Reasons to be cheerful.......

[pomp 'n circumstance]

With the struggles of the delicious, pouting Laura Robson to regain fitness from a hand injury, we have at last found a female tennis player who is making the rest of the world sit up and take notice. A player who was only ranked No 3 among the Brits, with a world ranking of around 150, who has now run up string of wins and been beaten only once in the last 22 games she has played. I refer to Joanna Conta, born of Hungarian parents in Australia who became a Brit national in 2012.

Today she beat the World No: 2 Simona Halep at the Chinese Open 6-3, 3-6, 7-5 and came from 5-1 down in the final set to win 6 games on the bounce. To put this feat in perspective, no British player has beaten a World No: 2 since Sue Barker in 1981 when she beat Tracey Austin around 35 years ago. She will play Mr V Williams in the quarter final next. Conta has a service as fast as anyone on the circuit and batters the cover off the ball on pretty much every stroke - she is now the British No:1 and in my view will be in with a shout for the Australian Open in the New Year.....watch this space! Will be trawling for her odds from our good friends the Bookies for a decent price about her chances whilst reviewing my supply of acceptable claret......Your Good Health!

[The Cincinnati Kid]

Pomp...to get excited over female tennis...well...she has to be hot....even minor league hot,,,,,Sue Barker....hot!....Joanna Conta.......rather watch Anna Kournikova reruns.

[Lost in Transportation]

Or Johanna Konta even...

[Earl Grey]

Or Johanna Konta even...

I haf gifen upp tryng too gett Pompp too youse ay spelll-chequer.

But Pomp's quite right to sound out her name, if not spell it out. I've been following Johanna Konta's meteoric rise through the rankings and an incredible sequence of results....21 wins out of 22 matches last time I looked. Outstanding.