Konta can’t cut it on grass as she blows title
THE wait for the first grass-court title of her career continues for Johanna Konta. As does the wait for a British woman to win a home WTA title on grass since Virginia Wade in 1975.
Konta left Nottingham yesterday wondering how her preparations for Wimbledon have not begun with something shiny to take home and put on the mantelpiece.
The British No 1 had the Elena Baltacha trophy in her sights as the second set headed into a tiebreak after having won the first, yet then she succumbed.
The Croatian 20-year-old Donna Vekic — ranked 70 in the world — clawed her way back, winning 2-6, 7-6, 7-5 in two and a half hours and securing her second WTA title.
Konta had not dropped a single set all week but two in succession left her a loser in the scorching heat of the East Midlands.
‘I fought and played the best I could,’ said Konta. ‘The majority of the credit has to go to Donna. It came down to her playing better than me.’
The 26-year-old entered this tournament after an early exit from the French Open, where she fell at the first hurdle. The clay was not kind and the grass has not been the greatest, with the world No 8 having won only one match in five visits to Wimbledon — against Monica Puig last year.
It is a remarkable record for the wrong reasons. This year, she is hopeful of a second-week appearance at least.
Asked what she had learned ahead of the main event at the All England Club, Konta said: ‘That will come together in a couple days. I will digest things and dissect things with my team.’
The Aegon Open Nottingham is no yardstick for Wimbledon of course, though getting to her first final on grass is a start.
Konta is now planning to play in Birmingham and Eastbourne. It is a taxing schedule but one in which she hopes to learn lessons. This was certainly a harsh one against Vekic.
The Croatian came into this as the outsider but showed fearlessness against the top seed after the first set. Her secret? Nando’s. ‘I didn’t expect to win,’ Vekic said. ‘I was just hoping to get into the match, especially after the first set. I was struggling.
‘To win a title, it’s something amazing. It’s something I was dreaming of since I won my last title in 2014. I’ve enjoyed my week here in Nottingham, eating Nando’s five times a week. Nando’s was lucky this week.’
Asked whether that is how she would celebrate, Vekic added: ‘No. That’s enough now. Maybe I’ll have a Five Guys (American fast food restaurant).’
The first set suggested this would be a whitewash. Konta was in control, breaking Vekic immediately to take a 2-0 lead. She broke again to make it 5-2 before serving out the set, while Vekic looked appalled with herself. It was so far, so good. Yet Vekic broke in the second to take a 3-1 lead, leaving Konta to play catch-up. She duly did, breaking back instantly.
Konta’s drop shot was dangerous, though it was Vekic who wasted a set point at 5-4. Konta was unhappy and approached the umpire after an incorrect call by a line judge. They ruled it was in, while the Brit insisted it was out. Perhaps that was still playing on her mind when she allowed Vekic another two set points before losing a tiebreak 7-3.
Konta lacked confidence in the third set and Vekic had two chances to break. The first was wasted — the second was not and she went home the winner while Konta will lick her wounds and turn her attention to the Aegon Classic at Edgbaston.