Johanna Konta Hands Serena Williams Most Lopsided Loss of her Pro Career in San Jose
(July 31, 2018) In the most lopsided loss of her career, 23-time major champion Serena Williams lost to Johanna Konta in the first round of the Mubadala Silicon Valley Classic in San Jose 6-1, 6-0. The British woman won the last 12 straight games in the 52-minute match.
“It’s an absolute privilege for me to be on the same court,” Konta said in her on-court interview after the match. “She obviously wasn’t playing anywhere near her best level but I was just trying to play the match on my terms and put aside the incredible champion she is and play the player on the day.”
In her news conference, Williams said: “I know I can play a zillion times better so that kind of helps out, too. I have so many things on my mind I don’t have time to be shocked about a loss that clearly wasn’t at my best right now.”
“When I was out there, was fighting. That’s the only thing I can say, I wasn’t just like giving it away and I was moving a lot better. So I’m just trying to take the positives out of it.”
“I wasn’t sharp at all in the first set and I think she got confident and clearly ran away with it.”
This is just Williams’ fifth tournament back from returning to the tour from having a baby back in September, where she had a difficult delivery. She is 26th in the world.
Serena Williams’ entire news conference:
The No. 1 British woman, currently ranked No. 48, won her first-ever WTA title back at this tournament two years ago. Konta will face-off against another American in Sofia Kenin in the second round.
“It’s still a humbling experience to be out there with her.” – @JohannaKonta reflects on her first win against Serena Williams #MubadalaSVC pic.twitter.com/tSVP0syBfW
— WTA (@WTA) August 1, 2018
Williams is scheduled to compete next at the Rogers Cup in Montreal, where she has received a wild card.
