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Jo Konta has set herself a timeline of two more full seasons before she contemplates retirement, possibly to start a family.
The British number one turns 30 next May, and has a schedule in her head for maximising her tennis achievements before considering other paths in life.
Having kept a low profile since bowing out of the French Open in late September, she is now in full training for what she reveals might be her penultimate year in the game.
Jo Konta will play for two more seasons before deciding whether she wants to start a family
Konta failed to get past the second round in any of the three Grand Slams held during this year
‘I am looking forward to competing and see myself definitely playing another season after that,’ she said. ‘Then I am going to listen to my body, listen to my heart and soul, see where I am in my life.
‘I would like to have children so obviously that will be a factor in how long I play. Let’s look forward to hopefully 2022 and then see where we are.’
The world number 14 has a long-term partner in Jackson Wade, whom she met while he was working as a video producer at the Lawn Tennis Association.
They have plans to start a family, but she does not envisage herself joining the likes of Serena Williams of being a working mother on tour.
‘It’s definitely a pathway that is becoming more walked by some really incredible women,’ she said. ‘ I don’t know if that is a path for me. I can’t say I ever imagine myself playing on Tour as a mother but I am not closed to the idea.
‘One thing I have worked very hard on in my career is to stay quite open to things around me. I am open to that changing. Probably I’d see myself retire and then start a family. But who knows?’
Along with everyone else, Konta is waiting for details of early next season to be finalised, with the one certain outcome appearing to be the Australian Open being put back to February 8.
When she does resume it will be with a much healthier knee than the one which caused problems this year, and a device to monitor the heart palpitations from which she has occasionally suffered.
‘Basically we are looking to get me little device where if it does happen while I am on court I am able to put my fingers on there and it maps out what my heart rate is doing. It will automatically email the findings to my doctor. Touch wood it won’t be happening for another few years, it is nothing to be afraid of.’
Konta doesn’t see herself returning to the WTA Tour as a mother like Serena Williams has done
One of her main goals for next year is to compete at the Olympics. She is so keen to play across different events that she sent British men’s doubles number one Joe Salisbury a video request to play mixed doubles.
‘At the US Open, Dan (Smethurst, her assistant coach) and I were mucking around. You know when people send in their tapes for audition. I did a little audition tape of me volleying. I’d definitely love to play mixed doubles with Joe if he will have me.’
Smethurst is expected to accompany her to Australia, although for much of next year she also expects to reunite with French coach Dmitri Zavialoff, with whom she was so successful in 2019. He took this year off from travelling to deal with a family situation.
How the early part of 2021 will look for tennis is still uncertain, with a full decision on how things will be shaped around the Australian Open having passed more deadlines than the Brexit negotiations.
‘If 2020 has taught us anything then it is to stay on your toes. I am definitely going,’ said Konta.
At present it is hoped that the European clay court season will go ahead from April largely as planned, albeit with the likelihood of reduced crowd capacities.
Konta has her eyes on a mixed doubles partnership at next year’s Olympics with Joe Salisbury
Allowing for quarantine, the Australian events will take out the period from mid-January to February 21, with attempts still alive to stage Australian Open qualifying events before then, possibly in Dubai.
The fate of the big American events in March, Indian Wells and Miami, has been the cause of much of the delay in crystallising the calendar.
Indian Wells is expected to be cancelled for a second year running, and Miami may meet the same end.
Sportsmail understands that the upshot could be an extended ‘desert swing’ in the Middle East that includes a new slot for an event in Saudi Arabia. The kingdom is keen to host international events, has plenty of money and is considered less toxic now due other sports having already gone there.
It is not yet known when Novak Djokovic will have the chance to win his ninth Australian Open
The men’s event in Rio de Janeiro, currently scheduled for the third week in February, could end up there for the long term.
Doha and Dubai are also expected to be hosts in the early part of the coming season, possibly for more than one week each. Indoor European events, such as Marseille, could move back into early March.
The jigsaw is taking shape and is expected to be confirmed next week, although announcing such firm developments have been continually pushed back.
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