Home comforts help Johanna Konta deal with summer spotlight

EASTBOURNE, ENGLAND - JUNE 27: Johanna Konta of Great Britain reacts during her match against Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark during day six of the Nature Valley International at Devonshire Park on June 27, 2018 in Eastbourne, United Kingdom. (Photo by Bryn Lennon/Getty Images) SUS-191006-094634002

“It’s a case of dealing with it one step and one match at a time,” Johanna Konta says as she prepares for her home town tournament in Eastbourne before the intense spotlight of Wimbledon.

All eyes are on Konta at this time of the season and even more so this year, following her unexpected extended run to the semi-finals at the French Open.

It’s the third time in her career she has reached the last four of a Grand Slam and with Andy Murray still easing his way back following a hip operation, hopes of British success in the singles at Wimbledon this summer rest largely with Konta.

The British No 1 has of course sampled success at Wimbledon. In 2017 Konta reached the semi-final and her epic quarter-final victory against Simona Halep was seen by a record 7.4 million viewers on the BBC.

That year she was the last British player standing as an injured Murray, who was the defending champion, and top seed, was defeated by Sam Querrey in the quarter-finals.