Johanna Konta racked up points in textbook fashion in Tuesday’s French Open quarterfinal.
She served out wide, opening the court for a sharp cross-court backhand and a subsequent volley winner. She served down the T, sending Sloane Stephens sliding from side-to-side.
Her attention focused on the process of each point, not the outcome. It worked to perfection—Konta beat Stephens 6-1, 6-4, dropping only one point on her serve in the second set...and it was a double fault.
Outcomes were better left in the past, after all, at least at Roland Garros. Konta entered this tournament having never won a main-draw match at the French, calling into question her ability to make a deep run on the dirt.