By Chris Oddo | Thursday January 12, 2017
Great Britain’s Johanna Konta is picking up right where she left off last season. Already in the Top 10 to start the year, Konta will rise to a career-high ranking of No.9 in the world next week as a result of her trip to the Sydney final.
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The 25-year-old thrashed Canadian Eugenie Bouchard, 6-2, 6-2, in Thursday’s second semifinal to set up a title clash with Agnieszka Radwanska.
Though Konta can climb no higher than No.9 rankings-wise, she can earn her second career title if she manages a first career victory over Radwanska.
Konta won seven consecutive games from 2-2 in set one against Bouchard to take over the match. She won 33 of 54 return points and broke Bouchard six times in eight return games.
“Sometimes you just get whooped,” said Bouchard, who reached her first WTA semifinal in ten months in Sydney. “I think she played really well tonight—she definitely deserved to win.”
In Thursday’s first semifinal Radwanska improved to 7-0 lifetime against Barbora Strycova with a 6-1, 6-2 win. The 2013 Sydney champion improved to 5-1 on the season and will look to improve to 3-0 vs. Konta in the final.
Our Take
Great result for both Konta and Radwanska, regardless of what happens in the final. Konta has quickly proved that her breakout 2016 was no fluke, and she’s hit the ground running despite quite a bit of off-season turbulence with her coaching team. Radwanska has allayed fears that she’d struggle with her new racquet. She switched from a Babolat frame to a Srixon frame to start the season but looks like the same old Ninja on court. Both players will take a lot of momentum into Melbourne, and the final should be a spirited one.
A title would be great, but most important will be finishing the tournament healthy. The big challenge for both awaits in Melbourne.
Photo: Cameron Spencer/Getty.