Andy Murray can handle the Davis Cup pressure says British No 2 Johanna Konta
Friday 18 September 2015 19:14, UK
Johanna Konta believes Andy Murray will again cope with British expectation in the Davis Cup semi-finals against Australia.
World No 3 Murray ensured the British team made a winning start to the tie after completing a 6-3 6-0 6-3 win over Thanasi Kokkinakis in the opening match.
Lleyton Hewitt added spice to the encounter by suggesting that all of the pressure was solely on the Scot's shoulders in the best-of-five contest at the Emirates Arena in Glasgow.
But British No 2 Konta insists the 2013 Wimbledon champion has shown throughout his career that he can perform in front of the home fans and has backed his GB team-mates to supply solid support.
I think if they were to make a poster boy for coping with pressure brilliantly, that would be Andy Murray.
"I think if they were to make a poster boy for coping with pressure brilliantly, that would be Andy Murray,' Konta told Sky Sports.
"He's had a load of expectation on him for years and years. It's nothing new to him and he's definitely one to look up to if I'm ever privileged to have that sort of expectation on me.
"One thing that has been incredibly spectacular with the British guys and our Davis Cup team is how much they have stepped up to the plate. Some of the matches and the level of tennis they have played is so impressive."
Konta has risen to a career-high ranking of world No 58 after reaching the fourth round at the US Open.
During her run to the last 16, she defeated seeded duo Andrea Petkovic and Garbine Muguruza, but is refusing to get carried away after her recent success.
"I'm humble enough to know that whoever I go up against they can beat me," she said.
"I don't deserve to win any match any more than they do. For me it was about fighting hard and running down every single ball that I could and just being there mentally to take the few chances that I got."
