In a recent interview, Johanna Konta said she hopes to win multiple grand slams and be No.1 in the World. She’s 29 years old, which is knocking on in tennis terms, and has just blown a relatively easy match in the US Open that has its lowest quality field due to Covid. I was shocked to read she has earned over $9.5 million in prize money in her career so far, plus she has some very lucrative contracts, yet she’s never won anything significant. I can’t help thinking being that well-off reduces her desire to win. Anyone else think she’s overrated and never going to win a Slam?
She plays very well but she doesn't seem to have the stamina to do better. She seems to be easily intimidated by a more ruthless opponent. She gets so far and then no further. I just heard her interview on losing in the second round. She does acknowledge her inadequacies.
Remember Anna Kournikova? Retired at twenty-one, admittedly through injury, but she made far more from endorsements than she ever did from winning matches.
Maybe it takes the edge off the competitive spirit?