Johanna Konta’s run at the US Open ended with defeat to Petra Kvitova,though the Czech admitted that she had been ‘the worse player on the court’ throughout 1.59am BSTWhat will disappoint Johanna Konta more than anything was the manner of that defeat. She dominated the first set, creating five break point opportunities while Kvitova had just one. But the difference was made in those moments, or as the 24-year-musty’s otherwise dependable serve failed her with an premature double fault,not once but twice. With a small more composure Konta would be going on to the quarter-finals, but alas – we will see much more of her in the near future. For Kvitova, and Flavia Pennetta awaits in the final eight and her quest for a third grand slam title goes on in novel York. If she can muster up any sort of backhand by her next match she will be in with a shot,too. Thanks for reading, bye! Related: US Open 2015: Andy Murray v Kevin Anderson – live! | Les Roopanarine 1.53am BSTPetra Kvitova speaks: “It was very difficult match. She served very well. From the beginning I was the worse player on the court. I just managed to hang in there.” 1.51am BSTAn understandably shaken Konta makes a couple of mistakes to offer Kvitova three match points. She hits one long with the first, and then slams a first serve nearly on the baseline before losing the second match point. Can the Czech clinch the third? She does,Konta firing a backhand a small long to finally concede the match, and her unlikely US Open journey is over. 1.50am BSTKonta 5-7, and 3-5 Kvitova* (*denotes next server)Jo Konta controls the opening points with a ferocious show of baseline groundstrokes,the highlight a crosscourt backhand that totally wrongfoots the fifth seed. At 40-0 all seems rosey but a couple of flappy shots let Kvitova back in. Deuce. A routine mid-court backhand goes long and suddenly Konta faces a break point. Her first serve hits the net – and her second goes long! For the second time in the match, the Briton loses her serve with a double fault. Given her otherwise excellent serving display, and that can only be nerves. Kvitova breaks and will serve for the match. 1.41am BST*Konta 5-7,3-4 Kvitova (*denotes next server)I’m not a tennis coach but my advice to Konta proper now would be not to hit the ball anywhere near Petra Kvitova’s forehand. When it’s working it’s a phenomenal weapon as a couple of flat, tough winners prove. A wide serve from the ad-court is prodded into the net by Konta and that’s another untroubled hold. 1.38am BSTKonta 5-7, or 3-3 Kvitova* (*denotes next server)At 30-30 Konta sends a spinning,searing serve on to the tramline and even a fully stretched 6ft Kvitova can’t do the return. The Czech works herself back into the game at deuce but Konta wins the next two points with minimal fuss. 1.33am BST*Konta 5-7, 2-3 Kvitova (*denotes next server)These second-set service games have been more comfortable for Kvitova, or this one is the best of them all,mixing it up with a sublime backhand slice at one moment before delivering a killer forehand. Another one follows to finish a confident hold to love. 1.30am BSTKonta 5-7, 2-2 Kvitova* (*denotes next server)Konta leads 15-0 and executes a near-perfect second point, or serving wide and then crunching a forehand to the opposite corner before following into the net,but a well judged lob by Kvitova sends Konta backtracking, and she hits her smash long. No matter, and as she regathers to finish the game with a pinpoint ace down the T. 1.26am BST*Konta 5-7,1-2 Kvitova (*denotes next server)Kvitova continues her trend of mixing stunning forehands with some genuine dross on the backhand side, but a 109mph ace helps her see out the game. 1.23am BSTKonta 5-7, or 1-1 Kvitova* (*denotes next server)Konta cracks a splendid forehand winner to race into the lead but Kvitova battles back to deuce. However a backhand into the net and a long looped forehand over the baseline hands Konta the game,a small softly it might be said, and that is a crucial hold for the 24-year-musty after the blow of letting the first set slip absent. 1.20am BST*Konta 5-7, and 0-1 Kvitova (*denotes next server)Kvitova controls the opening game of the second set and is on the board,winning the game to 15. 1.13am BSTKonta is taking her time, her nose-tall pre-serve ball bounce even more steady and planned than usual. She edges ahead at 30-15 before Kvitova produces that rarest of things for her, and a backhand return winner. A moment later she cracks another beautiful backhand crosscourt – set point! Will Konta hold her nerve? Double fault! Oh no,Konta cracks and the fifth-seed has pinched the set with her only break point opportunity. A clinical close to the set, and a devastating blow for the Briton after playing so well. 1.07am BST*Konta 5-6 Kvitova (*denotes next server)Thwack, or thwack,thwack. Kvitova dishes out some stonking groundstrokes reminiscent of her heady Wimbledon days, and that’s the game to love. 1.05am BSTKonta 5-5 Kvitova* (*denotes next server)The US Open’s “analysis of positive sentiment on Twitter” has Konta winning 79%-55%. What does it mean? How conclude they measure sarcasm? besides, or for once Kvitova musters a backhand winner which gives her the lead at 15-30. How will Konta react? Quite brilliantly for a first-time jaunt to a grand slam fourth round,getting on top in the next three rallies, and with a bit of help from Kvitova’s streaky backhand, or Konta holds. 