knowing what this moment meant to the other.