Konta keeps her cool to dump out Kvitova

JO KONTA demonstrated some of the mental resilience which has helped her become the first British woman in 32 years to be seeded at Wimbledon as she came back from a set down to beat Petra Kvitova, a two-time champion at SW19. The British No 1 lost five games in a row to throw away the first set but powered back to win 5-7, 6-4, 6-0 and advance to the quarter-finals at the Aegon International in Eastbourne. ‘It’s definitely one of the biggest wins of my career,’ said Konta. ‘She really is a champion so I’m happy with the level I’ve been able to produce. Grass is one of her favourite surfaces so the fact this win was against her is a nice pat on the back. ‘I was seeing the tennis ball like a football in that third set but she kept fighting and I had to really apply myself to get over the line.’ It was racing to the same stage at this tournament last year that sparked Konta’s breakthrough. She has since reached the fourth round of the US Open and the semi-final of the Australian Open, rising from world No 139 a year ago to No 18 today. She remained unruffled despite squandering a 5-2 lead in the first set. Kvitova sensed blood but Wimbledon’s No 17 seed was resilient, breaking in the fifth game of the second and converting her third set point to level the match. Konta broke in the opening game of the decider with a superb crosscourt backhand and a brilliant forehand pass earned a third break of the set. She wrapped it up on serve to complete the bagel. Jo Durie was the last woman to be seeded at SW19 — in 1984 — and she is amazed by Konta’s rise. ‘Heather Watson has been ranked as high as 38 and Laura Robson 27,’ said the 55-year-old. ‘But to break the top 20 is something else. It really is. You’ve got to be consistently good week after week. It’s fantastic being a seed, it takes the pressure off.’