Johanna Konta Beats Defending Finalist Sloane Stephens to Reach Roland Garros Semis for First Time

(June 4, 2019) Johanna Konta became the first British woman since 1983 to reach the semifinals of Roland Garros on Tuesday when she took out defending finalist, Sloane Stephens 6-1, 6-4 at the French Open. The last British woman to accomplish this feat was Jo Durie.

No. 26 seed Konta ended the run of No. 7 seed Sloane Stephens in one hour and 10 minutes.

Konta defeated the American twice this year – in the first round of Sydney and most recently in the second round of Rome. She remains perfect against Stephens in career head-to-head competition at 3-0.

Konta said that this was one of her best performances on court. “I feel really pleased with how I dealt with the conditions out there and just how I gave myself space to play.”

The 28-year-old Konta will take on 19-year-old Czech Marketa Vondrousova for a place in the final. For either woman, it would be their first major final.

Marketa Vondrousova defeated No. 31 seed Petra Martic 7-6 (1), 7-5. The Czech, who had lost to Croat four times before said that Roland Garros must be “My lucky place.”

It’s just the Czech teen’s ninth major tournament.