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Johanna Konta lived up to her new billing as the favourite to win Wimbledon with an impressive 6-4 6-1 victory over Maria Sakkari yesterday, to become the first British woman to reach the second week at The Championships since Laura Robson in 2013.
Much like Andy Murray , Konta arrived at the All England Club last weekend struggling with injury and suffering from inconsistent form. But the British number one, who became the bookies’ favourite to win a maiden Grand Slam title when Karolína Plíšková suffered a shock second round defeat on Thursday, is looking comfortable on grass and appears to be hitting her best form.
Unlike in her previous match, a vicious three-set dogfight against Donna Vekic , Konta was never seriously troubled by Sakkari, a 21-year-old ranked 101st in the world who looked rather overawed by the occasion.
Konta broke Sakkari in the Greek’s very first service game and was dominant throughout, converting four of her seven break points and hitting a number of impressive cross-court winners off her forehand. Worryingly for her rivals, however, Konta sees only room for improvement.
“I think I'm playing some good tennis but I don't think I'm playing unbelievable tennis,” she said afterwards. “I’m playing with the mindset of trying to get better and I definitely believe in myself, the fact that I can keep improving. So I know I can keep getting better, yes.”
Wimbledon 2017: Johanna Konta's route to the finalShow all 8 1 /8Wimbledon 2017: Johanna Konta's route to the final Wimbledon 2017: Johanna Konta's route to the final Johanna Konta faces a tough route to the final Konta has only ever won once at Wimbledon
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Wimbledon 2017: Johanna Konta's route to the final 1st round: Su-Wei Hsieh (Taiwan, world No 112) Has rarely made an impact as a singles player but proved too wily for Konta at the recent French Open, winning their first-round match with a combination of gritty defence and clever variations of pace
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Wimbledon 2017: Johanna Konta's route to the final 2nd round: Donna Vekic (Croatia, world No 57) Has only just turned 20 but made her Wimbledon debut four years ago. Her upward rise stalled at one stage but she has made significant progress this year and is a proven performer on grass
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Wimbledon 2017: Johanna Konta's route to the final 3rd round: Roberta Vinci (Italy, world No 33) Reached the US Open final two years ago but has never gone beyond the fourth round at Wimbledon. Can trouble the best, however, with her astute net approaches and sound volleys
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Wimbledon 2017: Johanna Konta's route to the final 4th round: Petra Kvitova (Czech Republic, world No 12) Was advised she might never play again after her left hand was seriously injured in a knife attack in her home in the Czech Republic six months ago but has made a stunning return. Won the title in Edgbaston last weekend and is twice a Wimbledon champion
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Wimbledon 2017: Johanna Konta's route to the final Quarter-finals: Simona Halep (Romania, world No 2) Hs reached one semi-final and one quarter-final at Wimbledon but is generally at her best on clay. Twice a French Open runner-up, she now has the world No 1 position in her sights
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Wimbledon 2017: Johanna Konta's route to the final Semi-finals: Elina Svitolina (Ukraine, world No 5) Has won four tournaments this year (Dubai, Taipei, Istanbul and Rome), which is more than any other player, and is currently at her highest position in the world rankings. However, the 22-year-old from Ukraine has never gone beyond the second round at Wimbledon
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Wimbledon 2017: Johanna Konta's route to the final Final: Angelique Kerber (Germany, world No 1) Last year’s runner-up has had a difficult year and is in danger of losing her place at the top of the world rankings. Lost in fourth round of Australian Open and in first round in Paris. Seeded to meet Karolina Pliskova in the semi-finals
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Konta, the sixth seed at SW19 this year, knows her next match will be harder. Standing in the way between her and a quarter-final appearance is France’s Caroline Garcia, who reached the quarter-finals of this year’s French Open and won their last match-up, a hard-fought three-setter at Indian Wells.
“She's a very good player,” Konta said of her next opponent. “She's someone who is playing with a lot of confidence right now and it’s going to be a very tough match. After Indian Wells I don't anticipate anything different, other than a really, really tough battle for me.”
Konta has made it into the second week of Wimbledon
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The dominant nature of Konta’s victory over Sakkari will however surely convince her that it is a battle that can be won. Konta, seeded sixth here, broke Sakkari in the very first game of the match, and lost just one point in her opening three service games to build a commanding early lead. She would go on to take the first set in a positively breezy 39-minutes.
If the opening set was rapid, the opening game of the second set was anything but. Sakkari blew a 30-0 lead, with Konta eventually taking advantage of her third break point to once again seize the initiative. Defeat in the clutch 18-point game appeared to rob Sakkari of any lingering confidence she had that she could beat the Briton, and it wasn’t long before Konta had wrapped up a comfortable straight-sets win.
