Johanna Konta beaten in Western and Southern Open semi-final while Naomi Osaka progresses

Briton was defeated by Victoria Azarenka as Osaka overcame Elise Mertens

British No1 Johanna Konta came up short on Friday (Getty Images)

Johanna Konta fell short in her bid to make the Western & Southern Open final after she was beaten by Victoria Azarenka on Friday.

Konta drew first blood in the semi-final, but the two-time Grand Slam winner came back to win 4-6 6-4 6-1 and set up a final against Naomi Osaka.

It ends a positive week for British No1 Konta, who was aiming to make her ninth career final, as she looked somewhere back to her best.

Although Konta will be disappointed not to be contesting the final, her defeat does at least give her the weekend off ahead of next week’s US Open, where she has to be considered one of the contenders for the New York Grand Slam given her form this week – though she faces a tense first-round clash against fellow Briton Heather Watson.

After play at Flushing Meadows was suspended on Thursday in protest of the shooting of black American Jacob Blake by police, Konta broke in the fifth game of the match and then saw the opening set out, eventually sealing it 6-4 on her eighth set point.

Neither player was able to dominate their serve in the second set, with five breaks, but Azarenka got three of them to even the match up.

Konta was not having the same penetration as in the first set and Azarenka claimed an early break to lead 3-1 and then followed it up with another.

The Belarusian, who is enjoying something of a renaissance following several years in the doldrums after injuries and a custody battle over her son, then served it out to claim a memorable win.

Meanwhile, former world No1 Osaka defeated Elise Mertens of Belgium 6-2 7-6 (5).

Japan’s Osaka originally pulled out of the match as she protested the shooting of Blake, but she later reversed her decision.

Osaka lifted the US Open trophy in 2018 for her maiden major crown, but she was defeated by Belinda Bencic in the fourth round at Flushing Meadows last year.

PA