Konta fired up for shot at history
WHISPER IT but Johanna Konta is close to a perfect start in her preparations for Wimbledon.
Without dropping a set at the Aegon Open in Nottingham, the British No1 is now in her first WTA grass-court final. With Wimbledon just two weeks away, it is very encouraging.
Konta swept past Slovakia’s Magdalena Rybarikova 6-2, 7-5 in one hour, 41 minutes yesterday, putting up with heat that made the East Midlands feel more like Madrid.
She is the first British woman to get to the WTA final in Nottingham since Virginia Wade in 1973. Her first victory on grass today against Croatian Donna Vekic would make Konta the first since Wade in 1975 to win on home turf.
‘For me, the best I can do is whenever I go on court, do the best that I can,’ said Konta. ‘I play tennis in a process-oriented way. I look to be the best player I can be and look to do good work with my team and overall enjoy my journey in the sport.
‘I like to think that I have improved in all areas of my game since last year and hopefully this is coming through on the grass.’
This is the first of three pre-Wimbledon tournaments for Konta. The world No 8 wants to conquer Nottingham today, before tackling Birmingham and Eastbourne.
It is an ambitious workload — one that comes with certain risks ahead of Wimbledon — though Konta has so far shown formidable form on home turf.
Yesterday against Rybarikova, the hard-hitting Slovakian who won the Aegon Surbiton Trophy in Surrey last week, she looked in control on the lawn.
Rybarikova, 28, is trying to retrace a route back up the rankings after a seven-month injury lay-off. She was once 31 in the world but went into this 117, though still a challenge for Konta. Rybarikova felt her luck was out in the opening set, however. Several debatable decisions went against her and the line judge behind her bore the brunt of her scowls.
Konta won it 6-2 after securing six straight games, keeping her cool in the hot conditions. There was a stoppage in the second set when a spectator collapsed in the stands. It was 29 degrees, uncomfortable and Konta said: ‘It’s hot out here. Humid.’
Once back underway, the two were toe to toe. Konta finally broke in Rybarikova’s last service game before working her way to two match points. The first saw an error. The second did not and Britain’s No1 was in the final.
Konta says she is not a fan of attention, preferring to keep a low profile. If she wins today, with Wimbledon little more than two weeks away, that will be a tough task.