Australian Open 2016: Johanna Konta's route to the final
Wednesday 27 January 2016 11:47, UK
Following Johanna Konta's run at the Australian Open, we've plotted her course so far and what may remain in a remarkable journey.
After a superb performance that took her to the fourth round of the US Open, Konta has gone from strength-to-strength, she know stands on the brink of becoming the first British female to reach a Grand Slam final since Virginia Wade won Wimbledon in 1977.
The British No 1 moved into the last four of a Grand Slam for the first time with victory over Chinese qualifer Zhang Shuai, so how has she got there and can she complete an unlikely run to victory this year?
Here is her Melbourne story so far...
First round v Venus Williams [won 6-4 6-2]
Konta knocked seven-time Grand Slam winner Venus Williams out of the Australian Open with a superb first round victory.
The 24-year-old dropped just six games in a 79-minute rout at Rod Laver Arena.
Second round v Saisai Zheng [won 6-2 6-3]
Konta then moved past the second round of a Grand Slam for only the second time in her career by hammering China's Saisai Zheng in straight sets.
She outpowered her opponent, ranked No 83 in the world, with 26 winners to nine and confirmed a comfortable victory in an hour and 22 minutes.
Third round v Denisa Allertova [won 6-2 6-2]
Konta cruised through her third-round match as she broke Denisa Allertova in the very first game and then again in the seventh, before clinching the first set with an ace in 29 minutes.
The second set followed the same pattern as Konta raced ahead 2-0 and, unlike in her opening two rounds, there was no late wobble as she sealed victory with a forehand pass in just over an hour.
Fourth round v Ekaterina Makarova [won 4-6 6-4 8-6]
Konta then progressed through her last-16 tie after fighting back from a set down to claim victory over 21st seed Ekaterina Makarova.
She had to serve twice for the match in the final set, but eventually secured an epic victory in three hours and four minutes.
Quarter-final v Zhang Shuai [won 6-4 6-1]
Konta became the first British woman in more than 32 years to make the semi-finals of a Grand Slam after another stunning show against Chinese qualifier Zhang Shuai.
The 24-year-old showed no nerves in emulating Jo Durie's run to the same stage of the 1983 US Open.
Semi-final v Angelique Kerber
Konta will now take on German seventh seed Angelique Kerber in the last four at Melbourne in a bid to get into Saturday's final. It would be the furthest a British woman has been since Virginia Wade won Wimbledon in 1977.
The pair have never met before on the tour but Kerber is the more experienced of the two having played in Grand Slam semi-finals in the past at Wimbledon and the US Open. She also knocked out one of the favourites for the tournament in Victoria Azarenka in her own quarter-final.
Final v Serena Williams
Should she progress past Kerber in the last four, chances are that Konta will come up against her second Williams sister at the Australian Open, unless Serena suffers a shock defeat at the hands of Agnieszka Radwanska in the other semi-final.
Williams is the defending champion and will be targeting a seventh victory in Australia, as well as chasing her 22nd Grand Slam title - which would move her level with Steffi Graf.
