Konta defeats Venus for her first singles crown

STANFORD, Calif. — Hardhitting Johanna Konta whipped winners every which way and outslugged top-seeded Venus Williams for her first career singles title, winning the Bank of the West Classic 7-5, 5-7, 6-2 on Sunday.

Her serve and return games equally solid on another unseasonably hot day on Stanford’s campus, Konta held on in the third set after squandering a 4-1 lead in the second. When Williams netted her forehand return on the third match point, Konta dropped her racket to the ground and covered her face in triumph before heading to the net for a handshake.

After receiving her trophy and addressing Williams directly with a thoughtful compliment of her opponent’s grace and game, Konta posed for a round of photos that this time will be all the more special.

Over the 2-hour, 18-minute match, the third-seeded Konta figured out Williams’ big serve for the second time this year, standing some 10 feet behind the baseline to return it and generating pace from Williams’ regular serves of well higher 100 mph.

The 25-year-old Konta also stunned Williams with a straightset victory in the first round at this year’s Australian Open.

She became the fourth-oldest first-time titlist this year. A steady serve helped carry Konta to Sunday’s final. She nailed 11 aces and moved Williams all over the court with an array of powerful groundstrokes and timely drop shots.

Konta also was the first British woman to reach the final at Stanford since Virginia Wade’s runner-up finish in 1981.

Williams, who was seeking her third title at Stanford, was denied career singles championship No. 50. At 49 titles, she remains second among active players only behind younger sister Serena’s 71.

Venus Williams, 36, is projected to move up to No. 6 in the next rankings. She said she plans to play in Montreal next week before the Rio Olympics.

“See you all in Rio,” she told the crowd following her defeat.

CITI OPEN: In Washington, things were looking bleak for Gael Monfils, a man with a long history of losing tournament finals.

Monfils’ opponent in the Citi Open title match, Ivo Karlovic, was about to serve for the championship and had not been broken all week.

Down but not quite out, Monfils came through, breaking Karlovic twice in a span of four service games and erasing a match point while coming back for a 5-7, 7-6 (6), 6-4 victory at the Citi Open to earn his first trophy in 2½ years.

“To be honest,” Monfils said, “today was pure luck.”

Well, maybe, but he deserves credit for figuring out a way to do enough to neutralize the big serve of the 6-foot-11 Karlovic, who was trying to become, at age 37, the oldest man since 1973 to win ATP singles tournaments in consecutive weeks.

“Normally I should have (won). I was better in the first two sets, and I didn’t use my opportunity,” Karlovic said. “And then after that, I was dead. ”

In the women’s final, No. 7-seeded Yanina Wickmayer of Belgium won her fifth WTA singles title, beating 122nd-ranked Lauren Davis of the U.S. 6-4, 6-2.

“It’s such a great feeling to win titles and to hold that trophy at the end of the week,” said Wickmayer, who entered with a ranking of 44th.