That’s it from me at Melbourne Park
It didn’t go as hoped for the sort-of-not-quite-Aussie Brit, but she’s had a wonderful tournament and leaves with a much enhanced reputation as a player who’ll go deep in more grand slam tournaments. Thanks for joining us for this Australian Open semi final.
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Kerber stops by for a word
“It’s a really special moment,” she says. “I was trying to give everything today on court.” The German is full of praise for Johanna Konta. “For sure she will have a great future,” she says. “She will win many many tournaments in the future, that’s for sure.” She got better and better as the match went on today and she’s perhaps not as popular a winner as the Brit might of been, but she’s full of smiles and goodwill after making her first grand slam final.
Johanna Konta has been knocked out of the Australian Open!
2nd set: Konta 2-6 Kerber (* denotes next server) - Kerber wins 2-0
Johanna Konta has been knocked out of the Australian Open after a dream run! It was despairing stuff from the Brit in this final game but she started the Kerber service game with a resounding winner down the line. Her opponent followed suit in the next point and erred with a drop shot that just sat up for the taking to make it 30-30 but a nice angled serve set up match point and she took it out on account of a Konta error! Angelique Kerber is through to the final!
2nd set: Konta 2-5 Kerber* (* denotes next server) - Kerber leads 1-0
Finally some joy for Konta as she perhaps frees her mind a little and slaps her way to a quick 40-0 buffer on serve. Kerber counters with a wicked backhand winner but hits another wide to concede the game. She’ll take a seat now before returning to serve for a place in the Australian Open final.
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2nd set: *Konta 1-5 Kerber (* denotes next server) - Kerber leads 1-0
Bang! Kerber bombs down another impressive forehand winner and finds herself up 30-0 on serve in no time but crashes a third attempt long. Another unforced error from Konta sets up two opportunities to hold and the German does so after Konta nets a backhand. It’s all falling away quickly now.
2nd set: Konta 1-4 Kerber* (* denotes next server) - Kerber leads 1-0
Konta’s back up to a 58% success rate with her first serve now but it certainly hasn’t been the weapon it was earlier in the tournament. Kerber’s all business and working her opponent around the court to precipitate the errors and soon finds herself at 0-30 with a bit more of an opening. Kerber is presented two break points and needs to play half a dozen desperate, defensive strokes before Konta crunches a big backhand winner to save the first and equally stern stuff from Konta takes care of the second too. It’s a case of third time lucky in the end as Konta nets to hand the German another crucial break. It’s not looking good for Johanna Konta in Melbourne.
2nd set: *Konta 1-3 Kerber (* denotes next server) - Kerber leads 1-0
Kerber still looks vulnerable on serve yet still finds a way to win so many of her points, primarily on account of Konta’s errors but also, one feels, because she’s drawing upon a deeper reserve of self-belief. With no undue effort she’s at 40-0 and Konta biffs one long to hand her another hold of serve. The Brit has to make a big move and very soon.
2nd set: Konta 1-2 Kerber* (* denotes next server) - Kerber leads 1-0
Whack! It’s 15-15 here when Kerber nails a stunning backhand return across court and Konta can only watch on in agitated respect as it whizzes by her. Kerber is really targeting her opponent’s backhand now but Konta wins a minor battle by sizzling her own backhand winner across court to set up an opportunity to hold. She succeeds.
2nd set: *Konta 0-2 Kerber (* denotes next server) - Kerber leads 1-0
Konta’s having to reel in groundstrokes that are coming at her from sharp angles and has a desperately close call go against her when she thinks she’s hit a winner to make it 0-30 on the German’s serve. Alas it’s Kerber who is soon 30-15 after getting down on one knee and theatrically belting a forehand winner down the line. But Konta fights hard and works her opponent around the court in a pair of well-constructed points to set up break point. Kerber steps up once more, nailing a timely ace before Konta whips a backhand too long and then another wide so that Kerber holds. The Brit now has 12 unforced errors on her backhand. Kerber’s only hit one.
2nd set: Konta 0-1 Kerber* (* denotes next server) - Kerber leads 1-0
Kerber is on the warpath now, smiting anything in her path with that huge forehand of hers. The wind-up as she unfurls it is really something. Konta suddenly has no answer and despite one rallying winner, in the blink of an eye she’s conceded another break. Kerber smashes emphatically at the net to seal it.
Kerber takes the first set!
1st set: *Konta 5-7 Kerber (* denotes next server) - Kerber leads 1-0
Kerber takes the first set! After a brief delay while the court was dried by an eager team of ball boys and girls, Konta resumed with a pair of unforced errors (current tally: 20 vs Kerber’s 6) and the German soon set up three set points on serve, managing a winner of her own to seal it after another searching rally. This is bad, bad news for Johanna Konta. The sun is beating down in Melbourne and the pressure-cooker atmosphere is possibly telling.
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I don’t have the commentary available to me, but this is not surprising.
@rustyjacko because the @Channel7 commentators claiming over & over Konta is REALLY australian cos she once wore a hat with corks onnit.
— m_jelly (@monsieur_jelly) January 28, 2016
Kerber breaks!
1st set: Konta 5-6 Kerber* (* denotes next server)
There’s a testing rally to start the Konta service game and the Brit eventually buckles when she advances half-way to the net and slams a roundhouse forehand into the net, which is followed by a truly untimely double fault. Then there’s a big forehand winner by Konta but she swats another forehand long to gift her adversary two break points. Konta digs in to save one, losing and regaining control in an eye-catching rally. But Kerber keeps slugging and applies enough pressure that Konta nets to hand her the vital break. The German will now serve for the set. This match is doing somersaults at the moment.
