Radwanska ends Konta title defence at first hurdle

Johanna Konta saw her Sydney International title defence swiftly ended as she lost to Agnieszka Radwanska in the first round yesterday.

A surprising slide in the rankings to 28th meant former world No 2 Radwanska entered this week as an unseeded player, but she showed her quality in a 6-3 7-5 victory over British hope Konta.

In a repeat of last year’s final match-up, this time fourth seed Konta could not take control of the contest against Poland’s former Wimbledon runner-up.

Consolation for Konta came with the fact she completed the match without obvious physical problems, five days after being forced to retire from her Brisbane International quarter-final with Elina Svitolina due to injury.

She now heads for Melbourne and the Australian Open, where 12 months ago she reached the quarter-finals, while Radwanska continues her grand slam preparation in Sydney and faces American teenager CiCi Bellis next.

Radwanska said of her win, according to wtatennis.com: “It was a top-10 level match with some ups and downs, breaks along the way.

“The conditions weren’t easy, but I’m happy to win in two sets.”

American Venus Williams was the casualty of a heavyweight second-round clash with Germany’s former world No 1 Angelique Kerber, starting well but running out of steam in losing 5-7 6-3 6-1 shortly before midnight.

Rain had held up play earlier, after wins for Slovakian Dominika Cibulkova, Czech Barbora Strycova and Australian Samantha Stosur.

Ashleigh Barty overcame Ellen Perez 7-6 (7/4) 6-1 in an all-Australian battle after the rain passed over, and in another Daria Gavrilova edged out Olivia Rogowska 6-4 1-6 7-5.

Two seeds slumped to firstround defeats at the Hobart International.

Romanian Monica Niculescu ousted her sixth-seeded compatriot Irina-Camelia Begu 6-3 6-2, and Czech eighth seed Katerina Siniakova fell 2-6 6-3 7-5 to American Alison Riske.

Johanna Konta slumped to first round defeat in Sydney.