Konta faces tough test thanks to Serena’s promotion
Johanna Konta can blame the peerless CV of Serena Williams for the fact that she has to face a player as dangerous as Dominika Cibulkova
this afternoon on Centre Court. Cibulkova was ranked No32 at the time of the draw, which – in any other year – would have made it impossible for a seed to play her until the third round. But that was before the All England Club catapulted Williams into the seedings, acknowledging her status as a leading contender for the title.
In Eastbourne last week, Cibulkova declared herself seriously cheesed off by the prospect of being demoted from this favoured group. “Why should I not be seeded if I have the right to be?” she told reporters. “It’s just not fair if there is a player [who misses out] and it’s me now.
“I have the right and I should be seeded and if they put her in front of me then I will just lose my spot that I am supposed to have. I don’t know if something like this ever happened before.”
This is quite out of the usual run of events but then Williams is a walking anomaly. And Cibulkova – a former grand slam finalist who has been ranked as high as No4 in the world – seemed to have calmed down a little when she spoke yesterday from the practice courts at Aorangi Park, perhaps as a result of scoring a fine first-round win over
world No 44 Alize Cornet, of France. “I am playing against her because I am not seeded,” Cibulkova said, “but I have commented on this before and it will not change anything so I am not making my mind busy with this. I have played many times in grand slams against home favourites. I am looking forward to the atmosphere.
“It’s going to be a great match, a tough draw, but I think it will be tough for both of us. I have played her a few times but this will be our first meeting on grass, which is a special surface, so I’m looking forward to it.
“She is an aggressive player, she has a great serve and she is trying to come to the net a lot, which helps on grass. I have played a couple of matches against her so I think we know each other pretty well.”