That’s it from me, don’t forget you can continue to follow all today’s action from Wimbledon over with Jacob Steinberg on the live blog...
A decent display from Sharapova, but she will need to improve her serve to have a successful campaign this year at SW19 I reckon
The match lasted just one hour and 23 minutes
The Russian advances to the second round 6-2, 6-2. In truth, the result was never in doubt even though Konta fought well on her Centre Court debut
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GAME, SET AND MATCH SHARAPOVA!
2nd set: Sharapova 6-2 Konta* (*denotes most recent server). Sharapova won first set 6-2
Konta serves to stay in the match and a body serve edges her 30-15 in front. Yet once again Sharapova’s returns are so deep and powerful. She earns a match point but Konta hangs and and scraps to take an advantage of her own. It seemed to have angered Sharapova, who wallops a backhand winner down the line. This game is swinging back and forth on deuce but Konta goes long and her opponent has a second match point. This time she takes it as Konta goes long again!
2nd set: Sharapova* 5-3 Konta (*denotes most recent server). Sharapova won first set 6-2
Well, well, well. More poor first serves from Sharapova, two doubles in fact set up two break points for Konta. All of a sudden, though, the Russian’s serve saves her. It really is all or nothing with Sharapova’s serve at the minute, as the game goes to deuce. Konta is hanging in there, desperate to break back in this set, but a couple of aces leave the Brit floundering. Some clinical baseline hitting clinches the game for Sharapova.
2nd set: Sharapova 4-2 Konta* (*denotes most recent server). Sharapova won first set 6-2
You have to praise Konta for continuing to be aggressive. She’s fighting with all she’s got and holds serve! Great resolve from the Brit and a slice of good fortune with the winner, looping up off the net and landing a couple of feet inside the baseline. Well done Jo.
2nd set: Sharapova* 4-1 Konta (*denotes most recent server). Sharapova won first set 6-2
Sharapova’s second serves are not much slower than her firsts. That seems to be the difference in this match, and it’s slipping steadily away from Konta as the Russian holds comfortably. The Centre Court roof has been closed ever so slightly, presumably to cool the spectators!
2nd set: Sharapova 3-1 Konta* (*denotes most recent server). Sharapova won first set 6-2
Alas, the Brit is beginning to struggle out there in the heat. You can’t blame her really, as Sharapova’s shots and shrieks become ever stronger. The Russian’s decibel levels have peaked but when she is firing bullets back, her noise is irrelevant. Konta can’t cope at the moment even though she is battling admirably. She is broken to 15
Konta surely has to hold here...
2nd set: Sharapova* 2-1 Konta (*denotes most recent server). Sharapova won first set 6-2
Simple game for Sharapova, although it did include her fourth double fault of the match. The Russian, though, is targeting Konta’s forehand and wins the game to 15, smashing a forehand winner on the full to go 2-1 and one set up.
2nd set: Sharapova 1-1 Konta* (*denotes most recent server). Sharapova won first set 6-2
Well suddenly this match has got interesting. Konta is in her stride now and dictating play all of a sudden. A couple of net cords in succession but Sharapova whips a forehand onto the baseline to level the score at 30-30. We’ve got some decent points now but Konta double faults and then on break point Shaparova steps in and smokes a forehand winner past her opponent. Immediate break back
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2nd set: Sharapova* 0-1 Konta (*denotes most recent server). Sharapova won first set 6-2
I get the feeling this could all be over before it has really begun. However, I speak too soon! After losing the opening point of the set Konta breathes fire once more. A brilliant return edges her 30-15 in front on the Sharapova serve and the Russian is still not getting her serve right. Konta earns two successive break points and Sharapova double faults! Konta breaks!
Scoreline a bit tough on Konta there, you feel. But she faces an almighty task now...
