Johanna Konta kept the party going for British tennis at the Australian Open today with her seventh successive victory.
The world No9 beat Naomi Osaka 6-4, 6-2 to follow Andy Murray and Dan Evans into the last 32.
Konta, who now faces Caroline Wozniacki in the third round, felt goosebumps when the announcer listed her achievements last year as she waited to enter Rod Laver Arena for the first time since making the semi-finals 12 months ago.
“That made me feel a bit warm inside,” Konta said later. “I love playing out on that court.”
Osaka, a 19-year-old Japanese of great promise, is a big hitter with a powerful serve but it was Konta’s consistently excellent ball-striking that won the day.
Konta served particularly well. She hit nine aces, dropped only four points on her first serve and conceded one break point, which she saved with a service winner.
The opening games were reasonably close but from 4-4 in the first set Konta lost only two more games.
“I definitely got a few easy points off my serve,” Konta said. “I felt I was able to keep pressure on in my service games and not give her too many looks at taking advantage.”
Australian Open Tennis 2017 - In pictures
The match-up reflected the global nature of tennis. Konta, whose parents are Hungarian, spent her first 13 years in Australia and now lives in Britain. Osaka, who has a Haitian father and a Japanese mother, was born — appropriately enough — in the Japanese city of Osaka but has spent most of her life in Florida.
Konta, who took the title in Sydney last week, has won 10 of the 11 matches she has played this year but now faces a resurgent Wozniacki. The Dane had dropped to No 74 in the world last summer but is now back in the top 20.
Wozniacki and Konta have never met but the former world No 1 is aware of the challenge the Briton poses. “She plays really well,” Wozniacki, 26, said. “She has a big forehand and a big serve. But I’m ready and here to fight.”
