Johanna Konta fails to recapture 2019 Grand Slam magic as she makes early Australian Open exit
Johanna Konta failed to capture her Grand Slam magic from 2019 as she crashed out of the Australian Open at the first hurdle to to Tunisian Ons Jabeur.
The British number one was seeded 12th but expectations were tempered by the fact she had only played one match since a quarter-final exit at the US Open in early September.
A knee injury curtailed her season and Konta revealed last month that she might not even make the trip Down Under.
She will be heading home a lot sooner than she would have hoped after going down 6-4, 6-2 to world number 78 Jabeur, who has the type of unpredictable game that even a match-tight Konta finds hard to deal with.
Karolína Pliskova is safely through though after she negotiated a tricky opening round match against Kristina Mladenovic.
RELATED: Coco Gauff admits she was ‘more confident’ this time after second Venus Williams triumph
The second seed made a powerful start to the match, winning the first five games. Mladenovic rallied in the second set, but Pliskova was still too strong and completed a 6-1, 7-6 win.
Elsewhere, Belinda Bencic was in typically efficient form as she downed Anna Karolina Schmiedlová 6-3, 7-5 in her first round match.
Follow us on Twitter @T365Official and like our Facebook page.
Latest
-
Tennis NewsMike Tyson marvels at transformative power of tennis
Mike Tyson’s daughter Milan is a budding tennis star.
-
WTA TourCoco Gauff moves on but Emma Raducanu suffers first-round exit in Toronto
The British number one was beaten 7-6 (0) 6-2 by Camila Giorgi but fellow teen sensation Coco Gauff moved on.
-
ATP TourNick Kyrgios has mixed feelings ahead of Daniil Medvedev showdown
Nick Kyrgios faces a test of his rich vein of form.
-
NewsCameron Norrie carries British hopes in Montreal as Andy Murray falls
Norrie is chasing his third ATP Tour title of the year after going down in straight sets to Daniil Medvedev in the final in Los Cabos.
-
US OpenSerena Williams retirement: Greg Rusedski not discounting ‘box office’ Serena to retire on a high at US Open
Serena Williams to bow out on a high by winning the US Open?
-
NewsSerena Williams retirement: Tennis might never see such a remarkable icon ever again
The remarkable career of Serena Williams is drawing to a close.
-
WTA TourSerena Williams’ greatest milestones as she prepares to bid farewell: Open Era Grand Slam record, prize money
Serena Williams has had quite a career.
-
WTA TourSerena Williams confirms she will retire after US Open, but doesn’t want ‘ceremonial, final on-court moment’
Time to shed a tear or two, the great Serena Wiliams is to retire after the US Open.
-
WTA TourWATCH: Serena Williams wins superb rally, says she went into ‘mom mode’ after spotting daughter in the crowd
Serena Williams wins incredible shot after brilliant defensive work – and her daughter was there to see it.
-
ATP TourAlexander Zverev gives positive injury update, but withdraws from Cincy with US Open also in doubt
A fitness update from Alexander Zverev.