The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
Halep can’t escape Konta’s Miami vice
British number one books her semi-final place
Johanna Konta served up a steely show to book a place in theMiami Open semi-finals last night.
The British number one beat Romanian Simona Halep 3-6, 7-6 (9-7), 6-2.
Tenth-seed Konta gave up the only break of the first set but hit back to race into a 3-0 lead early in the second.
Third-seed Halep recovered Maria Sharapova said she fought for the truth so she can end her career on her terms.
The former world number one was initially banned for two years after failing a doping test before having it reduced to 15 months on appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
Sharapova, pictured right, will return to action at the Porsche Grand Prix in Stuttgart, playing to force a tiebreak but Konta dug deep to take it to a decider, which she won comfortably.
Konta now faces either Venus Williams or world number one Angelique Kerber.
The other semi-final will be between Caroline Wozniacki and Karolina Pliskova.
Halep broke early on in her first match the day after her suspension runs out on April 26.
The Russian’s return has been the hottest conversation in tennis, with several players expressing discontent at Sharapova being given wild cards into the biggest tournaments on the WTA Tour.
Sharapova herself appears to see no reason to show remorse.
Sharapova said: “You always want to end your career or a chapter the match in the fourth game to take the opening set, despite Konta saving set points at 5-2 down. The Briton hit back but was on the verge of being knocked out of the competition when – after breaking Halep in the 10th game of the second set to force a tiebreak – she found herself 5-3 down.
However, three points in in your life on your terms and in your voice, and to be in a momentwhere I felt like it could have ended on someone else’s terms was difficult to accept. That’s why I fought so hard for the truth.
“You don’t realise how much you love something and how much something means to you until you lose it for some time.”
Sharapova has spent her time away from tennis focusing on her quick succession swung things back in her favour and she levelled up the match 9-7 in the tiebreak.
In the deciding set, Konta broke early on and saw off the challenge from Halep to become the first British woman to reach the last four at the Miami Open, where she will face top seed Angelique Kerber or Venus Williams. business career. The creator of Sugarpova sweets took classes at Harvard Business School and spent time shadowing NBA commissionerAdamSilver, at Nike headquarters and as an intern at an advertising agency.
She also wrote her autobiography, which is due to be published in September.
The other semi-final will be between Caroline Wozniacki and Karolina Pliskova.
“I went up to a 3-0 lead and had chances to go 4-0 up, but she’s an incredible player and I knew it wouldn’t be over until we shook hands,” said Konta.
“I’m really happy to have come through,”