Venus Williams suffers shock upset at Australian Open
Xinhua, January 19, 2016 Adjust font size:
Eighth seed Venus Williams has provided Australian Open fans with the shock of the tournament so far, after she was bundled out by world No. 47, Brit Johanna Konta on Tuesday.
Williams, 35, was enjoying a renaissance of form in the back half of 2015, but continued her poor start to 2016, losing to Konta in straight sets 6-4, 6-2.
Williams was almost bageled in the second set by a relentless Konta, who forced the seven-time Grand Slam winner across the court, but managed a mini-fightback before falling after one hour and 19 minutes.
Konta, 24, admitted her lead-up form wasn't the best, despite playing at two tournaments before Melbourne.
"I played two previous tournaments and didn't have the right results but I have strong belief in the way I want to play. Sometimes you win and sometimes you lose. Today I won," she told the crowd after her win.
"It was hot out there and I was playing an incredibly good player, but I felt I was playing at a good level."
Konta could face China's No. 1 ranked player Zheng Saisai in the second round; Zheng faces German Carina Witthoelt later on Tuesday. Endit