Is Konta in the mix for the Wimbledon title?

Jun 30, 2017
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Is Konta in the mix for the Wimbledon title?

The Brit won two huge matches Thursday, but then withdrew with a

Published Jun 30, 2017

It’s not quite Wimbledon, but Johanna Konta had British fans excited after she won two blockbuster matches on the same day. On Thursday, she took out French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko in a three-set thriller, and then came back later in the day to upset world No. 1 Angelique Kerber.

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Konta outlasted the hard-hitting Ostapenko with better defensive backhands and angles. It was a particularly important win because it snapped Ostapenko’s eight-match win streak and Konta looked more like player who won Miami earlier this season.

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The Kerber match was another big statement for Konta. Kerber will be defending runner-up points at Wimbledon and she has fought hard to regain her rhythm on grass. Konta balanced Kerber's tricky angles by biding her time in rallies before attacking short balls.

But the match wasn't without drama. In the final game, Konta took a hard fall on match point and had to receive medical attention.

Chaos aside, the world No. 7 would win the next two points to seal the win.

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Instead of facing Karolina Pliskova in the semifinals on Friday, Konta pulled out with a back injury, sustained from the brutal fall.

"We made the decision based on the fact I'm still quite sore through my thoracic spine," she said. "Next week is Wimbledon, but I make decisions for my health.

"I didn't sleep too well, but I heard that's normal. It just didn't feel quite right. The most important thing is I rest well for the next 24 hours and then we'll see."

Konta is the sixth seed at the All England Club, and opens against Su-Wei Hsieh.

Four years ago, Andy Murray became the first men's singles Wimbledon champion in 77 years. Now British hopes are resting heavily on Konta, who is looking to be the first women's singles champion in 40 years.

“When I was young I associated playing tennis with being part of historic moments, being part of these epic battles and coming out victorious, having those trophy moments,” Konta said told *The Guardian*.

As long as Konta recovers from her freak fall, and competes at this week's level of tennis, she could be in the mix for the Wimbledon title.

Follow Jeremy on Twitter: @JeremyEckstein1