Johanna Konta of Britain celebrates after winning the first set of her quarterfinal match against Zhang Shuai of China at the Australian Open tennis championships in Melbourne, Australia, Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2016.
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“It’s just an fantastic feeling to be in the semi-finals here for the first time”.
Both semifinals will be played Thursday, with the final on Saturday.
“Johanna Konta has done unbelievable”.
Konta, whose victims include Venus Williams and Ekaterina Makarova, was asked how she would prepare to take on Zhang.
The current British No. 1 has become our first female to reach a Grand Slam quarter-final since Durie at Wimbledon in 1984.
Zhang, having had to fight her way through qualifying, will be playing in her eighth match of the tournament. “I’ll chat with my coach, obviously, but it’s always about dealing with things on my terms, with the right fighting spirit”, she said. She’s still in the event here.
“Anyone who has watched Jo – and I think she might say this herself – you really thought that she was going to break down and the forehand was going to break down and she was going to have some emotional trauma. So all credit to her for that”. No. 7 Kerber broke No. 14 Azarenka’s serve to end the match, her first win in seven matches against the Belarussian.
Both players looked nervous as they frantically bounced about for the pre-match coin toss but it was Konta who settled fastest, out-powering her opponent for the early break.
Zhang was nearly knocked out of qualifying at the final hurdle, prevailing in a 2½ hour contest with French veteran Virginie Razzano 4-6 6-2 8-6.
“I still remember your string of defeats in 2014 and there were so many people who cruelly insulted you… now the young lady has won, I feel that my steadfast belief [in you] has also won!”
Her coach Liu Shuo told Reuters the duo and some friends bought a lottery ticket for a jackpot that was offering $15 million on the eve of the first-round match.
“She’s so consistent, it’s really hard to get through her”, said Durie, now a pundit for Eurosport. “But tomorrow’s match will take you 50% on the way to getting rich, to getting famous”.
“You would never have guessed a year ago she would be here”. Halep wasn’t in top form and has since disclosed she’ll have nose surgery.
On Wednesday, just as Kerber began her 6-3, 7-5 win over two-time champion Victoria Azarenka in the quarterfinals, the governing bodies of tennis announced they will commission an independent review of their anti-corruption unit to restore “public confidence in our sport”. “So proud of me, so excited and happy”. If you make it, this won’t just make the national news, this will be all over the world. So, yeah, because so many players in the tour, we know each other very much.
Two more wins followed and destiny gave Zhang a significant boost in the fourth round Tuesday.
Two match points came and went, but the resistance was temporary, as a lucky let cord ensured Konta’s remarkable run continues. And her cross-court backhand, when she steps inside the court, is a phenomenal put-away shot.
She proved it was no fluke by upsetting seasoned grand slam performer Alize Cornet in the following round.
Zhang’s current ranking makes her fourth in the list of Chinese players.
“That’s why I started this sport, that’s why I’m still in this sport”. She plays well in the Australian Open.
“This year, under unfavourable circumstances, she has suddenly exploded”. Because that’s what we had seen for years even though she has worked hard.
China’s latest “tennis flower” may also want to go back to her roots quite literally – she reportedly has a passion for gardening.
A timid, anxious demeanor on court has been replaced by grit and a handful of fist pumps.
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Victory over Zhang would take her into the world top 30. But she has no intention of going home just yet. “I want more steps”.
