Tennis: Injured Konta pulls out of Eastbourne semi-final

Johanna Konta pulled out of the Aegon International ahead of her semi-final against Karolina Pliskova on Friday due to a spine injury.

Konta suffered a heavy fall during her quarter-final against Angelique Kerber on Thursday and was treated on the grass before picking herself up to defeat the world number one.

There will be no tournament victory for the Brit this weekend, though, after she withdrew due to the damage done when slipping, with the start of Wimbledon just three days away.

READ MORE: Murray to face lucky loser or qualifier at Wimbledon - but Nadal lies in wait

READ MORE: Venus Williams to blame in fatal road crash

READ MORE: Serena Williams ‘has no plans to retire yet’

Konta, seeded six for Wimbledon, suffered a thoracic spine injury which handed Pliskova a walkover and a showdown with either Caroline Wozniacki or Heather Watson.

World number seven Konta is due to face Hsieh Su-Wei, who defeated her in the first round of the French Open last month, in her opening match at the All England Club next week.