Konta slams ‘dangerous’ Australian Open late start

Briton Johanna Konta labelled her late-night Australian Open match against Garbine Muguruza “dangerous” and unhealthy yesterday, saying they should not have had to play in the early hours of the morning. Konta was eliminated early yesterday after contesting the latest women’s match ever held at the Australian Open, starting at 12:30 am and ending two hours and 42 minutes later at 3:12 am.

An exhausted Konta said the situation should never have arisen. “I don’t agree with athletes having to physically exert themselves in the wee hours of the morning,” she told the BBC after the 6-4, 6-7 (3/7), 7-5 second-round defeat to Spaniard Muguruza. “I don’t think it is healthy -- in fact it is quite dangerous.

“However, Garbine and I were both in the same position and, with the circumstances, we really put on a great match and it’s just a shame more people couldn’t enjoy it.” The start was delayed when the men’s match between Alexander Zverev and Jeremy Chardy on the same court turned into 3hr 46min epic.