Konta continues fine form at Wuhan Open

Konta, the current world No66 who will rise above Heather Watson in next week’s rankings, was rarely troubled by Azarenka, who is now ranked No23 following a couple of years beset by foot injuries.

Johanna Konta continued her fine run of form with a 6-4 7-5 win over 13th seed Andrea Petkovic in the first round of the Wuhan Open in China. Azarenka defeated American Lauren Davis in the first round, 6-2, 7-6.

The 23-year-old has now suffered successive first-round exits following a similar defeat in the Korea Open after a battling performance against former world number one Jelena Jankovic.

Watson then saved four match points on the Jankovic serve in winning the second of three straight games to come back to 5-3, but the Serb recovered quickly enough and sealed the match with a backhand victor.

With it all to play for in the third and final set, Jankovic administered the first blow by going a break up, and she followed that up with a second break, leaving Watson with a mountain to climb.

Jankovic now faces Germany’s Angelique Kerber.