The Scotsman

Konta flies in for Madrid win

- By ALIX RAMSAY

Two tournament­s played in two days, one flight negotiated complete with luggage and the best clay court run of her career – life is looking up for Johanna Konta.

Now ranked No 47 in the world, Britain’ s No 1 was in the final of the Morocco Open on Saturday, losing in three sets to Maria Sakkari, before sprinting to the airport and heading for the Mutua Madrid Open where yesterday she breezed past Alison Riske of the United States 6-4, 6-1.

“It was a super-quick turnaround,” Konta said, “but having said that, it was one that I was looking forward to the challenge of. It was some - thing I’d never done before.

“I thought I did quite well out there today. It was really not easy at all – conditions in Madrid are very different to Rabat. The air here is thin, the ball flies and the clay is a little bit different. So overall I thought I handled myself quite well out there.”

In the past week, K on ta has won as many clay court matches as she had in the previous two seasons– although if she is to extend that streak she will have to be on her toes tomorrow. She now plays the French Open champion and former world No 1 Simona Halep.

 ??  ?? 0 Johanna Konta: ‘Challenge’
0 Johanna Konta: ‘Challenge’

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