Konta edges Siegemund to begin New Haven campaign

NEW HAVEN, CT, USA - Great Britain's Johanna Konta scored a victory in her main draw debut at the Connecticut Open on Monday, as she bested Germany's Laura Siegemund, 6-2, 7-5.

The Brit had just one previous appearance in New Haven, falling in the qualifying of the event in 2014, but earned her first win against the German in one hour and 45 minutes. 

Siegemund was competing in her first hardcourt event at tour-level since last year's Miami Open, having returned to the tour in March after suffering a knee injury last May. 

"I knew coming into the match that Laura is one of the best competitors out there, regardless of how many matches she's played since she's come back. She's always going to be very tough to play and her level got better and better...as we saw from the first and second sets," Konta said on-court after the match.

"I just tried to knuckle down and keep doing the good things that I did do in the first set, and trust that that was going to bring me opportunities, and I took a couple."

Despite landing just 56 percent of her first serves in the match, the British No.1 lost just five points behind her first delivery overall in the victory.

She struck six aces and 22 winners to just 18 unforced errors, as Siegemund misfired with 27 unforced errors to 15 winners. The World No.46 had ample opportunities to break serve, as she went 4-for-10 on break point opportunities, and allowed the German just one break of serve in the match. 

"I'd like to think that I don't necessarily rely on [my first serve], however, it's a big part of my game," Konta said.

"I definitely build my points around that and I do the best that I can in setting up the points for myself with that serve. There was very little in it today, especially in that second set, and I'm very happy to come through."

Konta steadied herself past a streaking Siegemund in the second set, as the German rallied from an early break behind to lead on serve for much of it.

However, the Brit ran off the last three games of the victory, and used that big serve when she needed it most - saving a break point before serving it out. 

"Coming into this swing, I wanted to play as many tournaments as possible. I remember being here four years ago and I love the place," she said.

"A friend of mine went to Yale, so she was keen for me to come here as well. I'm very happy to be back here...and hopefully, we'll make it a full week."

More to come...