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1st set: *Konta 5-5 Kerber (* denotes next server)
Kerber’s tepid second serve continues to pose an issue but Konta’s perhaps a little overzealous to exploit it and whips another unforced error before a fortunate clip of the net gets Kerber to 30-0. With a couple of rasping backhands, Kerber holds.
1st set: Konta 5-4 Kerber* (* denotes next server)
Having claimed the first point of this Konta service game, Kerber is furious with herself for losing the next couple and slams her racket into the underside of her shoe in frustration and gesticulates like Woody Allen as she hands the Brit a couple of chances to hold. Konta has an easy chance to do so but makes a meal of her forehand smash to allow Kerber a streaky winner. Konta holds thanks to an unforced error from her opponent. There’s huge pressure on Kerber’s serve now.
1st set: *Konta 4-4 Kerber (* denotes next server)
Konta’s really leaning into her ground strokes at the moment and giving them everything but the German is remaining calm and finds some fresh reserve of composure to set up a couple of game points on serve. After a wild backhand from Konta, Kerber holds and keeps things on terms.
1st set: Konta 4-3 Kerber* (* denotes next server)
All of the momentum is with Konta right now, needless to say. At 15-0 on her second serve she sends down a wicked kick serve for an ace and totally out-positions her opponent a couple of times to hold in a love game. That’s four games in a row with a suddenly nervy Kerber to serve next. It’ll be a crucial game.
Konta breaks again to level it!
1st set: *Konta 3-3 Kerber (* denotes next server)
Kerber is really struggling on serve so far, succeeding at a rate of 50% on her first serve and only winning 44% of her points on first serve. Here she finds herself down 15-30 after cranking a big forehand well wide but Konta’s doing the same in fits and spurts, so the German doesn’t appear quite as fragile as she might. Kerber nets a backhand to give Konta another break point and gets an unlucky roll off the net to concede it.
1st set: Konta 2-3 Kerber* (* denotes next server)
Konta’s really finding some confidence now and works her opponent around the court beautifully before crashing a big backhand winner down the line. That’s followed by an ace and an ill-advised journey to the net by Kerber, who is down 40-0 in no time. Kerber saves one game point by slugging a series of powerful forehands but belts a backhand long to allow Konta to hold serve. She’s really settling now but still down a break in this first set.
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Konta breaks serve!
1st set: *Konta 1-3 Kerber (* denotes next server)
The big chance here for Konta is on Kerber’s frail serve, which if I was to crystal-ball this thing a little, doesn’t bode quite as well for an appealing final than if the Brit gets it together. Konta has an opening at 15-30 here but Kerber slashes a big top-spin forehand winner across court and can rely on a Konta error to set up her opportunity to hold. But it’s not a lost cause – Kerber clips a forehand wide and then nets another to give Konta two further break points. She claims the second! She’s back in it!
1st set: Konta 0-3 Kerber* (* denotes next server)
Another Konta service game, another string of mis-hits. Is this the occasion getting to her or is she just starting slowly? She’ll need to sort it fast, whatever it is. At 0-30 she finds another angled forehand winner but advanced to the net in ungainly style to biff a backhand long and hand the German two break points. She only needs one as Konta nets again. Danger time for the Brit. All Kerber has to do at the moment is get it back and she’s sorted.
1st set: *Konta 0-2 Kerber (* denotes next server)
Hmm, this is very timid stuff on serve by Kerber. Her first comes down into the net at 139kmph and Konta blasts a backhand winner past her. Then there’s a nervy looking double fault. For now she’s reliant on Konta’s stream of unforced errors; six of them by the time it’s 30-30 here. But equally, the Brit is striking winners at a similar rate and pumps a forehand metres past Kerber and the latter has to pull out all stops with a cracking forehand of her own to make it deuce. Two more unforced errors from Konta and Kerber holds. This is interesting though – neither player would be happy with her efforts so far.
1st set: Konta 0-1 Kerber* (* denotes next server)
Konta is looking for a nerve-settler here but nets an early forehand to concede the first point of the match before clubbing a backhand long to make it 0-30. Her first serve was a slight liability even in a comfortable quarter-final win yesterday and so it proves early here as Kerber opens up three break points. A fighting Konta saves one with a blistering forehand winner across court and moments later another to pull it back to deuce. Resistance proves futile though; two errors hand Kerber the early break.
Both players are now out on court
And there’s a rousing applause for Konta, far more than that for Kerber. There’s plenty of the aforementioned union jack flags on display too.
The toss: is conducted by champion jockey Michelle Payne (who is awesome, in case you are wondering) and it’s won by Kerber, though in the confusion of the coin rolling all over the shop it’s not initially clear who’ll receive and who’ll serve. Update: Konta will serve first.
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What’s happening in Melbourne today?
Rain and lots of it, basically. There was a real downpour outside during the course of the Williams-Radwanska match but the skies have now cleared and the roof has been opened for this second semi-final clash.
Roof on Laver opening for Kerber-Konta semifinal, up next. #AusOpen
— Ben Rothenberg (@BenRothenberg) January 28, 2016
Preamble
Hello tennis fans and welcome to our live coverage of the Australian Open and this hotly anticipated clash between Brit Johanna Konta and Angelique Kerber, Germany’s 6th-ranked contender. Russell Jackson here at Melbourne Park, bringing you all of the action from this one, which promises to fascinate as the tournament’s great bolter continues her dream run.
If you’re following from the UK, feel free to don your union jack underpants, settle in on the sofa and fire through an email or tweet, though possibly not any kind of specific update on the underpants situation.
Russell will be with you shortly. In the meantime you can enjoy Kevin Mitchell’s piece about Johanna Konta’s incredible journey to the semi-finals:
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