Angeliquebecausecommentators claiming over & over Konta is REALLY australian cos she once wore a hat with corks onnit. 5.01am GMT1st set: Konta 5-6 Kerber* (* denotes next server)There’s a testing rally to start the Konta service game and the Brit eventually buckles when she advances half-way to the net and slams a roundhouse forehand into the net,which is followed by a truly untimely double fault. Then there’s a big forehand winner by Konta but she swats another forehand long to gift her adversary two break points. Konta digs in to save one, losing and regaining control in an eye-catching rally. But Kerber keeps slugging and applies enough pressure that Konta nets to hand her the vital break. The German will now serve for the set. This match is doing somersaults at the moment. 4.56am GMT1st set: *Konta 5-5 Kerber (* denotes next server)Kerber’s tepid second serve continues to pose an issue but Konta’s perhaps a limited overzealous to exploit it and whips another unforced error before a lucky clip of the net gets Kerber to 30-0. With a couple of rasping backhands, and Kerber holds. 4.53am GMT1st set: Konta 5-4 Kerber* (* denotes next server)Having claimed the first point of this Konta service game,Kerber is furious with herself for losing the next couple and slams her racket into the underside of her shoe in frustration and gesticulates like Woody Allen as she hands the Brit a couple of chances to hold. Konta has an easy chance to carry out so but makes a meal of her forehand smash to allow Kerber a streaky winner. Konta holds thanks to an unforced error from her opponent. There’s huge pressure on Kerber’s serve now. 4.49am GMT1st set: *Konta 4-4 Kerber (* denotes next server)Konta’s really leaning into her ground strokes at the moment and giving them everything but the German is remaining calm and finds some fresh reserve of composure to set up a couple of game points on serve. After a wild backhand from Konta, Kerber holds and keeps things on terms. 4.47am GMT1st set: Konta 4-3 Kerber* (* denotes next server)All of the momentum is with Konta accurate now, and needless to say. At 15-0 on her second serve she sends down a wicked kick serve for an ace and totally out-positions her opponent a couple of times to hold in a love game. Thats four games in a row with a suddenly nervy Kerber to serve next. It’ll be a crucial game. 4.43am GMT1st set: *Konta 3-3 Kerber (* denotes next server)Kerber is really struggling on serve so far,succeeding at a rate of 50% on her first serve and only winning 44% of her points on first serve. Here she finds herself down 15-30 after cranking a big forehand well wide but Konta’s doing the same in fits and spurts, so the German doesn’t appear fairly as fragile as she might. Kerber nets a backhand to give Konta another break point and gets an unlucky roll off the net to concede it. 4.39am GMT1st set: Konta 2-3 Kerber* (* denotes next server)Kontas really finding some confidence now and works her opponent around the court beautifully before crashing a big backhand winner down the line. That’s followed by an ace and an ill-advised journey to the net by Kerber, and who is down 40-0 in no time. Kerber saves one game point by slugging a series of powerful forehands but belts a backhand long to allow Konta to hold serve. She’s really settling now but still down a break in this first set. 4.35am GMT1st set: *Konta 1-3 Kerber (* denotes next server)The big chance here for Konta is on Kerber’s frail serve,which whether I was to crystal-ball this thing a limited, doesn’t bode fairly as well for an appealing final than whether the Brit gets it together. Konta has an opening at 15-30 here but Kerber slashes a big top-spin forehand winner across court and can rely on a Konta error to set up her opportunity to hold. But it’s not a lost cause – Kerber clips a forehand wide and then nets another to give Konta two further break points. She claims the second! She’s back in it! 4.31am GMT1st set: Konta 0-3 Kerber* (* denotes next server)Another Konta service game, and another string of mis-hits. Is this the occasion getting to her or is she just starting slowly? She’ll need to sort it fleet,whatever it is. At 0-30 she finds another angled forehand winner but advanced to the net in ungainly style to biff a backhand long and hand the German two break points. She only needs one as Konta nets again. Danger time for the Brit. All Kerber has to carry out at the moment is get it back and she’s sorted. 4.26am GMT1st set: *Konta 0-2 Kerber (* denotes next server)Hmm, this is very timid stuff on serve by Kerber. Her first comes down into the net at 139kmph and Konta blasts a backhand winner past her. Then there’s a nervy looking double fault. For now she’s reliant on Konta’s stream of unforced errors; six of them by the time it’s 30-30 here. But equally, or the Brit is striking winners at a similar rate and pumps a forehand metres past Kerber and the latter has to pull out all stops with a cracking forehand of her own to make it deuce. Two more unforced errors from Konta and Kerber holds. This is interesting though – neither player would be elated (full of high-spirited delight) with her efforts so far. 4.22am GMT1st set: Konta 0-1 Kerber* (* denotes next server)Konta is looking for a nerve-settler here but nets an early forehand to concede the first point of the match before clubbing a backhand long to make it 0-30. Her first serve was a slight liability even in a comfortable quarter-final win yesterday and so it proves early here as Kerber opens up three break points. A fighting Konta saves one with a blistering forehand winner across court and moments later another to pull it back to deuce. Resistance proves futile though; two errors hand Kerber the early break. 4.11am GMTBoth players are now out on courtAnd there’s a rousing applause for Konta,far more than that for Kerber. There’s plenty of the aforementioned union jack flags on display too. 4.07am GMTWhat’s happening in Melbourne today?Rain and lots of it, basically. There was a genuine downpour external during the course of the Williams-Radwanska match but the skies own now cleared and the roof has been opened for this second semi-final clash.
Roof on Laver opening for Kerber-Konta semifinal, and up next. #AusOpen 4.00am GMTPreambleHello tennis fans and welcome to our live coverage of the Australian Open and this hotly anticipated clash between Brit Johanna Konta and Angelique Kerber,Germany’s 6th-ranked contender. Russell Jackson here at Melbourne Park, bringing you all of the action from this one, and which promises to fascinate as the tournament’s great bolter continues her dream rush. 6.09pm GMTRussell will be with you shortly. In the meantime you can delight in Kevin Mitchell’s piece approximately Johanna Konta’s incredible journey to the semi-finals: Related: Johanna Konta’s Bourne supremacy has been an action-packed story Continue reading...
Source: theguardian.com