With the women’s field wide open in the absence of pregnant 2016 champion and 23-times grand slam winner Serena Williams, Konta is among the women being tipped for a run at the title — 40 years after Briton Virginia Wade lifted the trophy in 1977.
If she were to achieve that, it would propel her to celebrity status in Britain, joining world number one and Wimbledon defending champion Andy Murray.
“I definitely would like to be involved here for the full fortnight to help, I guess, put tennis on the map that much more. But I think Andy’s done a pretty tremendous job of doing that,” she said.
Fellow Eastbourne semi-finalist Heather Watson, last year’s Wimbledon mixed doubles champion with Henri Kontinen, also reached round two, beating Belgium’s Maryna Zanevska 6-1 7-6(5) to the delight of the fans chanting her name on Court Two.
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“I love being here. I think it’s obvious. I always want to do well. If there’s one tournament that I could pick to win, it would be this one,” said wildcard Watson, the British number two and world 102.
“It’s the most famous tournament in the world. It’s amazing to be a part of. I always want to just do well here.”
Watson plays Latvian 18th seed Anastasija Sevastova in round two. Konta will take on Croatia’s Donna Vekic, who beat her in the final at the Nottingham grass court last month.