Before this match, these two players had only met once. That meeting was last year at Johanna Konta's home tournament in Eastbourne. On that day, she defeated Ekaterina Makarova in straight sets. Makarova was hoping to level the head-to-head score in this fourth round match in Melbourne.
Makarova Overcomes Early Break To Take First Set
The Russian served first in the match and had to save two break points, before holding her serve with help from a couple of errors from Konta. After failing to capitalize on her break point opportunities, it was crucial for the Brit to hold her serve. Despite giving her opponent a couple of break point opportunities, the world number 47 managed to take the game and level the score.
In the third game, it was the Brit who gained the advantage, breaking Makarova's serve at love, after a number of forehand errors from the Russian. The 24-year-old backed up the break by holding her service game, saving a break point in the process. After saving two break points with backhand winners, the Russian managed to take the game on the fifth game point opportunity to keep within a break. Konta's failure to convert her break point chances proved to be costly when the 21st seed broke in the next game, leveling the score at 3-3.
Both players comfortably held their next service games. In the 9th game, Konta once again failed to capitalize on a break point opportunity. Makarova hit an ace and a forehand winner to take the game. The British number one was serving to take the set to a tiebreak, but soon found herself 40-0 down after hitting three errors. Makarova could not close out on two of the set points, as she hit a couple of backhand errors. However, the third time was the charm as her opponent hit a double fault to give her the game and the set.
Konta Wins Set Full Of Errors
The second set was different from the first as the only break of serve came in the very first game. Makarova went 40-0 up, but could still not close the game out. After a double fault by the Russian, Konta hit a couple of winners to bring the score to deuce. The 21st seed then hit two forehand errors to give Konta the game.
There was only one more break point opportunity in the set. That came in the third game, but Konta failed to convert. From there, both players managed to hold their service games with relative ease. Only one game went as far as deuce. Both players were hitting a range of errors that allowed for the easy holds. That led Konta to a 5-4 lead and a chance to serve for the set. After a number of errors from Makarova, Konto held to finish the set at 6-4.
Konta Breaks Twice To Close Final Set
In the decisive third set, Makarova served first and held after some strong backhand shots. The first break point opportunity came in the next game. Konta saved this with a forehand winner, before eventually managing to hold. Just like in the end of the second set, both players would then start holding their service games. Finally, in the 7th game, Konta had two break point opportunities. Makarova would save those however and took the game with a forehand winner.
The first break of serve came in the 9th game. Konta was hitting well with two strong winners and a poor backhand shot by Makarova that gifted the Brit a break point. Another error from the Russian gave Konta the game and advantage in the set. Konta just had to hold her serve to win the match, but in the next game, she was broken back to put the set back on serve. Makarova backed up the break by winning her service game. The British number one then held her serve to bring the score to 6-6.
With the score level, the next break of serve was critical to the outcome of the match. It came during Makarova's next service game. After a number of errors from the Russian, Konta took the game and the opportunity to serve for the match. Konta did not falter. An ace on the first point of the game showed Konta's intent to get the match over with. She would force Makarova into playing a couple of bad shots as Konta took the match and a spot in the quarterfinals. The Brit will play Shuai Zhang next.
Match Statistics
During the match both players were very error prone. Konta was not quite as bad, hitting 43 unforced errors while Makarova hit 60. Neither player was very good at converting break points. Konta only converted four of 12 and Makarova converted just three of eleven. The Russian was hurt the most with her second serve with Konta winning 32 of the 47 points played.