Johanna Konta bans ‘negative language’ as she bids for US Open title
JOHANNA KONTA is getting ready to scrap her way to US Open glory.
But the Brit, 28, will not say it — and has BANNED fighting talk from her camp.
Konta has demanded her team cut out “negative language” as she bids to reach her first Gram Slam final in New York.
She takes on No5 seed Elina Svitolina today in the quarter-finals.
And fans will have to put up with her serving up cliches about “living in the moment” and her “process”.
French coach Dimitri Zavialoff towed the line yesterday, explaining: “Instead of ‘fight’ we say ‘play’.
“We hear of war terminology in sport and I don’t think it’s a war. It’s still a game.
“We do all those things and slowly the player realises they don’t need to fight to get what they need.
“It’s just a tennis match. It’s not the end of life, not a war. I think it helps.”
Speaking after her fourth-round win over Czech third seed Karolina Pliskova, Konta said: “Dimitri has given me space to be exactly who I am. He’s encouraged my self-development.
“I’m also really grateful for him to be able to create an environment for the whole team.”
'BETTER THAN SHE THINKS'
This year alone Konta has made the semi-finals in Paris and the last eight at Wimbledon. She is the first British woman since Jo Durie in 1983 to get this far at Flushing Meadows.
While her talent has never been in doubt, it is her mental strength which has often come into question.
But Zavialoff said he has made the British No1 believe.
He added: “She is a much better player than she thinks and I just invite her to test many things in practice and then in matches.
“If she feels more comfortable she can use it in matches.
“Specifically I would just say sometimes to slow down the game and then have combinations in there.
“She believes in herself pretty much since I’m working with her.
“She enjoys playing tennis and that’s what we try to have in every practice session and even matches.
“Stay connected to the game and what the game asks. To invite her to go this way seems to help. We are on the same wavelength.”
Zavialoff knows what makes a tennis star tick. He did not, however, know who Konta superfan Tom Hiddleston was. The Night Manager actor is performing on Broadway and has been loving every moment in the player’s box.
Zavialoff smiled: “When he came they told me who he was and I didn’t know him.
“But then they explained and I was like ‘OK yes!’. In the box he was really nice which makes it easy.
“Am I worried he’s after my job? He has a lot to do at the moment!”
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Svitolina is now the highest-ranked player left in the women’s draw after champion Naomi Osaka lost 7-5 6-4 to rising Swiss star Belinda Bencic.
The Ukrainian, 24, reached the Wimbledon semis this summer and has a 4-0 record against Konta.
She said: “Johanna’s a very tough opponent who always does well in the Grand Slams. She has been playing very good tennis.”
NOVAK DJOKOVIC is out of the men’s draw after withdrawing with a shoulder injury at two sets down in the third to Stan Wawrinka.
It was just the reigning US Open champion’s second defeat in 38 Grand Slam matches.