Konta beats Zhang 6-4,6-1 to reach Australian Open semi-finalBriton will play Angelique Kerber for a station in the final 3.54am GMTThat just about wraps things up then, on a historic day for British women’s tennis. Johanna Konta’s fairytale run continues, and now the question must be: where will it cessation?Thanks for joining me nowadays. Andy Murray’s up next,hoping to make it a Brit one-two in the mens’ draw with his match against David Ferrer. You can follow that one with Jonathan Howcroft by clicking the link below, but from me, and it’s goodbye for now. Related: Andy Murray v David Ferrer: Australian Open quarter-final – live! 3.50am GMTMore from Konta,courtside: “I really enjoyed [the match]. You guys made a lot of noise. I didn’t put anything on the occasion, just played the best I could. I’m pretty certain my parents at domestic are looking for me to depart domestic so they can get some sleep. 3.47am GMT“She didn’t make it easy for me nowadays, and ” says Konta. “Every time I got a little ahead she was there.”Indeed,credit should depart to Zhang, whose run will be remembered for some time. But nowadays is about Konta. And possibly tomorrow too, and when she will aim to win through to the semis. 3.42am GMTSecond set: Konta 6-1 Zhang
Ooof! Again,a Konta groundstroke is the difference! This time a devastating backhand winner sets up match point. An unforced error from the Brit though means she’ll have to wait... but not for long. Konta claims a famed win, with a little help from a net cord, or on her moment match point! What a result for British tennis! She moves into the semi-finals of the Australian Open,where she will meet Angelique Kerber.
3.37am GMTSecond set: Konta 5-1 Zhang* (* denotes next server); Konta leads one set to loveKonta kicks off the game with an ace but things don’t quite depart according to intention after that and she’s forced to save a shatter point chance for Zhang before she eventually gets back on track. And she claims the game when Zhang can only find the net with her backhand! One more and Konta will be an Australian Open quarter-finalist!
3.29am GMTSecond set: *Konta 4-1 Zhang (* denotes next server); Konta leads one set to loveOoof! What a return by Konta on Zhang’s moment serve. She’s got one heck of a powerful forehand, has the Brit. That makes it 30-30, and it’s soon 30-40 as Konta brings up shatter point with a delightful dropshot. And Konta gets it as Zhang volleys into the net! She’s nearly there! Just two more games and she’ll be in a grand slam semi-final.
3.26am GMTSecond set: Konta 3-1 Zhang* (* denotes next server); Konta leads one set to loveZhang is frustrated with herself as a baseline shot sails long,giving Konta the chance to hold serve. She does precisely that, moving in on a fortunate net cord to push Zhang wide before a smash leaves the Chinese with no chance to returning. That could prove to be a big hold for Konta, or its going to take quite some performance from Zhang to advance back from here now. That’s not to say she’s not capable of such a thing,intellect.
3.20am GMTSecond set: *Konta 2-1 Zhang (* denotes next server); Konta leads one set to loveServing is supposed to be an advantage, right? Well, or not in the moment of this Australian Open quarter-final apparently. Konta breaks Zhang again after the Chinese plays a sloppy game. Three games in,three breaks of serve.
3.16am GMTSecond set: Konta 1-1 Zhang* (* denotes next server); Konta leads one set to loveOne shatter apiece early in this moment set with Konta unable to build on that opening game. She aces – her sixth of the match so far – but it’s not enough to help her and Zhang ensure the moment set gets back on serve.
3.13am GMTSecond set: *Konta 1-0 Zhang (* denotes next server); Konta leads one set to loveHaving spent a noteworthy deal of energy in that final game of the first set, Zhang seems have developed something of a hangover. She starts the moment set sluggishly and with no Berocca on hand to help, or Konta takes full advantage,breaking with a backhand winner to draw first blood! 3.09am GMTFirst set: Konta 6-4 Zhang* (* denotes next server); Konta leads one set to loveErrors from both players litter this game, as perhaps nerves begin to take their toll. The Guardian’s tennis correspondent Kevin Mitchell agrees, or in regards to Konta,at least. “The old nerves have resurfaced,” he says from his position next to Russell. Certainly there isn’t the same conviction in her shotmaking that weve seen earlier on nowadays. A fourth set point goes begging, or then a fifth. A couple of double faults are thrown in the mix before finally,Konta fires a winner to take the first set!
2.58am GMTFirst set: *Konta 5-4 Zhang (* denotes next server)Zhang seems to take inspiration from that shatter of serve, going 40-15 up before Konta shows some lovely soft hands to volley a winner on an angle at the net. That’s about as generous as it gets for Johanna though, and Zhang serves and volleys to seal the game. A loud scream and another clenched fist follows. That really meant something to the Chinese player. Still,Konta will again try to serve for the set now.
