Konta defeats Venus to reach Miami final

The Briton will face Caroline Wozniacki in the final.

Johanna Konta... “I’m going to have a tough battle on my hands.”

 

Britain's Johanna Konta beat Venus Williams 6-4, 7-5 in a gruelling battle on Thursday to reach the WTA Miami Open final, where she will face Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark. The Australia-born 25-year-old broke Williams in the first game and played aggressively throughout the opening set.

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Williams fought back strongly in the second set, breaking to go up 3-1. But Konta broke back immediately and again for a 5-4 lead that allowed her to serve for the match. The American took advantage of some nervy play from the 10th-seed to break back, but Williams was unable to hold serve and that gave Konta a second chance to wrap up the contest, which she did after more than two hours.

Konta said she expects a big challenge ahead in order to capture her second title of the year after a Sydney crown. "I am going to have a tough battle on my hands," Konta said. "Caroline makes you work."

Wozniacki booked her place in the final after rallying to defeat Czech second seed Karolina Pliskova 5-7, 6-1, 6-1. Pliskova, who won titles this year at Doha and Brisbane, also fell in the semifinal stage at Indian Wells two weeks ago.