Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
AT BREAKING POINT
Tensions high for battle of the Brits after Konta reveals her hurt over cardboard cut-out stunt
JO KONTA has revealed her hurt at being mocked by her fellow pros the last time she was involved in a Battle of the Brits.
The No.9 seed faces Heather Watson – the only other UK woman in the singles draw – in the first round of the US Open today.
But last year’s quarter-finalist in New York played a less central role in the Battle of the Brits organised by Jamie Murray in London last month.
The British No.1 played only two singles and a mixed doubles – and did not enjoy the courtside barracking from the opposition team at the feisty behind-closed-doors event.
And when Konta did not attend the final day of the exhibition event, she was substituted by a cardboard cut-out, which was paraded around the court. It clearly amused the other players and coaches – including her Fed Cup captain Anne Keothavong – but not Konta.
“It’s kind of a decision and choice they made and I think it reflects more on them than me,” she said.
Sydney-born Konta has always been an outsider in British tennis.
She disappointed former Fed Cup captain Judy Murray by pulling out of the team in 2016.
And Keothavong l abelled her “quirky” after Konta, who helped Great Britain into the World Group II for the first time in 26 years last year, declared she would not be available in 2020.
Cheering on the British Bulldogs against the Union Jacks at the National Tennis Centre is definitely not her scene. And she feels let down her position was not explained by Jamie Murray.
“When I went into the Brits my understanding and my agreement with Jamie was that I was only ever meant to play two matches so there was never any talk of the kind of events like Fed Cup where you should be at the side of the court – there was none of that,” said Konta.
“I s c h e d u l e d my training accordingly so that’s why I wasn’t there. The nature of the event changed as the days went on and it became more intense, people took it more seriously.
“The way I approached it stayed the same from beginning to end.
Some may have misunderstood that or interpreted it as not supporting, but no one asked me and Jamie never really told anyone I was only contracted to play two matches.”
Konta l ooked i mpressive in reaching the semi-finals at last week’s Western & Southern Open and is a contender for her first Grand Slam title with six of the world’s top eight absent. And there should be no ill-feeling with British No.2 Watson.
“We get on well and we always have a good chat at the NTC,” added Konta. “She is one of the girls I am closer to out of those at home.”
French players are “in a bubble in the bubble” after the positive Covidtest for Benoit Paire. The world No.22 has withdrawn and all those in contact with him face daily tests.