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Halep calls out Konta for long bathroom break before 3rd set

REUTERS/Tony O'Brien

Johanna Konta's performance at Wimbledon on Tuesday was impressive, but her extended bathroom break between the second and third sets didn't impress her opponent, Simona Halep.

"She does that all the time," Halep told reporters in the press room following her three-set quarterfinals loss, according to Stuart Fraser of The Times.

Konta left the court following a tension-filled second-set tiebreak - which she had taken 7-5 - and returned to Centre Court six minutes later. While waiting for her opponent, an irritated Halep questioned the chair umpire about the length of Konta's absence. Konta wound up securing a service break in the middle portion of the third set, and took the deciding frame 6-4.

Halep was also miffed by the way the match ended. The Romanian gave up on the final rally after a fan screamed in the middle of the point. The chair umpire chose not to order a do-over of the point, instead announcing Konta as the winner.

"It was actually as I was hitting my ball," a joyous Konta told the BBC in the tunnel immediately after sealing the win. "It more affected me than necessarily my opponent. I think it was just a bit of emotions running."

Halep, who entered the tournament seeded second, would've become the top-ranked player in the world had she managed to defeat her British foe. The 25-year-old is still in search of her first career Grand Slam.

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