JO COOKING UP A RECIPE FOR SUCCESS
JOHANNA KONTA was back on safer ground at Wimbledon yesterday as she won on grass and chatted about cooking.
The British No.1 called her half-baked end to last season a “learning curve” after going from reaching the semi-finals at SW19 to battling to stay in the world’s top 50.
But back on the green grass of home the former world No.4 made a pavlova before beating Russia’s Natalia Vikhlyantseva in straight sets yesterday – even if she added the unwanted ingredient of needing six match points.
But winning still tasted good for Konta.
She said: “It was a great match for me to battle through and fight until the very last point.”
The highlight of the Brit’s clay-court season was getting asked by Novak Djokovic in Rome to cook gluten-free, dairyfree and taste-free food for him at Wimbledon. She laughed and agreed to try.
Konta said: “However, I’m really proud I made apavlova for the first time a couple of days ago. It was the first time I ever made meringue.”
Next up for Konta is Dominika Cibulkova, the world No.33 who missed out on a seeding because BY NEIL McLEMAN seven-times winner Serena Williams was promoted. But the British No.1 now wants to go further than last year.
She said: “I’m here as a 2018 Johanna Konta. I am working very hard to be here the whole two weeks.
“I’m really happy where I am in my career. I’m really happy with the challenges I have because they will also help me post-tennis in how I deal with adversity, how I deal with my own struggles.
“It’s a massive learning curve which I’m really grateful for.”
Fellow Brit Naomi Broady failed to pull off a shock as she lost 6-2 7-5 to champion Garbine Muguruza.
Spanish star Muguruza is not weighed down by the prospect of defending her title, insisting it has made her more confident.
She said: “I don’t feel different but I do feel more confident knowing I won Wimbledon.
“It’s a Grand Slam. It’s a grass court. It gives you this extra thing that not everybody can have.
“As a tennis player, when you win Wimbledon, it’s the best tournament. Your mind is like, ‘I won Wimbledon, priceless.’”