Johanna Konta beats Maria Sakkari in the Wimbledon third round
Next up for Konta is 21st seed Caroline Garcia who defeated her as recently as Indian Wells
Friday 7 July 2017 19:32, UK
Britain's Johanna Konta is into the last 16 of Wimbledon after beating Maria Sakkari in straight sets on Friday.
Konta won 6-4 6-1 on Court 1 to keep her championship hopes alive, and delight a home crowd that had already witnessed the eliminations of Heather Watson and Aljaz Bedene.
Sixth seed Konta dominated Sakkari, her 21-year-old Greek opponent who is coached by Sky Sports' Mark Petchey.
Konta stamped her authority on the match in its very first game, breaking Sakkari's serve to swiftly build a two-game lead.
She had to ride a storm from Sakkari to protect a 4-3 lead later in that set, but eventually emerged with her serve intact, and kept her comfortable lead alive. By winning a tense rally at the net, Konta served out the set.
Konta repeated her trick of breaking in the first game of the set, then a drop shot helped her into a 2-0 lead that appeared unassailable. When Konta broke again then won a fourth consecutive game, the match was clearly up for Sakkari. The Greek youngster avoided a bagel in the second set but couldn't stop Konta's progress.
Konta's run into the last 16 extends her best performance at this Grand Slam and next up she will face 21st seed Caroline Garcia of France, who beat Madison Brengle in the second round.
And Konta said afterwards: "I'm very happy with that, it was gusty out there and not easy. It was quite tricky conditions.
"I tried to take care of the simple things and compete hard. Everyone's a potential winner here. I am here to be involved until the very end and I am happy to still be here."
As for taking on Garcia in round four, the Sydney-born 26-year-old added: "The last time I played her I lost to her in a very close battle at Indian Wells.
"She's obviously playing with a lot of confidence. I'm really looking forward to that, to play someone who's in good form who will really challenge me."
French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko is also through, beating Italy's Camila Giorgi to march into the last 16 and a meeting with Elina Svitolina who has won more single's titles than anyone else on the WTA Tour this year.
Ostapenko had never claimed a WTA-level title until her fairytale victory in Paris last month but she is a growing force in the women's game and her fourth round meeting with Svitolina is the pick of the women's draw.
Svitolina has yet to win a Grand Slam and has never been beyond the last eight of a major but with five titles to her name this year, the fourth seed will hope to breakthrough.
Also through to the second week is five-time winner Venus Williams.
The 37-year-old American beat Naomi Osaka of Japan 7-6 (7-3) 6-4 in 86 minutes on Court No 1.
However, the No 10 seed had to battle back from 0-3 down in the first set tie-break, by reeling off seven straight points.
She made the only break of the second set in game seven, and reached the last 16 on her first match point.
Williams, who last won the title in 2008, will take on Croatian teenager Ana Konjuh - the No 27 seed - on Monday.
Konjuh ended the hopes of Dominika Cibulkova while Simona Halep, the second seed who lost to Ostapenko in the final at Roland Garros, will next face Viktoria Azarenka who saw off Heather Watson.
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