French Open Brexit for Konta at hands of Hsieh
Zverev crashes out, Wawrinka through
PARIS: Britain’s Johanna Konta suffered a painful personal Brexit at the French Open yesterday, sliding out 1-6, 7-6 (7/2), 6-4 at the hands of Taiwan’s Hsieh Su-Wei in the opening round at Ronald Garros.
Starting splendid in cerise, 26-yearold seventh seed Konta swept through the first set in 26 minutes, dominating her opponent with heavy serves, heavy groundstrokes and an aggressive frontfoot-forward style.
But almost as soon as she had asserted her dominance, the Briton relinquished it, allowing the Taiwanese to settle into a metronomic rhythm of awkward doublefisted groundstrokes off both sides.
Time after time Hsieh spooned clumsily-hit groundstrokes deep into the Philippe Chatrier court, sidespun or sliced, for Konta to swipe her replies wide or long.
And once the Taiwanese had levelled matters in a second-set tie-break, she had all the momentum, while Konta continued to spray errors all around the arena.
Fittingly, it was yet another lame forehand into the net that sealed the Briton’s fate, as she was left to return to London to prepare for Wimbledon.
Hsieh has a second-round clash to look forward to, and could barely contain her delight.
“Thank you for my team,” she giggled, as Konta gathered up her bags and left the court.
“Merci beaucoup for the match today.” She added: “It was not easy as she is a great player. I had to fight for every point otherwise she would hit a winner or open the court.”
Hsieh will next play American Taylor Townsend, who beat Japanese qualifier Miyu Kato 6-4, 6-0.
Konta has yet to win a match in Paris in three main draw appearances.
In the men’s singles first round, third seed and 2015 champion Stan Wawrinka defeated Slovakian qualifier Jozef Kovalik 6-2, 7-6 (8/6), 6-3.
Wawrinka saved two set points in the second set tiebreaker before going on to down the 152nd-ranked qualifier.
The Swiss player will face Alexandr Dolgopolov for a place in the last 32.
Nick Kyrgios kept his combustible nature in check to reach the second round.
The 18th seeded Australian downed German veteran Philipp Kohlschreiber 6-3, 7-6 (7/4), 6-3.
The 22-year-old fired an impressive 20 aces and 40 winners and goes on to face either Kevin Anderson of South Africa or Tunisia’s Malek Jaziri for a place in the last 32.
Juan Martin del Potro made a triumphant return to the French Open, defeating compatriot Guido Pella in his first match at Roland Garros since 2012.
The injury-plagued Argentine, who sat out this year’s Australian Open over fitness concerns, blitzed Pella 6-2, 6-1, 6-4 to reach the second round.
German ninth seed Alexander Zverev, rated as a potential French Open champion, crashed out in the first round.
Zverev, 20, lost 6-4, 3-6, 6-4, 6-2 to Spanish veteran Fernando Verdasco in a tie held over from Monday night due to fading light.