Dedicated Cross delighted to see sacrifices pay off

NEW PDC darts world champion Rob Cross has revealed the sacrifices he made in his first year as a professional, including missing his daughter’s birth to play a tournament in Barnsley. Alexandra Palace debutant Cross won the World Championship and £400,000 after beating 16-time winner Phil Taylor on New Year’s Day. Former electrician Cross decided to dedicate all of his time to the sport at the start of 2017 and the father-of-three was 250 miles away when baby Maddison was born. ‘I saw her three times in eight weeks,’ said Cross, 27. ‘I missed her birth, I was in Barnsley when she was born. It was very hard. ‘It’s the dedication side of it. At that time, early in the year, I had to play everything. I wanted to qualify for the World Matchplay (in Blackpool). ‘I’m very fortunate in a way that my other half, Georgia, is so with me. She’ll push me and she was the one who actually suggested it, otherwise I would have tried to be there (at the birth). ‘Without my family, this wouldn’t have been possible. They support me. If I need to be away, they understand.’ JO KONTA has answered fears there might be a hangover from her calamitous end to 2017 by reaching the quarter-finals of the Brisbane International. Coming off the back of five straight defeats at the end of last year, she overcame Ajla Tomljanovic in a tough three-setter 4-6, 6-1, 6-4. It backed up her outstanding first-round victory against US Open finalist Madison Keys. Meanwhile, fellow Briton Kyle Edmund opened his campaign at the same tournament with a notable 6-7 (5-7), 7-6 (7-4), 6-4 win over the world’s top-teenage player, Denis Shapovalov.