SHARAPOVA WINS OPENING SET 6-2, in 39 minutes
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1st set: Sharapova 6-2 Konta* (*denotes most recent server)
New balls taken and there is evidently a fresh bit of zing about them as a Sharapova return flies into the umpire’s chair. Almost a direct hit, but our female official survives unscathed. More importantly, Sharapova takes the set! The Russian came to the net on numerous occasions there, despite some better, more powerful serving from Konta. She goes long and that is that for the opening set.
1st set: Sharapova* 5-2 Konta (*denotes most recent server)
Sharapova has not looked troubled on serve since the opening game and, although Konta defended well at 30-0 down from the baseline and edged into it, the 2004 champion eases to another game. Konta’s forehand is letting her down somewhat and, even though Sharapova’s serve is not at its best, there is no stopping her at the moment.
1st set: Sharapova 4-2 Konta* (*denotes most recent server)
A must-win game for Konta and she steps it up a notch. Some better serving gives her the upper hand at 30-0 but Sharapova simply rises to the challenge. A sumptuous forehand drop shot from the back of the court has Konta scrambling and suddenly it’s all square again. The Brit digs deep though and wins the game with a wonderful crosscourt winner, dipping over the net from an acute angle. Much applause from Judy Murray in the stands
1st set: Sharapova* 4-1 Konta (*denotes most recent server)
It all started so well for Konta but those early shots that were coming off are now sailing out or coming back at her with more speed. Another comfortable game for Sharapova, that, winning to love again with some brutal serving. The Russian has found her range
1st set: Sharapova 3-1 Konta* (*denotes most recent server)
Konta looked to have pulled a forehand wide in the opening point, but a successful challenge showed the ball clipped the line. No matter, she goes 30-0 down as Sharapova steps things up on return. The Russian’s power is beginning to tell and she breaks to love. Oof. Reality bites for Konta
1st set: Sharapova* 2-1 Konta (*denotes most recent server)
That’s more like it from Sharapova. A fierce forehand from the baseline puts her 30-0 up on serve but, yet again, Konta demonstrates her quality with some aggressive play of her own, clawing back to 30-30 by forcing the Russian into mistakes. A double fault then sets up a break point for Konta in successive games, but a fine second serve on her opponent’s forehand side keeps Sharapova in it. She holds.
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1st set: Sharapova 1-1 Konta* (*denotes most recent server)
Important for Konta to get on the scoreboard early on, and she duly obliges. That will calm any lingering nerves. She was made to work for it there, mind, Sharapova forcing her to deuce. This is the first time Konta has faced an opponent ranked in the top five, but thus far she seems to be trying to play her own game on the front foot.
1st set: Sharapova* 1-0 Konta (*denotes most recent server)
Impressive start from Konta, showing few nerves and taking the opening two points of the match, coming to the net with aggression. Sharapova fights back but then double faults to concede the first break point of the match. Konta steps in on second serve (a mere 103mph from Maria) but nets with a forehand. Sharapova wins an advantage but more aggression Konta is hanging in there, really impressive start from the Brit. She goes long to concede the opening game, but that lasted six minutes.
Meanwhile we are ready to get going here, and Sharapova will serve...
A stone’s throw away from Centre, Liam Broady just produced a stunning performance to advance into round two. Here’s Simon Cambers’ report on a 5-set thriller against Marinko Matosevic
Here is my colleague Kevin Mitchell previewing the match
The players are out on Centre warming up...
“She has almost been a non-factor on the grass” says Lindsay Davenport of Sharapova’s recent campaigns here. Certainly in 2004 if you had said the Russian would not win another singles title in 10 years, many would have argued otherwise.
Welcome to a first round match that is surely Konta’s biggest of her career to date. Let’s see if she can emulate the heroics of Liam Broady...
This is Johanna Konta’s first game on Centre Court and, for the world No126, quite a way to make her debut. Maria Sharapova is her opponent, the 2004 champion here and a formidable obstacle. The Russian has never been beaten in the first round at SW19 and, although she has lost three times at the second stage, if Konta pulls off an upset here it would be one of the biggest shocks in recent Wimbledon history.
James will be here soon enough.
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