Konta pulls out again in Aussie Open blow
JO KOntA’S preparations for the Australian Open suffered another blow when she was forced to retire from the Sydney International for the second time in two days, but her team insist she has nothing more than a minor neck problem.
the British no 1 tweaked her neck in the warm-up to a qualifying match over the weekend and could only manage 18 minutes on court before retiring.
She had then seemingly recovered well enough to be included in the main draw of the Sydney International through a lucky loser spot.
But Konta was forced to withdraw yesterday morning ahead of her match with Kiki Bertens.
A spokesman for the 27-year-old gave a reassuring update on her condition last night, telling
Sportsmail: ‘She blocked her neck in the warm-up to her last qualifying match in Sydney.
‘She took the lucky loser spot as she thought it would be better by then, which it was, but not enough and she decided not to risk it. She hopes and plans to be fresh for Melbourne.’
Konta is expected to fly to Melbourne to begin preparations for the first Grand Slam of the season, which starts on Monday.
Meanwhile, British no 2 Heather Watson was knocked out of the Hobart International in the first round, losing 6-1, 6-4 to Romania’s Irina-Camelia Begu.