Saturday 1 June 2019 19:58, UK
Johanna Konta is enjoying breaking records after she produced one of her best Grand Slam performances to become the first British woman to reach the fourth round of the French Open for 36 years.
Not since Jo Durie in 1992 had any British woman made round three, and Konta's 6-2 6-1 victory over Viktoria Kuzmova saw her emulate Durie and Anne Hobbs, who both made the last 16 in 1983, with the former going all the way to the
semi-finals.
Konta is still some way from matching that, with a clash against Croatia's Donna Vekic to come first on Sunday, but she was undoubtedly impressive against Kuzmova, wrapping up victory in just 54 minutes.
Asked if it was her best performance on clay, a surface on which she had had virtually no real success until this year, Konta said: "It was definitely a really good performance, but I'd like to think that I have had just as good or different good performances.
"I was very clear on what I wanted to do out there. Just to be able to do that and come through and make it to the second week here, I'm really pleased with that."
I get reminded or I get my attention brought to these different little milestones, which is definitely a nice pat on the back.
It was the sixth time Konta has reached the third round of a Grand Slam, and the sixth time she has won, highlighting that she is an extremely dangerous player when full of confidence.
Konta has broken a succession of Durie's records over the last three years. This was one Durie, who is working here for Eurosport, was happy to see go, saying: "Of course I like holding onto records, but I also like them being broken, this one in particular since it's been 27 years - it's long enough.
"I get reminded or I get my attention brought to these different little milestones, which is definitely a nice pat on the back," said Konta.
Konta, who has been battling a heavy cold, is not quite back to full health but certainly sounded a lot better than after her last match against Lauren Davis, and she said: "I think today is the most human I have felt the last few days, so I'm definitely seeing the light, which is nice."
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