Konta has only won eight matches since reaching the Wimbledon semi-finals last year
Friday 9 March 2018 22:11, UK
British No 1 Johanna Konta suffered a shock defeat at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells after losing to Czech teenager Marketa Vondrousova.
World No 11 Konta continued her indifferent start to 2018 as she went down 7-6 (7-5) 6-4 in the second round to the talented 18-year-old.
Konta failed to go beyond the last 16 for the fifth tournament running having reached just one quarter-final so far in 2018.
The 26-year-old was rarely in control against her opponent, ranked 43 places below her, and fell 3-0 behind early on, and despite recovering it was Vondrousova who took the opener in a tie-break before sealing the second set to wrap up an impressive win.
The loss represents another tough day at the office for Konta, who is still struggling to return to the form which took her to the Wimbledon semi-finals a year ago.
Konta defends her Miami Open title next and will aim to improve on a poor service performance here, winning only 60 per cent on her first delivery and 41 on her second.
Vondrousova goes on to play Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka for a place in the fourth round.
You can watch the ATP Masters 1000 from Indian Wells with coverage getting underway from 7pm on Sky Sports Action and via the red button on the same channel on Friday & then on Sky Sports Arena this weekend.
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