Johanna Konta withdraws from Connecticut Open with viral illness to deal blow to US Open preparations

British No 1 forced to pull out of her second-round match against Carla Suarez Navarro

Johanna Konta was forced to withdraw from the Connecticut Open with illness (Reuters)

Johanna Konta's preparations for next week's US Open suffered a blow after she was forced to withdraw from the Connecticut Open in New Haven due to a viral illness.

The British number one, who beat German Laura Siegemund 6-2m 7-5 on Monday, was scheduled to face Carla Suarez Navarro but tournament organisers announced she had pulled out beforehand, giving her opponent a walkover win to the quarter-finals.

The world number 46 is currently the only British woman with direct entry into the main draw of the US Open – which begins on 27 August – where last year she was seeded seventh and suffered a shock defeat in the first round.

Konta, who last year became the first British woman to reach the Wimbledon semi-finals, was enjoying an encouraging North American hardcourt campaign after reaching the quarter-finals in San Jose and round of 16 in Montreal.

Three weeks ago in San Jose, Konta handed 23-time Grand Slam champion Serena Williams the worst defeat of her career in her most impressive win of the season.

PA