Tuesday 8 January 2019 09:58, UK
British No 1 Johanna Konta has withdrawn from the Sydney International for the second time, just a week before the start of the Australian Open.
The 27-year-old initially retired from her second-round qualifying match against Russia's Ekaterina Alexandrova with a neck injury on Sunday.
Yet she was handed a reprieve as a lucky loser and was due to play Kiki Bertens in the first round proper on Monday.
However, the WTA confirmed Konta had withdrawn from the tournament as world number nine Bertens instead played another lucky loser, Bernarda Pera, who she beat 7-5 6-4.
Konta, who climbed as high as fourth in the world following her run to the Wimbledon semi-finals in 2017, is currently ranked 38.
British No 7 Naomi Broady, meanwhile, failed to qualify for the Australian Open after losing 6-4 3-6 6-3 to Ysaline Bonaventure. But Harriet Dart's hopes are still alive - the British No 4 won 6-3 4-6 6-2 against Chloe Paquet.
Heather Watson, the British No 2, lost 6-1 6-4 in the first round of the Hobart International against Irina-Camelia Begu.
Sloane Stephens, the world No 5, narrowly avoided a shock defeat to qualifier Ekaterina Alexandrova at the Sydney International.
Stephens was two points away from losing but recovered to win 0-6 7-6 7-6.
Petra Kvitova won 6-1 7-5 against Aryna Sabalenka, who had previously eliminated her from the US Open.
Jelena Ostapenko was beaten 6-3 6-3 by Ash Barty while Garbine Muguruza edged Carla Suarez Navarro 6-3 6-4.
