WIMBLEDON 2017 Joy for Johanna, hell for Heather
Konta, Murray through... but Watson is out
JOHANNA Konta stormed to victory yesterday, boosting hopes that a British woman could win Wimbledon for the first time in 40 years.
It came as devastated Heather Watson, 25, was knocked out by former world number one, Belarusian Victoria Azarenka – after a gripping match lasting two hours six minutes on Centre Court.
On Court One meanwhile, Miss Konta, 26, beat her opponent Maria Sakkari, from Greece, in 76 minutes – powering into the fourth round for the first time.
There was more good news as Wimbledon champ Andy Murray last night beat Italian Fabio Fognini on Centre Court three sets to one, 6-2, 4-6, 6-1, 7-5. After four British players reached the fourth round for the first time in 20 years, thousands flocked to the All England Lawn Tennis Club. But Miss Watson’s dreams of making the second week were crushed yesterday. ‘It hurt a lot today...I was gutted to lose that one,’ she said later.
After Miss Watson’s exit, hopes of a British woman winning Wimbledon for the first time since Virginia Wade in 1977 rest on Miss Konta, who some bookmakers have now listed as favourite. She reached the final 16 following a comfortable 6-4 6-1 victory over Miss Sakkari.
As Miss Watson’s hopes were dashed, Briton Aljaz Bedene, 27, also crashed out of his third-round tie in straight sets. The Slovenia-born world number 58 lost to Luxembourg’s Gilles Muller, who is ranked world number 26.
Miss Konta admitted it would be ‘amazing’ if both she and Andy Murray took both singles titles.