JO’S DAY WILL COME
Serena blitzes Konta but backs tearful Brit for Grand Slam glory
SO JO KONTA has now been through that rite of passage in tennis that involves being run over by Serena Williams. Yet the British No 1 emerged from the Australian Open with a glowing report card, including the suggestion from her conqueror that she can be a Grand Slam champion. Twice Williams made that claim, while Jo Durie predicted Konta will emulate her by making the world’s top five.
Konta is preparing to head home this morning after a month on the road, by which time the tears she admitted were shed in the wake of defeat will have dried.
She will know she could have played better, even when faced with a rampant Williams.
Asked to explain her belief that Konta can one day win the Australian Open, having given her a 6-2, 6-3 pounding, Serena replied: ‘She always does really well here. With her game, I definitely see her as a future champion. She’s obviously a really good player.’
Actions speak louder than words, and Williams’ level of play and intense focus showed how much of a threat she saw in her opponent.
Former Wimbledon champion Marion Bartoli was, however, distinctly unimpressed with Konta’s performance. Speaking on eurosport, the Frenchwoman said: ‘She was like a little kid on the court who was trying desperately to get one or two games here and there.
‘Jo will be disappointed, she didn’t handle the situation very well. She needs to really get used to playing these players in the top 10.’
But the watching Durie, Britain’s best female player throughout the 1980s, was not deterred from the view that there is still only upside for Konta, who is guaranteed to leave Australia having banked the third most points on the WTA Tour this year. ‘I’m thinking pretty soon she is going to be top five and on hard courts I would give her a shot at winning a Slam,’ said Durie, who is working for eurosport.
‘her serve is amazing, it’s so natural. The second serve was taken apart by Serena, but overall behind Serena it’s the best second serve on the tour.
‘She went out in the first round of Roland Garros last year and in the second round of Wimbledon. She likes hard courts better, but surely she has got to improve at those two Slams.
‘Clay is her trickiest surface. On grass, her serve is going to be a huge strength. ‘She’s a definite contender and the more matches she has like this, the more experience she gets. ‘Really, she has been playing at this level for barely a year.’ Durie did, however, point out that her forehand could improve and that was supported by Williams’ coach Patrick Mouratoglou.
Under the ultimate test from his player, he described her as having ‘broken a bit’ and he also felt she was unable to adapt to the onslaught from Williams’ serve.
While reiterating his high opinion of Konta, Mouratoglou cautioned that she needs more tactical flexibility: ‘She couldn’t execute her A plan and I don’t think she has a B plan,’ he said.
Konta’s coach Wim Fissette was a believer in the rite of passage theory. ‘The next match she will play against Serena will be a different one, but Serena was really well prepared mentally to have a tough match.
‘It’s also difficult for Jo because she is normally the one who dictates play, but today it was out of her control.
‘It has been a great month. I am happy with the way she played and handled it all mentally. But I still see room for improvement.’ Konta was red-eyed following the 75-minute defeat, during which she created a 3-1 lead in the second set, then had a break point at 3-3.
‘I cried because I’m an emotional person,’ said the 25-year-old. ‘I’ve never hid that. I’ve worked incredibly hard to direct that emotion constructively on court. But off court I’m still very emotional.’
Asked about Serena’s warm words regarding her champion potential she said: ‘That’s nice. Well, I’ll try my best.’ She now heads to the contrastingly unglamorous climes of Great Britain’s european zonal rounds of the Fed Cup competition, taking place in estonia next week.
‘I’ll take a couple of days off,’ she said. ‘The last few weeks have been a bit like groundhog day, but that’s a good problem to have. I’m grateful to have got this far and to have had the chance to play arguably the best player in the world.
‘So much has happened in the space of a year. All I’m looking to do is stay healthy and keep enjoying my tennis.’