Johanna Konta was struck down by a right hip injury here on Thursday that she hopes will heal before the Australian Open, which starts on 15 January.
Just as Andy Murray was flying home from Melbourne for urgent attention to his long-term pain in the same area, Konta, Britain’s world No9, was confronted with the spectre of not recovering in time to launch her bid in Melbourne. She has yet to decide if she will play next week in Sydney, where she was born.
Konta said after conceding in the third set of her third round Brisbane International match against her latest doubles partner, Elina Svitolina, “Hopefully it’s nothing more than a low-grade strain and muscle spasm. It happened in my service game, third set, second game. I’ve had issues in this area. The most important thing is to listen to my body.”
She planned to have treatment overnight, and a scan in the morning if needed.
Konta said of the spate of injuries that have cut players down recently, “As tennis players, we get all sorts of injuries, everything from overuse to acute and accidents that happen on court. We kind of go through it all, and even body parts.
“Our game is becoming more and more physical and the Tour, week in and week out, is becoming more demanding – just because the level of play match in and match out. Hips definitely take a beating, but so do knees, so do shoulders, so do ankles, wrists. Take your pick. Back, lower back – and everything in between.”
As if there were not enough problems already for British No1 players with right-hip injuries, Konta was forced to abandon her enthralling third-round match just as she was in sight of another fine win.
The fifth seed had impressed all week in an encouraging return to form after a string of five straight defeats – partly the result of a foot injury that struck late last season – and was bitterly disappointed not to be able to finish. She was cruising in the first set and settled into a terrific battle in the second, before Svitolina advanced 1-6, 7-6 (6), 3-2.
On the same main stage, Kyle Edmund – quickly installed as Britain’s main hope in the Australian Open draw after Murray’s decision to abandon his comeback and return to the UK– came through unscathed in an entertaining three-setter against the Korean Chung Hyeon, winning 7-6 (3), 5-7, 6-4. He next plays the in-form Grigor Dimitrov.
