KONTA’S CHARGE IS HALTED
JO KONTA began the year with an unexpected run to the Australian Open semi-final, and is ending it by showing that her performance in Melbourne was no isolated incident. Despite a 6-4, 6-2 defeat in the final of the China Open, the British No 1 has forced her way into the world’s top 10. Her improvement has continued apace, even though unlocking the remarkable courtcraft of world No 3 Agnieszka Radwanska proved beyond her. By making the final of this WTA Premier Mandatory event — the top level below the Grand Slams — 25-year-old Konta may well have secured a place in the eight-woman field for the WTA Championships in Singapore at the end of this month. She is in the final qualifying spot with two weeks of regular tournaments to go. She is next due to play in the Hong Kong Open (where her first opponent is Britain’s Naomi Broady). Apart from a brief lull during the clay court season Konta has been a model of consistency. As others have flagged towards the end of the year she has kept going. ‘I guess it’s pretty cool,’ she said after the final. ‘I’m very pleased with my progress over the last few years. I’m really enjoying my journey. Hopefully there are many more places to climb.’ Radwanska — with her guile and delicate skills — was a difficult match-up for Konta. The Pole went 5-2 up with two breaks before Konta cut that to 5-4 and had a chance to level but badly fluffed a volley. The second set was closer than the scoreline suggested but Radwanska showed her class in the end.