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London - Britain's Johanna Konta reached the Wimbledon third round for the first time Wednesday with a 7-6 (8/6), 4-6, 10-8 win over Donna Vekic which left her opponent in tears.
The 26-year-old Konta triumphed after three hours and 10 minutes in the sweltering Centre Court heat and goes on to face Maria Sakkari of Greece for a last-16 spot.
With Heather Watson having also made the last 32, it is the first time since 1986 that two British women have reached the third round at Wimbledon.
Vekic, watched by boyfriend Stan Wawrinka, the men's world number three, was inconsolable in defeat having squandered break points in the 17th game of the deciding set.
"It hasn't quite sunk in. I feel very fortunate to have come through that," said Konta, who had lost to the 21-year-old Croatian in the Nottingham grass court final last month.
"I overall trusted my game a bit more against her this time. I think the quality of the match today was very high. I'm definitely here with the intention of wanting to be part of the event for the full two weeks."
Konta fired 55 winners to Vekic's 42 in the gripping second round clash.
Wimbledon results on Wednesday, the third day of the 2017 championships at the All England Club (x denotes seeding):
Men
2nd rd
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (FRA x12) bt Simone Bolelli (ITA) 6-1, 7-5, 6-2
Sam Querrey (USA x24) bt Nikoloz Basilashvili (GEO) 6-4, 4-6, 6-3, 6-3
Gilles Muller (LUX x16) bt Luks Rosol (CZE) 7-5, 6-7 (7/9), 4-6, 6-3, 9-7
Roberto Bautista Agut (ESP x18) bt Peter Gojowczyk (GER) 6-2, 6-1, 3-6, 6-3
1st rd
Paolo Lorenzi (ITA x32) bt Horacio Zeballos (ARG) 7-6 (7/3), 4-6, 7-6 (10/8), 7-5
Women
2nd rd
Dominika Cibulkova (SVK x8) bt Jennifer Brady (USA) 6-4, 6-4
Ana Konjuh (CRO x27) bt Irina Begu (ROM) 7-6 (7/3), 2-6, 6-3
Maria Sakkari (GRE) bt Kristna Plskov (CZE) 6-7 (6/8), 6-4, 6-4
Victoria Azarenka (BLR) bt Elena Vesnina (RUS x15) 6-3, 6-3
Heather Watson (GBR) bt Anastasija Sevastova (LAT x18) 6-0, 6-4
