The heat is being turned up on Johanna Konta in Melbourne.

But, if the Eastbourne-based star needs to calm nerves during the Australian Open, there is a pretty simple formula she might try.

Just think back to idyllic summer days in the West Sussex countryside, hitting a ball about and fussing over some pet guinea pigs.

Such mental imagery should not be necessary if a key coaching figure from her formative years has got it right.

Justin Sherring is confident Konta can handle expectation, which is growing throughout the bottom half of the draw after some unpredictable results in the first two rounds.

He believes she proved that in her second round defeat of Saisai Zheng two days after stunning Venus Williams.

But, just in case, a few thoughts of Loxwood, where Sherring lives and trains, might also bring a smile to Konta’s face.

Sherring took charge of Konta’s blossoming career for about a year from early 2011.

He remembers a young player with the “Wow” factor and the realisation that he was working with someone special.

Exhausting training and gym sessions plus long hours on the road also live in the memory.

And so do those picture-perfect afternoons in the summer of 2011 which, he believes, helped relieve the tension of life on the tennis treadmill and offered a few hours of what might be termed normality for a teenage girl.

Sherring said: “I looked after her while she was in an interim period after coming to England.

“We were two sessions a day, play tennis, gym – and I did a bit of travelling with her as well.

“I’ve got a tennis court at home and we used to train there. That was quite cool.

“During the year I worked with her we played there on nice summer days when she wanted peace and quiet.

“Nice sunny days in the countryside, out in the open with the birds singing and she was able to concentrate and focus and enjoy her tennis. It was a really lovely time.

“She used to come off court and play with my young daughter Amelia and her guinea pigs. She loves guinea pigs! Amelia was ten or 11 at the time and would get the guinea pigs out and they would just sit there for half an hour.

“Again, it was was just a nice way of relaxing after training. I think you need that.”

Mindset comes into conversation on a regular basis when talking about Konta’s career to date.

The 24-year-old makes no secret of the contribution made by sports psychologist Juan Coto to her progress.

The Argus:

Justin Sherring speaks to young Johanna Konta before a match

Coto and Sherring have effectively been playing text message tennis while the latter sits up through the night watching her first two matches.

Konta’s dismissal of Venus Williams made the headlines but Sherring believes victory over unfancied Chinese player Saisai Zheng was just as impressive in a different way.”

“Obviously beating Venus in the first round is fantastic,” he said. “But you have almost got nothing to lose. You can be relaxed.

“Then suddenly she plays someone who people think she will beat and the expectation is there.

“She had the temperament to deal with that.

“I’ve been looking carefully at the draw and, yes, it is opening up in the bottom half.

“But suddenly it changes for all players. Suddenly the opening is there and the mindset changes.

“There is expectation. Which players can handle that?”

Sherring worked with Konta following her time at the Sanchez-Casal Academy in Barcelona.

Since her central funding was cut, she has spent time in Gijon under the guidance of Esteban Carril.

Sherring believes her cosmopolitan background is a good one for the modern day tennis player.

He said: “There is not one system which can produce a top player.

“If there is a better coach or better group of players somewhere you have got to go to the more challenging environment – and that means a globetrotter.

“It comes down to the parents’ support as well.

“I had been managing and overseeing her tennis development since she arrived in England and I was her individual coach for a year.

“I always thought ‘Wow’, this girl or this woman can be absolutely spectacular if she can just learn to handle herself, manage those little bits of anxiety. As soon as you manage that, your ability can shine through.”

Konta and tonight’s opponent Denisa Allertova gave spectators their money’s worth on their only previous meeting.
The 22-year-old Czech right-hander won a record-breaking tie-break 19-17 against Konta in the first round of last year’s French Open.
It was the longest decider in the history of the Roland Garros tournament and Allertova went on to win 7-6 4-6 6-2.