Konta’s agent Vicky is well connected
Jo Konta is managed by the daughter of all England Club chairman Philip Brook and that could become an issue now she has reached the women’s singles quarter-finals.
the massive focus on Konta, bidding to be the first British female to win Wimbledon for 40 years, may mean every decision is made more complicated by her octagon agent being Vicky Brook.
It can work both ways, with Konta’s fourthround match against Caroline Garcia yesterday surprisingly not scheduled for Centre Court when her claims looked stronger than Venus Williams. It was as if Wimbledon wanted to go out of their way to show Konta is not receiving special treatment.
Wimbledon chief executive Richard Lewis said it had been a unanimous decision of the order of play committee to put five-time champion Williams on the main court and that Konta’s management connections had not been part of the discussions.
Vicky Brook, asked about the potential conflict, said: ‘this is nothing to do with my dad.’
an all England Club spokeswoman said there was no concern.
LOUIS PAUL GARCIA, father and coach of Jo Konta’s last-16 opponent Caroline Garcia, appeared to be breaking the rules by giving instructions from the players’ box. This picture (right) and a video on social media seem to show him advising a ‘cross-court’ tactic to his daughter in the first-set tiebreak.
BBC will be chasing better figures than the disappointing 6.6million who tuned in to andy Murray’s third-round match against Fabio Fognini on Friday, especially as the contest took place past 9pm in peak viewing time. Since Murray wrapped up his last-16 match well before 5pm yesterday, it will be tomorrow before his quarter-final gives the Beeb the chance to better Friday’s audience.
THE vast number of golfers in the Royal Box yesterday points to the Wimbledon hierarchy being keen on a reciprocal invite to next week’s Open at Royal Birkdale. The line-up included Peter Alliss, Matt Fitzpatrick, Ernie Els, Lee Westwood and European Tour boss Keith Pelley, with R&A chief executive Martin Slumbers there last week.