She is Britain's No1 female tennis player, whose meteoric rise saw her sensationally beat the formidable Venus Williams in the Australian Open, and as Jo Konta prepares for the run-up to Wimbledon, her fans can watch her play in three exciting tournaments around the UK, including the Aegon International in her hometown of Eastbourne.
"I love playing in front of my home crowd," 25-year-old Jo, who is also playing at the Aegon Open in Nottingham and the Aegon Classic – a prestigious all-female tournament in Birmingham– tells HELLO! "Not many players get that opportunity.
Johanna Konta is Britain's No.1 female tennis player
"While I save up to buy a place of my own, I'm still living with my parents," she continues. "Coming home to have Mum cook for me is a joy."
Jo also credits her parents - Gabor, a hotel manager, and Gabriella, a dentist - with helping her to stay grounded during her all-important tournaments.
"By keeping things as normal as possible, they keep me calm," she says. "At the end of the day, I have to remember that tennis is just a sport – I'm not trying to cure cancer - and all I can do is my best."
The pivotal force behind Jo's mental strength and professional resilience is also her mind coach, Juan Coto, who has been working with her since October 2014. Recommended by her Spanish tennis coach, Esteban Carril, who played tennis with him to a national level, Juan has taught Jo, to focus on the all-important psychological aspect of the sport. Since then, her performance has blossomed.
"We went on quite an important journey together," she tells HELLO!. "He helps me with the way I think, learn and evolve, not just as a tennis player, but also as a person. It's about being adaptable and reaching a place in my head where it's quiet."
For more information on where you can watch Jo play this summer and for tickets, please visit lta.org.uk/major-events
