Tennis news - Johanna Konta criticises 'dangerous' 12.30am start time in Garbine Muguruza defeat

ByEurosport

Updated 18/01/2019 at 00:56 GMT

Johnana Konta has criticised the scheduling at the Australian Open after her second-round exit at the hands of Garbine Muguruza was only confirmed at 3.12am local time.

[WATCH AUSTRALIAN OPEN LIVE ON EUROSPORT AND EUROSPORT PLAYER]

Muguruza claimed a 6-4 7-6(3) 7-5 win over Konta to etch her name into the record books as the winner of the latest starting match in the tournament's history.

With a log-jam in scheduling caused by two men's five-setters earlier on Thursday, 18th seed Muguruza and Konta were kept from playing their first point until 12:30am in front of a smattering of hardy fans at Margaret Court Arena.

Tennis

WTA 2023 awards: Best player, best comeback, biggest surprise, best match

27/12/2023 at 08:31

But after falling to defeat, a tearful Konta told BBC Radio Five Live: “I don’t agree with athletes having to physically exert themselves in the wee hours of the morning.

I don’t think it’s healthy. I think it’s quite dangerous.

The start was more than half an hour later than Daria Gavrilova and Elise Mertens's second-round match at last year's tournament, which began a minute before midnight.

At the end of a high-quality duel, former Wimbledon champion Muguruza pounced on Konta's serve at 6-5 in the deciding set, grabbing a match point with a backhand winner before forcing a forehand error to seal the win.

Muguruza - I can't believe there are people here watching us at 3:15!

“I don’t think it’s ideal for anyone to do any physical activity when it’s bedtime," Konta added. "Both of us would have wanted to play earlier, but we don't make the schedule and we both dealt with the same challenge.

I think it’s more important to focus on the level of the match we had. It was unfortunate that more people couldn’t enjoy it during the day.

"I think I played a great match and a lot to do with that is the chemistry between the two players and the way two game styles match up. With Garbine and I, every single match has been three sets, so we obviously do feed off each other’s games quite well.”

Garbine Muguruza is congratulated by Johanna Konta

Image credit: Getty Images

While the two-hour 42-minute match did not wrap up until 3:12am, it was still well off the record for the latest finish.

Australian Lleyton Hewitt's third-round win over Cypriot Marcos Baghdatis at the 2008 tournament lasted until 4:34 am. Muguruza will play Swiss Timea Bacsinszky for a place in the fourth round.

"I mean, I seriously can't believe there are people watching us at 3:15. Like who cares?," twice Grand Slam champion Muguruza said on court. "It was a very tough (match), I think Johanna was also playing very good."

Muguruza will play Swiss Timea Bacsinszky for a place in the fourth round.

Tennis

With 'no intention' to return to tennis soon, what does the future hold for Muguruza?

17/10/2023 at 06:22

Roland-Garros

‘It’s really been healthy and amazing!’ – Muguruza to skip clay and grass-court seasons

04/04/2023 at 08:52

WTA Abu Dhabi

Muguruza aims to stay 'calm and humble' in bid to rediscover best form

07/02/2023 at 11:54