Brit Konta through to Open quarters

Johanna Konta has become the first British woman through to the Australian Open quarter-finals since 1983 after a marathon win over Ekaterina Makerova.

Aussie-born Brit Johanna Konta is through to the Australian Open quarter-finals after a three-set thriller against Ekaterina Makarova.

Th 24-year-old, who moved to the UK when she was a teenager, becomes the first British woman through to the final eight in Melbourne since Jo Durie in 1983.

World No. 47 Konta lost the first set to the 21st-seeded Russian but held her nerve to serve out the match 4-6 6-4 8-6, with the encounter stretching over three hours.

Rising 100 ranking spots since 2014 and making her first appearance in the main draw after falling in qualifying the past three years, she will face either American Madison Keys or Chinese giant-killer Zhang Shuau.

The crowd favourite at Margaret Court Arena, Konta said the vocal local fans helped get her home.

"Mentally, physically, emotionally ... I left it all out there on the court," Konta said.

"I just kept fighting for every point."

With no local women left in the main draw with the exit of Daria Gavrilova, Australia will look to claim Konta, who was born in Sydney.

She said her plan before the quarter-finals was simple.

"Eat, sleep and repeat," she laughed.


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Source: AAP


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