Johanna Konta says she has plenty of positives to take from a battling fortnight at Wimbledon despite being denied in the quarter-finals by Barbora Strycova.
The British number one has enjoyed a compelling run at the 2019 Championships but came up against a supremely determined Strycova on Centre Court – the experienced Czech player progressing to the semi-finals after her 7-6 (7-5) 6-1 win.
With Strycova edging the tie-break in the first set there were hopes of a third comeback in a row for Konta, after three-set wins over Sloane Stephens and Petra Kvitova, but her opponent held firm.
“I think I've played a great tournament,” said Konta. “Obviously I would have liked to have played three more matches, won three more matches.
“But I really feel that even including this match, I can take a lot away from these ten days.
“The players that I've played and beaten, also lost to, I think overall there's a lot I can be proud of and take from it.
“I think the best I can do is to keep putting myself in these positions to give myself the opportunity to keep going further and further.”
The 28-year-old British player came into the quarter-final looking to emulate her run to the semi-finals in 2017, and in excellent form after reaching the French Open final four and continuing her resurgence at the All England Club.
Strycova, ranked 54 in the world, was also in fine form but fell to a break on her very first serve, only to claw it back and take the first set.
Where Konta’s serves had often proved unreturnable to her previous opponents, Strycova dealt with them expertly, also moving in well with seven of 11 serve and volley points won.
Konta continued: “I think she was playing very well and I couldn't quite find the level that I needed to make it difficult and challenging for the kind of player she is.
“She's a very difficult player to play on this surface and in general.
“I went out there and I did my best - my best just wasn't good enough.
“But every decision that I made, every thought process, every opportunity that I gave myself - I have no regrets in doing, I did the best that I could.”
Sportsbeat 2019