Australian Open: Johanna Konta is first British woman to reach grand slam semi-final since 1983

Konta overcame Chinese qualifier Shuai Zhang, winning 6-4 6-1

Johanna Konta after her quarter-final success

(GETTY IMAGES)

Johanna Konta wrote another chapter in her remarkable story here today when she beat the Chinese qualifier Zhang Shuai 6-4, 6-1 to book her place in the semi-finals of the Australian Open. The 24-year-old Briton, who had never played in the main draw of the year’s opening Grand Slam event until last week, will now face Angelique Kerber in tomorrow’s semi-finals.

Konta, who lost in the first round of qualifying here 12 months ago, will be the first British woman to play in the last four here since Sue Barker in 1977. That was also the last year that Britain had two representatives in the singles semi-finals of a Grand Slam tournament: Barker lost to Helen Gourlay, while John Lloyd beat Bob Giltinan before losing to Vitas Gerulaitis in the final.

The last British woman to win the Australian Open was Virginia Wade in 1972, while the last British woman to play in any Grand Slam semi-final was Jo Durie at the 1983 US Open.

Once again Konta showed admirable composure. If there was a hint of nerves when she was broken as she failed at the first attempt to serve out for the opening set, it was only fleeting. By the end of the match she was completely in control.

The British No 1 said afterwards that she had managed to distance herself from the excitement that has been building around her remarkable run. “The UK is a number of thousands of miles away and a completely different time zone, which in this case might be quite nice,” she smiled. “I think whatever pressure or whatever buzz there is outside it, it only affects me as much as I let it.”

Johanna Konta during her quarter-final win

(Getty Images)

Currently the world No 47, Konta is expected to climb to No 28 in next week’s updated rankings list in the wake of her performances here. If she were to beat Kerber she would rise another five places to No 23.

On a gloriously bright summer’s day, with the temperature hitting 27C, Konta once again handled the pressures of playing in the 15,000-capacity Rod Laver Arena, which is the main show court.

The Briton had good support from the crowd, most of whom are aware that she was born in Sydney and spent the first 13 years of her life Down Under, though there was also plenty of backing for Zhang, whose sense of humour and enterprising game have endeared her to the Melbourne public. Zhang, the world No 133, had never won a Grand Slam match until last week and was playing her eighth match here, having come through qualifying.

Konta made her first breakthrough as early as the third game, converting her second break point with a bold backhand return. At 4-2 she broke again, this time to love, but to Zhang’s credit the 27-year-old Chinese fought back well in the next game. Zhang saved three set points – the third of them on a double fault - and then broke serve when Konta double-faulted again.

When Konta served for the set for a second time at 5-4 and went 15-30 down it seemed that the Briton might be falling into the trap of playing more conservatively, but she saw out a tense game with some excellent serving. One ace saved a break point, another brought up her sixth set point and an unreturned serve saw her take the set.

When the second set started Konta kept up the pressure, breaking serve in the opening game with a backhand winner after attacking with purpose. Zhang broke back immediately, but that proved to be her final flourish as Konta secured victory by winning the next five games in a row.

Konta netted a backhand on her first match point and Zhang hit a forehand winner down the line on the second. On the third Konta’s return hit the top of the net and toppled over for a winner.

“It was a bit anti-climactic, wasn't it?” Konta said later. “I have a lot of respect for her as player. I've known her for quite some years and I think what she achieved here is incredibly special. That's what I told her at the end of the match, that I was really happy to see her back.”

Kerber beat Victoria Azarenka 6-3, 7-5 in one of the tournament’s bigger surprises. Azarenka had been widely regarded as the biggest threat to Serena Williams, who will meet Agnieszka Radwanska in the other semi-final, but was outplayed by the consistently accurate 28-year-old German.

The world No 6, who has never played Konta, is playing in her 33rd Grand Slam tournament and this will be her third semi-final. She lost to Sam Stosur at the US Open in 2011 and to Radwanska at Wimbledon in 2012.

“She's just an incredibly good player,” Konta said. “She's an amazing competitor. She's showed time and time again over the last numerous years. I'm going to go out there, really enjoy it and enjoy the battle and hopefully play a good level and give the crowd a good match.”