Johanna Konta kick starts her Wimbledon preparations this week as she leads the field at the WTA Aegon Open Nottingham.
The British #1 returns to the tournament for the sixth consecutive year but this time with added pressure. As the world #8 Konta is the top seed and favourite for the title. To get her hands on the silver trophy though she’ll first have to come through a rare all-British clash against Tara Moore.
Last year she was hindered by a hip injury which saw her exit in the second round to Saisai Zheng while the previous year she fell to the tricky hands of Monica Niculescu. She has reached the semi-final twice in the past here back when the tournament was an ITF, losing to both Pliskova sisters.
“It will be a very tough battle”
Speaking about her sixth straight return to Nottingham, Johanna Konta said, “I really enjoy the set-up of the tournament. I absolutely love that centre court – the grass out there is great and I enjoy the court in general.
“I am a creature of habit. I like routine. The city centre is easily sourced, there is a cinema there and a great selection of restaurants and there are a lot of home comforts for us Brits out there”.
If the world #8 is going to get a chance to sample all her favourite parts of the city then she needs to navigate her way through a tricky first round tie against fellow Brit Tara Moore.
“There are no easy matches at any match and this is no exception. Historically Tara [Moore] has done very well during the grass season.
“She plays with a lot of inspiration at this time of year and loves this surface. Going into the match, it will be a very tough battle but there is no better way to start the tournament than playing against some great players.”
“I was getting better with each match I was playing”
Johanna Konta has had two weeks off after making an early exit in Roland Garros at the hands of Su-Wei Hsieh, who is also in Nottingham. Despite the first round loss in Paris she is not disappointed with her clay season.
“I think overall I am actually really pleased with my progression on clay. Obviously results wise it didn’t turn out to be the way I would have ideally have liked it but in terms of my improvement as a player on the surface it definitely got better with every match.
“It’s unfortunate that I didn’t get two more weeks on the clay as I felt I was getting better with each match I was playing.
“But it gave me the opportunity to get a bit more time on the grass so that is also a positive in that sense.”
Having the extra time to get used to the surface can certainly be beneficial to players given the totally different way in which the game has played.
“There is definitely an adaptation process with any surface change. There is quite a big difference between the clay and grass – you do feel that in your body. Your legs and bum are much sorer.”
“I really enjoy the change in surface across the season”
Konta though was keen to stress though that she has no favourite surface. “It’s been made into an assumption that I have a favourite and least favourite. I really enjoy the change in surface across the season as our season is quite long.
“It keeps it exciting, it changes dynamics slightly, it challenges players differently and that is exciting to see as a spectacle in our sport.”
In order to maximise her court time the 26-year-old is also taking part in the doubles partnering Yanina Wickmayer. “If I get to play the latter stages here it will have meant I will have played some great matches on the surface which is invaluable going into Eastbourne, Birmingham and Wimbledon“, she said.
“I continuously measure my improvement and my success so i’m continuing to maximise my physical abilities.
“I am working hard in making sure I am more co-ordinated, physically robust and definitely technically and tactically exactly the same.
“But in terms of results, there are a lot of variable that come into that. I am playing against players who are working just as hard as I am, but I am definitely doing everything I can to keep getting better and hopefully put myself into positions to do my best.”
Johanna Konta begins her WTA Aegon Open Nottingham against Tara Moore on Tuesday June 13.
Main Photo:
