Johanna Konta Slams Unforgiving Media after French Open Loss

Britain’s Johanna Konta has had enough of reporters doubting her abilities on clay surfaces. The criticism resurfaced after her opening round loss in the 2018 French Open.

“Let’s say for a few years your pieces of writing have just been crap every time you come into Roland Garros,” Konta said. “Just crap. And then your colleagues start to say, ‘You really suck around that time.’ And that happens for a few years. How would you guys digest that and would you feel?”

The No. 22-ranked player lost to Yulia Putintseva 6-4, 6-3 in the opening round of Roland Garros. She said that she does not like to dwell on her shortcomings, but “you guys don’t make it easy.”

The Briton double-faulted five times in the match and made 32 unforced errors during her loss to Putintseva.

“I think the whole match really didn’t feel like a great match for me, quite honestly,” Konta said. “I never really quite found my rhythm.”

Konta has a 0-5 track record at the French Open, her worst at any Grand Slam. But her on-court issues go beyond the clay court. She has an 11-11 win-loss record this season, and managed to reach the fourth round of the Miami Open. But since then, she has not won more than two straight matches all season.

This blow comes a year after she reached the quarterfinals in Australia, won Miami and made the semifinals of Wimbledon.

“I’m obviously looking forward to the grass,” Konta said. “I’m looking forward to being at home. I obviously love the lead-up tournaments to Wimbledon and then Wimbledon, of course, as well. And then, yeah, I’ll be looking to play a strong and full hard-court season in the U.S. and then into Asia.”

Fortunately for her, this isn’t the last we see of Johanna Konta. She will be teaming up with Alison Riske in the doubles draw.