Konta: Event not wide open

– Johanna Konta (above) believes that the lack of a clear favourite for the Australian Open reflects the growing strength in depth of women’s tennis.

Asked by reporters if the year’s first Grand Slam – minus defending champion and new mum Serena Williams – was now wide open, Konta had a curt response.

“What does that mean? Whenever I get asked that question, it always comes across in an almost negative way instead of acknowledging how many great players we have,” the world No 9 said.

“The championship is open in the sense there’s so many great players,” she added.

“You just see it in every round, in tournaments, in Slams. There’s so many massive first rounds, tough second rounds. That’s not specific to a Grand Slam. That’s the same in Brisbane. I played (US Open finalist) Madison Keys in the first round.

“Even in Sydney I played (former world No 2) Agnieszka (Radwanska). It’s exciting for the fans who bought tickets. They know when they’re coming, whatever day they bought tickets, there’s going to be great matches on.”

Konta ended her 2017 season early after a foot injury caused a slump in late-season form which saw her miss out on the WTA Tour finals.

And her start to the 2018 season has not been entirely smooth – a retirement in the quarterfinals at the Brisbane International with a hip injury was followed by a first-round defeat to Radwanska in Sydney.

“I kind of hit a bit of a wall,” Konta admitted when asked Saturday about her end of 2017 woes.

“I just wasn’t able to roll with the punches really any more.” –

Melbourne