British No 1 Konta to miss Wimbledon
British No 1 Johanna Konta is out of Wimbledon after a member of her team tested positive for Covid-19, the All England Club has announced
British No 1 Johanna Konta has been forced to withdraw from Wimbledon after a member of her team tested positive for Covid-19, the All England Club said last night.
Konta, who was seeded 27th, must undertake a 10-day quarantine period after being identified as a close contact. She has not tested positive for Covid-19.
"A member of Johanna Konta's team presented with Covid-19 symptoms this morning, and immediately isolated and undertook a PCR test in accordance with The Championships' testing protocols," a statement said. "A positive result was returned which resulted in the AELTC, together with Public Health England, identifying Johanna Konta to be a close contact. In line with government legislation, she is required to self-isolate for 10 days and therefore is withdrawn from The Championships."
Konta, who reached the semifinal in 2017, was due to play Katerina Siniakova in the first round tomorrow.
Wimbledon was cancelled last year because of the pandemic and this year's tournament is being held under strict Covid-19 protocols with all players in a bio-secure bubble.
Unlike in normal years they are all staying in a central London
hotel and their entourage is limited to three people.
Konta's withdrawal will send shockwaves around the rest of the field and is a huge blow to the 30-year-old who won the Nottingham title in the build-up to Wimbledon.
She was in the bubble with her fiancee, her coach Dan Smethurst and her strength and conditioning coach Gill Myburgh.
"Both Johanna and her team member had tested negative on all their previous tests undertaken within The Championships’ protocols," the statement said.
Lucky loser Wang Yafan from China will replace Konta in the draw.