The cynical doomsayers who daubed Jo Konta overrated were eating oodles of humble pie last week. Jo Konta annihilated Serena Williams in the first round at San Jose. Then, proving it was no fluke, the unseeded Konta put another American Sofia Kenin to the sword. The rising Belgium star, Elise Mertens proved too much for Konta next round. That said it was a good tournament for the British number 1, whose ranking has now dropped to 48 in the world. Konta heads into the Canadian Masters this week, hoping to find the form that once made her world number 4.
Unseeded Konta faces 11th seed Ostapenko at Canadian Masters
Disappointing form since a Miami Masters 2017 win, has seen the Brit drop down the rankings. The main consequence of this is that she faces increasingly tougher first-round matches. The 11th seed and 2017 French Open champion, Jelena Ostapenko is first up for Konta at the Canadian Open. The head-to-head between these players stands at 1-1, but they have never met on hardcourts. Naturally, it is safe to assume that Ostapenko is most comfortable on clay, but hard courts don't deter her either. Ostapenko is 43-39 win/loss on hard-courts in her still fledgeling career.
Konta has been looking a little nervous on the court since changing coaches at the end of last year to Michael Joyce.
They still seem to be figuring each other out. Ostapenko's go big or go home approach to the game may put Konta under too much pressure. This is a big test for the Brit, who sorely needs to rebuild her confidence.
Konta Needs game-time to prepare for US Open
A career high of 4th in the world leaves you wondering why Konta has never won a Slam.
Her best chances have come at either Wimbledon or the US Open, so to stand any chance of achieving a deep run at the 2018 US Open, the only Slam left, Konta needs game-time.
Earning match practice is becoming increasingly difficult, especially when you are pitted against the likes of Ostapenko so early in tournaments.
Ostapenko playing first match since Wimbledon
The 21-year-old Latvian's last match was in a Slam semi-final. She found the eventual winner, Angelique Kerber too much at Wimbledon. That said she played some blistering tennis. If the Latvian brings anything like that sharp form into the Canadian Masters - then Konta could find herself in trouble. Critics seem to try and write Ostapenko's 2017 French Open victory as a one-off, but it is dangerous to do that. On her day, Ostapenko is more than a match for any player in the women's game.
Prediction: Sorry Konta fans, but Ostapenko will prevail in this one.
