Konta set for ‘dream’ date with Maria
THIS may have been the best week of Johanna Konta’ s career in Eastbourne, but the Wimbledon draw gods were not smiling on the 24-year-old yesterday.
Konta plays fourth seed Maria Sharapova in the ladies’ singles as well as a doubles tie against Serena and Venus Williams, in which she will partner American Maria Sanchez.
Taking on Sharapova may not be the ideal opener with Konta still recovering from the illness she suffered during her run to the quarter-finals of the Aegon International, but she is up for the challenge.
‘I’m looking forward to it and excited to play Maria since I’ve never played her before,’ said Konta. ‘Because of Sharapova’s profile, the match hopefully should be on a big court.
‘This is what every tennis player dreams of, competing on a big stage against the best, and it’s even better that it’s at home at Wimbledon.’
Laura Robson was handed a kinder draw against Russia’s world No 101 Evgeniya Rodina in what is just the Briton’s second match after a 17month absence with a wrist injury.
Robson, 21, won just one game in her qualifying match on the south coast last week against world No 41 Daria Gavrilova, but Rodina will not offer the same level of opposition.
British No 1 Heather Watson takes on No 32 seed Caroline Garcia, the French 21-year-old who Andy Murray once hailed as a future world No 1, and arrives at SW19 with confidence after beating world No 17 Elina Svitolina in Eastbourne last week.
Both Broady siblings are in action after receiving wild cards. Naomi, 25, will take on Colombian world No 99 Mariana Duque-Marino, and 21-year- olf Liam faces Aussie Marinko Matosevic — the world No 138 on an 11match losing streak.
British No 3 Kyle Edmund will face world No 75 Alexandr Dolgopolov, and admits he quite enjoys watching the Ukrainian in action.
‘He’s a tricky player. I like to watch him actually because he’s unpredictable, especially on the grass with his slices and spins,’ Edmund said at the BNP Paribas Tennis Classic.
‘He’s won some matches on it (grass), but I’ve had a good year — a more consistent year from the start — and I’ve been able to bring a better level to the court each time.’
James Ward would have been hoping for an easier task than the one he faces against Spanish eighth seed David Ferrer in his opening match.
Two British imports have the perfect chance to impress the home fans in their first Championships since changing allegiance. Slovenian-born Aljaz Bedene takes on wily Czech Radek Stepanek, while Brydan Klein, originally from Australia, faces Italian No 25 seed Andreas Seppi.