Saturday 31 August 2019 15:24, UK
A resurgent Johanna Konta set up a clash against third-seeded Karolina Pliskova in the fourth round of the US Open after dispatching China's Zhang Shuai on Friday.
She reached the last-16 in New York for the third time in her career following a comfortable 6-2 6-3 success.
Konta has started the tournament at Flushing Meadows in style, defeating Daria Kasatkina before producing a fantastic performance as she made short work of Margarita Gasparyan in a 54-minute match last time out.
Konta continued her devastating spell of form by dictating the action from the off, hitting winners from all angles, sending Zhang a clear message of intent from the opening game with an immediate break.
The 16th seed has added variation to her game under the guidance of coach Dimitri Zavialoff, and the results have been devastating. She secured a second break in the seventh game before sealing the set with her second set-point opportunity.
Konta was now motoring through a dispirited 33rd-seed Zhang, who fell behind at the start of the next set and was clinging on against the red-hot Briton.
But Konta soon made it a fifth career win over Zhang in straightforward fashion after one hour and 12 minutes.
"They are never clean and straighforward matches, there's always two players on court," Konta said as she reflected on the match after its conclusion.
"There was nothing easy about that match, I had to stay clear on what was happening in the match.
"I strongly believe in the process and progression and I'm constantly trying to grow and get better. I lost two first rounds before this tournament so I'm trying to keep things in perspective."
Pliskova overcame her emotions and an inspired opponent to advance to the round of 16, beating Ons Jabeur 6-1 4-6 6-4.
Pliskova, who reached the final at Flushing Meadows in 2016, relied on a strong serve game to advance to a meeting against the British No 1 this Sunday.
Serena Williams continued her quest for a record-equalling 24th Grand Slam title with a 6-3 6-2 victory over Czech Karolina Muchova.
Second seed Ashleigh Barty made it through to the next round after beating Greece's Maria Sakkari 7-5 6-3.
The Australian sent down 11 aces as she sealed her second consecutive straight-sets victory at this year's tournament.
Barty will now face the 18th seed in the fourth round - Qiang Wang - who prevailed over Fiona Ferro 7-6 (7-1) 6-3.
Madison Keys, seeded tenth, won the evening's all-American clash against Sofia Kenin, 6-3 7-5.
The world No 9 will play fifth seed Elina Svitolina, who beat Dayana Yastremska 6-2 6-0, in the last 16.
