Konta Rips British Reporter: Please Don't Patronize

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Konta Rips British Reporter: Please Don't Patronize

The British press was highly critical of Johanna Konta after she lost to Barbora Strycova on Day 8, 7-6(5) 6-1.

But not too worry—Konta was just as tough on them right back (full video above).

“Please don't patronize me,” Konta told a reporter who had more than a few negative comments to make about the state of her play as she bowed out to the 33-year-old Czech on Centre Court.

Konta, who defeated Top 10 players Sloane Stephens and Petra Kvitova back-to-back and Wimbledon, struggled with her range and made 34 errors against the tricky Strycova.

“33 unforced errors, then you had a smash at the net which you hit straight to her, then towards the end of the third set you had a double-fault, then missed a drive volley,” a surly reporter told her. “Do you not have to look at yourself a little bit about how you cope with these big points? It's all very well saying it's a lot to do with your opponent, but there were key points when you perhaps could have done better.”

Konta does not embrace negativity philosophically, and would prefer to praise her opponent rather than lambaste herself after a grating loss.

For anyone wondering why Jo Konta might sometimes be defensive with the press, just take a moment to think what it might be like to have this inaccurate, vitriolic and sexist BS written about you, and whether it would make you feel inclined to bear your soul. pic.twitter.com/ELARqSLCgp
— Catherine Whitaker (@CWhitakerSport) July 9, 2019

Earlier in the press conference she had given the press the quote they likely could have used in telling them that it was “unfortunate I couldn't quite find the level needed to come through.”

But newspapers don’t sell themselves, we suppose. Hence the line of questioning that caused Konta to hit back.

“In the way you're asking your question, you're being quite disrespectful and you're patronizing me,” Konta told the reporter. “I'm a professional competitor who did her best today, and that's all there is to that.”

Perhaps it was a win-win. The reporter got his controversial quotes, and Konta got to put him in his place.

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