Painful exits for Brit pair
SHOCKS FOR DAN AND JO
JO KONTA pulled up lame and Dan Evans “lost his legs” as both British No1s limped to painful early exits at the Australian Open yesterday.
Unlucky No13 seed Konta said she was in a “state of shock” after being forced to retire with an abdominal injury.
And Dan Evans, an Aston Villa fan, compared himself with the club’s former midfielder Gavin McCann in his “flat” defeat to fellow Briton Cameron Norrie.
Konta had called a medical timeout for treatment while leading 5-4 against Slovenian Kaja Juvan and returned to win the set.
But she stopped after losing every point in the first two games of the second set and cried into her towel in frustration.
“All I can say is that I don’t really know what to make of it yet,” said Konta.
“I feel in a bit of a state of shock, almost like having an out-of-body experience. I have very little experience with acute injuries and having to withdraw.
“I pulled my ab, and that made it difficult for me to serve. That’s why I had to retire, basically. I don’t know when I’ll be playing next.”
Since reaching the quarter-finals of the 2019 US Open, Konta has won only one Grand Slam match – against Heather Watson in New York last year. Evans had targeted Grand Slam success after winning his first ATP Tour title in Melbourne Park on Sunday.
But the No30 seed was hit with two code violations in one game – one for swearing – and then moaned to his box he had “lost his legs” like McCann as he went down 6-4, 4-6, 6-4, 7-5 to the British No3.
“I was only joking with a friend,” said Evans. “I think at the end of his career, like everybody does, they stop because they lose their legs. Nothing against him. He did well for Villa.
“After I won on Sunday, I just felt pretty flat ever since really.
“I didn’t practise great yesterday. I think Cam played all the tennis, really. It’s a bit bitter-sweet. I won last week, but it doesn’t feel that good now.”
World No67 Norrie, who will next face Russian world No183 Roman Safiullin, said: “It’s never easy having to play the only other Brit in the draw. And I’m good friends with Dan but I managed to sneak
over the line.”