By Adrianna Outlaw | Sunday, July 24, 2016
No. 3-seeded Johanna Konta beat back top-seeded Venus Williams' rally, 7-5, 5-7, 6-2, to win her first career WTA title at Stanford.
Photo credit: Bank of the West Classic
Johanna Konta prospered under pressure to collect her first career WTA title.
The third-seeded Konta beat back a second-set surge from Venus Williams, 7-5, 5-7, 6-2, in the Stanford final.
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Konta cracked 11 aces and denied eight of 12 break points in the two hour, 18-minute victory.
At the Australian Open in January, Konta surprised the eighth-seeded Williams, 6-4, 6-2, in the opening round. That win sparked her run to the Melbourne semifinals.
Hitting with depth and changing direction cleverly, Konta roared to a one-set, 4-1 lead today and looked poised for a straight-sets win.
Williams answered winning six of the next seven games to level the match.
Leaning into her returns, Konta won 10 of 12 points played on Williams' second serve in the final set.