Confident Konta aiming to

JO KONTA feels she is still “in the mix” in every tournament and that her ranking is just a number.

The British No1, who reached the semi-finals here in Melbourne in 2016, starts her latest Australian Open campaign tomorrow down at No38 in the world rankings.

Eleven different women can finish the first Grand Slam event of the season as world No1, but former No4 Konta is looking to rebuild with new coach Dimitri Zavialoff after a terrible 2018.

Konta lost in the second round here to a lucky loser ranked No123 last year and faces Australian Ajla Tomljanovic in her opening match this time.

Yet her self-belief is unwavering. Konta said: “I feel confident that no player can step on court against me and feel confident that they will come out the winner.

“Every match I take part in, I have an equal shot of coming through as the winner in that match.

“I have never really associated myself with a specific ranking or I have never woken up, looked at myself in the mirror and thought, ‘Hey 38!’ Or, ‘Hey, No4 how are you doing?’ I have always and will continue to put myself in the mixer at the end of every tournament. That’s what I play for.

“I want to be at the end stages of every tournament I play. I consider myself in the mix every time.”

Konta declared herself fit after pulling out of last week’s Sydney International with a “random” stiff neck and now seeks revenge on world No47 Tomljanovic,