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'Jokes' help inspire Hsieh to Konta shock

Paris - Taiwan's Hsieh Su-Wei credited her "relaxed" approach after the world number 109 stunned Britain's Johanna Konta in the French Open first round on Tuesday.

Doubles specialist Hsieh, 31, recovered from a dreadful start to knock off seventh seed Konta 1-6, 7-6 (7/2), 6-4 on Court Philippe Chatrier.

"I tried very hard and gave myself a big chance. Every time I tried to run as fast as I can and get the ball back," said Hsieh, who won for the just the second time in seven trips to Roland Garros.

"I like to do some different stuff. I think it's quite fun to play the match like that, I don't know if that's really nice or but I like to go out on court and enjoy the match."

Hsieh had won just twice at tour level this year and appeared to be heading for a swift exit as Konta raced through the opening set.

"I was like, 'Oh my god', I was missing a lot of balls," Hsieh recounted of her slow start.

"Second set we start again, I don't think about the first set so it was a new set for me and it was pretty good..."

Hsieh won the 2014 French Open doubles title with China's Peng Shuai, as well Wimbledon in 2013, but it was the first time she had played on the main Roland Garros show court in singles.

"I was making jokes, 'Oh coach I am so nervous I cannot play'. When you make it fun you feel more relaxed on the court," Hsieh, who lives in Paris with her French boyfriend, said of her calm demeanour. "It was an amazing result."

"It was not easy as she is a great player. I had to fight for every point otherwise she would hit a winner or open the court.

"She's a big player. I feel I'm pretty small. The women hit the ball really big right now, it's not really easy for the Asian players because we're not like the other girls hitting the big shots.

"I was trying to keep myself ready on the court and trying to play my game."

Hsieh's win over Konta was her first over a top 10 player and she goes on to face Taylor Townsend of the United States for a spot in the last 32.

Konta, who fired 37 winners but also 38 unforced errors, has yet to win a match in Paris in three main draw appearances.

"I think I probably came out of the blocks a bit quicker than she did. And then, like with every match, things usually level off and both players kind of find their rhythm," said eighth-ranked Konta.

"But then there were times where I felt that she did play incredibly well. And, I mean, there were some points there where I didn't do much wrong, and she really was -- she surprised me with actually how well she moved on the clay and also how solid she was.

"You know, everyone knows she's a very talented player and she's got great feel, but she was incredibly solid today, so that made it very tough to play her."

French Open results on Tuesday, the third day of the 2017 tournament at Roland Garros (x denotes seeding):

Men

First round

Andy Murray (GBR x1) bt Andrey Kuznetsov (RUS) 6-4, 4-6, 6-2, 6-0

Martin Klizan (SVK) bt Laurent Lokoli (FRA) 7-6 (7/4), 6-3, 4-6, 0-6, 6-4

Nicolas Almagro (ESP) bt Marcos Baghdatis (CYP) 6-7 (3/7), 6-4, 6-3, 7-6 (7/1)

Juan Martin Del Potro (ARG x29) bt Guido Pella (ARG) 6-2, 6-1, 6-4

John Isner (USA x21) bt Jordan Thompson (AUS) 6-3, 4-6, 7-6 (7/5), 6-3

Paolo Lorenzi (ITA) bt Ricardas Berankis (LTU) 6-0, 6-2, 6-4

Karen Khachanov (RUS) bt Nicolas Jarry (CHI) 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (7/4), 6-1

Tomas Berdych (CZE x13) bt Jan-Lennard Struff (GER) 6-1, 6-1, 4-6, 6-4

Fernando Verdasco (ESP) bt Alexander Zverev (GER x9) 6-4, 3-6, 6-4, 6-2

Hyeon Chung (KOR) bt Sam Querrey (USA x27) 6-4, 3-6, 6-3, 6-3

Denis Istomin (UZB) bt Ernesto Escobedo (USA) 7-6 (7/3), 6-3, 6-4

Jermy Chardy (FRA) bt Radu Albot (MDA) 6-2, 6-4, 7-6 (7/3)

Kei Nishikori (JPN x8) bt Thanasi Kokkinakis (AUS) 4-6, 6-1, 6-4, 6-4

Stan Wawrinka (SUI x3) bt Jozef Kovalik (SVK) 6-2, 7-6 (8/6), 6-3

Alexandr Dolgopolov (UKR) bt Carlos Berlocq (ARG) 7-5, 6-3, 6-4

Gael Monfils (FRA x15) bt Dustin Brown (GER) 6-4, 7-5, 6-0

Kyle Edmund (GBR) bt Gastao Elias (POR) 6-3, 6-2, 7-5

Kevin Anderson (RSA) bt Malek Jaziri (TUN) 7-6 (7/4), 6-3, 7-6 (7/4)

Nick Kyrgios (AUS x18) bt Philipp Kohlschreiber (GER) 6-3, 7-6 (7/4), 6-3

Women

First round

Elina Svitolina (UKR x5) bt Yaroslava Shvedova (KAZ) 6-4, 6-3

Tsvetana Pironkova (BUL) bt Mona Barthel (GER) 6-0, 6-4

Anastasija Sevastova (LAT x17) bt Annika Beck (GER) 6-2, 6-4

Eugenie Bouchard (CAN) bt Risa Ozaki (JPN) 2-6, 6-3, 6-2

Petra Martic (CRO) bt Kateryna Bondarenko (UKR) 6-2, 7-5

Madison Keys (USA x12) bt Ashleigh Barty (AUS) 6-3, 6-2

Sorana Cirstea (ROM) bt Peng Shuai (CHN) 6-3, 6-1

Carla Suarez Navarro (ESP x21) bt Maria Sakkari (GRE) 6-4, 6-2

Darya Kasatkina (RUS) bt Yanina Wickmayer (BEL) 7-5, 6-4

Marketa Vondrousova (CZE) bt Amandine Hesse (FRA) 6-1, 6-0

Tatjana Malek (GER) bt Duan Ying-Ying (CHN) 6-4, 6-1

Simona Halep (ROM x3) bt Jana Cepelova (SVK) 6-2, 6-3

Hsieh Su-Wei (TPE) bt Johanna Konta (GBR x7) 1-6, 7-6 (7/2), 6-4

Taylor Townsend (USA) bt Miyu Kato (JPN) 6-4, 6-0

Chloe Paquet (FRA) bt Kristyna Pliskova (CZE) 6-7 (4/7), 6-2, 6-2

Caroline Garcia (FRA x28) bt Nao Hibino (JPN) 6-2, 6-2

Barbora Strycova (CZE x20) bt Alison Riske (USA) 6-3, 6-0

Alize Cornet (FRA) bt Timea Babos (HUN) 6-2, 6-7 (5/7), 6-2

Alison Van Uytvanck (BEL) bt Naomi Osaka (JPN) 6-3, 7-5

Agnieszka Radwanska (POL x9) bt Fiona Ferro (FRA) 6-1, 6-1



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