KONTA UPSETS V. WILLIAMS FOR BANK OF WEST TITLE
Hard-hitting 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 in Stanford, Calif. Over the 2-hour, 18-minute match, 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 100 mph. Konta, 25, also stunned Williams with a straightsets victory in the first round in this year’s Australian Open. Williams, who was seeking her third title at Stanford, was denied career singles championship No. 50.
uSerena Williams pulled out of this week’s Rogers Cup because of shoulder inflammation. The three-time Rogers Cup champion was seeded first in the hard-court tournament and was set to have a bye in the first round.