KEY BISCAYNE: Seven-time grand slam winner Venus Williams exacted revenge on reigning Miami Open champion Johanna Konta on Monday with a superlative display to book her place in the quarter-finals.

In a repeat of last year’s semi-final — which was won by the British number one Konta — it was the 37-year-old American who showed no signs of fatigue to power home 5-7, 6-1, 6-2 in two hours and 19 minutes.

The three-time Key Biscayne champion now faces either Monica Puig or American Danielle Collins.

It was an impressive display by the veteran Williams who seemed puzzled when quizzed about her longevity.

Williams also had to work hard in a three-hour battle on Sunday for her passage into the fourth round, fighting off three match points before eventually seeing off Kiki Bertens.

It was the Briton who started the more assuredly on Monday. Konta broke the Williams straight away to set down an early marker in their first meeting since the semi-finals at Wimbledon last summer which resulted in home heartbreak for the 26-year old. 0Williams faced more breakpoints in the third although this time the danger was averted, thanks to some powerful serves.

Just when the erratic Konta needed to put her foot on the accelerator, it was William who responded superbly to put her opponent firmly on the back foot.

Indeed, Konta’s game seemed to totally desert her. She hit just one winner in the second set as the American began to dominate and send the encounter into a decider which began with Konta receiving lengthy treatment for a back problem.

Konta has now slipped from number 14 to number 22 in the world.

Williams will be joined in the quarters by compatriot Sloane Stephens who powered past world number three Garbine Muguruza as the seeds continued to fall.

US Open champion Stephens dominated Spain’s reigning Wimbledon champion Muguruza to record a 6-3, 6-4 win.

Stephens, the world number 12, will face Germany’s Angelique Kerber for a place in the semi-finals.

Muguruza had been the highest ranked player left in the women’s draw following the early exits of world number one Simona Halep and Caroline Wozniacki.

Meanwhile, former world number one Kerber was made to sweat in her gruelling clash with China’s Wang Yafan before prevailing 6-7 (1-7), 7-6 (7-5), 6-3.

Earlier on Monday, Czech fifth seed Karolina Pliskova booked her place in the last eight after opponent Zarina Diyas retired in the second set.

Pliskova was leading 6-2, 2-1 when the Kazakh player abandoned with an injury.

Elsewhere, former world number one Victoria Azarenka saw off Agnieszka Radwanska 6-2, 6-2.

Alexander Zverev rallied from a one set deficit to defeat Spain’s David Ferrer 2-6, 6-2, 6-4 in the third round of the men’s event as he moved a step closer to a breakthrough title this year. Zverev will next face Australian Nick Kyrgios, who beat Fabio Fognini 6-3, 6-3.

Fernando Verdasco earned a 3-6, 6-4, 7-6 (7-4) win over Australian qualifier Thanasi Kokkinakis to set up a fourth-round clash against fellow Spaniard Pablo Carreno Busta.

Next up for Verdasco is 16th seed Carreno Busta, who beat Steve Johnson 6-4, 6-4.

Also reaching the fourth round were Kevin Anderson, a 4-6, 6-2, 6-3 winner over Karen Khachanov, and Denis Shapovalov, who upset 11th-seeded American Sam Querrey 6-4, 3-6, 7-5.

Unseeded American Frances Tiafoe was leading his match against 10th seed Tomas Berdych, 6-7 (2-7), 6-2, 5-4 when it was suspended due to darkness.

Published in Dawn, March 28th, 2018