Konta advance in Brisbane, Muguruza withdraws
British number one Johanna Konta moved into the quarter-finals of the Brisbane International with a 4-6, 6-1, 6-4 win against wildcard Ajla Tomljanovic.
Konta, who ended a run of five straight defeats since August by beating Madison Keys in the previous round, won in two hours 26 minutes.
She will play Ana Konjuh or third seed Elina Svitolina in the last eight.
Wimbledon champion Garbine Muguruza withdrew for the fourth year in a row after suffering with cramp.
After losing a fluctuating opening set in which her serve was broken four times, fifth seed Konta raced 5-0 ahead in the next against 24-year-old Croat Tomljanovic, the world number 118.
Tomljanovic needed a medical timeout for treatment off the court and returned with heavy strapping on her right thigh but Konta soon wrapped up the set, in which her serve improved significantly and she offered no break point chances.
Konta continued to impress with the accuracy of her groundstrokes and served for the match at 5-2, but her Croat opponent struck some defiant blows and broke back, before holding serve with an ace.
Tomljanovic had three break point chances to level the match at 5-5 but Konta held on and sealed victory on her first match point.
“There wasn’t a lot in it so I’m glad I stayed tough to come through that,” the British player said. “It boosts the match fitness, every match is a battle.”