Such is Johanna Konta’s stock in the tennis world after a stunning rise up the world rankings in the past 18 months that she is set to appoint Wim Fissette, a Belgian of considerable repute, as her new coach.
After finishing the year as the first British woman to reach the top ten of the world rankings since Jo Durie in 1984, the news that Konta and her Spanish coach, Esteban Carril, had parted company last month came as a surprise to many. It has not taken Konta long, however, to find a replacement after identifying Fissette from a shortlist of interested parties.
They have already spent part of the pre-season on a trial period together at the National Tennis Centre in Roehampton, southwest London. On Monday, they will be at the new Mouratoglou Tennis Academy — run by Serena Williams’ coach, Patrick Mouratoglou — near Nice, France, to complete preparations for 2017.
“Number one is always availability,” said Konta on why she chose Fissette. “Then it’s about, for me and I guess for every player, the connection with the coach, like with any relationship, how you work together, the chemistry on court. So it was about finding that and he was the first coach I trialled and things are going well.
“I am a firm believer, and this applies to every single team member, that I’m looking for a partner. I like working together harmoniously. I like being involved in my own development, having my input and basically a partnership more than anything.”
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Fissette, 36, may have never made much impact in his playing days, reaching a career-high singles ranking of No 1,298, but he has found his calling as a coach. He helped compatriot Kim Clijsters win three grand-slam titles when she returned to the tour after becoming a mother and has guided two others, Sabine Lisicki and Simona Halep, to grand-slam finals. He had been working with former world No 1 Victoria Azarenka before she became pregnant earlier this year.
“He’s not that old,” the 25-year-old Konta. “I guess he’s been on the tour for some time, so I’m looking forward to being a sponge and absorbing as much of his experience and knowledge through the years.
“He’s been with Kim, as well, and some of the players I’m currently playing against. Again, it’s early days. I think there’s only so much that you can feel out in the training block, and then the year starts. That’s when you really feel how you get along.”
This has been an off-season of upheaval for Konta, who admitted yesterday to feeling emotionally tired. She had to deal with the shock of the sudden death of her mind guru, Juan Coto, who passed away at the age of 47 last month. The Spaniard, who lived in Guildford, played a large part in Konta’s rise, helping her to overcome her mental issues on the court.
“I think the time will naturally present itself when I feel I’m ready to look for someone else’s involvement in that area, to look to keep improving in that area,” Konta said.
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“I know that Juan would be supportive of me, continuously improving that area because it’s more than just tennis, it’s about my life.
“He’s still very much a part of everything that I do, everything that I will continue to do in this sport and this career, and most likely beyond that as well. He has gifted me with an incredible amount of tools and habits that still to this day I am looking to improve, every single day.”
Fissette’s roll of honour
Kim Clijsters (2009 & 2010 US Open titles, 2011 Australian Open title)
Sabine Lisicki (2013 Wimbledon runner-up)
Simona Halep (2014 French Open runner-up)
2015-16
Victoria Azarenka (2016 Indian Wells and Miami titles, back-to-back)
The impact of Carril is also not forgotten as Konta gave an insight into why their successful two-and-a-half- year partnership came to an end. The coach helped Konta to climb from No 147 in June 2015 to the top ten only 15 months later, reaching the semi-final of the Australian Open in the process. But while all was well on the court, their relationship off it had reached its natural conclusion.
“I can definitely see from the outside how it can seem a bizarre change, or abrupt even,” Konta said. “But when you’re in the relationship, when you’re in that day-to-day process, things are a lot clearer. It’s not as much of a big deal basically.
“I think we definitely did an incredible amount of good work over the last two and a half years. But like with every relationship, I think there comes a point where changes need to be made and for both of us to keep evolving and keep getting better. It was definitely at the right time. It gave me the opportunity to go into my pre-season with a new set-up so that I can then start my next season already in the swing of things.”