Johanna Konta has assured fans that she is fit and firing ahead of the Australian Open kicking off on Monday night.
The Brit – who has reached at least the quarter-finals in each of her last two visits to Melbourne – had pulled out of an event in Brisbane earlier this month with a hip complaint, before losing in the first round of her Sydney International defence, last week.
But the ninth seed allayed any fears over her health and is looking forward to another positive experience at the Australian National Tennis Centre.
“What happened in Brisbane, that actually got better quite quickly, a lot quicker than I thought," said 26-year-old Konta – who reached the Wimbledon semi-final last year and is currently ranked tenth in the world.
"It felt fine in my match in Sydney, as well. Since then, just looking after the body as usual. So far so good."
Konta begins her Australian Open campaign against America’s Madison Brengle on Tuesday, with the Brit hopeful of overcoming the world number 90.
Kyle Edmund was another Brit to play down injury fears as he prepares to take on 11th seed Kevin Anderson in the early hours of Monday morning.
The 23-year-old, who takes on South Africa’s Anderson first on Show Court 3 at midnight on Sunday, pulled out of an event in Auckland after rolling his ankle against Grigor Dimitrov in the Brisbane International quarter-finals.
But Edmund has given himself a clean bill of health ahead of a stiff challenge in round one.
"It was just a precaution," said Edmund of his withdrawal from Auckland.
"I've been on court for two hours a day and it feels good, so I'm fine."
The only other Brit in singles action, Heather Watson, has had contrasting fortune in the build up to the first Grand Slam of the year.
Having won the Hobart International in 2015, the 25-year-old enjoyed her return this week as she progressed to the semi-finals, where she lost to eventual winner Elise Mertens – who made it two titles there in as many years.
Watson faces Kazakhstan’s Yulia Putintseva in the first round, on Tuesday, while the doubles draws have yet to be made.
Sportsbeat 2018