Konta backs Williams to defend title at Australian Open

Jo Konta was one of the last players to face Serena Williams before her sabbatical to have her first child – and the memory serves as a reminder that the great American cannot be written off for next month’s Australian Open.

The in-form Konta was allowed just five games in their Melbourne quarter-final, and while there is still doubt, Williams is suggesting that she may make her comeback there in January to defend her title after giving birth on September 1.

‘You don’t put anything past Serena. If anyone can back so soon after giving birth, it’s probably going to be her,’ said world No 9 Konta. ‘ I think regardless of how many matches she’s had previously or how much tennis she’s played, she’s always Serena and the player or the athlete she is, she brings a lot of that to the table regardless.

‘That was the only time I played her and I knew going into the match that she was preparing for it very seriously. At the time I was one of the most in form players of that period.

‘She’s got a big serve but what makes her first serve incredibly difficult is that it’s consistently big, and her second serve is very difficult to do anything with. She is a very imposing player with the way she presents herself on court and the attitude she plays with. She doesn’t let you get yourself comfortable on court.’

Wimbledon semi-finalist Konta is one of four female contenders for Sports Personality of the Year, representing a sport which comes closer than most to offering parity to women. She feels tennis broadly sets a good example in that regard.

Williams is suggesting that she may make her comeback in January to defend her title

‘There’s always going to be work that’s going to have to be done, but I had a great Wimbledon experience because I played every match on Court One or Centre, so I had very favourable scheduling. 

‘You can never please everyone but as long as there are efforts made to promote the men’s and women’s side equally I think that’s all you can do. No one calls it the men’s US Open or the women’s Wimbledon, it’s the Wimbledon Championships, it’s the US Open — they’re not two different categories, it’s one.’

Konta said that among her fellow nominees she inclines towards swimmer Adam Peaty getting recognition.

‘I know he’s broken a few world records and he also did really well in Budapest this year where the world championships were. More going on personalities as well: he seems like someone who is a well liked guy and he seems quite cool.’