Frustrated with a knee injury, British number one Johanna Konta was forced to pull out of the Canadian Open.
Konta’s appearance in Montreal has been her first since the Nottingham Open. The 30-year-old was set to face 15th seed Coco Gauff, but the American will now advance to the quarter-finals by walkover.
This year, Konta has had an up-and-down season. She pulled out of Wimbledon when a member of her team tested positive for Covid-19 and missed the Olympics after contracting the virus herself.
Upon her return, Konta quickly made it through the first round as China’s Zhang Shuai won the opening set before retiring 5-2 down in the second due to a leg injury.
Konta played with conviction in her comeback from a set down to defeat third seed Elina Svitolina to set up the third-round meeting with Gauff.
A tweet from the WTA Tour read: “Johanna Konta has withdrawn from Montreal due to a left knee injury. Coco Gauff advances to the quarter-finals via walkover, will face either (Petra) Kvitova or (Camila) Giorgi”.
It is unclear whether Konta will be in shape for next week’s Western & Southern Open and the US Open, which begins on August 30.
