Johanna Konta to face Venus Williams in Miami Open semi-finals after beating Simona Halep
Thursday 30 March 2017 15:52, UK
Johanna Konta fought back to beat Simona Halep in three sets to set up a Miami Open semi-final with a resurgent Venus Williams.
After conceding the opening set, the British No 1 dug deep to see out a nervy, undulating tiebreak in the second, before pulling away in the decider to secure a 3-6 7-6 (9-7) 6-2 victory.
Konta will now play 36-year-old Williams who produced a powerful display to overcome Angelique Kerber 7-5 6-3.
The American first won this tournament a staggering 19 years ago and is looking back to her best having reached the final of the Australian Open in January.
It was a gutsy performance from Britain's Konta though on Wednesday. She appeared slightly tentative as she delivered too many of her groundstrokes to the centre of the court, and frequently found the net.
Her usually dependable serve, one of her greatest weapons, also wavered, and the slight Romanian was able to seize an early break and never looked back as she served out the opening set. Halep missed two break points, but just one was needed as she swiftly established a lead.
The opening three games of the second were a different story, as Konta came out of the blocks firing - racing to 3-0 courtesy of some timely rushes to the net.
Halep might well have been swept away by this onslaught, were it not for a net cord at deuce in the fourth game, which gifted the 2014 runner-up at Roland Garros a foothold in the match once more.
The third seed showed her class by soon bringing about two break points of her own, converting the second with aplomb courtesy of a scorching forehand winner.
This was soon followed with a second break for the Romanian, who found herself serving for the match.
Her exuberance was short lived, however, as Konta produced a fearless display, completing the fourth break of this second set, and forcing an incredibly hard-fought tie break.
Eventually, down 7-8, Halep netted a forehand, and Konta had thrown herself the lifeline of a decider.
From this point onwards, it was plain sailing for the Briton, who managed a break midway through the final set, and was soon serving for the match at 5-2, with the clock just hitting the two-and-a-half hour mark.
Unlike her opponent, Konta did not falter, and - exhausted - secured the win.
In just her second appearance at this event, she has become the first British woman to reach the semi-finals, where she will face either the top seed, Angelique Kerber, or resurgent Venus Williams.
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