Wimbledon 2017: Johanna Konta expecting a 'battle' against Caroline Garcia after Indian Wells defeat
Konta lost to Garcia in the third round at Indian Wells in March despite winning the first set
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Johanna Konta will hope she has learned from one of her most disappointing defeats of the year when she takes on Caroline Garcia in the fourth round here on Monday.
Konta lost to Garcia in the third round at Indian Wells in March despite winning the first set. The 26-year-old Briton faded badly in the deciding tie-break, which Garcia won 7-1.
“It was a very close match,” Konta recalled. “I don't anticipate anything different, other than a really, really tough battle for me.”
Konta added: “She’s a very good player. She's someone who is playing with a lot of confidence right now. I think she made the last eight in Paris, as well. She's definitely playing with confidence in the Slams.”
While Garcia has yet to live up to Andy Murray’s prediction that he was watching a future world No 1 when the Frenchwoman pushed Maria Sharapova hard at Roland Garros six years ago, she has improved her world ranking every year. At No 22 in the world Garcia is currently one place below her career-high position.
Garcia reached her first Grand Slam quarter-final at the French Open last month before losing to Karolina Pliskova and therefore knows what it is like having to cope with the pressure of playing a big tournament in front of your own supporters.
“There is a pressure and there is also the support,” Garcia said. “It doesn't matter what you are doing. They are behind you and they are supporting you. Sometimes they give you more energy to go through some problem on court.”
She added: “I’m not going to say it's positive every single time. The French Open has been difficult for me in the past, but I don't know too much how [Jo] played in the past years here, so I don't know how she reacts to everything. It can be difficult, but it can be also a lot of help, for sure. You just need to know how you have to manage it.”
Asked about Konta’s qualities, Garcia said: “She's a great player. She has a great serve, great forehand and moving, wanting to put pressure on the other one.”
Konta, who had never gone beyond the second round in her five previous appearances at Wimbledon, is learning how to use the home crowd to her own advantage. “I definitely appreciate their support,” she said. “I'm definitely hoping that they're enjoying the matches that I'm playing, enjoying the tennis in general.
“For me, a lot of my challenges and my competition’s also within myself and within my own focus. Definitely my priority has to be how I approach the match and the mindset I have. There's obviously other things that come along with performing well on any day, but I think if I can be involved in many epic battles, I'm sure the crowd will also enjoy that.”
The world No 7 shrugged off talk that she is now the favourite to win the title. “Everyone in the draw is in with a chance of taking the title,” she said. “Favourites also come and go. They change daily almost.
“I'm just here, happy to have actually made it into the second week, happy to come through three battles this week. Again, very much taking it one match at a time. But definitely working towards staying involved for a full two weeks.”
She added: “I believe every single woman in the draw is a threat to everybody. I don't think necessarily someone more than the other. It's been proven time and time again that everyone can play at a high level on any given day.
“That's why you see some really great matches between players, because a lot of it also comes down to the day and the match-up of the two styles of play.”
Does Konta think she is in the form of her life? “I think I'm playing some good tennis,” she said. “I don't think I'm playing unbelievable tennis. I think I'm playing, I guess, with the mindset of just trying to get better, like I have done every other match I've played in my career, every other tournament I've played as well. I don't think there's anything different that's happening.”
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments