British number one Johanna Konta is “happy” with her early-season form before her Australian Open first-round match against Kirsten Flipkens.
| Australian Open 2017 |
|---|
| Venue: Melbourne Park, Melbourne. Dates: 16-29 Jan |
| Coverage: Live commentary on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra plus TV highlights on BBC Two from 21 Jan; live text on selected matches on BBC Sport website. Play begins at 00:00 GMT |
World number one Andy Murray begins his Australian Open campaign on Monday with a match against world number 95 Illya Marchenko of Ukraine.
Defending women’s champion Angelique Kerber and four-time men’s winner Roger Federer are also in action on day one of the tournament in Melbourne.
British number two Dan Evans, beaten in his first ATP Tour final on Saturday, plays Facundo Bagnis of Argentina.
Britain’s Aljaz Bedene faces Victor Estrella Burgos of Dominican Republic.
Murray, who won last year’s Wimbledon and Olympic Games on his way to becoming world number one, has lost in five Australian Open finals, including in 2016 when he was beaten by Novak Djokovic.
“I obviously feel pretty confident after the way the last season finished,” said Murray. “I love it here. I love the conditions and have played really well over the years. I just haven’t managed to get over the final hurdle.
“I’m in a decent position to do it. I have a chance to win.”
Serb Djokovic begins his 2017 campaign on Tuesday versus Fernando Verdasco of Spain, while America’s Serena Williams, aiming to win a record-breaking seventh women’s singles title faces Switzerland’s Belinda Bencic.
A number of British players also have to wait until Tuesday for their first-round matches.
Britain’s women’s number one Johanna Konta, seeded ninth, is first up on Margaret Court Arena at 00:00 GMT where she faces Kirsten Flipkens of Belgium while unseeded Heather Watson will take on Australia’s 18th seed Samantha Stosur.
Naomi Broady is also in action on Tuesday against Australia’s Daria Gavrilova, the 22nd seed, with Kyle Edmund involved in men’s singles action against Santiago Giraldo of Colombia.
| Australian Open 2017 |
|---|
| Venue: Melbourne Park, Melbourne Dates: 16-29 Jan |
| Coverage: Live commentary on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra plus TV highlights on BBC Two from 21 Jan; live text on selected matches on BBC Sport website |
British number one Johanna Konta says it is “not a given” that she will be a contender for the Australian Open title despite winning the warm-up tournament.
Konta, who broke into the world’s top 10 last year, beat Agnieszka Radwanska to win her second WTA trophy at the Sydney International on Friday.
The 25-year-old begins her 2017 Grand Slam campaign against Belgium’s Kirsten Flipkens on Tuesday.
“I’m very pleased with the level I played,” said Konta of her Sydney win.
“But we all know that it’s not a given. It doesn’t decide how you will do in the next event.
“I’m taking it as a positive from the week itself, but I’m looking to again work hard here and really try to do the best that I can.”
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Sydney-born Konta reached the semi-finals at the Australian Open last year – the furthest she has ever progressed in a Grand Slam.
And despite enjoying her most successful season to date, she chose to split with coach Esteban Carril in December after two-and-a-half years together.
Konta is now working under Belgian Wim Fissette, who has previously coached former world number one Kim Clijsters and two-time Australian Open winner Victoria Azarenka.
“My previous situation came to a natural end so I was in the market. It came together nicely for us,” Konta told BBC Radio 5 live.
“We’re doing some great work together. I’m really enjoying learning from him. He’s a coach who’s been on tour for some time and has worked with some of the best players.
“I’m trying to be a sponge and trying to absorb all the information he’s passing on.”
Sue Barker, who reached the semi-finals of the women’s singles at the Australian Open in 1975 and 1977, believes Johanna Konta is good enough to win this year’s competition.
“Last year’s Australian Open was her big breakthrough tournament,” Barker told BBC Radio 5 live’s Sportsweek programme.
“We had been seeing her get better and better but at the Australian Open she started to believe in herself. She has not sat back and has improved week after week.
“I watched her final against Radwanska in Sydney last week and it was the best I’ve seen her play. She looked incredible and doesn’t have a weakness.
“She is hitting the ball so hard and she is not just a top-10 player, she is a Grand Slam contender.”
Konta will return to ninth in the world rankings on Monday following her win in Sydney and Barker thinks Konta can beat the best players.
“Johanna is seeded ninth so has not got the protection of being in the top eight but there is not one person that’s just so outstanding in the women’s game,” added Barker.
“Angelique Kerber is a solid world number one but she is beatable and Johanna has the game to beat her. She certainly has a chance to win it.”
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Toni Nadal believes that Rafael Nadal is gearing up for a successful fortnight at the Australian Open.
Rafa’s uncle and longtime coach closely observed his practise sessions this past Friday. Toni took in the 2009 champion’s training session with Marin Cilic that morning on Rod Laver Arena, then closely observed the afternoon practise on Hisense Arena along with new coach Carlos Moya.
“Rafa is playing great,” declared Toni. “We’re having a really good level during the training sessions and he’s winning all of his sets. This isn’t a reference point for us, but it’s always positive to head into these tournaments with such a great feeling. Once we step onto the court, we need to see if this level is good enough to make a great run here.”
The Mallorcan’s coach also reflected about the main contenders for the first Grand Slam of the season, but said he anticipated the top seeds would make deep runs through the draw.
“I think there’s not much room for surprises. There is a group of players who are the clear favorites to win the title,” said Toni. “We’re at the beginning of the season and some players may feel a bit rusty, but if you take a look at the list of past champions, they are always the same.”
Toni also spoke about Roger Federer’s return to competition after six months out. The four-time champion Down Under will take the court on Monday against qualifier Jurgen Melzer of Austria.
“Above all, he loves tennis. He loves playing,” said Toni about the 17-time Grand Slam champion. “He doesn’t need to play for money or titles anymore. He’s here because he loves the competition. If he keeps playing, his presence is good for the circuit and for tennis.”
A LOOK BACK
East Hotel Canberra Challenger (Canberra, Australia): For the 21st time in his career, Dudi Sela is the last man standing at an ATP Challenger Tour event, rallying past top seed Jan-Lennard Struff in Canberra. The Israeli needed one hour and 49 minutes to dispatch the German 3-6, 6-4, 6-3, maintaining his strong run of form after reaching the semi-finals at the Aircel Chennai Open a week ago. The title puts Sela five behind Yen-Hsun Lu for the all-time Challenger lead, but more importantly sees the 31 year old soar 20 spots to World No. 67 in the Emirates ATP Rankings.
Watch: Sela Championship Point Hot Shot | Sela Post-Match Interview
Buoyed by the boisterous Israeli contingent in Canberra, Sela overcame 11 aces and saved eight of 13 break points faced. He improved to 3-0 in his FedEx ATP Head2Head series against Struff, most recently prevailing in a five-set thriller at the 2015 Australian Open.
Challenger Title Leaders
| No. |
Player |
Titles |
| 1 | Yen-Hsun Lu | 26 |
| 2 | Dudi Sela | 21 |
| T3 | Paolo Lorenzi | 18 |
| T3 | Go Soeda | 18 |
Wind Energy Holding Bangkok Open II (Bangkok, Thailand): Janko Tipsarevic could not have asked for a better start to the 2017 season. The former World No. 8 is on the doorstep of a Top 100 return, vaulting 40 spots in the Emirates ATP Rankings to No. 104 with back-to-back titles in Bangkok. A week ago, Tipsarevic did not drop a set en route to his 12th ATP Challenger Tour title and on Saturday he lifted No. 13, downing China’s Zhe Li 6-2, 6-3 in one hour and 32 minutes.
The Serbian rolled to the title, not relinquishing more than three games in a set since dropping the opener of his first-round match against Egor Gerasimov. Tipsarevic is now on an eight-match win streak in Challenger finals, since 2006.
Other News: Former World No. 62 Somdev Devvarman announced his retirement from professional tennis. The 31 year old reached two ATP World Tour finals, falling to Marin Cilic on home soil in Chennai in 2009 and to Kevin Anderson in Johannesburg in 2011. Devvarman also enjoyed great success on the Challenger circuit, posting a 94-71 record and clinching five titles. He won consecutive crowns in New Delhi from 2014-15 and lifted the trophy in Lexington in 2008, Izmir in 2010 and most recently in Winnetka in 2015.
Starting 2017 on a new note, retiring from pro tennis. Thanks to everyone for the love and support over the years. #newyearnewbeginnings
— Somdev Devvarman (@SomdevD) January 1, 2017
WHAT THE PLAYERS SAID
Sela: “I was a bit lucky today but I’m happy that I won. The experience of this stage that I have been on so many times before helped me a lot.
“It’s nice to see the flag of your country all the way here in Australia. If they were not here today I’m not sure if I could have had the motivation to come back like that. I didn’t want to let them down.”
A LOOK AHEAD
Koblenz, Germany, hosts the inaugural Koblenz Open, a €43,000 indoor hard-court event. Home favourite Benjamin Becker is in the draw, along with Norwegian teen Casper Ruud and Happy Valley champion Peter Gojowczyk.
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ATP CHALLENGER TOUR ON TWITTER: The ATP Challenger Tour has launched a dedicated Twitter account for the latest news and information about players and events. Follow @ATPChallengerTour at twitter.com/ATPChallengerTour.