WADE: I’M BACKING KONTA TO TRIUMPH
Wade backs Konta to repeat her feat and bag Britain’s first ladies title since ’77
VIRGINIA WADE last night signalled her belief that Jo Konta is ready to become the first British women’s champion at Wimbledon since she won the title 40 years ago. The winner from the Silver Jubilee year of 1977 reckons Konta is as well-equipped as anyone to come through a wide open women’s singles field. ‘That would be fantastic. She seems a great girl and I think she is ready,’ said Wade. ‘I would be thrilled for her to win. She is such a hard worker so she would deserve it in that sense. She is playing with conviction and that is key in this situation.’ Konta and Andy Murray will play a leading role in Wimbledon’s ‘Manic Monday’ that sees all the fourth round men’s and women’s matches being played. Both British players tackle French opposition, with Murray taking on Benoit Paire on Centre Court and Konta up against 21st seed Caroline Garcia on Court No 1.
Virginia WaDE has watched in fascination as the plethora of contenders for the wide open women’s singles have nervously tried to navigate their way through Wimbledon.
On a visit from her new York home, the 1977 champion has detected an edginess among the field that she feels is down to so many thinking they are in with a genuine chance.
Still one of the more acute observers of the game, Wade believes that could favour Jo Konta emulating her famous triumph in front of the Queen on the 40th anniversary of that win.
‘angelique Kerber is jjust pushing the ball and ( eliminated) Petra Kvitova startedted pushing it whenen she got in trouuble,’ Wade toldd Sportsmail.
‘When Karolina Pliskova was serving at 5-6 in her second set, she hit three terriblee shots and that t really damages es your confidence nce (the third seed went on to lose).
‘i’m not sure VictoriaViti aazarenka is ready, her serve looks a bit shaky. There have been a lot of terrific women’s matches and that’s partly because there’s a lot of tension about.
‘Who manages to avoid getting choked up is going to be very important — it is a sign that there are a lot of women who think that they can win this tournament, and it will be fascinating to see who really believes it. if anyone does, they may well be the winner.
‘Maybe Venus will be a little less tense than the others because she is older and has done so much before.’
it is Wade’s hope that Konta can emerge from the last 16 and nobody will have a better understanding of how the no 6 seed is feeling as she approaches the second week.
‘it would be fantastic if Jo could do it,’ said Wade. ‘She seems a great girl and i think she is ready. i would be thrilled for her to win. She is such a hard worker, so she would really deserve it in that sense. She has won the MiamiMia Open and while thathat is not as big as Wimbledon,Wim it is still important. ‘nnot only does shshe have great ddeterminattion but everrything technically has improved. ‘She is playiing with real coconviction and ththat is absolutelutely key in this situasituation.’ When it comes to what wisdowisdom she might dispense on the subject of handling pressure, Wade draws upon personal experience.
‘You just have to put the blinkers on. Obviously the world has changed from when i was playing but i was always a big proponent of having someone filter out what you see and hear because, inevitably, you can get a bit sensitive about it.
‘it can be very distracting. You have to try to stay in your own cocoon and don’t worry about being boring if you have to be. Wimbledon is tough for the home players. You have lots of friends and family around and there’s so much interest in what you’re doing. in some ways it’s easier when you’re overseas and there is less interest in you.’
While it would be beyond the wildest dreams of British tennis for a double success, Wade, who will be present during the second week, does not rule it out.
‘it could definitely happen. i don’t think andy is playing as well as he was a year ago but he is finding a way to win. i sometimes wonder how anyone manages to win the last point against him.’
Sixth seed Konta has a tough assignment today against the talented Caroline garcia and will have to erase the memory of losing to the French no 2 in a sudden- death tiebreak at indian Wells in March.
Konta’s Belgian coach Wim Fissette admits it was a match in which, unusually, she struggled to remain outwardly calm.
‘For me, that was a strange match where she was not really able to control her emotions very well,’ he said.
‘in the tiebreak, she was not really ready to compete at her best because i saw her shaking her head after the first point. We spoke after the match and i said, “Jo, if there’s something that i expect from you, it’s to be mentally right there, because it is one of your strengths”.’
He believes that Konta’s second- round epic against Donna Vekic here will stand her in good stead.
‘i think it was a very important match for her, especially on Centre Court,’ Fissette said.
‘She got a lot of confidence that she is able to play well under very high pressure. Mentally it will help her.’