Johanna Konta vs. Shuai Zhang: Score and Reaction from 2016 Australian Open

Three of the top seven players in the world make up the semifinals on the women's side of the 2016 Australian Open. And then there is unseeded Johanna Konta.   

Konta's Cinderella run continued Tuesday with a straight-sets quarterfinal victory over Shuai Zhang, 6-4, 6-1. Sports Illustrated noted Konta became the first British woman to reach the semifinals of any Grand Slam event since 1983, and Mike Dickson of the Daily Mail put the incredible tournament into perspective:

Leigh Walsh of Live Wire Sport added even more context:

Konta managed the victory despite the fact she only landed 53 percent of her first serves in and double-faulted four times. The key to the match was her ability to counter Zhang's serve, which she did with six crucial break points. Zhang also failed to register a single ace. 

It wasn't just Konta playing the role of surprise underdog. The entire matchup was unexpected, as David Law of BBC 5 acknowledged in the lead-up:

Konta got off to a quick start with an early break and established a 3-1 lead in the first set. Brad Gilbert of ESPN noted it was business as usual for the British competitor: 

Konta continued to dictate the tempo in the first set and jumped ahead after another break, 5-2. Matt Zemek of Comeback Sports praised her ability to mix and match her shots against Zhang:

It looked like Konta was in complete control, but she missed multiple opportunities on set points as Zhang cut the first-set deficit to 5-4. Zemek commented on the action:

Konta calmed those nerves and finished the set with her serve, 6-4. It took her six set points to do it, but ESPN Tennis pointed out that she was one set away from becoming the first British woman to reach the semifinals of the Australian Open since 1977.

Riding that momentum, Konta registered two early breaks in the second set on the way to a 2-1 lead. Zemek said, "Zhang loves to go to the Konta backhand a little too much—Konta knows it's coming. Zhang has to mix things up more."

Those initial breaks put the second set fully in Konta's control, and she jumped ahead to a commanding 5-1 lead and within one game of victory. Zhang again struggled with the serve during the final game, and Konta completed the straightforward victory, 6-4, 6-1. The Australian Open captured the winning moment:

Next up, the semifinals.

What's Next?

Konta will now face No. 7 Angelique Kerber in those semifinals with the dominant Serena Williams looming as a potential matchup in the championship.

Kerber has plenty of momentum on her side after a straight-sets victory over Victoria Azarenka during Tuesday's quarterfinals. Kerber actually overcame a 5-2 deficit in the second set with multiple breaks with the set hanging in the balance and will pose a legitimate challenge to Konta, especially if the latter struggles with her serve like she did at times Tuesday.

While the road to the actual title is still lined with daunting challenges, Konta's Cinderella run is still alive following another victory Tuesday.

Postgame Reaction

The two competitors understood each other’s positions as the underdogs remaining in the tournament, and the Australian Open passed along a knowing embrace in the aftermath:

The crowd also appreciated the performance from Zhang, per the Australian Open:

Konta discussed her run, per the Australian Open: “I have just been taking it one match at a time, or even more specifically, one point at a time.”

She also commented on her Tuesday victory, per the Australian Open: “I didn’t put anything on the occasion. I just made sure I came out and played the best I could.”

Konta may have played the best she could Tuesday, but it will take an even better effort in the semifinals if she hopes to lift the trophy as the Australian Open champion.

*Stats courtesy of AusOpen.com.