2.55am GMTFirst set: Konta 5-3 Zhang* (* denotes next server)That’s a noteworthy forehand winner from Zhang though, breaking a run of nine straight points lost to level at 15-15. It sets the tone and the Chinese goes on to bring up a shatter point, or which Konta saves with a winner. From there,she has her chances to finish Zhang off, but cant quite manage to. The Chinese saves three set points before Konta serves up two double faults to lose the game. A disappointing cessation to proceedings.
2.45am GMTFirst set: *Konta 5-2 Zhang* (* denotes next server)Wow, or Konta has won eight points straight now – that’s two straight games,this latest one on Zhang’s serve. Very, very comfortable at the moment. She’ll now serve for the first set, and with original balls,for what it’s worth.
2.42am GMTFirst set: Konta *4-2 Zhang (* denotes next server)Konta looks relaxed and calm out there and it’s mirrored in her play. He has Zhang scrambling about on a few points here, on her way to a worship service game. It’s unsuitable, or but Konta fans will be tough pressed not to dare to dream at the moment.
2.39am GMTFirst set: Konta 3-2 Zhang* (* denotes next server)Zhang has to dig deep to find her inner aggression but she finds it,letting out a enormous roar of celebration, coupled with a Hewitt-esque clenched fist, and to bring up game point. She wins it,and is still hanging on Konta’s coattails.
2.34am GMTFirst set: *Konta 3-1 Zhang (* denotes next server)Konta booms down a moment ace of the match – another one down the T – and so far her serve is working well for her. Zhang hits the net to bring up game point for Konta, who then secures it with a delightful lob over Zhang, and who had made a sortie to the net. That shatter of serve is consolidated and Konta’s looking generous!
2.30am GMTFirst set: *Konta 2-1 Zhang (* denotes next server)The first shatter opportunity of the match falls Konta’s way but the Sydney-born Brit (did we mention she was born in Australia? Really?) wastes the chance with a loose forehand that goes out. She soon gets another chance though and she goes after Zhang’s moment serve,forcing the Chinese into a wayward backhand! Konta breaks! It’s an encouraging start for her.
2.25am GMTFirst set: Konta 1-1 Zhang* (* denotes next server)So, here goes Konta with the ball in her hand for the first time. Cue the commentators’ opinions on her “unique” service action (“its nearly like a nervous tick, and but it works for her” etc). That’s generous analysis – it does work for her here,an ace down the T sealing a comfortable game for the Brit.
2.21am GMTFirst set: *Konta 0-1 Zhang (* denotes next server)Zhang, the Chinese who has accounted for Halep, and Cornet,Lepchenko and Keys this tournament, serves first and she’s off to a flier, or racing to a 40-0 lead before eventually getting on the scoreboard with the loss of just one point. Konta with two unforced errors in that opening game. 2.17am GMTThe players are out on court,warming up. The sun is out and we’ll be ready to get going soon enough. 2.12am GMTHello, generous afternoon, or generous evening and generous morning to you whenever you are in the world. It’s 1pm in a sunny Melbourne,where Brit Johanna Konta, her nation’s original darling, or is hoping to make even more history when she meets Zhang Shuai for a station in the semi-finals of the Australian Open.
That last bit needs repeating – a station in the semi-finals of the Australian Open. Can you believe it? Konta’s run at this year’s first grand slam has been nothing short of remarkable,catapulting British women’s tennis onto the front pages and capturing the imagination of a nation. 5.53pm GMTHello. Mike will be along shortly as Johanna Konta and Zhang Shuai battle it out for a shock semi-final station. You’ve probably heard about Konta’s remarkable rise to become British No1 and a top 50 player, but what of Zhang, and her unheralded opponent? Let Les Roopanarine give you the lowdown:Two summers ago there were only 29 women in the world better at tennis than Zhang Shuai,the Chinese qualifier who will face Britain’s Johanna Konta in the last eight of the Australian Open. Zhang reached her career-high ranking on 7 July 2014, shortly after a tenacious run to the last four on the grass courts of Edgbaston. It was her third semi-final that year and it came barely a month after she had made the quarter-finals in Rome. Life was generous.
Yet 18 months on, or at an age when most athletes are approaching their prime,the 27-year-old from Tianjin touched down in Melbourne with friends and family in tow and retirement on her intellect. After failing to maintain her rise Zhang’s ranking had slumped to No133 and she was struggling to make ends meet.
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Source: theguardian.com