“I think as a performance, as a competitor, I think I competed really well,” Konta replied when asked to evaluate her performance. I think it was a competitive match. I was really happy with how I put all sorts of difficulties aside and just really looked to compete really hard.”
The best pictures from The Championships 2017Show all 55 1 /55The best pictures from The Championships 2017 The best pictures from The Championships 2017 The best pictures from Wimbledon US player Venus Williams prepares to recieve serve from Britain's Johanna Konta during her women's singles semi-final win on the tenth day of the 2017 Wimbledon Championships
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The best pictures from The Championships 2017 The best pictures from Wimbledon Johanna Konta of Great Britain during her semi final loss against Venus Williams of The United States on day ten of the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships
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The best pictures from The Championships 2017 The best pictures from Wimbledon Sir Cliff Richard looks on from the centre court royal box on day ten of the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships
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The best pictures from The Championships 2017 The best pictures from Wimbledon Stefan Olsson in action during the Gentlemen's Wheelchair Singles on day ten of the Wimbledon Championships
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The best pictures from The Championships 2017 The best pictures from Wimbledon Gordon Reid in action during the Gentlemen's Wheelchair Singles on day ten of the Wimbledon Championships
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The best pictures from The Championships 2017 The best pictures from Wimbledon Johanna Konta talks to her trainer prior to her semi-final against Venus Williams on day ten of the Wimbledon Championships
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The best pictures from The Championships 2017 The best pictures from Wimbledon A member of staff adds names to the order of play board prior to the start of the action on day ten of the Wimbledon Championships
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The best pictures from The Championships 2017 The best pictures from Wimbledon Spectators are led into the grounds on day ten of the Wimbledon Championships
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The best pictures from The Championships 2017 The best pictures from Wimbledon Switzerland's Roger Federer returns against Canada's Milos Raonic during their men's singles quarter-final match
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The best pictures from The Championships 2017 The best pictures from Wimbledon Croatia's Marin Cilic reacts as he uses a towel during a break in play against Luxembourg's Gilles Muller during their men's singles quarter-final match on the ninth day of the 2017 Wimbledon Championships
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The best pictures from The Championships 2017 The best pictures from Wimbledon Croatia's Marin Cilic serves to Luxembourg's Gilles Muller during their men's singles quarter-final match on the ninth day of the 2017 Wimbledon Championships
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The best pictures from The Championships 2017 The best pictures from Wimbledon Britain's Andy Murray reacts after losing a point against US player Sam Querrey in their men's singles quarter-final match on the ninth day of the 2017 Wimbledon Championships
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The best pictures from The Championships 2017 The best pictures from Wimbledon Ground staff work on court three ahead of day nine of the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club
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The best pictures from The Championships 2017 The best pictures from Wimbledon Rufus, a Harris hawk, sit on a seat on Centre Court ahead of day nine of the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club
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The best pictures from The Championships 2017 The best pictures from Wimbledon Slovakia's Magdalena Rybarikova waits to receive a serve from US player Coco Vandeweghe during their women's singles quarter-final match, after it re-commenced on a covered Centre Court, after rain delayed the match on Court One, on the eighth day of the 2017 Wimbledon Championships
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The best pictures from The Championships 2017 The best pictures from Wimbledon Coco Vandeweghe of The United States in discussion with the chair umpire during the Ladies Singles quarter final match against Magdalena Rybarikova of Slovakia on day eight of the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships
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The best pictures from The Championships 2017 The best pictures from Wimbledon US player Coco Vandeweghe returns against Slovakia's Magdalena Rybarikova during their women's singles quarter-final match on the eighth day of the 2017 Wimbledon Championships
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The best pictures from The Championships 2017 The covers are pulled across court two during the Ladies Singles quarter final match between Magdalena Rybarikova of Slovakia and Coco Vandeweghe of The United States on day eight of the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships
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The best pictures from The Championships 2017 A steward wrestles with an umbrella in the wind as rain delays play in the women's singles quarter-final match between Slovakia's Magdalena Rybarikova and US player Coco Vandeweghe on the eighth day of the 2017 Wimbledon Championships
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The best pictures from The Championships 2017 The best pictures from Wimbledon Johanna Konta of Great Britain celebrates victory after the Ladies Singles quarter final match against Simona Halep of Romania on day eight of the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships
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The best pictures from The Championships 2017 The best pictures from Wimbledon A spectator attempts to keep dry as they watch action on the screen on day eight of the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships
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The best pictures from The Championships 2017 The best pictures from Wimbledon Spectators attempt to keep dry as they watch the Ladies Singles quarter final match between Johanna Konta of Great Britain and Simona Halep of Romania on the screens on day eight of the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships
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The best pictures from The Championships 2017 The best pictures from Wimbledon Spectators attempt to keep dry as they watch action on the screen on day eight of the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships
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The best pictures from The Championships 2017 The best pictures from Wimbledon Romania's Simona Halep returns against Britain's Johanna Konta during their women's singles quarter-final match on the eighth day of the 2017 Wimbledon Championships
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The best pictures from The Championships 2017 The best pictures from Wimbledon Spectators watch the action on centre court on day eight of the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships
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The best pictures from The Championships 2017 The best pictures from Wimbledon The Championships celebrate their 140th birthday this year, and the All England Club is looking better than ever.
