Johanna Konta vs Simona Halep
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This match will have perhaps the biggest local following, with British No. 1 Johanna Konta taking to center court against World No. 2 Simona Halep. It is the first time in 44 years since a Briton has made the quarter-finals in both the men’s and women’s singles, making it especially important to local fans.
That said, there is more on the line in this match for Simona Halep than there is for anyone else. The Romanian ace has only to make it to the semi-finals to take the World No. 1 ranking – making her one match win away from taking top spot. That might add pressure, but it will doubtless also inject some firepower into her game.
This is Konta’s first ever quarter-final at Wimbledon.
Halep, on the other hand, has made the semi-finals at the tournament before, and enjoyed a steady ascent – and stay in the higher end of the rankings over the past 5 seasons, no mean feat for sustained talent.
Although Halep is an aggressive baseline player, her big, heavy groundstrokes are powerful and she defends well. Key here will be fast movement across the court – another skill that Halep is adept at.
The Romanian has also flourished especially at Grand Slams, and put up a fierce contest, scrapping a set off rival Maria Sharapova, in the finals of the 2014 French Open – Halep’s first ever Grand Slam final.
Halep and Konta have played each other twice before, with both matches going in the Briton’s favour, but with Halep taking a set each time. Neither, however, was at the Grand Slam level. There might also be some bad blood here, with Konta heckled and verbally harassed by Romanian coach Ilie Nastase at the Fed Cup match between Romania and Great Britain. Nastase was penalised for his behaviour, which saw Konta leave the court for a short period in tears.
Given the pair’s last meeting happened in acrimonious circumstances, the two will bring aggression into today’s game.
Crowd support might spur Konta on, but this one should go Halep’s way.
Prediction: Simona Halep to win in straight sets
