Konta upset by 3.12am finish

BRITON Johanna Konta labelled her late-night Australian Open match against Garbine Muguruza “dangerous” and unhealthy, saying they should not have played in the early hours of the morning.

Konta was eliminated early yesterday after contesting the latest women’s match ever held at the Australian Open – starting at 12.30am and ending at 3.12am.

An exhausted Konta said the situation should never have arisen: “I don’t agree with athletes having to physically exert themselves in the wee hours of the morning,” she told the BBC after the 6-4 6-7 (3-7) 7-5 second-round loss to Spaniard Muguruza.

“I don’t think it is healthy, in fact it is quite dangerous. However, Garbine and I were both in the same position and, with the circumstances, we really put on a great match and it’s just a shame more people couldn’t enjoy it.”

The start was delayed after Alexander Zverev and Jeremy Chardy turned into a threehour, 46-minute epic.