‘I feel in a bit of a state of shock,’ says Johanna Konta after Australian Open journey ends through injury

Johanna Konta said she was in “shock” after an abdominal muscle injury forced the British number one to curtail her Australian Open quest midway through her first-round match against Slovenia’s Kaja Juvan.
Konta won the opening set but after returning from a medical time-out she dropped eight points in succession before informing the umpire and her opponent she was unable to play on.
The 29-year-old, who led 6-4, 0-2 at the time, revealed it appeared to be a new injury that she started to feel early in the match, and which got progressively worse.
Johanna Konta has retired injured from the @AustralianOpen #BackTheBrits 🇬🇧 pic.twitter.com/YJCfuHcbwM
— LTA (@the_LTA) February 9, 2021
Konta said: “I feel in a bit of a state of shock, almost like having an out-of-body experience a little bit.
“I have very little experience with acute injuries and having to withdraw. So it’s a learning curve for me, a new experience and one I hope not to have too many of.”
Konta first requested medical intervention towards the end of the opening set, after appearing to exacerbate the injury when stretching for a smash.
And the issue evidently escalated quickly as she was rendered a virtual passenger for the opening stages of the second set as world number 104 Juvan made the most of her unexpected opportunity.
Konta confirmed: “I pulled my ab and that made it difficult for me to serve. That’s why I had to retire, basically.
“I felt it in my second service game of the first set, so I was just conscious of just trying to adapt while using my legs more on my serve. I was starting to be aware of it.

“I don’t really know anything yet, and I haven’t been able to yet check in with the physios and all that, so that’s all I have for now.”
It was a further setback for the 13th seed, who endured a difficult 2020 season due to ongoing issues with a knee injury.
Having recently reunited with her former coach Dimitri Zavialoff, hopes were high that the 29-year-old would be able to get her new campaign off to an encouraging start.
And she appeared to have been granted the ideal opportunity against an opponent who has never made it beyond the second round of a grand slam.
But after making a good start Konta’s hopes were evidently hampered, and two games without winning a point convinced her to call time on her challenge.
Follow us on Twitter @T365Official and like our Facebook page.
Latest
-
French Open
Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova feared her career was over
Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova said that her knee injury was so severe that she “couldn’t walk or sit down”.
-
French Open
Follow the 2023 French Open with T365’s scores and results centre…
Catch the action from Roland Garros…
-
French Open
French Open day three: Seyboth Wild shocks second seed but Iga Swiatek cruises through
The story of the third day of play from Roland Garros.
-
French Open
WATCH: French Open hero rejects domestic violence question after Daniil Medvedev win
There was a tense exchange in Seyboth Wild’s press conference when he was asked about a domestic violence case.
-
French Open
Daniil Medvedev: I had a mouthful of clay, I don’t like to eat clay
World number two Daniil Medvedev rued Tuesday’s…
-
French Open
Why Alexander Zverev ‘appreciates it even more’ after first round win at French Open
Zverev was sidelined by injury for six months.
-
French Open
Daniil Medvedev suffers first-round French Open exit to Thiago Seyboth Wild
Seyboth Wild came from two sets to one down to win 7-6 (5) 6-7 (6) 2-6 6-3 6-4.
-
French Open
Russian teen Mirra Andreeva touts Andy Murray as lucky charm
Andreeva exchanged messages with the two-time Wimbledon champion before arriving in Paris.
-
French Open
Kosovo Tennis Federation want Novak Djokovic fined for ‘Stop the violence’ remark
Djokovic wrote “Kosovo is the heart of Serbia” after his first-round victory at the French Open.