US Open 2015: Johanna Konta defeated Garbine Muguruza 7-6 6-7 6-2
Friday 4 September 2015 09:47, UK
Johanna Konta impressively beat Wimbledon finalist Garbine Muguruza to advance into the US Open third round after the tournament's longest ever women's match.
The 7-6 6-7 6-2 win in three hours and 23 minutes represents a major achievement for the British No 2 who had never previously advanced beyond the second round of any Grand Slam.
The world No 97 defeated the Spanish ninth seed after two breaks in the deciding set after a pair of neck-and-neck tie-breaks.
A mammoth first set that took an hour and 20 minutes frequently favoured Konta but it appeared like her inspired performance would be for no reward until two consecutive challenges to the umpire swung the tie-break in her favour.
Both players appealed back-to-back points and Konta was correct while Muguruza wasted her challenge, meaning both points favoured the Brit. It put her 5-4 up with two service points remaining and she duly took advantage.
Earlier in the set, Konta had brought up break point at the second and third times of asking but took until her fourth attempt before she got the job done. Muguruza's double-fault showed the strain she was put under to concede a 3-4 lead to the Brit and it seemed Konta would repeat the trick the next time she faced serve.
Muguruza held in a 12-minute battle for stay in touch at 4-5 before Konta's serve unexpectedly failed her and her momentum appeared to fade heading into the tie-break until the two umpire calls went in her favour.
The following set went with serve until, at 4-4, Muguruza forced the issue with her first break of the match but Konta fired back in the next game, hitting an impressive winner before benefitting from a sloppy double-fault.
The second set tie-break, like the first, was largely decided by a controversial umpire's call. Muguruza appealed a line call and was proved correct. She then won the resulting point, prompting Konta to rage with the officials.
The 24-year-old's anger was put to good use in the deciding set when she broke twice to take a 3-0 lead.
Konta then squandered four break points as Muguruza clung on at 4-1. Both players then held their serves until Konta confirmed her third-round berth against 18th seed Andrea Petkovic.
It was a 15th consecutive singles win for Konta while Muguruza has won just won since her surprise run to the Wimbledon final when she lost to Serena Williams.
