Konta had risen without trace but after this epic we all know her now

LET’S face it, in the eyes of the general public, Johanna Konta is the British star who has risen without trace.

She is the world’s seventh-best female tennis player but before yesterday a household name only in Konta Towers. Not any more. In Centre Court’s furnace, she scorched herself into the sporting consciousness. Three hours and 10 minutes of attritional excellence, with a finale of nerve-holding gutsiness, woke the nation to the notion it might just have a woman to win Wimbledon for the first time in 40 years.

In arguably the match of the Championships so far – an invaluable trump card for the defenders of equal pay – Konta radiated champion qualities. Not least, bottle. Since Konta became a British citizen in 2012, her family having moved here from her Australian birthplace when she was 14, she has been pretty much allergic to Wimbledon grass.

It normally brings her out in a rash of defeats.

First round 2012, first round 2013, first round 2014, first round 2015, second round 2016.

Now she has made it to the third round, together with fellow Brit Heather Watson, the first time since 1986 that two British women have advanced so far at Wimbledon.

Konta’s progress into the dizzying territory of the last 32 came at the expense of world No.58 Donna Vekic, who had beaten her in the final of the Nottingham Open. In 14 Grand Slam appearances, the furthest she has reached is a semi-final. Once.

So foundations to get carried away are not exactly mineshaft deep.

Without Serena Williams, though, the women’s draw is wide open.

Konta – who now faces Greece’s Maria Sakkari, ranked 101st in the world – does not have a favourite’s chance of winning Wimbledon but she has a chance and it’s a long time since Britain has been able to say that about one of its ladies’ singles competitors. One of the many things that must have struck an enthralled audience was just how levelheaded a sometimes emotional Konta seemed. Until the tense final throes, her reactions to a winning point or a losing point were indistinguishable. Not one for snappy soundbites, her ambitions were not as bold as her groundstrokes. “I’m here with the intention of being part of the event for the full two weeks but, as you have just seen, every player gives it their all. There is no easy match,” the 26-year-old said. There was nothing easy about overcoming Vekic, the 21-year-old Croatian girlfriend of men’s No.5 seed Stan Wawrinka, who dissolved into a teary stain on Konta’s shoulder at the end of an epic 6-7 6-4 8-10 defeat. The cacophonous crowd combustion was appreciation for both players, make no mistake. Bearing in mind the limping farce of men’s white-flag day 24 hours earlier, they had both done the women’s game a tremendous service. Centre Court will be fortunate to see another contest as compelling as this. Konta said: “It was definitely one of the most epic matches I have been a part of. “The appreciation the crowd showed for both Donna and myself, for the battle that we showcased, was pretty amazing. “The atmosphere out there today spoke for itself… they kind of lived and died with the match. “The arena is one of the best in the world.” Maybe, just maybe, she had better get used to it.