Konta crashes out of Wimbledon, Murray one of three Brits still playing
By Ricky Dimon
Little-known mixed doubles players Evan Hoyt and Eden Silva are two of the last three British players remaining in any discipline at Wimbledon with five days remaining in the tournament. None other than Andy Murray is the third.
Also playing mixed doubles after losing in the men’s competition with Pierre-Hugues Herbert, Murray and Serena Williams won their their-round match against Fabrice Martin and Raquel Atawo 7-5, 6-3 on Tuesday evening.
Johanna Konta was among the British hopefuls heading into the singles quarterfinals, but she crashed out to Barbora Strycova 7-6(5), 6-1. Konta, a semifinalist at the French Open, saw her most recent shot at a first Grand Slam title evaporate after one hour and 37 minutes against Strycova.
“I guess what happened is that I have an opponent on the other side of the court who has everything to say in how the match goes, as well,” the world No. 18 said of losing a 4-1 lead in the opening set. “I think she was playing very well. I think 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.”
Unsurprisingly, though, the British media was eager to point out everything Konta didn’t do rather than what Strycova did.
“Looking at numbers, 33 unforced errors,” one reporter admonished. “Then you had a smash at the net which you hit straight to her, then towards the end of the third set you had a double-fault, then missed a drive volley. Do you not have to look at yourself a little bit about how you cope with these big points? It’s all very well saying it’s a lot to do with your opponent, but there were key points when you perhaps could have done better.”
“Is that in your professional tennis opinion?,” Konta asked.
“No, that’s just as a watching spectator with everyone else on Centre Court willing you on. And the numbers are IBM’s.”
“Okay. I mean, I don’t think you need to pick on me in a harsh way. I mean, I think I’m very open with you guys. I say how I feel out there. If you don’t want to accept that answer or you don’t agree with it, that’s fine. I still believe in the tennis that I play. I still believe in the way I competed. Yeah, I don’t have much else to say to your question.”
“I’m just asking you as somebody who presumably wants to go on from here, learn from this, win a Grand Slam one day. Is it not something….”
“Please don’t patronize me.”
“I’m not patronizing you.”
“No, no, you are. In the way you’re asking your question, you’re being quite disrespectful and you’re patronizing me. I’m a professional competitor who did her best today, and that’s all there is to that.”
That’s all there is to Konta’s tournament, although it has to be said that she handled such out-of-line questioning better than she handled Strycova’s perplexing game.
And with Konta gone, Murray Mania only picks up steam….