Top Ad
I DIG Radio
www.idigradio.com
Listen live to the best music from around the world!
I DIG Style
www.idigstyle.com
Learn about the latest fashion styles and more...

French Open 2020: Johanna Konta beaten by Coco Gauff in first round

Written by 
Published in Tennis
Sunday, 27 September 2020 13:14

British number one Johanna Konta's hopes of another deep run at the French Open were ended by American teenager Coco Gauff in the first round.

Konta, 29, lost 6-3 6-3 to the talented 16-year-old, who put in an assured performance in her first Roland Garros main draw appearance.

A 2019 semi-finalist, Konta was error-prone against a youngster tipped by many pundits as a future major winner.

Konta's was the third British singles defeat of the opening day in Paris.

Her loss followed exits by Andy Murray and Dan Evans on a cool day in the French capital that drew complaints about conditions from some players, as the tournament got under way four months later in the year than usual.

Gauff bounces back from US Open exit

Gauff has been one of the most promising players on tour following her runs to Wimbledon and the Australian Open fourth rounds in the past 15 months.

She put behind her a disappointing first-round exit from this month's US Open to put in a confident display against Konta, who never found her stride in blustery conditions under the floodlights on a near empty Court Suzanne Lenglen.

There were some nerves at times - with the American serving back-to-back double faults on set points and needing six set points before finally taking the opener when Konta sent a forehand service return into the net.

She then went an early break down in the second set before breaking Konta's usually strong serve four times in a row as the Briton was let down by 41 unforced errors, including several on the drop-shot that had been so effective last year.

Konta briefly threatened to stage a fightback when she broke Gauff for 5-3 but then succumbed in the following game when she netted a backhand on the American's second match point.

"I'm definitely happy to come out with the win, it's difficult to play in these conditions. She's a great competitor so I had to stay on my game," Gauff said.

Gauff, who will play Italian qualifier Martina Trevisan next, is far from the finished article and her 12 double faults gave Konta chances that could have been heavily punished.

But Konta, who split from coach Thomas Hogstedt earlier this month, failed to convert a single of her five break points in the first set and was unable to find an effective gameplan.

Konta's departure leaves Heather Watson as the sole Briton in the women's singles draw at the clay-court Grand Slam.

Halep celebrates birthday with win (and water!)

Romanian top seed Simona Halep celebrated her 29th birthday with a 6-4 6-0 victory over Spaniard Sara Sorribes Tormo.

"The perfect present was that I won today," the Wimbledon champion said.

"I cannot celebrate much, because I have to stay in the room, so I will just have a bottle of water!"

Halep will meet compatriot Irina-Camelia Begu for a place in the third round.

There were also wins for fellow seeds Victoria Azarenka and Elise Mertens but Estonian 17th seed Anett Kontaveit was beaten 6-4 3-6 6-4 by France's Caroline Garcia.

Seven-time Grand Slam champion Venus Williams was knocked out 6-4 6-4 by Slovakia's Anna Karolina Schmiedlova as the 40-year-old suffered her fifth first-round loss in the last six Grand Slams.

Asked if she expected to be back in 2021, Williams replied: "Yeah, definitely."

Read 366 times

Soccer

Southampton vs Liverpool: Slot hails resilient win

Southampton vs Liverpool: Slot hails resilient win

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsLiverpool boss Arne Slot praised his team for mounting a second-hal...

Vini, Mbappé connect as Madrid ease past Leganés

Vini, Mbappé connect as Madrid ease past Leganés

Kylian Mbappé ended his goal drought with a thunderous strike and midfielder Jude Bellingham scored...

Marta, Orlando Pride win 1st NWSL Championship

Marta, Orlando Pride win 1st NWSL Championship

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsKANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Barbra Banda's goal stood up as the winner to l...

2026 FIFA


2028 LOS ANGELES OLYMPIC

UEFA

2024 PARIS OLYMPIC


Basketball

Sources: Hornets' Williams out for rest of season

Sources: Hornets' Williams out for rest of season

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsCharlotte Hornets forward Grant Williams sustained season-ending te...

'Phenomenal' Pippen Jr. shines in dad's ex-arena

'Phenomenal' Pippen Jr. shines in dad's ex-arena

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsScotty Pippen Jr. already had plenty of fond memories of watching h...

Baseball

Carty, 1970 NL batting champ with Braves, dies

Carty, 1970 NL batting champ with Braves, dies

EmailPrintRico Carty, who won the 1970 National League batting title when he hit a major-league-best...

Hays, Finnegan, Rodgers among new free agents

Hays, Finnegan, Rodgers among new free agents

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsNEW YORK -- Outfielder Austin Hays and right-hander Kyle Finnegan -...

Sports Leagues

  • FIFA

    Fédération Internationale de Football Association
  • NBA

    National Basketball Association
  • ATP

    Association of Tennis Professionals
  • MLB

    Major League Baseball
  • ITTF

    International Table Tennis Federation
  • NFL

    Nactional Football Leagues
  • FISB

    Federation Internationale de Speedball

About Us

I Dig® is a leading global brand that makes it more enjoyable to surf the internet, conduct transactions and access, share, and create information.  Today I Dig® attracts millions of users every month.r

 

Phone: (800) 737. 6040
Fax: (800) 825 5558
Website: www.idig.com
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Affiliated