JO’S FLYING HIGH

History-making Konta setting her sights on Wimbledon glory and taking world No.1 spot

JO KONTA is targeting a Grand Slam title and top spot in the world rankings after the biggest win of her career at the Miami Open.

The new world No.7 beat Caroline Wozniacki 6-4 6-3 to claim her third WTA title – and the biggest by a British player since the 1977 Wimbledon triumph of Virginia Wade (right).

Now Konta, who turns 26 next month, wants to use the victory as a springboard to greater success.

“I have always had belief I could become a Grand Slam champion, and the best player in the world,” she said.

“Without that, victories are not as sweet and defeats not as motivating. I want to work and try to bring out the best in myself. Wherever that gets me is where it will get me but hopefully the day I hang up my racket I will be able to say that I really maximised my ability.” Konta is a hard-court specialist. Her best Grand Slam performance came last year at the Australian Open where she reached reached the semi-final. But she has never won a match at the French Open and has reached the second round at Wimbledon only once in five attempts. The British No.1, who play in Charleston next, said she had needed time to develop as a player before becoming a contender. The Sydney-born star, who moved to Eastbourne as a teenager, has worked hard to overcome the nerves which dogged her earlier career. “I needed to live certain experiences, on the court and also off it,” she explained. “Being a tennis player is not just a job, it is a lifestyle. “I needed to grow up in different areas, outside tennis, before I could transfer that to the court.”