It is easy to regard Johanna Konta’s impressive rise from nervous underachiever to genuine contender for major honours as the result of a dry, programmed preparation, as is often reflected in her language.
The word “process” has become an almost parodic feature of her lexicon. She talks about staying in “the moment”, and any attempt to pierce her carefully constructed psychological armour is met with polite deflection. But she is no robot, whatever the impression of her archer‑like serve and clean, well-chosen ground strokes.
It becomes obvious in conversation with Konta that there is still a lot of emotion bubbling under, the jitters that her one-time Fed Cup captain Judy Murray said always sublimated her considerable potential. If those nerves did not jangle still, Konta would struggle for motivation under pressure – which will no doubt arrive at various “moments” when she begins her US Open campaign on Monday against Bethanie Mattek-Sands. It is likely to be on one of the big show courts, possibly even Arthur Ashe. The pressure and the spotlight will be fierce.
The American – who, with Jack Sock, beat the British No1 and Jamie Murray on her way to gold in the mixed doubles at the Rio Olympics – is Konta’s polar opposite, rushing towards flamboyance and gestures, dressed confidently, it seems, in a variety of publicity-grabbing outfits.
“We hadn’t played each other ever and now we are playing each other twice in three weeks,” Konta said with a laugh. “She is playing very well, she has an incredible amount of experience, she is coming off the back of something that is incredibly inspirational and life‑changing so I think it’s no secret that a lot of American players play better here. I’m expecting a very inspired Bethanie and I will do my best. She is a popular player and a gold medallist so I’m sure there’s an incentive for it to be a big court. Whatever we’re on, we’ll make it a good one.”
Where Mattek-Sands has a look-at-me attitude to life and her career, Konta prefers the quieter route to prominence. “I haven’t really looked at myself as someone that needs to prove a point to anyone,” the British player said.
“I look to constantly be a better version of myself every time I step out on court. That has come out with some good wins and good things on paper but if my ranking were to drop or to rise, it wouldn’t affect my goals or how I want to keep improving. That’s why I employ the people I employ, for me it’s about working on the here and now, working on the process that matters to me but in terms of what my forehand looks like or how much or how many points I need to defend here or there, that’s not my job.”
Did she recognise change in herself over the past year or so, rising from the outer reaches of respectability in the rankings to No14 seed here, and almost crashing the top 10 in Canada a few weeks ago? She also has the considerable financial incentive of $3.5m (£2.6m) prize money to go with this title, as well as a slice of the $1m available for being near the lead of the US Open series bonus challenge. “I’m exactly the same person,” the 25-year-old said. “I’m definitely older and that much wiser as well, I hope.
“I think I have had a lot of experiences in a short space of time at this level. There wasn’t so much of a warm-up period [in her career]. It was very much just on the WTA Tour this year and that has been an incredible experience, one that I hope to continue every year for the rest of my career. Otherwise I think I’m just as happy, hard-working and motivated as I was last year.
“I do feel that this year has gone very, very quickly, it just feels like so much has happened in such a short space of time. But I hope to be feeling the same way this time next year.
“The tour keeps moving, tournaments keep coming and going, and I think the better job I do of staying present and healthy and enjoying what I’m doing the more reasons I give you guys to write about me.”
