Yes disappointing Jo couldn't turn round this losing record to Strycova. Looking at the stats, neither served that well but Jo lost on failing to take her BP opportunities. She won only 4/13 BPs whilst Strycova won 6/10.

R32: Jo KONTA (GBR) [7] 12 lost to Barbora STRYCOVA (CZE) 33 (CH:16 Jan 17) 2-6 6-3 3-6

I wonder if anybody remembers the player who prevented Laura from reaching the final in Palermo  in 2012.  Laura lost in 3 sets in the semi final.

Michael D wrote:

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ROSAMUND wrote:

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I wonder if anybody remembers the player who prevented Laura from reaching the final in Palermo  in 2012.  Laura lost in 3 sets in the semi final.

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 Yes, it was also Strycova. Heather also has a losing 2-4 record against her, but at least Heather has recorded some wins!!

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 Ah yes, I remember that tournament with her surprise wins over Italian clay courters I think.  But I hadn't registered that Strycova was  her conqueror also.  

I always feel uncomfortable about Jo's prospects when the BRI****CH website predicts she will win matches as happened with the Strycova match. Similarly when I  read Jo is targeting a Grand Slam. Personally I do not think she will reach a Grand Slam final because her best is not good enough. Having reached the last 16 of 8 Grand Slams she has then lost in straight sets every time. The closest we have got in the last 40 years  to a finalist was Jo Durie at the French in 1983 when she lost in 3 sets to Mima Jausovec. That was more frustrating than any of  the current Jo's losses. I feel our next potential champion/finalist  is not on the scene yet. 

HarryGem wrote:

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ROSAMUND wrote:

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I always feel uncomfortable about Jo's prospects when the BRI****CH website predicts she will win matches as happened with the Strycova match. Similarly when I  read Jo is targeting a Grand Slam. Personally I do not think she will reach a Grand Slam final because her best is not good enough. Having reached the last 16 of 8 Grand Slams she has then lost in straight sets every time. The closest we have got in the last 40 years  to a finalist was Jo Durie at the French in 1983 when she lost in 3 sets to Mima Jausovec. That was more frustrating than any of  the current Jo's losses. I feel our next potential champion/finalist  is not on the scene yet. 

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 I tend to agree with what you say. However, as to targetting a grand slam it is hard to see what else she can say/do. Age is starting to go against her though. I would say she has 8 more realistic shots at reaching a grand slam final, though when she gets close she seems to come up short. I know there are recent examples of players over 30 winning and reaching finals but take out the Williams sisters and there aren't that many in recent years.

For Jo I think the serve has to work near to perfectly for her to progress. When it does she's top class but when it falls short, as it did in Brisbane, her B game plan doesn't have the same effect.

As to your last point if whilst watching Wade win the Wimbledon title someone had said that we would be here in 2020 with no other champion I would have laughed, now I'm not sure I will live long enough to see it.

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 Fortunately I am old enough to remember Ann Jones, Sue Barker and Virginia Wade winning Grand Slams. Sadly if you look at  the last 40 years only the 2 Jo's and a 37 year old Wade  have reached the last 8 of Grand Slams. Jo Durie  first appeared in the late  70's and we are lucky that Australian tennis ceased to fund JoKo  otherwise all her successes would  have been  under the Australian flag. The only other player who comes to mind in  the last 40 years who could have reached the later stages of Grand Slams is Laura Robson. Sadly the wrist injury  sustained  shortly  after  Wimbledon 2013 did for her chances. Will the next 40 years be as unproductive? I would not be surprised but I will not be around that long.

Of our current players I suspect Emma Raducanu may have the best potential but it remains far too early to see how far she may actually be able to go. Katie B sadly has suffered two debilitating injuries and has an illness to manage too and this will clearly limit her. Outside Emma R we certainly don't have anyone else on the horizon yet of even top 30 potential, never mind grand slam winning potential.