I may quit in two years’ time, says Konta

Jo Konta has set herself a timeline of two more full seasons before she contemplates retiring, possibly to start a family.

the British no 1 turns 30 in May and has a schedule in her head for maximising her tennis achievements before considering other paths in life.

Having kept a low profile since bowing out of the French open in late September she is now in full training for what she reveals might be her penultimate year in the game.

‘I am looking forward to competing and see myself playing another season after that,’ she said. ‘then I am going to listen to my body, listen to my heart and soul, see where I am in my life.

‘I would like to have children so obviously that will be a factor in how long I play. Let’s look forward to hopefully 2022 and then see where we are.’

the world no 14 has a long-term partner in Jackson Wade, whom she met while he was working as a video producer at the Lawn tennis association.

they have plans for a family, but she does not envisage herself joining players like Serena Williams in being a working mother on the Wta tour.

‘It’s definitely a pathway that is becoming more walked by some really incredible women,’ she said. ‘I don’t know if that is a path for me. I can’t say I ever imagine myself playing on tour as a mother but I am not closed to the idea. one thing I have worked very hard on is to stay quite open to things around me. I am open to that changing. Probably I’d see myself retire and then start a family. But who knows?’

along with everyone else, Konta is waiting for details of next season to be finalised, with the australian open certain to be put back to February 8.

When she does resume, it will involve her playing with what she describes as a ‘little device’ to monitor the heart palpitations from which she has occasionally suffered.