Konta wary of Wimbledon hype after beating Watson

JO KONTA insists she will not allow herself to be bogged down by expectations ahead of Wimbledon after winning her all- British battle against Heather Watson.

British No 1 Konta reached the semi-finals of SW19 last year and is well aware that home fans will want her to mount a similar run next month.

Yesterday’s 6-4, 7-6 win over Watson in Nottingham sent the world No 22 into the quarterfinals of the Nature Valley Open, where she faces Dalila Jakupovic of Slovenia, ranked 118.

After Nottingham, Konta will play in Birmingham and Eastbourne, but she is not thinking about any pressure on her shoulders.

‘Not at all,’ said Konta (right). ‘The only person I’m accountable to is myself.

‘The crowd here want to see entertainment. That’s what I hope to provide. It’s a long way until Wimbledon. I’m keeping my mind here.

‘I’m happy with how I have competed. I can take a lot of highs from that and keep building.’

While Konta and Watson topped the billing here yesterday, 21-year-old Brit Katie Boulter stole some of their limelight by reaching her first WTA quarter-final.

Boulter is hoping Wimbledon’s wildcard committee take note of her 7-6, 6-1 victory over former US Open champion Samantha Stosur. She will face No 1 seed Ashleigh Barty next. ‘I’m staying at home, I’m in my own bed, I’ve got my whole family here so I’m really lucky,’ said Boulter, born in Leicester. ‘It’s up to the committee but I’m doing my best.’