Konta sees off Pliskova to book last-eight slot at Flushing Meadows

JOHANNA Konta enjoyed one of the biggest wins of her career by beating third seed Karolina Pliskova to reach the quarter-finals at the US Open.

The British No 1 dropped the first set on a tie-break but battled back to win 6-7 (1), 6-3, 7-5.

In doing so Konta became the first British woman to reach the last eight at Flushing Meadows since Jo Durie in 1983.

Konta had lost six of her previous seven matches with Pliskova, including twice on her home turf of Eastbourne, as well as in Nottingham and Birmingham.

None of those defeats will matter now with Konta continuing her fine season in the grand slams with a third successive appearance in a quarter-final.

She said: “I’m really pleased because, like my first round, every match is difficult in its own way.

“But I know that, like with everyone, there’s always going to be certain players or certain types of game styles that are just more difficult for each player to play against.”

In the men’s section, Novak Djokovic’s US Open title defence came to an end after he retired injured while two sets down to Stan Wawrinka.

The crowd on Arthur Ashe were stunned when the world No 1 approached Wawrinka and embraced him while trailing 6-4 7-5 2-1.

Djokovic has been bothered by a left shoulder injury all week.

The Serbian t ook a medical time-out after dropping the second set, and three games into the third he decided enough was enough.

It means Wawrinka will face fifth seed Daniil Medvedev in the quarterfinals, while the draw has opened up for Roger Federer, who was in imperious form against David Goffin and had been expected to run i nt o Djokovic in the last four.

Johanna Konta shows her delight at her win.