The last time Johanna Konta faced Dominika Cibulkova across the net was one month after reaching the semi-finals of last year’s Wimbledon.
The last time Johanna Konta faced Dominika Cibulkova across the net was one month after reaching the semi-finals of last year’s Wimbledon.
High on confidence, the Brit recorded her second consecutive victory over the Slovakian to reach the quarter-finals of the Cincinnati Open in August.
It was also Konta’s last victory of 2017.
A season that promised so much sliding to a forgettable conclusion, a troublesome foot injury finally curtailing her campaign. Avoiding a repeat performance in the second half of this year will undoubtedly be high on the agenda.
But the primary focus for Konta is the here and now, and more specifically extending her current run on the grass courts of this year’s Wimbledon.
Last year’s semi-final appearance aside, the Brit failed to reach the third round in five attempts previous – a record which explains why the 27-year-old is keen for some perspective ahead of her clash with two-time quarter-finalist Cibulkova on Thursday.
“Last year I think was an incredible experience for me in terms of how you can have two very different experiences in one season,” said Konta, who beat Natalia Vikhlyantseva 7-5 7-6 in the first round.
“I won a boatload of matches in that first half of the season. In the second half, I only won two after Wimbledon. There were difficulties and triumphs in completely different ways. “I definitely started this year with looking to rebuild my match fitness, match confidence, identity in how I want to conduct myself, how I want to play out there day after day really, and work up to the opportunities to be able to play many matches in succession. “But I think everything happens for a reason, so I'm really happy where I am in my career.” Thursday also sees the return to the court of Kyle Edmund as the British men's number one aims to reach the third round for the first time with victory over Bradley Klahn. Konta and Katie Boulter – who takes on 18th seed Naomi Osaka – are the last two Brits left in the women’s singles following Katie Swan’s 6-0 6-3 second-round defeat to 29th seed Mihaela Buzarnescu on Tuesday.
The 19-year-old wildcard won her first Grand Slam match on Monday by defeating Irina-Camelia Begu.
But with her serve misfiring against Begu’s Romanian compatriot Buzarnescu, the world number 204 found the going much tougher this time out.
She managed to break early in the second but her opponent was unfazed, taking the next four games before eventually winning in 74 minutes.
“Unfortunately I didn’t play my best tennis but I have to credit her, she didn’t give anything to me,” said Swan, who later lost 6-3 6-2 alongside Boulter to women's doubles 14th seeds Lucie Hradecka and Su-Wei Hsieh.
“I definitely felt nervous going out there. I think it’s a good thing as it showed I wanted to win and keep going in the tournament.
“There are a lot of positives to take away from this week. I showed I can play some great points but I just didn’t go it consistently enough.”
On what advice doubles partner Boulter could take ahead of her own second round singles match, she added: “Katie is playing a great player and has no pressure. She should just go out and swing freely.
“We are not too far off these players and we’re just gaining experience all the time.
“Katie has been doing so well, we’re all pushing each other as British players.” It proved to be a busy day for the Brits as the doubles competitions got underway with brothers Neal and Ken Skupski, Scott Clayton and Liam Broady and Dom Inglot, alongside Franko Skugor of Croatia, all progressed in the men’s doubles.
From Pippa Field at Wimbledon
Sportsbeat 2018