Konta had never been past the second round of a grand slam before a spirited run to the last 16 at the US Open earlier this month.
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Suitably encouraged, Halep began to play her best tennis of the night and produced a few lovely hitting as she powered into a 5-1 advantage, although Konta also failed to convert break point chances in a couple of the Romanians’ service games.
Ranked 126th at Wimbledon where she had to rely on a wild card to play, the Australia-born 24-year-old is now set to crack the world’s top 50 for the first time next week.
“It was a very tough match”, Konta is quoted as saying by the BBC.
“I’m feeling humbled and blessed I get to come back tomorrow and compete again”.
Konta, 24, became only the third British woman to beat a top three player after Sue Barker and Virginia Wade.
A jubilant Konta marched into the last eight a week before she officially becomes the British number one, and has now won 21 of her past 22 matches, having had to qualify to reach the main draw in China. Konta will look to continue her incredible run against Venus Williams on 1 October following the experienced American’s 6-3, 6-4 victory over Carla Suarez Navarro.
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She was already sure to overtake Heather Watson when the next rankings come out after the Channel Islander was knocked out in the first round by former world number one Jelena Jankovic, whereas Konta defeated German Andrea Petkovic. “When I play her, I know that I have to be concentrated because she’s just a great competitor”.
