MURRAY’S ANGER AT McENROE No.4 JIBES
Konta fluffs her big chance of grass-court title on home turf
ANDY MURRAY has fired back at John McEnroe by telling him he deserves to be world No.1.
And the double Olympic champion insisted players should not just be judged on
TOP SEED Jo Konta blew the chance to win her first tournament on home soil – losing to the world No.70 in the final of the Aegon Open.
The British No.1 seemed well on course to win the Nottingham title when she broke Croatian 20-year-old Donna Vekic to love in the opening game before racing to the first set.
But the hot favourite, who had not dropped a set all tournament, melted in the Midlands sun to lose 2-6 7-6 7-5 in two hours and 29 minutes in her first grasscourt final.
It is a psychologically damaging blow to last year’s Australian Open semi- finalist in her build-up to Wimbledon.
Sue Barker at Brighton in 1981 remains the last British woman to win a WTA-level event in the UK.
World No.8 Konta, who has won hard-court titles in Sydney and Miami this year, said: “She was able to raise her level throughout that match and I was just not able to stay with her, so full credit to her for playing incredibly well.
“I think she definitely won it in the end. It just came down to her playing slightly better than me today. But I’m very happy that I got to play five great matches on the grass.”
She is now scheduled to play in Birmingham this week and then her home event in Eastbourne before Wimbledon starts on July 3.
Konta showed her frustration by disputing a line-call in the second set as she saved three set points before the tie-break – and contested another decision in the decider.
From 3-1 down, the No.1 seed fought back to win 13 out of 15 points to lead 4-3. But Vekic, who turns 21 later this month, broke again for a 6-5 lead and served out for her second career win.
When the young Croat finished runner-up in Birmingham as a 16-yearold, tennis legend Chris Evert claimed she would become a big star.
She won her first title in Kuala Lumpur in 2014 but has failed to fulfil her potential and had not reached a final for 18 months.
But Vekic, whose boyfriend is world No.3 Stan Wawrinka, is now up to a career-high No.58 after outplaying a top-10 player from the baseline.
“It’s amazing,” she said. “The last time I played a final, I wasn’t allowed to have champagne. I’m going to drink a bottle of champagne with my team to celebrate.”
World No.1 Angelique Kerber has pulled out of this week’s Aegon Classic in Birmingham with a hamstring strain.