By Richard Pagliaro | Saturday, April 1, 2017
Johanna Konta broke serve six times sweeping Caroline Wozniacki, 6-4, 6-3, to become the first British woman to win the Miami Open title.
Photo credit: Miami Open
Drilling chasms into Caroline Wozniacki’s defense brought Johanna Konta to championship point.
A delicate dab capped Konta’s career day.
Watch: Miami Open Final Blog
The 25-year-old Konta lifted a rainbow lob wrapping a creative bow on a bang-up 6-4, 6-3 sweep of Caroline Wozniacki in the Miami Open final.
One of the softest shots she struck all day landed with profound impact.
Konta is the first British woman to raise the Key Biscayne crystal trophy in the tournament’s 33-year history.
The 11th-ranked Briton collect her first career Premier Mandatory-level title and the champion’s check of $1.175 million with a victory that vaults her into elite company. Konta will rise to a career-high ranking of No.7 when the new WTA rankings are released on Monday—it is the highest position occupied by a British woman since Jo Durie was ranked No.7 on April 30, 1984.
Two years after failing to qualify for the tournament, Konta’s rise to the title left her with a slight sense of disbelief in just her second Miami Open appearance.
“I can’t quite believe it was over,” Konta told ESPN analyst Brad Gilbert afterward. “I was convinced one more point was coming. To go from (failing to qualify) to here is rewarding… That’s what I love most about this sport. To work hard every day to have opportunities like this to almost get a pat on the back for the hard work is very rewarding.”
It’s also empowering.
The heavy-hitting Konta, who knocked off Simona Halep and Venus Williams en route to her third career title, including her second this season, is aiming even higher than seven.
“The belief has been there,” said Konta. “I would like to be the best player in the world, but there’s a lot of work to be done between now and then. A lot of points to be played.”
Commanding the center of the court, Konta played points on her terms.
Bossing Wozniacki around the court, she won 16 of 23 (70 percent) points played on the Dane's second serve. Clobbering deep returns that dive-bombed at Wozniacki's feet, Konta was the aggressor throughout.
The former world No. 1, who suffered her third finals defeat of the season, is projected to rise to No. 12 in the new rankings.
On one of the hottest days of the tournament, conditions came into play from the outset. Wozniacki won the coin toss and elected to serve. Konta countered by forcing the Dane to serve into the sun.
The Konta game plan was clear from the first ball: Step inside the baseline and crack the first strike.
The first British woman to contest the Miami final flattened a backhand winner down the line breaking to open.
They both play with Babolat racquets, but Konta can make her stick scream. Amping up the volume of her shots, Konta cranked a forehand winner down the line confirming the break for 4-2.
A stinging Wozniacki return right down the middle danced off the baseline earning a second break point in the eighth game. Konta saved it, but the 14th-ranked Dane dug in drawing errors to break back for 4-4.
With the wind at her back, Wozniacki sailed right into self-destruction. Confronting a mid-court forehand, Wozniacki could have whacked it anywhere but put it right on the racquet of Konta, who reflexed a forehand volley winner. A pair of tense double faults preceded Konta crunching a crosscourt backhand breaking at love for 5-4.
Serving for the set, Konta saved a break point with a forehand drive volley sparking a run of four straight points. Konta closed the 46-minute set swatting a forehand crosscourt. Konta cranked 17 winners compared to two for her cautious opponent in the opening set.
Konta called coach Wim Fissette out for a visit. He urged her to stay low and stay the course.
“Whenever the ball is short—take it early it—doesn’t matter,” Fissette told her. “It looks like you have clear thoughts on how you have to play and you’re doing it. Keep doing it.”
Staring down break point, Wozniacki blasted a backhand right into Konta’s hip then lofted a backhand lob to save it. The former No. 1 fought off four break points but Konta kept coming. Punishing an approach in the corner, Konta converted her fifth break point with a fine forehand angled volley.
Stubbornness, determination and the depth of some returns kept Wozniacki close despite the disparity in aggression. A series of deep returns sparked the break back. Breezing through a love hold highlighted by a shrewd drop shot-lob combination and an ace, Wozniacki edged ahead 2-1.
Wozniacki saved break point holding for 3-2. Two games later, Konta’s unrelenting baseline strikes battered through the Dane’s defenses creating the break and a 4-3 lead.
On championship point the pair engaged in one of the longest rallies of the match. Darting to her left, Konta pulled the string on creativity with a beautiful lob winner tossing her racquet aside in triumph.