California Dreaming! Johanna Konta wins first WTA title
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Go Jo Ko! Johanna Konta landed her maiden WTA title by beating Venus Williams at the Bank of the West Classic in Stanford with the victory seeing her rise to a career-high No.14 in the world!
Playing in her first ever WTA final, the British No.1 overcame a fightback from the seven-time Grand Slam champion to win 7-5, 5-7, 6-2 in two hours and 20 minutes.
Konta’s WTA Premier title means she joins Heather Watson as a British winner on the tour in 2016 after Watson’s victory in Monterrery added to her previous wins in Osaka and Hobart.
The Australian Open semi-finalist looked on course for a confident straight sets win after breaking the World No.7 four times on her way to taking the opener and racing to a 4-1 lead in the second.
But Williams, one of the all-time legends of the game, came roaring back to win six of the next seven games and ensure the final went to a decider in sunny Stanford.
Konta, who was ranked No.147 in June last year, was on a mission though and again powered into a commanding lead.
At 5-2 up she served for the title and an epic game saw Williams force three break points and save two match points before getting over the line.
The No.3 seed said after: "It's quite an incredibly humbling experience. It's a validation of all the hard work you've already put in.
“I wanted to leave it all out there, but also absorb everything that I could possibly reinvest in my career moving forward.
"I've played her twice before and knew I'd be playing a magnitude of experience. Venus Williams doesn't need an introduction."
Fun fact
Sue Barker was the only previous British winner in Stanford, beating compatriot Virginia Wade in 1977
Former winners in Stanford
- Martina Navratilova
- Chris Evert
- Monica Seles
- Martina Hingis
- Serena Williams
Konta’s route to a first title
Round 1: BYE
Round 2: Julia Boserup (USA) 6-3, 6-1
Quarter-final: Saisai Zheng (CHN) 6-2, 4-6, 6-3
Semi-final: Dominika Cibulkova (SVK) 6-4, 6-2
Final: Venus Williams (USA) 7-5, 5-7, 6-2
