The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Experience on and off court was key to Konta’s Miami win
Victory moves British ace up to seventh in world rankings
Johanna Konta believes a combination of life experience on and off the court helped her become the first British woman to win the Miami Open.
The 25-year-old defeated former world No 1 Caroline Wozniacki 6-4 6-3 on Saturday to move to a career-high seventh in the world rankings, beating her previous best of ninth last autumn.
Konta, who ousted number three seed Simona Halep in a marathon quarterfinal, is the first British woman to win a WTA Premier Mandatory event.
“I think it was probably a combination of everything, but also a question of maturity,” Konta told wtatennis.com.
“I needed to go through certain life experiences, not just on court, off court as well, to I think make me into the competitor that I am, and also the person off court.
“I think a lot of things go very hand in hand when it comes to sport. It’s not just a job. It’s your life. It’s your lifestyle. I think you have to grow up in a lot of different areas for it to transfer on court as well.”
Both women were competing in their first Miami Open final but, while Wozniacki was seeking her first win of the year, Konta had already won the Apia International in Sydney.
“I think I can take a lot out of these two weeks. It was a good run.
“I can take a lot out of this first part of the year in general.
“I think I can take a lot of positives from that and just build on it,” Wozniacki said.
“That’s what I’m going to do. I’m going to learn from the things that I can do better, but at the same time not beat myself up too much and just keep working and doing what I’m doing.”
The Dane was contesting her third final of the year after Doha and Dubai.
Konta praised her team after the victory.
“I was very fortunate that throughout the years I’ve managed to have some very, very good people around me,” she said.
“I think the more I was able to absorb from them, their knowledge and wisdom, and the more I was able to reinvest that into the matches that I played, and on a consistent basis, I think that’s part of reason I’m here now.”