Former Australian Johanna Konta has defeated former Croatian and now Australian Ajla Tomljanovic in the Rabat semifinals.
Konta now playing under the Great Britain flag took the match 6-2, 7-6(7). The Brit dominated the first set breaking Tomljanovic three times to one.
It was Konta that broke in the first game and then backed up that with a love game. Tomljanovic got on the scoreboard as she held for 1-2.
Another hold and another break for Konta and she was out to a 4-1 lead.
Towards the end of the first set, Tomljanovic’ coach told her to activate her legs more. The Australian seemed to lift and she broke back to be serving at 2-4.
That was short lived as the Australian was broken again before Konta sealed the set.
In the second set it was a lot tighter. Both players had one break opportunity, but failed to convert.
Konta had a break point at 30-40 in the third game, Tomljanovic had one at 30-40 in the sixth game.
The second set went to a tie-breaker and it was Konta that looked in control at 4-1 but some good hustle from the Australian kept her in the next point before forcing an error from the Brit.
Konta was sent scurrying across the baseline after Tomljanovic blasted a backhand deep, it resulted in a shot hit wide to get things back on track for Tomljanovic at 3-4.
A double fault by the Australian saw Konta two point from the final at 5-3, but after the Australian won the next point for 5-4, Konta was serving the next two points.
Tomljanovic played a good point to level at 5-5 and then a double fault from Konta gave the Australian a set point.
Konta had a swing at a second serve and had Tomljanovic on the run before stepping in to hit a backhand winner to deny her opponent the set.
At 6-6 Tomljanovic, just missed serving an Ace. Konta took advantage and attacked the second serve that followed before forcing an error from her opponent.
It was now match point for Konta at 7-6. Tomljanovic kept the ball in play and it was Konta that hit an unforced error into the net.
On the next point a bad shot from Tomljanovic where she hit into the net set up another match point. A backhand into the net from Tomljanovic and the match was over.
Konta advanced to her first clay court final on the WTA tour. For Tomljanovic she missed the opportunity to again play the final in Rabat.
In the other semifinal, it was Greece’s Maria Sakkari that defeated Belgium’s Alison Van Uytvanck 6-4, 6-4.
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