JOHANNA KONTA REACHES FIRST WTA FINAL AT AEGON OPEN NOTTINGHAM

Written by: Staff on 17th June 2017

JOHANNA KONTA REACHES FIRST WTA FINAL AT AEGON OPEN NOTTINGHAM |

World No. 8 Johanna Konta has reached her first WTA final on grass after beating Slovak World No. 117 Magdalena Rybarikova 6-2 7-5 on a sold-out Saturday at the Aegon Open Nottingham.

Top seed Konta, who closed out the match in one hour and 41 minutes at the Nottingham Tennis Centre, will face the winner of the second WTA International semifinal between 2017 French Open doubles champion Lucie Safarova and 20-year-old Croatian Donna Vekic.

Johanna Konta of Britain in action against Yulia Putintseva of Kazakhstan. EPA/CLAUDIO ONORATI EPA

Speaking after her win, British No. 1 Konta said: “It feels pretty good. I’m really happy to have made it to the end of the week, and I’m looking forward to coming back out here on Centre Court tomorrow.

“It’s surprisingly hot out here and it’s very humid with the moisture from the grass, but we’re used to it.”

On her potential opponent in Sunday’s final, the 26-year-old added: “I’ve played both of them and they are incredibly talented and great players. I know Donna is playing very well recently and I know Lucie is a very dangerous player as well, and I’m sure they’re gonna have a great match here. I’m looking forward to competing against one of them tomorrow.”

Earlier on Saturday, Brits Laura Robson and Jocelyn Rae advanced to the final of the women’s doubles event with a 6-3 3-6 10-6 win over compatriot Heather Watson and American Christina McHale. In only their second week together as a pairing, Robson and Rae will meet either Konta and Belgian partner Yanina Wickmayer or Australian duo Monique Adamczak and Storm Sanders, who play later on Saturday (not before 4:30pm).

Further quotes and video footage from Konta’s post-match press conference to follow after her doubles match.

Topics: Aegon Open Nottingham, British tennis news, Grass tennis, Johanna Konta, konta, Magdalena Rybarikova, RYBARIKOVA, Sports, Tennis, Wta