Johanna Konta

flamingowings · All-time great

Johanna Konta

indiana · Tennis legend

JonH comes home wrote:
indiana wrote:
It's such a pity. With 23 of the top 29 ranked entered into a WTA Premier, the players are there, they want to play, but so very little on offer.

I don't know if the WTA has failed them, as I saw someone claim on tennisforum, we are in unique times. But it is very unfortunate.

Presumably in october in czech rep this is indoor hard, so presumably the field size is constrained by that? Shame it isnt 32 instead of 28 though...

Bit daft really with no preceding event and so many players wanting competition.

Fair play to the Czechs though for the number of men's and women's events they are hosting.

TTMan · Intermediate Club Player

flamingowings wrote:
Interview with Jo: twitter.com/EleanorcrooksPA/status/1309104319430627337

Nice to hear conciliatory noises from Liam Broady over the cardboard cutout affair. We're lucky to have Dan Smethurst with a foot in both camps.

I have sympathies for both Broadys. They've had a rocky ride and more in common with Jo than many realise, given Jo and Naomi were both victims of that dreadful decision by the LTA to brutally cut their funding [Rosamund was that in Nigel Sear's time too?]. Naomi's case was even more brutal due to a ridiculous overreaction by the LTA to her social media activities. I'm also sure Jo would also recognise Liam's issues with anxiety, albeit more severe for Liam, and vice versa given her address to the Oxford Union, which is well worth a view.

Let's hope the media will draw a line under that story now. From Jo's interviews she clearly has more important issues occupying her mind, regarding the future of the sport, for them to report on.

TTMan · Intermediate Club Player

indiana wrote:
JonH comes home wrote:
indiana wrote:
It's such a pity. With 23 of the top 29 ranked entered into a WTA Premier, the players are there, they want to play, but so very little on offer.

I don't know if the WTA has failed them, as I saw someone claim on tennisforum, we are in unique times. But it is very unfortunate.

Presumably in october in czech rep this is indoor hard, so presumably the field size is constrained by that? Shame it isnt 32 instead of 28 though...
Bit daft really with no preceding event and so many players wanting competition.
Fair play to the Czechs though for the number of men's and women's events they are hosting.

Surely it must possible to put on a number of small WTA events around the globe. There must be underutilised multi-court indoor venues all over the place - Wimbledon for starters, has two roofed courts, The men's BotB was indoor at NTC, Fed/BJK Cup in Bath and that's just the UK. Other options - Cincy doubled up at the same venue as US Open, F1 have doubled up two events at the same track. By having some events geographically zoned, player costs and travel can be further reduced .

Events can be organised by local tennis associations and televised by whoever currently has the WTA rights, to cover the organisation costs and attract sponsors, plus some events to free to air TV to attract even more public interest.

Smaller events can be a mixture of formats, KO if you must (more later), team and round robin. BotB Team event was fun to watch and might even even attract more viewers than the regular events. Good opportunity to devise a more realistic ranking system based on who you beat rather than depth into in a random KO draw.

Time to be creative. WTA / ATP / ITF merger please.

TTMan · Intermediate Club Player

Konta v Gauff R1 - great match up, can't wait. Until you realise one of them will take no further part in the singles. Then not so great!

ROSAMUND · Futures level

TTMan wrote:
flamingowings wrote:
Interview with Jo: twitter.com/EleanorcrooksPA/status/1309104319430627337
Nice to hear conciliatory noises from Liam Broady over the cardboard cutout affair. We're lucky to have Dan Smethurst with a foot in both camps.
I have sympathies for both Broadys. They've had a rocky ride and more in common with Jo than many realise, given Jo and Naomi were both victims of that dreadful decision by the LTA to brutally cut their funding [Rosamund was that in Nigel Sear's time too?]. Naomi's case was even more brutal due to a ridiculous overreaction by the LTA to her social media activities. I'm also sure Jo would also recognise Liam's issues with anxiety, albeit more severe for Liam, and vice versa given her address to the Oxford Union, which is well worth a view.
Let's hope the media will draw a line under that story now. From Jo's interviews she clearly has more important issues occupying her mind, regarding the future of the sport, for them to report on.

When Jo's funding was cut in 2015 that happened under the Bob Brett regime in charge of training. Nigel Sears farmed Jo out a few years earlier. Can't remember who Naomi fell foul of.

ROSAMUND · Futures level

TTMan wrote:
Konta v Gauff R1 - great match up, can't wait. Until you realise one of them will take no further part in the singles. Then not so great!

This is Gauff's debut in the main draw in Paris. She won the juniors in Paris 2018 beating Fernandez and McNally in the last 2 rounds. Not sure what difference Jo not having a coach will make. My feeling is that Gauff will win. Jo had a brilliant clay court season in 2019 but prior to that she only had 7 wins .out of 19 matches in seasons 2016 to 2018 and 2 of those wins were over Rybarikova. Because of the 2 year ranking business Jo keeps her points from 2019 for Rome and Paris. which is to her advantage.

indiana · Tennis legend

The Naomi Broady episode was pretty ridiculous but made much worse by the Broady family 'principled' overreaction to a temporary punishment and their choice to divorce from the LTA and their funding. That's what really cost her in subsequent years.

TTMan · Intermediate Club Player

ROSAMUND wrote:
TTMan wrote:
Konta v Gauff R1 - great match up, can't wait. Until you realise one of them will take no further part in the singles. Then not so great!
This is Gauff's debut in the main draw in Paris. She won the juniors in Paris 2018 beating Fernandez and McNally in the last 2 rounds. Not sure what difference Jo not having a coach will make. My feeling is that Gauff will win. Jo had a brilliant clay court season in 2019 but prior to that she only had 7 wins .out of 19 matches in seasons 2016 to 2018 and 2 of those wins were over Rybarikova. Because of the 2 year ranking business Jo keeps her points from 2019 for Rome and Paris. which is to her advantage.

