FOR most tennis players, earning the biggest pay cheque of their life and playing on the biggest stage of their career might be cause for celebration, a night on the town or a shopping spree.
But Britain’s Johanna Konta, whose outstanding run at the Australian Open ended at the semi-final stage here yesterday, is not like most players.
For Konta, her 7-5, 6-2 defeat by Germany’s Angelique Kerber was a disappointment in result only, the experiences of the fortnight the most important thing as she looks to continue the incredible progress she has made in the past 12 months.
Perhaps it is because until this year, Konta was playing most of her tennis on the lower rungs of the circuit, ranked outside the top 100, that she appreciates the journey she is on so much.
The 24-year-old, beaten in the first round of qualifying here a year ago, leaves with around £370,000 in prize money, around two thirds of her career earnings before this fortnight.
More importantly, she will climb to a ranking of 28, putting her on course to be seeded at the French Open and Wimbledon, but she is taking absolutely nothing for granted.
“Nothing is guaranteed so let’s not be under the false assumption that just because I’ve done this it’s going to continue going onwards,” she said.
“There are always going to be ebbs and flows in everyone’s career including my own so I’m looking forward to the new challenges that arise and everything that will come my way.
“I will continue working hard on being able to deal with such circumstances to the best of my ability because that will give me the best chance of playing my best tennis.”
Konta’s ability to shut out the outside world will come in handy come Wimbledon time when the spotlight will be very much on her.
And though Kerber deserved a victory that sets up a first grand slam final against six-time champion Serena Williams, Konta said she was happy with the way she dealt with the occasion.
“I was really, really happy with how I felt on court in terms of nerves or anything,” she said.
“I felt very comfortable. I really went out there with a very clear mindset of just trying to compete to the best of my ability today against the opponent that I had on the other side of the court. I'm really happy with how I was able to compete.”
In truth, it was not her best day with her backhand, which had been so brilliant in getting her to the semi-finals, off target too often and her 36 unforced errors contrasted to the 11 of the German.
At 3-0 down, she was worried about getting on the board but she battled back and led 5-4 before Kerber won nine of the next 11 games to clinch victory.
“I don't think I missed an opportunity,” she said. “I played against a better player today who earned her right into a grand slam final.
“That's how I view it. She played a really, really good match. That's why she is the winner and I'm not today. I think that's all you need to accept about that.
“But I'm really taking a lot of positive things from it. I'm really hungry to keep improving and keep enjoying what I'm doing. So that's where I'm at.”
While Konta will head home to play for Britain in the Fed Cup next weekend, Kerber will try to stop Williams from winning a seventh Australian Open title and 22nd grand slam title, which would equal Steffi Graf in the all-time list.
Williams was at her brilliant best against Agnieszka Radwanska, crushing the Pole 6-0, 6-4 and will be a huge favourite in tomorrow’s final.
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