JOHANNA KONTA fears that tennis might not get back to normal for the rest of her playing career.

The British No 1 is preparing for the French Open, which begins on Sunday having shifted from its usual springtime slot because of the coronavirus pandemic.

It will be only Konta’s ninth tournament of an interrupted season, with the tour forced to take a complete break between March and August.

Hopes that the situation might have eased substantially by 2021 have rapidly faded and Konta would not be surprised to see difficulties and restrictions continue for several years.

The 29-year-old said: “There’s a very big hopefulness that come January 1 2021 everything’s going to be normal and unfortunately it’s not the case.

“It’s going to be very difficult and very different for a long time, possibly for the rest of my playing career. But hopefully in time, not just tennis and not just sport but everyone will find a way to come through this, or live alongside it depending on what route this period of time takes.”

China’s decision not to hold any international sporting events in 2020 was a major blow for the WTA, with most of the tour’s autumn calendar taking place in Asia including the lucrative WTA Finals in Shenzhen.

Konta is hoping to play in the Ostrava Open next month, which currently is the only tour-level event scheduled for the rest of the year.