• Johanna Konta with the trophy after winning her WTA final against Shuai Zhang in Nottingham in June. PA
    Johanna Konta with the trophy after winning her WTA final against Shuai Zhang in Nottingham in June. PA
  • Johanna Konta returns a shot from Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic during the Miami Open. AP
    Johanna Konta returns a shot from Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic during the Miami Open. AP
  • Britain's Johanna Konta at a press conference at The All England Tennis Club ahead of the start of the 2021 Wimbledon Championships. AFP
    Britain's Johanna Konta at a press conference at The All England Tennis Club ahead of the start of the 2021 Wimbledon Championships. AFP
  • Johanna Konta celebrates beating Petra Kvitova at Wimbledon 2019. PA
    Johanna Konta celebrates beating Petra Kvitova at Wimbledon 2019. PA
  • Johanna Konta in action at the Nottingham Open in June. Getty
    Johanna Konta in action at the Nottingham Open in June. Getty
  • Johanna Konta of Great Britain celebrates after she beats Shuai Zhang of China. Getty
    Johanna Konta of Great Britain celebrates after she beats Shuai Zhang of China. Getty
  • Britain's Johanna Konta in action during the women's singles final against China's Shuai Zhang at the Nottingham Tennis Centre. Reuters
    Britain's Johanna Konta in action during the women's singles final against China's Shuai Zhang at the Nottingham Tennis Centre. Reuters
  • Johanna Konta hugs China's Shuai Zhang as she celebrates winning the Nottingham Open. Reuters
    Johanna Konta hugs China's Shuai Zhang as she celebrates winning the Nottingham Open. Reuters

Britain's Johanna Konta out of Wimbledon over Covid-19 contact


Soraya Ebrahimi
  • English
  • Arabic

Britain's Johanna Konta was forced to withdraw from Wimbledon on Sunday after being identified as a close contact of a positive coronavirus case, the All England Club announced.

The world No 31, a semi-finalist at the tournament in 2017, was drawn to face Katerina Siniakova of the Czech Republic in her opener.

Konta's place in the draw will be taken by 123rd-ranked lucky loser Wang Yafan of China.

"The referee's office has advised that Johanna Konta has been withdrawn from the ladies' singles draw, having been classified as a close contact of a positive test for Covid-19," the All England Club said.

"In line with government legislation, Konta is required to spend 10 days in self isolation."

A year after Wimbledon was cancelled because of the pandemic, all players are confined to a central London hotel "bubble" rather than their own homes or in rented accommodation closer to the All England Club.

"In terms of the bubble life, it is very odd," Konta said on Saturday. "It's odd to drive past kind of my home every day on the way to Wimbledon. Kind of half an hour into the journey I'm like, Oh, okay. That is odd.

"It's a small price to pay to be able to be back and playing again here at Wimbledon."

On Saturday, former men's doubles champion Frederik Nielsen was also forced to withdraw after being identified as a close contact.

The Dane, 37, who won the 2012 men's doubles title with Britain's Jonny Marray, had been due to partner Croatia's Franko Skugor at Wimbledon which starts on Monday.

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