Konta crashes out as Cirstea finds her fight
British No. 1 starts strong but falls away in New York
JOHANNA KONTA’S US Open hopes ended in a barrage of winners last night as she was upended 2- 6, 7- 6, 6- 4 by Romania’s Sorana Cirstea.
The ninth- seeded Briton had gone into the tournament with high hopes after reaching the semi- finals of the Western and Southern Open, which was held on the same courts.
When she won the first set with very little trouble and took a break of serve lead in the second serve, it seemed like Konta would cruise to a comfortable victory, just as she had done in their only previous meeting.
That, though, was on the grass in Eastbourne, near Konta’s home and on an empty court No. 5 at Flushing Meadows, the Briton had no crowd to dig her out of trouble when things started to go against her.
Having been out- hit in the first set, Cirstea began to tee off at every opportunity, taking advantage of every second serve, crunching winner after winner to turn the match around.
Still Konta had her chances. At 5- 5 in the second set, she had break points that would have given her the chance to serve for the match but Cirstea came up with some big serves and punishing groundstrokes at exactly the right time.
“My opponent played better than me. I think that’s really about it,” Konta said.
“I obviously started better. I think my level was a lot higher than hers in the first set. But she’s a great player. She’s had some pretty amazing results also in the past in her career.
She’s capable of playing some very good tennis.”
In the second- set tiebreak, Cirstea raced ahead 4- 1 but Konta, with coach Thomas Hogstedt watching on, tried to change things up, lifting some higher balls and trying to break the rhythm of Cirstea.
The Romanian, now ranked 77 but as high as No. 21 in 2013, was a talented junior and began her career at a young age.
As the third set began, Konta was having big trouble on her second serve, not knowing which way to go, and whichever way she chose, generally found herself in big trouble thanks to the power of the Romanian’s forehand.
A drop shot that screamed out panic gave Cirstea two break points in the third game and though Konta saved two break points to get back to deuce the Romanian grabbed the break to lead 2- 1.
Cirstea handed the break straight back and Konta held for 3- 2 but the Briton was never able to relax, always under pressure from the power and precision of her opponent.
After Cirstea held quickly for 3- 3 the pair became embroiled in an 11- minute seventh game and it proved to be crucial, the Romanian breaking on her sixth break point, chasing down a Konta drop volley and flicking a backhand across the Briton at the net.
The Romanian then held for 5- 3 and had two match points on the Konta serve in the next game, only for the Briton to come up with some big points, including an ace on one of the two match points, to hold for 5- 4.
But Cirstea would not be denied and she finished things off with an ace to take her place in the third round.
No. 10 seed Garbine Muguruza also fell by the wayside yesterday, beaten 7- 5, 6- 3 by Tsvetana Pironkova.
The Bulgarian reached the semi- finals at Wimbledon a decade ago but was playing her first tournament since 2017, after stopping to have her first child. “I didn’t expect my first tournament to be so good and to go so well, but it’s welcome and that’s why I came back, for these matches,” she said.
My opponent played better than me. I think that’s really about it