Resilient Konta stuns Radwanska for Sydney title

Johanna Konta returns to Melbourne a wiser and more resilient tennis player compared to the unseeded sensation who reached Australian 2016 Open semi-finals.

Sydney-born Brit Konta, who was beaten by eventual winner Angelique Kerber at Melbourne Park last year, also now boasts ninth spot on the WTA rankings.

And, as Agnieszka Radwanska learned in Friday night’s final of the Sydney International, she has the potential to be a near-unstoppable force when on song.

Konta crushed world No.3 Radwanska 6-4 6-2 in 81 minutes to secure her second WTA title.

“She was just playing unbelievable tennis. I can’t remember playing someone like this, on that level and that consistent for the whole match,” Radwanska said.

It was a timely reminder from Konta of how hard she’s worked since becoming the first British woman to reach a grand-slam semi in 33 years.

“I have been in a very fortunate position, being in lots of situations between last year at Melbourne and now,” Konta said after her win in Sydney. “In a relatively short space of time, I have experienced a lot.

“I’d like to think that I’ve become a bit wiser, a bit more resilient, and a bit more experienced with situations.

“There’s still a long, long way to go … but I definitely am enjoying my journey, enjoying learning, enjoying getting better every day. I try to be a sponge as much as I can.”

Konta starts her Open campaign against Belgium’s Kirsten Flipkens, with Caroline Wozniacki and Dominika Cibulkova looming large in potential third and fourth round.

Serena Williams, gunning for an open-era record 23rd Grand Slam singles title, is likely to wait in the quarter-finals.

“I knew it came out. I didn’t look,” Konta said of the Open draw. “I know I play Tuesday.”

Konta’s surge up the WTA rankings, from No.150 at the end of 2014 to her current spot in the top ten, hasn’t gone unnoticed on the circuit.

“I remember her from two years ago on grass and she was getting wildcards everywhere,” Radwanska recalled.

“Then she was really starting to play good tennis, especially on grass. She was really doing well.

“And then, suddenly, she was going deeper and deeper at tournaments. Then you notice … definitely now she deserve to be top 10. She can be very dangerous.”

Konta noted she didn’t “actively associate myself with a ranking or with a position or with results”.

“”It’s more just a reward for hard work, more than anything,” she said.

“I don’t wake up in the morning, look in the mirror, and say ‘hey, No.9!'”.