Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
Konta hits back for victory
JOHANNA Konta held off a spirited second set comeback from Daria Kasatkina to book her spot in the semi-finals of the Apia International in Sydney.
At a set and a break up, the British No 1, seeded sixth, appeared to be coasting towards a last four place. However, her Russian opponent broke back immediately and then again to establish a 4-2 lead.
Konta, who made 31 winners and 30 unforced errors, dug deep to win five of the next six games for a 6-3 7-5 victory in just under an hour and threequarters as she set up a showdown with Canadian wildcard Eugenie Bouchard.
Kasatkina, ranked 16 places below Konta at 26 in the world, claimed an upset win over world No 1 Angelique Kerber yesterday but was left to rue making double the amount of unforced errors (30) as winners (15).
The 19-year-old made a sluggish start in searing temperatures by dropping her opening service game and, although she got back on serve, Konta claimed what would prove to be a decisive break in the fourth game.
Konta broke in the first game of the second set but then dropped serve twice before hitting back immediately to level matters at 4-4.
The Sydney-born 25-year-old continued her resurgence by breaking Kasatkina for the final time in the 11th game and then held serve to win.
MARIA Sharapova will make her professional comeback following her doping ban at the Porsche Grand Prix in Stuttgart in April.