US Open 2015: Konta’s surge in form continues as Robson suffers exit
British No2 Jo Konta continued her mesmerising form by thrashing American wildcard Louisa Chirico in the first round of the US Open at Flushing Meadows yesterday.
World No97 Konta, who came through three rounds of qualifying, wasted little time in dispatching Chirico 6-3, 6-0 to record only the second grand slam victory of her career, with the first coming in New York three years ago.
The 24-year-old has now won 14 consecutive matches since losing to former world No1 Maria Sharapova in June and will face either Spanish ninth seed Garbine Muguruza or Germany’s Carina Witthoft in round two.
“It looks good on paper but I don’t really treat this win any differently from the previous 13,” said Konta. “I’m really happy I dealt with things out there and took my opportunities.”
There was no such luck for injury-plagued fellow Briton Laura Robson, who is still searching for her first grand slam victory in two years after falling 3-6, 6-3, 7-5 to Russia’s Elena Vesnina, despite leading 4-0 in the deciding set.
British No2 Aljaz Bedene was prevailing 3-6, 6-4, 3-0 when opponent Ernests Gulbis was forced to retire through injury, while James Ward was beaten 6-1, 7-5, 6-3 by Brazil’s Thomaz Bellucci.