Johanna Konta: US Open Player of Day Four

Sep 3, 2015; New York, NY, USA; Johanna Konta of Great Britain celebrates after defeating Garbine Muguruza of Spain on day four of the 2015 U.S. Open tennis tournament at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports

US Open Player of Day Four: Johanna Konta

Countless top men’s and women’s players took the court on day four of the US Open, but it was an unheralded young woman from Great Britain who stole the spotlight.

Having stormed through the ITF Circuit over the past month, Johanna Konta maintained her good form in the US Open by taking out American Louisa Chirico 6-3, 6-0 in the first round. But it was her second round performance against Garbine Muguruza that really demonstrated how much Konta has improved of late.

Konta defeated the Wimbledon finalist and world no. 9 in three tight sets. The match transpired over 3 hours and 23 minutes, amounting to the longest women’s match in US Open history since the third set tiebreak was introduced in the 1970s.

Over the three hours, the Brit traded blows with the aggressive Spaniard, striking 36 winners and 10 aces, while breaking her opponent’s serve 4 times.

While Muguruza heads home with some food for thought, Konta will prepared for her very winnable third round match against Andrea Petkovic.

A win against the German would inch her closer to the position of Great Britain’s top-ranked women’s player. In fact, since Laura Robson’s burgeoning career was stalled by injury, the nation has been looking for a prospective champion. And if Konta continues in the same form for the next few years, she may just be the one to fill that role.

For now though, Johanna Konta is our Player of the Day for Day Four of the US Open.

Winner: Sam Stosur

Samantha “Stodosova” Stosur delivered arguably the most technically impressive performance of any player in the second round. Taking out Evgeniya Rodina 6-1, 6-1, the Australian delivered a methodical, clean performance reminiscent of her best form.

With Caroline Wozniacki now removed from her section of the draw, Stosur could very well reach the quarterfinals or beyond. If she can get a practice court, that is.

Loser: Caroline Wozniacki

This paragraph was altered countless times while Wozniacki was facing off against Petra Cetkovska. Cetkovska produced some inspired tennis for the first set and a half of the match, before Wozniacki managed to fight back and push the match to a third set. Cetkovska was, for the most past, sensational, as she struck fearless winners and moved effortlessly across the court. But the match should have been a straight-sets victory for Wozniacki, whose ranking (not to mention self-belief) will plummet after this loss.

Winner: Lleyton Hewitt vs Bernard Tomic

I couldn’t choose whether to grant Hewitt or Tomic a ‘winner’ label so I cheated and went with both. In a ‘passing of the torch’ moment, Tomic defeated Hewitt in five tough sets. After dropping the first two sets, the elder Australian managed to claim the next two – encouraging the overly excitable Australian commentators over here to give him the moniker ‘Vintage Hewitt’.

Ultimately, Hewitt was forced to accept the reality that the match would be his last in Flushing Meadows. But as disappointed as he will be about the loss, he should be pleased with what Tomic’s performance says about the future of Australian tennis. Tomic saved multiple break points and recovered from a 3-5 deficit in the final set, displaying a previously unrealised resilience.

And the post-match embrace at the net and celebration of the former champ proved the perfect conclusion to a thrilling match, and Hewitt’s career at the US Open.

Former Players of the Day

Day Three: Madison Keys

Day Two: Caroline Wozniacki

Day One: Benoit Paire

Who do you think was the best player of day four at the US Open? Let us know in the comments below!

Next: Power Ranking Serena Williams and the Top 25 Women Before the US Open

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