JO’S SET TO FIGHT BACK
Konta’s Wimbo fitness battle
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JOHANNA KONTA’S Wimbledon dream is hanging by a thread.
The British women’s No.1 and Wimbledon sixth seed will make a decision on her fitness today after sustaining a back injury during the Aegon International at Eastbourne.
Konta, 26, slipped and hurt herself at match point in the quarter-final win over Angelique Kerber on Thursday night.
She banged her head and although a medical check revealed no concussion she later found out she had hurt her spine.
Priority
Konta pulled out of her semi-final battle against Karolina Pliskova yesterday and said: “I felt it wasn’t quite right to play my semi-final.
“My priority is to look after myself, make sure I’m in a good place physically and health wise.
“It’s definitely not an ideal situation but I’m just making sure I recover.
“Our seasons are very long and I’d like to think I still have many years left in my career. So I must put myself first.” Konta is due to ® play Taipei’s world No.112 Su-Wei Hsieh in the first round at Wimbledon next week.
“I didn’t sleep very well and now my back is sore and I must rest,” added Konta.
“I’m not thinking about anything other than the next 24 hours.
“I made my decision to withdraw regardless of what championship is coming up next. My health is important above anything else.”
Konta will need rest and ice treatment for what is basically a whiplash injury.
There was also disappointment for British No.3 Heather Watson.
She lost her semi-final 2-6 6-4 5-7 to former world No.1 Caroline Wozniacki, of Denmark.
Watson, ranked 125th, has beaten the world’s number nine, 17 and 23 during an impressive week.
She said: “I’m feeling great about my game and I’m feeling ready for Wimbledon.”
Five-times winner and 10th seed Venus Williams is set to play at Wimbledon.
But the American has been blamed by US police for the death of a 78-year-old old man in a car crash in Florida last month.