BIRMINGHAM–
Johanna Konta was in bright spirits as she addressed the press for the first time in Birmingham. She looks to continue the good work she showed over the clay and continue the winning feeling on the grass starting with the Nature Valley Classic this week.
Konta’s memorable run to the semifinals of the French Open is perhaps the most notable accomplishment of the Brit this season, but she was keen to reiterate that the work that she had done before the successful fortnight also was incredibly important.
“I think it was more than just Paris. I’ve been playing at a good level consistently for a period of time. It was obviously a nice situation to have to play quite a lot of matches back to back in Rabat and then in Rome. I feel pretty similar going into this grass court season except maybe I haven’t spent as much time on the surface. That is a very good problem to have. In terms of how I feel I feel pretty similar.”
Career grass success for Konta
Konta has always been a player that really adapts well to the quicker grass courts. The Brit was a finalist here last year and even made the semifinals the year before. She’s also experienced great success in her home tournament in Eastbourne, making the semifinals twice in 2016 and 2017. Konta comes into the tournament in Birmingham with a greater accumulation of matches in her legs and more confidence to work with. She spoke about that very matter before her big match against Anett Kontaveit.
“I think it is just the amount of matches I get to play. And obviously with playing more matches it means I am winning more matches. You can only take good things from match fitness and confidence and decision-making and you can come through different situations on the match court. It’s just the volume of matches and that is a good thing to have.”
New coach, new success
The Brit’s success during her 2019 season that has seen her catapult back inside the World’s Top 20 has partly been down to the way she’s taken on the advice of her new coach Dimitri Zavialoff. Konta explained exactly what her coach has really brought to the team and discussed the very quick impact he has made to her overall game.
“I think he brings a really clear philosophy. He is very true to who he is and what he says, and he really believes in that. As a player that is something easy to get behind as I’ve really bought into the way that he sees things. It really aligns with how I see them too on court. I think more than anything it is good to be on the same page.”
We’ve seen somewhat of a revival in Konta’s results this season after two years of languishing just outside the Top 40. It will be interesting to see just how successful the grass court swing really is for the Brit in the coming weeks.
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