BRITAIN’S Johanna Konta lifted the curse of the Wimbledon favourite by cruising past Maria Sakkari and into the last 16.
Konta moved top of the billing in the bookies’ estimations on Thursday after previous incumbents Petra Kvitova and Karolina Pliskova had successively failed to justify the tag.
But Konta halted the exodus on Court One as she overcame Sakkari 6-4 6-1 to become the first British woman to make the second week of the singles at Wimbledon since Laura Robson in 2013.
She will face 21st seed Caroline Garcia of France and while Robson had been a surprise runner, there is now an expectation that Konta can go further.
“I’m very happy with that, it was gusty out there and wasn’t easy,” Konta said after the match.
“I tried to take care of the simple things and compete hard.
“Everyone’s a potential winner here. I am here to be involved until the very end and I am happy to still be here.
“The support is amazing. It’s truly humbling and it’s what we all dream of, to play on the biggest stage.”
It was not a vintage performance from the world number seven, with her forehand often wayward, particularly in the first set.
Her serve was also less potent than usual, but it is a sign of Konta’s status now that she still progressed with minimal fuss.
“I’m not particularly aware,” Konta responded, when asked about any growing pressure.
“Everyone is a potential winner here. I’m here to be involved hopefully until the very end but it’s one match at a time.
“I’m happy to come through today and get ready for a battle coming up next.”
Sakkari, the 21-year-old from Greece, is enjoying a breakthrough season with the help of Andy Murray’s former coach Mark Petchey, but she is yet to beat a top-20 player in six attempts and never looked like bucking the trend here.
Garcia was a straight-sets winner over America’s Madison Brengle, the conqueror of two-time winner Petra Kvitova in the previous round, and beat Konta in a final-set tie-break at Indian Wells this year, so will offer a tougher test.
Venus Williams, Angelique Kerber, Garbine Muguruza and Victoria Azarenka, with 12 major titles between them, are all still going strong.
But, however optimistic, the favourite tag seemed not to weigh heavy on Konta, who sent two dipping backhands past Sakkari for a first-game break and almost had 3-0 only for her opponent to stem the tide.
Sakkari failed to hit a winner until the sixth game, and even that was an ace, but she was quick around the baseline and seemingly happy to hope for the mistake.
Konta obliged too often, with her forehand unusually wild, and she had to save two break points at 4-3 before finally restoring order. Two demon serves and Konta had clinched the first set.
The trouble for Sakkari was that if Konta found her range, she would have little to offer in reply, and so it proved as successive breaks in the second set put the Briton 3-0 to the good.
Sakkari showed some late resistance, threatening a break back at 4-1, but nothing could stop Konta, who shrieked in delight when a final backhand fired long.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here