Johanna Konta reaches China Open final, breaks into world top 10

Johanna Konta reaches China Open final

Johanna Konta has become the first British woman since the 1980s to break the world's top 10 after beating Madison Keys to reach the China Open final.

The 25-year-old took the first set after a tie-break before American eighth seed Keys fought back in a semi-final lasting two hours and 35 minutes.

With all to play for in the third set, Konta overcame her opponent to claim a 7-6(1) 4-6 6-4 win and put herself in contention to win the tournament.

"It's really special, I feel very blessed to be coming back for the final," Konta told BBC Sport after her hard-earned victory in Beijing on Saturday.

The 11th seed, who has matched Jo Durie's feat in reaching the top 10 in 1984, will now face Ukraine's Elina Svitolina or Poland's Agnieszka Radwanska in the final.

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