Konta 'almost bit off own tongue' at Wimbledon

Johanna Konta beat Petra Kvitova at Wimbledon in 2019 despite injuring herself with a medicine ball before going on court

Johanna Konta almost bit off her own tongue in a freak accident before winning on Centre Court at Wimbledon, the former British number one has revealed.

Konta hit herself in the face with a medicine ball during a warm-up for her fourth-round match against Petra Kvitova in 2019 and played through the pain to claim victory in three sets.

"I smashed a medicine ball into my jaw when I was warming up," she told Game Changers for BBC Local Radio.

"It bounced up and hit me under the jaw and I almost bit my own tongue off. I really hurt my jaw and my neck so I was playing in a lot of pain, which no one would know."

The former world number four came from a set down to win but went on to lose to Barbora Strycova in the quarter-finals.

Little did she know at the time, but that would be Konta's last Wimbledon as a player. Covid-19 caused the following year's Championships to be cancelled, while a member of her team tested positive for the coronavirus just before the following year's tournament, causing her withdrawal.

Konta would never improve on her run to the semi-finals in 2017, when she was beaten by five-time champion Venus Williams on Centre Court.

But it was her quarter-final victory against Simona Halep that set up the match against Williams that sticks in Konta's mind.

'Centre Court felt like it was coming to boiling point'

Johanna Konta beat Simona Halep 6-7 (2-7) 7-6 (7-5) 6-4 in the fourth round at Wimbledon in 2017

Konta's success against second seed Halep made her Britain's first women's singles Wimbledon semi-finalist since 1978.

"The roof was closed so the acoustics of it, everything felt like it was coming to boiling point," she said.

"It was like a real gladiatorial arena. It felt epic and the crowd was getting really excited, probably the most rowdy I've ever felt a Wimbledon crowd. It was very intense."

Konta was born in Sydney and lived in Australia until the age of 14, when she moved with her parents to England.

Her parents live in Eastbourne, in Sussex, and her first apartment is close to Wimbledon.

She said playing sport "was always on the cards" with her parents and she began playing tennis at school in Sydney when she was eight years old.

After initially representing Australia, she changed her allegiance to Great Britain in 2012 when she was granted citizenship, going on to play for Team GB at the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro in 2016 and reaching the semi-finals of three Grand Slams.

'I was done, retirement was very anti-climactic'

Johanna Konta represented Team GB at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics in 2016

After the highs of 2019 - her favourite year on the tour - the Covid pandemic stalled Konta's career.

She retired in December 2021 at the age of 30.

"Covid took the last part of my career, which was a sad thing to experience and feel. It was sad because I didn't have a long career on the tour," the 33-year-old said.

“I was not feeling that desire, I was then just giving myself time to see if anything changed.

"I got back from New York, the US Open in 2021 [having withdrawn from the tournament], and I said to my fiance, 'I think I am done, I don’t have it in me to give more', and that was it, very anti-climactic."

'Incredible' Murray will leave legacy

Another player who appears to be nearing the end of their career is two-time Wimbledon winner and British great Andy Murray, who has been hoping to play in the men's singles as well as the doubles this year with his brother, Jamie.

Murray told BBC Sport this month that he thought retiring at the Championships or at this year's Olympic Games in Paris would be a "fitting" end to his illustrious career.

However, that is now in doubt after he pulled out of Queen's with a back injury, with his involvement in this summer's tournaments now in question.

"Andy is incredible," said Konta, who will be part of the BBC's TV coverage at the All England Club this year.

"The love he has for this sport is tremendous and I think he will always be a part of it in a way.

"He has given everything to the sport and especially fans in this country, more than anyone could have imagined.

"When he does retire, they will speak about what he gave and what he achieved."

Johanna Konta says Andy Murray 'has given everything to tennis'