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The best pictures from The Championships 2017 The best pictures from Wimbledon Fans watch the play on a court.
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The best pictures from The Championships 2017 The best pictures from Wimbledon Ball-kids wait to enter a court.
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The best pictures from The Championships 2017 The best pictures from Wimbledon Hungary's Timea Babos returns against Denmark's Caroline Wozniacki.
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The best pictures from The Championships 2017 The best pictures from Wimbledon A general view of court 10.
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The best pictures from The Championships 2017 The best pictures from Wimbledon Kei Nishikori plays a tweener.
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The best pictures from The Championships 2017 The best pictures from Wimbledon A general view of Court No 1.
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The best pictures from The Championships 2017 The best pictures from Wimbledon Dustin Brown during his match against Andy Murray.
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The best pictures from The Championships 2017 The best pictures from Wimbledon Spectators watch Rafa Nadal in action.
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The best pictures from The Championships 2017 The best pictures from Wimbledon Why buy a glass of Pimm's when you can get a jug?
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The best pictures from The Championships 2017 The best pictures from Wimbledon A fan drinks champagne.
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The best pictures from The Championships 2017 The best pictures from Wimbledon The Championships were first held in 1877.
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The best pictures from The Championships 2017 The best pictures from Wimbledon A television camera operator stands on a platform above the All England Club.
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The best pictures from The Championships 2017 The best pictures from Wimbledon Players chairs are pictured.
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The best pictures from The Championships 2017 The best pictures from Wimbledon Pimm's.
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The best pictures from The Championships 2017 The best pictures from Wimbledon A ball-boy is seen on court as Britain's Katie Boulter plays.
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The best pictures from The Championships 2017 The best pictures from Wimbledon Fans peer over a fence to see the play on an outside court.
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The best pictures from The Championships 2017 The best pictures from Wimbledon Ground staff talk.
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The best pictures from The Championships 2017 The best pictures from Wimbledon A spectator wears a tennis ball hat.
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The best pictures from The Championships 2017 The best pictures from Wimbledon A member of the ground staff looks on before play begins.
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The best pictures from The Championships 2017 The best pictures from Wimbledon Selfie!
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The best pictures from The Championships 2017 The best pictures from Wimbledon Court attendants sit to the site of a court.
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The best pictures from The Championships 2017 The best pictures from Wimbledon Service stewards stand at the top of an entrance.
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The best pictures from The Championships 2017 The best pictures from Wimbledon Australia's Thanasi Kokkinakis and Australia's Jordan Thompson play against Netherland's Jean-Julien Rojer and Romania's Horia Tecau.
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The best pictures from The Championships 2017 The best pictures from Wimbledon A ball boy rolls a ball.
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The best pictures from The Championships 2017 The best pictures from Wimbledon A court attendant uses an umbrella to cast shade on a player.
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The best pictures from The Championships 2017 The best pictures from Wimbledon Ball-kids queue up ahead of play.
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The best pictures from The Championships 2017 The best pictures from Wimbledon Ball-kids are told they "should not be seen. They should blend into the background and get on with their jobs quietly."
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The best pictures from The Championships 2017 The best pictures from Wimbledon Fans wear sun hats made from pages of a newspaper.
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The best pictures from The Championships 2017 The best pictures from Wimbledon A fan walks between outside courts.
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Konta was also quizzed on her plans for Middle Sunday. The 26-year-old has previously professed her love for the rock band U2 who — as luck would have it — are playing less than six miles away at Twickenham Stadium on Saturday night. Would she be letting her hair down ahead of a return to training on Sunday?
Not likely. “The weekend will be about recovery and preparation for Monday. I will train, eat well and sleep well,” she said, before adding: “I'm actually seeing them a few weeks later. I've already planned to see them so I won’t be there this weekend.”
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