Week 39 - WTA Premier 5 - Wuhan, China - Hard

Helen40 · Grand Slam Champion

RE: Week 39 - WTA Premier 5 - Wuhan, China - Hard

TennisLover · Strong Club Player

Helen40 wrote:
philwrig wrote:
It feels very harsh to say, but if Jo had played at her recent very best I feel she would have won today. For the 1st time I detected a few nerves. Venus was all over the place, edging it when she was at her best, but then would go through periods when she looked as flat as a pancake. But when push came to shove she upped her level at 3-5, and it resulted in an epic end to the match, which Jo just came out on the wrong side of.
I was thinking exactly the same. Jo didn't play well at key points. Lost focus when she was serving for the match- or maybe intensity is a better word. She needed to take it to Venus when she was ahead.
Fair dos to Venus she stepped it up when needed and Jo didn't respond adequately.

That's tennis - it happens. Jo is really doing great.

emma · Strong Club Player

Jo certainly is doing great. not to be today but such a pleasure to watch her play. a lovely lady too:)

thejester · Satellite level

Whilst obviously it would have been fantastic for Jo to get the win today, the big thing is she proved (if there was still any doubt, which to my mind there wasn't) that she belongs at this level against this sort of opposition. To even be in a position to serve for the match against a great champion like Venus is representative of the enormous strides she has made and hopefully will continue to make.
A fantastic week, well done Jo

TennisLover · Strong Club Player

thejester wrote:
Whilst obviously it would have been fantastic for Jo to get the win today, the big thing is she proved (if there was still any doubt, which to my mind there wasn't) that she belongs at this level against this sort of opposition. To even be in a position to serve for the match against a great champion like Venus is representative of the enormous strides she has made and hopefully will continue to make.
A fantastic week, well done Jo

Hear! Hear!

nicofrance · Strong Club Player

I think Kontas comments after the match are good going forward. She feels she gave everything, and I don't think she'll feel she threw this match away.

She could have so easily lost yesterday, its rare to come back from 5 -1 down especially against someone ranked 2 in the world so you have to be a little bit philosophical. Equally she coped very well with Venus Williams power and should be proud of the great strides she's made this summer.

Spectator · All-time great

Harder maybe to close against an older player you've liked and admired than on a "peer" rival? But what a terrific week. And the loveliest thing of all is that it doesn't feel as if it will be an exception - it just feels right for where Ms Konta is now.

Helen40 · Grand Slam Champion

Can someone post a link to the interview please.

ghost · Newbie

Interview here http://www.skysports.com/watch/tv-shows/sportswomen/news/10013005/johanna-konta-suffers-battling-defeat-to-venus-williams-in-quarter-finals-of-wuhan-open

Also you can vote for Johanna as SkySports Sports Woman of the month on the same page.

philwrig · Hall of fame

Venus went onto winning the title against a hobbled Muguruza.

vohor · Grand Slam Champion

We'll never know how Jo would've fared against Vinci of course but crumbs she was close to lifting this title...so excited to see how she does next time out :)

Helen40 · Grand Slam Champion

ghost wrote:
Interview here http://www.skysports.com/watch/tv-shows/sportswomen/news/10013005/johanna-konta-suffers-battling-defeat-to-venus-williams-in-quarter-finals-of-wuhan-open
Also you can vote for Johanna as SkySports Sports Woman of the month on the same page.

Thanks ghost.

insomniacfolder · Challenger level

Also up for WTA September shot of the month for the saved Match Point against Venus.
You can vote for her if you think her shot is best, but as both Aga and Halep are also nominated this month, one of them will win because of their organised support - no matter whose shot is objectively 'best' - just the way it goes.

A couple other pieces WTA have done with Johanna recently:
Johanna Konta Top Of The Pops In UK
Interview: Johanna Konta (after defeating Halep)

Spectator · All-time great

Lovely interviews, insomniacfolder. Thank you. How fortunate are we to have three such poised, mature, sensible women as the top players in the UK? Ms Konta has always been a firm favourite in this quarter, and her combination of success and sense is a particular delight.

vohor · Grand Slam Champion

insomniacfolder wrote:
Also up for WTA September shot of the month for the saved Match Point against Venus.
You can vote for her if you think her shot is best, but as both Aga and Halep are also nominated this month, one of them will win because of their organised support - no matter whose shot is objectively 'best' - just the way it goes.

Ain't it just great to have Jo lined up with those other 4 huge names of the game? biggrin

What a rally by Jo matchpoint down biggrin biggrin