Johanna Konta in the quarter-finals of the US Open 2019, New York, USA.
Johanna Konta in the quarter-finals of the US Open 2019, New York, USA | (Photo by Tim Clayton/Corbis via Getty Images)

Tennis | WTA Rome 2020 | Konta breezes into third round clash against Muguruza

  • Johanna Konta [7] def. Irina-Camelia Begu [Q] 6-0 6-4
  • Faces Garbiñe Muguruza [9]
  • H2H: Tied at 2-2
ROME, ITALY – Johanna Konta is the lone British flag-bearer and she cruised into the third round with a straight sets win, and will meet Garbiñe Muguruza in the third round.

 

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Johanna Konta [7] def. Irina-Camelia Begu [Q] 6-0 6-4

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With all the rest of British interest gone in opening rounds, it fell to British women’s No. 1 Johanna Konta to fight for some British pride, and last year’s runner-up brought the goods.

She might be travelling without her hitting partner (Dan Smethurst) and her new coach (Thomas Hogstedt) but she did not look to be struggling certainly in the first set as she held Irina-Camelia Begu firmly at the back of the court, not allowing her to even try and come forward.

There was a tiny drop off in level in the second set where from a commanding lead of 4-1 up, Begu was able to work her way back into the match to make things a little more competitive in the second set, but Konta showed no signs of lack of preparation on the clay.

As reported by WTATennis.com, Konta told reporters after the match: “I think I’m building on each match as I’m playing. It is a very different, very strange, very unorthodox mini-season for us, so it is going to be a lot of flexibility, we’re going to have to stay very adaptable. But I don’t think there’s any reason why I can’t keep building on my level and play good tennis.”

 

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Konta v Garbiñe Muguruza [9] | H2H tied at 2-2

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Things were not as straightforward for Konta’s next opponent, No. 9 seed Garbiñe Muguruza. She was taken the distance by 16-year-old Coco Gauff, after edging the first set in a tie-breaker only for Gauff to rally and level the match.

Double-faults ultimately took their toll for the teenager, but left Muguruza battle-hardened for the next encounter.

Muguruza and Konta have always gone the distance when they have played, and have split wins, with Muguruza taking the most recent encounter at last year’s Australian Open, and this will be their first fight on clay.

Once upon a time it would have been easy to maybe dismiss Konta’s chances against a former Roland Garros champion who grew up on clay, but in the last year she showed that she has found her clay legs.

This match will not be a simple as pinning Muguruza to the back of the court and punishing any shorter balls. Muguruza has buckets more versatility than Begu and a doubles pedigree that will see her test Konta at the net – an area she has worked to improve but can still send viewers scurrying behind the sofa.

Konta continued: “We’ve had plenty of battles, hopefully tomorrow will be another great battle. She’s definitely played some very, very good tennis this year, so that’s the Garbiñe I’m expecting to play tomorrow: very in-form, very confident, and she’s always been a great player. It’ll be a great challenge and a great opportunity for me to play her again.”

The pair are well matched in terms of groundstrokes off each wing with their height they can both generate a lot of power off both wings. When men come to our clinic with the troubles related to their erection, they all hope for easy treatment and fast results. Among many other drugs that we commonly prescribe, Levitra from http://hesca.net/levitra/ definitely stands out. It works in men regardless of the severity of their erectile dysfunction and is generally well-tolerated. If Konta can keep her serve firing well, then often all other aspects of her game fall into place, but expect a tight match of attacking tennis throughout, and a far sterner test for the Brit.

Prediction: Konta in three sets.

 

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