JOHANNA KONTA’S defence of her Miami Open title ended yesterday as US veteran Venus Williams beat the British number one 5-7 6-1 6-2 in their fourth-round match in Key Biscayne.

The result will see 11th seed Konta drop from 14th in the world rankings to outside the top 20.

Konta won last year’s Miami Open, beating Denmark’s Caroline Wozniacki 6-4 6-3 and becoming the first British woman to take the title. 

Williams, making her 19th appearance at the tournament and reaching the quarter-finals for a 13th time, enjoyed the vocal home support as she produced an outstanding display after coming off second best in a wobbly opening set.

The 37-year-old will face fellow American Danielle Collins in the last
eight. 

Collins triumphed 3-6 6-4 6-2 against Puerto Rico’s Monica Puig, who had seen off world number two Wozniacki at the weekend.