The heat is on ...but ice-cool Konta doesn’t feel the strain

JO KONTA is preparing for a trial by the full force of Antipodean summer heat as she moves into the second round of the Australian Open. Temperatures are forecast to reach 38°C when she plays American Bernarda Pera, and she will be hoping that it does not act as any kind of leveller. Pera, ranked 123, only made the field as a ‘lucky loser’ from the qualifying but took advantage of her unexpected chance in what is her first main Grand Slam draw. Konta, who swept past America’s Madison Brengle 6-3, 6-1 in her opener, said she would be able to withstand the conditions, due to the fact she spent the first half of her life based in Sydney. ‘It’s not easy to play in the heat but I’ve always enjoyed it,’ said Konta, now 26. ‘I think partly that is because when I was a young girl I spent time here so I think I do have memories of playing in hot conditions. The emphasis is on hydrating well and making sure I have enough fluids and energy in me. It’s about using the ice towel and really kind of getting on with it. ‘We also follow the sun a lot so playing in heat is not necessarily outside of our comfort zone. Throughout the years, I’ve always struggled a bit more with humidity than actual temperature.’ Konta has been in relaxed mood, and playfully berated herself for leaving her weekly supply of blueberries behind on a shopping trip to the supermarket. Heather Watson found less to smile about when her encouraging performances in Hobart last week could not carry her through the first round, losing 7-5, 7-6 to higher ranked Yulia Putintseva, despite leading 3-0 in the second set. Kyle Edmund was due to play his second-round tie overnight against Denis Istomin.