Jo Konta moves into the semi-finals in Barnstaple
2nd November 2013
Annika Beck, Kristyna Pliskova, Johanna Konta, and Marta Sirotkina have all made it through to the semi-final stage of the Aegon GB Pro-Series Barnstaple after another great days tennis at the Tarka Tennis Centre.
Kristyna Pliskova, from Germany, was the first player to secure a berth in the last four after a 7-5, 6-3 defeat of Katerina Siniakova. Pliskova, who reached four in the world as a junior in 2010, again put her highly effective left handed serve to good use, and is yet to drop a set in Barnstaple this week.
The 21 year old will now play top seed, and 2012 champion, Annika Beck in an all-German semi-final. Beck, like her compatriot is yet to lose a set this week, but had to recover from an early break in the first set to end the impressive run of Naomi Broady in their quarter-final. Ironically Beck beat Broady at the same stage on her way to the 2012 title.
The popular and charismatic Alison Riske, the 2010 champion, and No.2 seed this week, was thwarted in her attempt to win the Barnstaple title for a second time. Russian Marta Sirotkina, ended the American’s run, in an entertaining match, which sees the 22 year old from Moscow progress beyond the quarter-final stage she reached 12 months ago.
Final match of the day was the highly anticipated all British encounter between Jo Konta and Heather Watson. A packed audience saw Konta race into a 4-0 lead, only for Watson to unfortunately have to retire feeling unwell.
Saturday’s schedule starts at 11.00am with Beck against Pliskova, followed by Konta against Sirotkina, and also sees the doubles semi-final’s including Naomi Broady partnering Pliskova, and Jo Konta and Heather Watson partnering each other against 2nd seeds Raluca Olaru & Tamira Paszek.
- See more at: http://www.lta.org.uk/fans-major-events/AEGON-GB-Pro-Series/News/2013/Barnstaple/Jo-Konta-moves-into-the-semi-finals-in-Barnstaple/#sthash.wZ2wPUSI.dpuf