Niculescu sends Konta out in first round of China Open News

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Niculescu sends Konta out in first round of China Open

By Daily Sports on October 2, 2017

Britain's Johanna Konta tasted her fifth straight defeat from world number 65 Monica Niculescu 6-1 6-2 which opened the door for her exit at the ongoing China Open in Beijing.

The 26-year-old, who is ranked 58 places higher than her Romanian opponent, succumbed in just 64 minutes.

Konta has endured a miserable run since making the Wimbledon semi-finals, winning only twice across six events.

She is currently in the eighth and final qualification spot for the season-ending WTA Finals in Singapore.

Garbine Muguruza, Simona Halep, Karolina Pliskova, Elina Svitolina, Venus Williams and Caroline Wozniacki have already secured their places, with French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko a place ahead of Konta.

If Konta does make the season finale, she will need a drastic improvement to make any impression against the elite of the women's game.

Niculescu went out of Wimbledon in the first round this year, losing to Magdalene Rybarikova in straight sets

She lost her serve to love at the first two times of asking in the opening set, before Niculescu held to love for a 5-0 lead.

Two more breaks followed in the second set as Konta ended with 38 unforced errors across 15 games.

•Photo shows Johanna Konta.

Source Daily Sports

Posted October 2, 2017