SERENA FEARS KONTA ATTACK
Williams coach admits aggressive Brit is a threat to icon’s hopes
AUSTRALIAN coach Pete McCraw recalls the day when a young Jo Konta skipped lunch during training sessions at Melbourne Park to practise a new grip he had taught her.
When she was 11, he found her out by a hitting wall beside the complex’s Court 3, and asked why she was not sitting in the cafe with her cohort. ‘Because one day I want to play on this court,’ she replied.
That was before she emigrated to the UK in her early teens, and this determination to succeed means she has gone way better than Court 3.
Now she is playing in the Rod Laver Arena in the quarter-finals of the Australian Open against Serena Williams. And you will find many in these parts who believe that the Eastbourne-based world No 9 has a genuine shot against the most significant icon in women’s sport.
When asked about upcoming opponents, Williams sometimes either does not know them, or affects not to know them. Konta’s reputation is burgeoning at a rate that she made no such pretence this time.
‘I have watched her a lot. She’s been doing really, really well,’ said Williams. ‘She has a very attacking game. I know her game pretty well.’
Konta yesterday dismissed world No 34 Ekaterina Makarova, extending her winning streak to nine matches. Williams was made to struggle more by tricky Czech Barbora Strycova before winning 7-5, 6-4.
Duly impressed was Williams’ French coach, Patrick Mouratoglou. Before Christmas Konta had a brief training stint at his academy in Nice, and as a result there is no way he will underestimate her.
In fact, he makes no secret that he sees the two most dangerous players for his client as Konta and Czech No 5 seed, Karolina Pliskova.
Moreover, he has been concerned that Williams has not been moving at her best. ‘There is no explanation why she doesn’t move as well as she can,’ he admitted to ESPN. ‘We have to solve that, especially against Konta, who is someone who plays so fast, so aggressive, takes the ball early. You can’t afford to be slow.
‘It will be difficult. Konta is someone I look at. Last year she was already impressive. I saw her play at the start of the year and she has been the player that has impressed me most.
‘It was not that she won Sydney (the week before the Open) but it was also the way that she won it. She has no doubts at the moment.
‘She moves super fast. From every position, she tries to hit every shot. She is so aggressive every time she hits the ball.’
This is no hyperbole. Konta has reached the quarter-finals for the loss of just 22 games in four matches, taking just over five hours to do so. The level of her play compared to barely 18 months ago continues to startle.
After she had dispatched the tall left-hander from Moscow — reeling off five games from 4-1 down in the second set — the on-court MC announced that she would be playing Williams. It drew a melodramatic ‘Ooooh’ from the crowd. Later Konta interpreted that, saying: ‘That is Serena’s aura, that is what she has earned from everything she has achieved in the sport.
‘She needs no introduction because she has made herself such an icon. I’ve never been on court with her so I’m looking forward to the challenge and really going out there and trusting in my own system and the good things I bring to the court.’
Konta beat Serena’s sister, Venus, in last year’s first round.
‘I’ve been fortunate enough to play Venus a few times,’ she said. ‘Over the past year I’ve played quite a few Grand Slam champions and some former No 1s, so I think I’ve prepared myself to play Serena but I guess I need to be on court with her to see how I deal with it.’
Told that Serena had noted her progress, she said: ‘Well, that’s nice to hear but I don’t necessarily think that Serena Williams gets too worried. The experience she has, I’m sure she has her method of preparing for every match.’
There is, though, the sense that Konta will be completing her cv in terms of competing against the very best.
‘Because of her longevity she’s one of the few left I grew up watching when I wanted to be a professional,’ added Konta. ‘I was thinking I’d love the opportunity to be on court with her before she retires. So I’m looking forward to playing her, but also to playing the ball.’
It is the most significant match of Konta’s career, and will thrust her on to the map like never before.
The nature of a tennis player’s profile in the UK is such that nothing can top having a big Wimbledon. That has yet to happen for her but she has made up for it elsewhere.
Williams has only twice played a Brit and one of those occasions, the epic against Heather Watson at the All England Club, shows the panic that can be induced if the American is pushed hard.
Serena insisted she has ‘absolutely nothing to lose’ in this tournament. At 35 and pressing to overtake Steffi Graf’s 22 Grand Slam titles, it did not sound too convincing.
Martina Navratilova is among those who think Konta has a real chance: ‘She needs to serve well and mix it up,’ Navratilova said.
‘She is going to be here a while and if she stays healthy the sky’s the limit. She has shown she belongs, she is not an imposter.’