Konta confident ahead of Wimbledon, fires back at reporter post-defeat in Birmingham

Sport360 staff 17:36 23/06/2017
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  • One to watch: Johanna Konta.

    Johanna Konta has cried tears during the build-up to Wimbledon – but over furniture rather than tennis.

    The British No1 will shoulder the burden of a level of expectation higher than ever before at SW19 after her ascent into the top 10. And, with the women’s game as wide open as at any time in living memory, Konta goes into Wimbledon as a legitimate title hope.

    Not that the woman herself will engage in such talk, preferring to focus on the processes that have propelled her to unforeseen heights.

    Konta’s early exit from the French Open allowed her both to begin her grass preparations early and to continue making over the flat she bought in London at the end of last year.

    Not that things have been going as smoothly on the home front as on court. The 26-year-old told Press Association Sport: “I received my chest of drawers and my bedside table, which was very exciting.

    “They dropped off my chest of drawers, I picked it up, I already broke it. It’s funny now – at the time it was devastating. I called my dad, crying. Obviously I’m not around enough to make a massive stamp on things so furniture seems to be arriving roughly every two months.

    “I’m really happy that I’ve completed all my major buys. I’ve got two beds, I’ve got a dining table and a sofa, so now it’s just the little things.

    “I’ve ordered a coffee table but I’ve got no lamps still so I need to work on lamps. But I’m enjoying it and it’s really nice to have that base in London.”


    Konta’s rise has been centred on a mental steeliness that has allowed her mostly to park her emotions in the locker room.

    It has been a difficult time for Konta, with the death of her mental coach Juan Coto last November, but she has not allowed grief to derail her progress.

    Coto’s methods and messages remain a key part of her armoury, and will be especially important with the spotlight shining brightly.

    “The court size is the same, the lines are in the same place, the net’s the same height so in terms of the game, the only change is the surface,” said Konta, who won the biggest title of her career at the Miami Open in April.

    “It’s the same tour, the same challenges and competitiveness. I do notice the crowd but I think the British crowd are very respectful of all the players. There’s a lot to look forward to and a lot to be excited about in this part of the season for me personally but for all the Brits as well, being at home for so many weeks in a row and then it all being capped off with Wimbledon.”

    The 25-year-old lost early in Birmingham this week but is happy with her form.

    She said: “I feel like I’m striking the ball very well. It’s just small things I think that will come together, and I feel like there’s a run coming soon.”

    Following her second round loss to Coco Vandeweghe in Birmingham, Konta did not appreciate a reporter implying she’s racked up multiple defeats in a short span of time ahead of Wimbledon.

    “Another defeat in a short span? I think I did okay I made finals last week. But cheers for the positivity,” Konta quipped back with a sarcastic laugh.

    The reporter asked her if her final defeat to Donna Vekic in Nottingham and second round exit in Birmingham were a “big blow” to her Wimbledon preparations.

    “Is it a big blow for you?” asked Konta.

    “Me losing second round against a very good player on this surface is by no means a blow. It’s part of the game. Just because I am seven in the world does not mean I am entitled to winning every single match. My job is to go out there and do the best that I can,” said Konta.

    “Point being that I think I actually played two good matches here. I played a very good first round against someone who made semis last week in Hertogenbosch. I think I played a great match there. I think last week I played five great matches. I lost to a player who played better than me on the day.”

    * Provided by Press Association

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