Italian Open: Johanna Konta wins twice in day to reach quarter-finals
- Published
Konta has won three WTA titles
British number one Johanna Konta reached the Italian Open quarter-finals with a 6-2 6-4 win over Venus Williams - her second match of the day.
Konta, 27, came from a set down to beat world number eight Sloane Stephens before overcoming seven-time Grand Slam winner Williams, now ranked 50th.
Williams was hampered by injury and an assured Konta won in 72 minutes.
She will play Marketa Vondrousova in the last eight in Rome after the Czech beat Russian Daria Kasatkina.
Having come from a set down to beat world number two Simona Halep earlier in the day, 19-year-old left-hander Vondrousova was again taken to three sets against Kasatkina, recording a 7-5 2-6 6-2 win in two hours and 13 minutes.
Williams received a walkover into the third round after sister Serena withdrew because of a knee injury.
The 38-year-old had won her past three meetings with Konta, including the 2017 Wimbledon semi-final.
She had her right knee strapped in Thursday's contest and, although she improved as the match wore on, Konta reached the first Premier clay-court quarter-final of her career.
World number one Naomi Osaka recorded consecutive 6-3 6-3 wins over Dominika Cibulkova and Mihaela Buzarnescu to set up a last-eight meeting with world number four Kiki Bertens.
Former French Open and Wimbledon champion Garbine Muguruza withdrew from her match against Victoria Azarenka with a thigh injury when 6-4 3-1 down.
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