Wimbledon 2015: Sharapova beats Konta
Maria Sharapova had a strong performance playing for the first time in weeks that gave her a second round appearance at Wimbledon. The former champion in the Grand Slam defeated British hopeful Johanna Konta 6-2, 6-2 on center court Monday afternoon.
This was the first time both players have come against each other with both on slightly different paths. While the 2004 champion at the All England Club looks for a second title, the 24 year old representing the home country looked to add on from her success at the AEGON International last week. Konta made it to the quarters against Belinda Bencic before losing to the eventual tournament champ. With her three weeks of playing on grass, she could find herself in a good position to take the opening attack on the fourth best in the womens draw.
She opened well against the serve of Sharapova but allowed the Russian to climb back and force deuce. After two breaks, it was Sharapova winning the first game of the match. Konta mirrored the same strategy from Sharapova to win Game Two after three breaks on deuce.
Game Three was the start of Sharapova dominating on center court as she won a triple break point before recording her first love service of the match. Konta ended her opponent’s run as she won holding the Russian back while on serve to cut the lead in half. It would only continue to grow in favor of Sharapova who won Game Seven responding well on a high arched shot to land it straight and away from Konta.
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Sharapova was in full control of her fate in the opening set where she took a strong stance in the eighth game winning on an unforced error from Konta to end the set in 38 minutes. With just 52 percent of points landing in on the first serve, Sharapova made the recovery on her second set landing 8 of 13 that supported her set win. “I kinda started picking her patterns early in the match, anticipated the ball pretty well,” said Sharapova.
“I kinda started picking her patterns early in the match, anticipated the ball pretty well,” – Maria Sharapova
Konta opened the second set playing tremendous defense against the Russian where she got onto a double break point before being awarded the match on a double fault from her opponent. Sharapova rallied back to tie the set but was challenged by Konta who has been holding some of her defense together. That didn’t stop Sharapova’s run as she opened to a 3-1 lead winning on a shot from Konta landing behind the baseline.
The margin was still two games between both players as Konta fired back to win her second game but far from making a comeback in the match. Sharapova put herself in position for the match after having it out on deuce with Konta who made her earn every point during the rallies. Game Eight went into deuce after Sharapova blew her first match point as the ball flew wide of the court. After two breaks, the number four seed watched as Konta handed the match point on an unforced error to close the match in 1 hour and 23 minutes.
“The first match of Wimbledon is never the easiest one,” Sharapova said after her match. “I had an opponent coming in today that was certainly the crowd favorite having a great week last week so I just wanted to focus on myself and its been a few weeks that I have played a competitive match so I was happy I was able to stay focused in the match.”
“The first match of Wimbledon is never the easiest one,” – Maria Sharapova
Despite having seven double faults in the match, Sharapova made quite a start for being out of competition since Roland Garros. She won 72 percent of points on the first serve and 10 of 13 near the net. With five of seven break points won, her work while playing deuce gave her the best chance at winning. She earned a much needed day off before she goes up against the winner between Richel Hogenkamp of the Netherlands or Qiang Wang of China on Wednesday.