Johanna Konta: ‘My heart rate shoots up for no reason, I wasn’t gassing in any way in my lungs’

WTA Tour
Johanna Konta

Johanna Konta suffered heart palpitations during her first match back after the five-month break, but insists she is “not too worried”.

Playing in her first WTA Tour match since March, the British No 1 took on Marie Bouzkova in the opening round of the Top Seed Open in Lexington.

However, a few minutes into the match the world No 15 started feeling lightheaded and required medical attention.

“My heart rate shoots up for no reason, we didn’t have a long point, I wasn’t gassing in any way in my lungs,” Konta said.

“It actually goes up and stays there so it makes me a bit lightheaded, I just needed to see the doctor and the physio.

“It was very high when they came out. I was having all the checks. I am as fit as a fiddle but it can happen. It took a while to settle down but then it did and I was able to concentrate on the tennis.”

Konta eventually returned to action and went on to lose the match 6-4, 6-4, but was set to go for a follow-up medical check.

“We don’t know why it happens, it’s been under stressful situations, in no stress situations. We just don’t know. It’s been sporadic,” she said.

“It’s not ideal. I am going to have another EKG and see what protocols we can take. It’s probably not going to happen again for another year or something. I’m not too worried, no.”

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Johanna Konta

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