Power to stun idol
JOHANNA KONTA found her form in spectacular style to hand superstar Serena Williams the heaviest defeat of her illustrious career.
The 23-time Grand Slam singles champion won only one game in a match for the first time – with the British No.1 reeling off 12 in a row to record a historic 6-1 6-0 win in the opening round of the Silicon Valley Classic in San Jose.
It has been a tough season for Konta, who has dropped to 48th in the world rankings following her secondround loss at Wimbledon to Dominika Cibulkova.
But this was the 27-year-old at her best, taking advantage of her rival’s below-par display to become the first British player to beat Williams in a match that lasted only 51 minutes.
Konta said: “It’s a privilege to be on the same court as her.
“She obviously wasn’t playing anywhere near her best level but I was just trying to play the BY TED TRACEY match on my terms. I had to put aside the incredible champion she is and play the player on the day.
“I had to stay very much on every single point because against her it can turn around at any moment.”
This was Williams’ first match since her SW19 final loss to Angelique Kerber and just her fifth tournament following the birth of daughter Olympia last September.
After the 36-year-old, who’s back to 26th in the rankings, held serve in the first game things rapidly went downhill.
Williams landed only 40 per cent of her first serves, served seven double faults and won just 10 points in the second set, while Konta was dominant to set up a meeting with Sofia Kenin in the next round.
Williams said: “I wasn’t sharp in the first set and she got more confident from there. She ran away with it. I can play a zillion times better.”