Johanna Konta will be a force at the latter stages of all of the Grand Slam tournaments this year, according to leading tour coach Nigel Sears.

Sears, who coached both former World No.1 Ana Ivanovic and Daniella Hantuchova, joined the Telegraph’s Tennis Podcast for the first show of the year and described his admiration for the improvements made by Konta over the last two years.

“She’s had an outstanding 18 months, her level has gone up several notches and she’s maintained it against the very top players,” said Sears. “She’s earned her ranking, she has such a strong base game and she moves so well that you can’t see her losing in the early rounds at any tournament. She has a heavy first serve, good weight of shot and one of the best second serves on the tour, so I see her in the second week of most Slams. I wouldn’t say she is the favourite to win the Australian Open and the other Slams at the moment, but who’s to say that she can’t? She can contend for them all and I do think she will make the WTA finals this year.”