Croft tips Jo for Big Apple glory

ANNABEL CROFT rates Johanna Konta as a “major contender” for the US Open title.

With Andy Murray out of the tournament, domestic hopes in New York predominantly lie with the British women’s number one and world number seven.

Konta is one of a remarkable eight women who could end the tournament at the top of the rankings.

It would take an unlikely series of results for that to happen but Konta lifting the trophy would perhaps not be the most surprising.

The 26-year-old has already made two grand slam semi-finals, handling the pressure of expectation at her home tournament at Wimbledon last month superbly before losing to Venus Williams in the last four. Hard courts are a better surface for Konta than grass and Flushing Meadows was where she made her big breakthrough two years ago with a run to the fourth round, eventually losing to Petra Kvitova.

Former British number one Croft is a big admirer, and said: “She brings out such a high intensity every time she’s on the court.

“She makes players have to play at such a high level to beat her because of that almost machinelike application to what she’s doing.

“Even the way she walks is very purposeful and she gives off a lot of positive energy.

“She’s really mentally tough and it’s going to take somebody really good to beat her that’s for sure. There are very few weaknesses and she’s definitely a major contender for the title.”