LOCAL TALENT JOHANNA KONTA & HEATHER WATSON SCATTER SEEDS AT THE AEGON INTERNATIONAL EASTBOURNE, EUGENIE BOUCHARD FINALLY GETS A WIN!

Written by: Staff on 23rd June 2015

LOCAL TALENT JOHANNA KONTA & HEATHER WATSON SCATTER SEEDS AT THE AEGON INTERNATIONAL EASTBOURNE, EUGENIE BOUCHARD FINALLY GETS A WIN!

Heather Watson of Great Britain practices at Devonshire Park on June 21, 2015 in Eastbourne, England. (Photo by Ben Hoskins/Getty Images for LTA) |

Eastbourne’s Johanna Konta claimed the first top 10 scalp of career when she beat world No.8 Ekaterina Makarova (RUS) in the second round at the Aegon International Eastbourne on Tuesday.

Konta, currently ranked No.146 in the world, overcame a 138 places ranking deficit to defeat former champion and tournament No.4 seed Makarova 6-2 6-4 in front of her home crowd at Devonshire Park.

“I’m very proud of my achievement today, but I’m also keeping it into perspective that it is just one win,” said Konta. “I haven’t played many high‑profile matches, so I believe I felt quite proud of myself with how I dealt with things and just moved on with things quite quickly. It is special because there was so much support for me. I felt the noise and the energy. I really appreciated that.”

Konta will play Garbine Muguruza (ESP) in the third round at Eastbourne after the Spanish woman beat qualifier Polona Hercog 5-7 6-3 6-0.

An emotional Heather Watson was delighted with her fighting victory over tournament No.11 seed Elina Svitolina 3-6 7-5 6-4 in the last match on Centre Court at Devonshire Park which set up a third round clash with Sloane Stephens (USA).

“I haven’t really had the best time in the clay court season and have been finding a few things tough,” said the British No.1. “This week was kind of like a new start for me and I’ve got a lot of emotion in me right now. I think on the court it shows.

“I think the crowd today was louder than I think I have ever heard them here at Eastbourne for one of my matches. I just loved every minute of it.”

The champion at Eastbourne in 2009, Caroline Wozniacki (DEN) kicked off her 2015 challenge the best way possible on Tuesday, defeating Jarmila Gajdosova (AUS) 7-6(4) 6-2. “It felt great to be back out there,” said Wozniacki. “I love this tournament and I love this amazing crowd.”

Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark practices at Devonshire Park on June 21, 2015 in Eastbourne, England. (Photo by Ben Hoskins/Getty Images for LTA)

After a shaky start, Eugene Bouchard (CAN) beat Alison Riske (USA) to advance to the third round at Devonshire Park 7-6(5) 6-2. No.7 seeded Bouchard saved eight break points to advance and credited credits her new mind-set for helping her regain her focus.

“It’s been a learning experience,” said last year’s Wimbledon finalist Bouchard. “I have had to learn to be patient and to understand that there are ups and downs in lives and in tennis. To keep working and keep believing in what I do no matter what, and to know there is light of the end of the tunnel.

“I’m really excited for tomorrow – just to play another match. I will play more than one match this week, so it’s a really good thing.”

Eugenie Bouchard of Canada poses for picture on top of Beachy Head on June 21, 2015 in Eastbourne, England. (Photo by Ben Hoskins/Getty Images for LTA)

Bouchard will face Belinda Bencic in the third round after the Swiss woman dispatched defending champion Madison Keys from the Devonshire Park tournament 6-2 6-2. Keys admitted she had been fighting flu and had only just started feeling well just before starting her grass season.

“I felt it was just not quite happening today,” she said. “It’s always tough playing your first match on grass. I think everyone kind of has to work into it a little bit. It’s a different surface compared to hard and clay.”

Great Britain got off to a stellar start in the LTA Grand Slam Nations Challenge, beating France six rubbers to zero in the under-18s junior event. Australia made a similarly impressive start on day one of the girls’ teams competition, defeating the USA five rubbers to one. Wednesday’s Grand Slam Nations Challenge clash between Great Britain take on the USA will decide the Maureen Connolly Challenge Trophy for 2015, while Australia takes on France in the second junior tie of the day.

Bouchard and Bencic will kick off the Centre Court action on Day Four at the Aegon International Eastbourne, followed by Konta vs Muguruza, Kuznetsova vs Wozniacki, with Watson vs Stephens rounding off the singles action on centre court at Devonshire Park on Wednesday.

Updated singles and doubles draws, Grand Slam Nations Challenge day 1 results, and Wednesday’s order of play are attached.

Play starts at 11am on Wednesday. To purchase tickets visit: www.lta.org.uk/major-events/aegon-international-eastbourne/aegon-eastbourne-international-tickets/

Singles draw – click here

Doubles draw – click here

Order of play – click here

Topics: AEGON International, Caro Wozniacki, Eastbourne, Genie Bouchard, Heather Watson, Johanna Konta, Tennis, Wta

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June 23, 2015 at 5:44 pm

LOCAL TALENT @JoKonta91 & WATSON SCATTER SEEDS AT THE #AegonInternational #Eastbourne, BOUCHARD FINALLY GETS A WIN!- http://t.co/59ME2wea2D