I’m no hooker! Konta furious at question on link-up with Andy
JO KONTA took exception to being asked if she would ‘offer her services’ to Andy Murray in the Wimbledon mixed doubles, saying it made her sound ‘like a hooker’.
The British No 1 reacted with shock yesterday when asked by a member of the media about teaming up with Murray at SW19, suggesting that the way a question had been phrased had been insulting.
But she did say that the 2013 Wimbledon men’s champion had not yet asked her and she had not thought about whether or not she would be interested.
The issue of who will partner Murray in the mixed doubles has become a talking point, particularly after he said he’s been turned down by other players, including 2019 French Open champion Ashleigh Barty.
Although he has a partner for the men’s doubles in France’s Pierre-Hugues Herbert, the Scot is unsure who he would play with if he takes part in the mixed doubles for the first time since 2006.
In a bizarre exchange in Eastbourne, Konta first said she thought it was ‘odd’ to be quizzed about potentially partnering Murray. And then, when asked later if she was ‘one of the WTA players to offer your services to join him in mixed doubles’, she replied: ‘I mean, way to make me sound like a hooker. I mean, “offer my services”. Jeez. I haven’t watched Andy play this week, I’ve seen some highlights on social media and I’ve seen how excited he is to be on court, which is brilliant.
‘He hasn’t asked me to play mixed, so I haven’t given it any thought.’
Pressed on whether she may join other players in putting her name forward, she said: ‘I’d have to think about it and talk to my coaches. I honestly haven’t thought about playing mixed there, so I don’t know.’
Konta was knocked out in the second round of the Nature Valley Classic in Birmingham earlier this week by Jelena Ostapenko, but said she thought she had played ‘two great matches’ at the Edgbaston event.
Today she faces world No 22 Donna Vekic in the first round of Eastbourne and explained she opted to play another tournament, rather than head straight to Wimbledon, in a bid to get more matches under her belt.
‘I had both options available,’ she said. ‘I could just as easily not play this tournament as play it. I choose to play it this year because I want to play matches, and I want to play matches on this surface.’
In Birmingham, Barty is one match away from becoming the first Australian to be crowned women’s world No 1 in 43 years after progressing to the final of the Nature Valley Classic.
The 23-year-old beat Czech player Barbora Strycova 6-4, 6-4 to advance to her third final of the season and extend her winning streak to 11 consecutive matches.
Standing in the way of her overtaking Naomi Osaka at the top of the rankings is her doubles partner Julia Goerges after she beat Petra Martic 6-4, 6-3.