RG Day 10 Surprises: Konta cruises into semifinals

By Nina PanticPublished June 04, 2019

Each day of Roland Garros, Baseline will sum up the action with a photo gallery of the top surprises.

Konta Cruises

PARIS, FRANCE - JUNE 04: Johanna Konta of Great Britain celebrates victory during her ladies singles quarter-final match against Sloane Stephens of The United States during Day ten of the 2019 French Open at Roland Garros on June 04, 2019 in Paris, France. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images) — © 2019 Getty Images

Johanna Konta became the first British female since 1983 to reach the Roland Garros semifinals with a smooth 6-1, 6-4 win over Sloane Stephens. Konta didn't win a match in her first four French Open appearances, but this year she's 15-3 on clay.

Marketa Marches

PARIS, FRANCE - JUNE 04: Marketa Vondrousova of The Czech Republic plays a backhand during her ladies singles quarter-final match against Petra Martic of Croatia during Day ten of the 2019 French Open at Roland Garros on June 04, 2019 in Paris, France. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images) — © Julian Finney/Getty Images

Despite having lost to Petra Martic four times in her career, including twice in 2019, Marketa Vondrousova turned the tide on Tuesday. She won 7-6 (1), 7-5 to earn a spot in her first Grand Slam semifinal. The 19-year-old Czech came back from 5-3 down in the first set, and needed four match points to pull off the feat. She'll face Konta on Thursday.

Serena Shines

Serena Williams of the US returns the ball to Sofia Kenin of the US during their women's singles third round match on day seven of The Roland Garros 2019 French Open tennis tournament in Paris on June 1, 2019. (Photo by Anne-Christine POUJOULAT / AFP) (Photo credit should read ANNE-CHRISTINE POUJOULAT/AFP/Getty Images) — © AFP/Getty Images

You may have been well aware that Serena Williams is very wealthy, but $255 million? The 37-year-old appears on the cover of Forbes' June issue for making the Richest Self-Made Women list. A lot of her income comes from investing in startups and starting her own companies.

Sabatini Says What?

NEW YORK, NY - March10: Gabriela Sabatini of Argentina smiles as she waits for Monica Seles of the United States to serve during the BNP Paribas Showdown at Madison Square Garden on March 10, 2015 in New York City. (Photo by Rich Schultz /Getty Images) — © 2015 Getty Images

Five-time Roland Garros semifinalist Gabriela Sabatini was given the Philippe Chatrier award, which honors those that has made contributions to tennis. In press, she somehow got roped into defending women's tennis.

Q: It seems that women tennis is not living its best moment, actually.

Sabatini: Why is that?

Q: Not such personalities as in the past, big rivalry. For example, you and Steffi and Martina and Chris, and so on. Do you have any explanation? Do you think the women's game went too physical for that?

Sabatini: No, I mean, I don't see it that way. I think you see a lot of -- you know, the level of tennis on women's is very good these days. I see so many new athletes coming out. Physically, they are much more stronger. And I see some of them that I really like the way they play, and their charisma.

Rain Arrives

PARIS, FRANCE - JUNE 04: A general view inside Court Philippe Chatrier as play is stopped due to poor weather in the mens singles quarter-final match between Rafael Nadal of Spain and Kei Nishikori of Japan during Day ten of the 2019 French Open at Roland Garros on June 04, 2019 in Paris, France. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images) — © Getty Images

While there have been some very wet weeks in Roland Garros' history, this fortnight has been largely dry. A storm decided to make a big impact though by crashing the Roger Federer and Stan Wawrinka party at 3-3 in the fourth set. Federer would close the match out, 7-6 (4), 4-6, 7-6 (5), 6-4.