Konta bows out in Eastbourne

By Ros Satar

  • Home favourite Johanna Konta bowed out in the quarter-finals
  • British No. 2 admitted she had been on antibiotics all week
  • Heads to Wimbledon where she has been awarded a wildcard

EASTBOURNE, UK – British No. 2 Johanna Konta bowed out in three sets in front of her home crowd in the quarter-finals of the WTA Premier Aegon International.

Konta has been recording some impressive wins, the best of which was taking out the fourth seed and World No. 8 Ekaterina Makarova in straight sets this week. However, she has been quiet and reserved in press until her win over Garbine Muguruza on Wednesday when her joy at having her parents present to witness her journey spilled over.

She joked about how her close family and boyfriend might say she was highly strung, saying: “Oh, God, don’t ask them, please. (Laughter.) Well, let’s just say that I’m usually right with arguments. Let’s just say that. (Laughter.)”

Her fighting spirit had been evident for the grass court season thus far, but it was a pleasure to see her personality shining through, so actually it comes as no surprise to know that she hid the fact she had been on antibiotics all week with all her results.

She started impressively against the World No. 31 swiftly taking the first set, but Bencic lifted her game as Konta really began to suffer, not getting a game on the board and calling for the doctor at the end of the set.

She explained: “She definitely stepped up her level. She played very well. I have been struggling with some things this week, and it kind of caught up to me today. All credit to her. She played tough and solid when she needed to. She played the situation. She was the better player today.

“I have been on antibiotics this week. I have been ill, slowly getting better, of course, but it’s difficult to get better with energy levels when you play against such high‑level players. It caught up a bit with me today. I’m not taking anything away from her win, because it’s not easy to finish off a match and play a match where the rhythm is interrupted with medical timeouts.”

Konta has received a wildcard from the All England Club, saying before the tournament began that she was surprised and grateful, and never depended on receiving them.

The Wimbledon draw will take place on Friday.