Johanna Konta Boosts Grand Slam Title Hopes after Reuniting with Former Coach

Published 11/24/2020, 10:47 AM EST

World No.14 Johanna Konta ended her 2020 season after suffering a first-round defeat at French Open 2020. The British tennis player also made major changes in her coaching personnel when she parted ways with Dimitri Zavialoff this year. But the separation was short as the pair have reunited again.

Konta has once again added 42-year-old Zavialoff to her coaching staff after a brief split that happened during the summer. Zavialoff, who has also coached Stan Wawrinka in the past, gets back with Konta after majorly helping her improve last year.

He took a step back from coaching the Brit over the summer due to travel restrictions and personal circumstances. Konta coped with the void by collaborating with Maria Sharapova’s former coach Thomas Hogstedt.

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Konta signed up for a trial with the Swedish coach but ultimately couldn’t extend their professional relationship past that stage. The former World No.4 then ended her 2020 season with just a hitting partner intact in her coaching team.

As a new season awaits, it is indeed a positive mode by Johanna Konta to reunite with Zavialoff. He made drastic changes to her game and the Brit’s 2019 season is a testament to that.

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A glimpse of how Johanna Konta performed in 2020

Johanna Konta endured two different phases in 2020 as it was with any other tennis professional. The first half before the pandemic hit and after. The first Grand Slam began on a disappointing note as Konta was knocked out in the opening round by Ons Jabeur.

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She reached the semis of both Monterrey Open and Western & Southern Open but failed to reach past the last four at either tournament. The hiatus didn’t seem to affect the British player in a positive manner as she crashed out in the second round at her comeback Grand Slam.

A second loss at the US Open to Sorana Cirstea pulled down Konta’s confidence. She then struggled to perform in the subsequent tournaments as well. Konta is generally a good clay player, but teenage sensation Coco Gauff surprised her when they met at French Open.

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Gauff dispatched Konta in straight sets which would’ve been a tough loss to take for the 29-year-old. She withdrew from participating in the Ostrava open and called the curtain on her 2020 season.

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Arjun Athreya is a senior writer at Essentially Sports and has been contributing since early 2020. Having developed an avid interest in sports at an early age, he pursued a Journalism degree and graduated from Madras Christian College. Arjun manages the Golf division and its content, and primarily covers news pertaining to the NBA as well.

Johanna Konta Boosts Grand Slam Title Hopes after Reuniting with Former Coach

A glimpse of how Johanna Konta performed in 2020

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