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LinkedInBRISBANE, Australia — Elina Svitolina moved into the Brisbane International semifinals when Johanna Konta retired with a hip injury in the third set of their quarterfinal.
Third-seeded Svitolina had just held for a 3-2 lead in the third set when Konta walked to the net and said she could no longer continue, two games after receiving treatment for a right hip problem.
Konta’s early exit came two days after No. 2-ranked Garbine Muguruza retired in the third set of her first match of the season after struggling with leg cramps.
Konta dominated the first set after saving four break points early but Svitolina rallied to win the next in a tiebreak and advance with a score of 1-6, 7-6 (6), 3-2, retired.
Svitolina will play either defending champion Karolina Pliskova or 2012 winner Kaia Kanepi for a place in Saturday’s final.
Konta was unsure if she’d be fit enough to attempt a defence of her Sydney International title next week or what it would mean for her chances at the Australian Open, where she reached the semifinals in 2016 and the quarterfinals last year.
“I only know kind of the initial feelings of it, which is not always so trustworthy,” she said of the injury. “So I don’t feel too comfortable saying really too much.
“Hopefully it’s nothing more than a low-grade strain and more muscle spasm.”
Aliaksandra Sasnovich had a 3-6, 6-2, 6-3 over Alize Cornet to extend her winning streak to six matches, including qualifying.
Denis Istomin and Ryan Harrison will meet in the quarterfinals in the men’s draw. Istomin advanced 7-6 (5), 6-2 over Jared Donaldson and Harrison had a 6-7 (5), 6-4, 6-2 win over Yannick Hanfmann, who was a late addition to the draw after Andy Murray withdrew.
