Sport Tennis
By Simon Briggs
TENNIS CORRESPONDENT
at Flushing Meadows
A cameo appearance from actor
Tom Hiddleston helped inspire
Johanna Konta to a fine three-set
victory on the first day of the US
Open. Surprisingly, it was Konta’s
first win at Flushing Meadows for
three years.
Konta explained afterwards that
she had made a chance connection
with Hiddleston – the star of
numerous superhero movies, who
is probably better known around
these parts as the ex-boyfriend of
pop star Taylor Swift.
“Just literally we crossed paths a
few days ago,” Konta said. “I did the
Good Samaritan thing and said,
‘Don’t bother him, he’s
obviously busy’.
And then he
actually said,
‘I don’t usually
do this, but I’m a
massive fan,’ and
I was like, ‘What,
who? Who else is here?’ It
was basically that and then
we got chatting and he’s su-
per nice and his co-stars [in
the Broadway show Be-
trayal] came as well and
they’re also super nice, so
it’s good.”
There was no little drama
on the court as Konta pulled
off a 6-1, 4-6, 6-2 victory
Briton records three-set
victory over Kasatkina
Evans beats Mannarino
in error-strewn contest
over Daria Kasatkina – a top-10
player as recently as last year, who
has since dropped back to No 42
since developing a few yips on her
second serve.
Konta was outstanding in a first
set in which she broke three times,
while giving up only two points on
her own serve. But Kasatkina has a
tricky game style that involves
numerous changes of pace and
spin, and she successfully knocked
Konta out of her rhythm in a messy
second set.
Predictably, a bathroom break
ensued. Konta tends to leave the
court before deciding sets –
and while this is sometimes
frowned upon by old-timers, it
seems to work for her. When she
came back, she had ironed out the
jitters that had been afflicting her
backhand.
Her ball-striking was venomous
in the final stages as she powered
home in 2hr 2min, earning a
second-round meeting with world
No 61 Margarita Gasparyan.
Konta was not particularly
impressed with the officiating of
Manuel Absolu, the chair umpire.
She complained to him in the first
set about the inter-
ventions of one
loud Russian
spectator, which
she described as
“not very sports-
manlike”.
But the problem
really arose in the
eighth game of the sec-
ond, when there were bad
line calls on two different
points.
After the first point was
given to Kasatkina, Konta
thought that she deserved the
second, but Absolu called for
it to be replayed. “It’s the
same goddamn situation!” she
raged, in a rare loss of compo-
sure – although one thatdidn’t feature any heavy-duty
swearing. The players must all be
painfully aware of the dangers of
bad-mouthing umpires after what
happened to Serena Williams in last
year’s final.
“I didn’t think too much of the
previous years,” insisted Konta
after her victory. But it is worth
remembering that her surprise loss
to Aleksandra Krunic here two
years ago was the starting point for
a lengthy dry spell, which also
included a worryingly one-sided
6-2, 6-2 defeat at the hands of
Caroline Garcia 12 months ago.
Happily, the appointment of her
understated French coach, Dimitri
Zavialoff, during the last off-season
has triggered a renaissance. Konta
has now won 11 slam matches this
season – comfortably her best
performance at the majors – and
has a strong chance of adding an-
other against Gasparyan tomorrow.
Although British No 3 Harriet
Dart was an early faller yesterday,
losing 6-3, 6-1 to fellow qualifier
Ana Bogdan, we had better tidings
from Court 14.
Dan Evans seemed to be battling
himself throughout his match
against Adrian Mannarino – a
Frenchman ranked one place above
him at No 57 in the world – judging
by the amount of chuntering and
gloomy self-admonishment that he
produced. But Mannarino was also
out of sorts in a peculiar match that
featured some glorious winners,
but also plenty of absolute howlers
from both players.
“I haven’t felt comfortable,”
Evans told Amazon Prime on his
way off the court. “I was just
frustrated. I didn’t like how I was
hitting the ball or serving. I was
pretty angry. I wasn’t great out
there, but I came through.
“I was fine physically,” Evans
added. “I felt good. I like the best of
five. It was more mental. I was
struggling with my service games.” GETTY IMAGESKonta ensures safe passage
after celebrity-inspired win
Top three
on today
Kyle Edmund
v Pablo
Andujar
The British
No 1 had a
chastening
defeat in the
opening
round here
last year,
being
outlasted by
36-year-old
Paolo
Lorenzi, but
is feeling far
stronger
physically
this summer.Rafael Nadal
v John
Millman
The second
seed opens
his account
against the
man who
beat Roger
Federer here
12 months
ago.Naomi Osaka
v Anna
Blinkova
Osaka has
won her past
14 matches at
the hard-
court slams,
claiming last
year’s US
Open – after
that fiasco of
a final – and
January’s
Australian
Open.Successful: Dan Evans and
Johanna Konta (main) both
progressed at the US Open
s as the ex-boyfriend of
aylor Swift.
erally we crossed pathsa
go,” Konta said. “I did the
maritan thing and said,
her him, he’s
busy’.
n he
said,
usually
t I’m a
n,’ and
ke, ‘What,
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lly that and then
tting and he’s su-
d his co-stars [in
dway show Be-
me as well and
o super nice, soas no little drama
rt as Konta pulled
4-6, 6-2 victoryhome in 2hr 2 min, ear
second-round meeting with
No 61 Margarita Gasparyan.
Konta was not part
impressed with the officia
Manuel Absolu, the chair
She complained to him in t
set about th
ventions o
loud
spectator,
she descri
“not very
manlike”.
But the p
really arose
eighth game of t
ond, when there w
line calls on two d
points.
After the first poi
given to Kasatkina,
thought that she deser
second, but Absolu ca
it to be replayed. “
same goddamn situatio
raged, in a rare loss of
sure – although oDan Evans and
nta (main) both
at the US Open14 ** Tuesday 27 August 2019 The Daily Telegraph
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