In Rome, Gauff's match v Muguruza was a lot closer than Jo's and could easily have been a straight sets win for Gauff but for her 15 dfs, which might be Jo's best chance. Gauff may also be less used to the cold/heavy weather conditions in Paris? Inclined to think the first set will decide it.

When does Jo lose her 2019 ranking points. Is it on the second anniversary of getting them? How will it work for the Olympics, if they go ahead?

indiana · Tennis legend

TTMan wrote:
ROSAMUND wrote:
TTMan wrote:
Konta v Gauff R1 - great match up, can't wait. Until you realise one of them will take no further part in the singles. Then not so great!
This is Gauff's debut in the main draw in Paris. She won the juniors in Paris 2018 beating Fernandez and McNally in the last 2 rounds. Not sure what difference Jo not having a coach will make. My feeling is that Gauff will win. Jo had a brilliant clay court season in 2019 but prior to that she only had 7 wins .out of 19 matches in seasons 2016 to 2018 and 2 of those wins were over Rybarikova. Because of the 2 year ranking business Jo keeps her points from 2019 for Rome and Paris. which is to her advantage.
In Rome, Gauff's match v Muguruza was a lot closer than Jo's and could easily have been a straight sets win for Gauff but for her 15 dfs, which might be Jo's best chance. Gauff may also be less used to the cold/heavy weather conditions in Paris? Inclined to think the first set will decide it.
When does Jo lose her 2019 ranking points. Is it on the second anniversary of getting them? How will it work for the Olympics, if they go ahead?

The general suggestion, such as from openerarankings, is that currently all points are due off in 2021.

So as per normal for January to March 2020 pre shutdown points then on the anniversaries for the remainder of the year and the better of 19/20 points. I assume for tournaments moved in 2020 such as the French Open points will come off on thr normal slot - ie in June for the FO if it reverts back to its normal slot. .

Of course all could change. In particular I could see in the early part of 2021 it sfill being 'better of' points and the early 2020 points being at least retained. In some ways it would be neater if the 'better of' system remained until the March anniversary of the shutdown and rankings freeze.

ROSAMUND · Futures level

indiana wrote:
The Naomi Broady episode was pretty ridiculous but made much worse by the Broady family 'principled' overreaction to a temporary punishment and their choice to divorce from the LTA and their funding. That's what really cost her in subsequent years.

Naomi still got to a singles ranking of 76 in early 2016.The only other new British female player to reach the top 100 since then I think was Katie Boulter whose highest ranking is 82 in 2019 before the Fed Cup injury. The rest at the moment are some way off the top 100 although it's hard to predict what heights the likes of Jodie Burrage or Emma Raducanu will eventually reach.

indiana · Tennis legend

ROSAMUND wrote:
indiana wrote:
The Naomi Broady episode was pretty ridiculous but made much worse by the Broady family 'principled' overreaction to a temporary punishment and their choice to divorce from the LTA and their funding. That's what really cost her in subsequent years.
Naomi still got to a singles ranking of 76 in early 2016.The only other new British female player to reach the top 100 since then I think was Katie Boulter whose highest ranking is 82 in 2019 before the Fed Cup injury. The rest at the moment are some way off the top 100 although it's hard to predict what heights the likes of Jodie Burrage or Emma Raducanu will eventually reach.

She did very well considering such as the years struggling for funds and some never really coached out of her fundamental stroke production issues. I am left wondering how much better could she have been and for a more sustained period.

dodrade · Satellite level

indiana wrote:
The Naomi Broady episode was pretty ridiculous but made much worse by the Broady family 'principled' overreaction to a temporary punishment and their choice to divorce from the LTA and their funding. That's what really cost her in subsequent years.

I assume that's finally over now?

indiana · Tennis legend

dodrade wrote:
indiana wrote:
The Naomi Broady episode was pretty ridiculous but made much worse by the Broady family 'principled' overreaction to a temporary punishment and their choice to divorce from the LTA and their funding. That's what really cost her in subsequent years.
I assume that's finally over now?

As far as I know it has never been over ftom the Broady 'side'.

Quite a few years ago now the LTA actually named Naomi in their funded group for the year and were told to take it out. So there seemed some misunderstanding at that point. And it's her choice that she hasn't been funded or available for GB teams. At least the LTA seem to treat her OK for WCs - I've read suggestions that they shouldn't but I'm glad they do.

ROSAMUND · Futures level

indiana wrote:
dodrade wrote:
indiana wrote:
The Naomi Broady episode was pretty ridiculous but made much worse by the Broady family 'principled' overreaction to a temporary punishment and their choice to divorce from the LTA and their funding. That's what really cost her in subsequent years.
I assume that's finally over now?
As far as I know it has never been over ftom the Broady 'side'.
Quite a few years ago now the LTA actually named Naomi in their funded group for the year and were told to take it out. So there seemed some misunderstanding at that point. And it's her choice that she hasn't been funded or available for GB teams. At least the LTA seem to treat her OK for WCs - I've read suggestions that they shouldn't but I'm glad they do.

Ideally when she had her highest singles ranking in spring 2016, that's the year when she should have played Fed Cup. Jo had pulled out after the Aussie Open semi final and that was the time for her to play. However instead on a rare occasion when we throw young players in the deep end Katie Swan played instead.