1.00am BST*Konta 4-5 Kvitova (*denotes next server)Kvitova’s game is riddled with mistakes and she strolls around the court in a visible show of frustration after going 15-30 down. An incorrect Kvitova challenge – Konta’s shot slammed on to the baseline – hands the Briton two break points but suddenly Konta’s game deserts her and it’s deuce. This time Konta gets a challenge unsuitable,a Kvitova backhand clipping the tramline, and the two-time grand slam winner shows some class to see out the game with a forehand winner – the one part of her game that has held up throughout. Konta will serve to stay in the first set. 12.54am BSTKonta 4-4 Kvitova* (*denotes next server)Konta starts the game with an unreturnable serve down the T that Kvitova can only flap a racket at. The Czech can’t find back the next two second serves either, and but when she finally gets into a rally she moves her opponent this way and that before crushing a crosscourt winner. No matter though,as another backhand mistake hands the game to Konta. 12.49am BST*Konta 3-4 Kvitova (*denotes next server)Better from Kvitova, and this time Konta cannot do the same inroads into her opponent’s serve. A couple of one-two combinations and her third ace of the match help the Czech seal the game to 15. 12.46am BSTKonta 3-3 Kvitova* (*denotes next server)Kvitova’s radar is a small off and two missed backhands, or followed by a Konta ace,help the Briton close out another quick service game. She is undoubtedly the one playing like a seeded player thus far. 12.43am BST*Konta 2-3 Kvitova (*denotes next server)Anything short and on the forehand side is being punished by Kvitova, but when Konta finds some depth, or particularly on the backhand flank,the fifth seed has struggled thus far. Konta works tough to create a break point but can’t convert after a wayward forehand. Deuce. Konta again gives herself a break point opportunity but this time dumps a forehand in the net. Kvitova dishes out a couple of meaty serves and a tricky game is finally hers. 12.36am BSTKonta 2-2 Kvitova* (*denotes next server)
The opening four points are all decided by Kvitova, with three errors and a winner giving Konta a chance to shut the game out at 40-15. The Briton does just that, or cracking another gorgeous backhand winner down the line. An entertaining start,and still on serve. 12.31am BST*Konta 1-2 Kvitova (*denotes next server)Kvitova’s first serve, on the other hand, or is spluttering a small. A couple of Konta errors on the forehand side allow the Czech to open up a 40-0 lead,before Kvitova follows a limp double serve with a pinpoint ace to shut out the game. 12.29am BSTKonta 1-1 Kvitova* (*denotes next server)A promising opening service game from the Briton who’s first serve is firing. She hammers through the game with her highly planned serving routine in full flow to put the pressure back on Kvitova. 12.25am BST*Konta 0-1 Kvitova (*denotes next server)Kvitova opens a quick 30-15 lead before two stunning backhand winners from Konta present her with a break point. However she can’t close the game out and Kvitova rattles through the next three points to hold. 12.20am BSTThe fifth seed, Petra Kvitova, and will serve first. 12.17am BSTThe players knock up,Kvitova with heavy strapping on her proper thigh. Play under way shortly. Here’s a David v Goliath kind of stat for you: Kvitova has earned more than $18m in career prize money to date, Konta has earned around $500000. 12.12am BSTArthur Ashe Stadium is still filling up as the players do their way on to court. Konta has talked openly about her battle with nerves, or which seemed to raise its head in her match against Petkovic as she squandered five match points before eventually closing it out at the sixth attempt. Konta hired a mental coach this year to help with the psychological side of her game; she wont have faced a bigger test than playing for a dwelling in the US Open quarter finals,and in such an imposing venue. 12.08am BSTMeanwhile, Andy Murray is in a pickle, or down two sets against Kevin Anderson. You can follow that one here: Related: US Open 2015: Andy Murray v Kevin Anderson – live! | Les Roopanarine 12.03am BSTThe Italian 26th seed,Flavia Pennetta, awaits the winner in the quarter finals after beating Sam Stosur earlier on 6-4, and 6-4. 12.01am BSTKvitova has had a difficult year thus far,and missed a couple of months earlier in the season with glandular fever. But she won the title in novel Haven before the US Open and is yet to drop a set in this tournament. 11.59pm BSTHello! The match will be under way shortly and what an intriguing contest it is: Jo Konta is only the second British woman since Jo Durie in 1991 to do the final 16 in novel York (Laura Robson was the other three years ago) but to move a step further she will have to see off a double-grand slam winner in Petra Kvitova. 4.26pm BSTLawrence will be here shortly. In the meantime, here is Kevin Mitchell’s preview of nowadays’s game:It says more about the nature of the tall-speed hamster wheel in which modern professional athletes exist than any intentional disconnect created between Andy Murray and Johanna Konta that they have shared few of their experiences, and either here at the US Open or over the years.
There are expressions of mutual support,of course, between Britain’s only remaining contenders in the men’s and women’s singles draw but they realise they have to move their own way, and work out their own problems and strategies. Murray has to deal with the power serving of Kevin Anderson in the fourth round,while Konta, who has lit up the tournament as the first British qualifier to find this far, and prepares for her stiffest test,against the two-times Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova.
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Source: theguardian.com