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The tense all-Brits first-round fight in the New York “bubble” ended in Britain’s No. 1 favor when Johanna Konta overcame a grueling early challenge from Heather Watson, saving six set points in the first before winning 7. -6 (7), 6-1 to reach the second round of the US Open.
Even after the roaring summer of the Battle of the British, where almost all of the country’s best players frequently competed with each other under one roof, it is still rare for two Brits to meet in grand slam tournaments. Circumstances made this a particularly curious moment for their fourth meeting.
Watson had gone into lockdown amid a career resurgence, having bounced back into the top 50 with her fourth WTA title in Acapulco, but has struggled since the restart and has yet to win a match. By contrast, Konta lost her first three matches of 2020, but the timeout allowed her to properly address her knee injury and she has come back much stronger. Last week she beat the Western & Southern Open draw to reach the semifinals without losing a set.
“It was always going to inevitably be a little more stressful,” Konta said. “I think that every time you play against a compatriot, there is always an extra level of anxiety and stress for several different reasons. I was anticipating that and I just wanted to put that aside and enjoy playing with a really good player, competing well.
Although the British rankings are pretty irrelevant on a tour where millions of pounds and thousands of points are at stake, the energy is different when compatriots face a duel. Pride is always at stake. Watson immediately got rid of his troubles from the past few weeks and entered the game, playing close to his limit. His serve was unusually sharp and on plays he rooted himself to the baseline, ducking down to face Konta’s strongest punches and refusing to get pushed against one of the best hitters in the game.
Watson shot three aces in a single game to escape a mini-battle at 3-3. When Konta served for the set at 5-4, Watson eliminated errors from his game while regaining serve. In the tiebreaker, it was Britain’s No. 2 who came back up, keeping her nose ahead, going up 4-3 and then breaking two straight forehand winners down the line to achieve triple set point.
Although she didn’t show off her best tennis, Konta underscored the confidence that flows through her after a brilliant week. Trailing 5-6 in the first set, she posted a 15-40 deficit on her serve with the help of a routine backhand from Watson at 30-40. Trailing 3-6 in the tiebreaker, Konta saved two set points with great serves before forcing a backhand error from Watson with a quick move to the net.
In the sixth, Konta served an unreturned serve on the T. By the end of the set, Watson had served more aces than one of the best servers in the world, equaling Konta’s 16 winners with fewer errors. It was not enough.
Konta only needed one set point to take the set, and then she relaxed and passed a second set uneventfully as Watson was unable to maintain her level. Konta will face Sorana Cirstea in the second round, while Watson will have plenty of time to reflect on two bitter records: she is now 0-10 at the US Open and 0-4 against her compatriot.
Away from New York, former world number 6 Carla Suárez Navarro announced on social media that she was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma and that she will undergo six months of chemotherapy. The Spaniard, known as one of the most popular players on the tour, had planned to end her career this year before the virus.
“When we spoke a few days ago when she gave me the news, I was, I think, shocked, because I was hoping to see her at this tournament. You know, she is such a nice woman, so sweet, so kind, so humble, ”said Garbiñe Muguruza, a friend and frequent doubles partner of Suárez Navarro after her 6-4, 6-4 victory over Nao Hibino.
“I will surely dedicate this triumph to her, because I want her to feel that we are behind her, that I am behind her, and I will go to see her at some point when she is well.”
