Johanna Konta voiced her gratitude to the ‘magnificent’ home support as she rallied from a set down to book her place in the last eight at Wimbledon.

Britain’s last hope in the singles draws produced a sterling fightback to beat former two-time Champion and number six seed Petra Kvitova 4-6, 6-2, 6-4 on Centre Court.

A semi-finalist two years ago, 19th seed Konta will face Barbora Strycova who dumped 21 seed Elise Mertens out in three sets, with a possible semi-final against the ‘fit’ again Serena Williams lying in wait.

“As a British player playing in front of a home crowd you’re going to be spoilt for support and energy!”

“Equally today I’m really pleased I got to play an entertaining match for them as well as I felt they enjoyed it.

“I feel they deserved that and I enjoyed playing it.”

Richmond and Twickenham Times:

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The first set saw Kvitova at the peak of her game, showing no effects of the hand and wrist injury that has blighted the last two years of the Czech’s career.

Such was the power the left-hander was showing, Konta believed the fact she kept the set to within few points was a testament to where her game was at.

Konta grew in the second set and despite calling the doctor to attend a ‘tweaked’ ankle, she forced a deciding set.

Two successive breaks of serve put Konta on her way, and despite a brief glimmer of a Kvitova fightback as she broke back to go 5-4, Konta held her nerve to serve out and claim her second successive three set victory after seeing off Sloane Stevens on Saturday.

“It’s good to know that I have the capability to stay there as long as I need to, even if I lose the first set.

“I have the opportunity to get in the match and stay in it, it’s good to know.”

Waiting for her in the quarter-final on Tuesday is unseeded Strycova who beat the seeded Mertens in three sets, but despite the falling of more seeds including top seed Ashleigh Barty, Konta won’t be taking any notice of their rank.

“I don’t look at (the draw) like that because there’s a reason why they’re still in the draw.

“The eight best player are still playing.

“Barbora’s a crafty player and knows how to mix up the game and she knows how to play on this surface.”