Johanna Konta has become the first British woman to reach the quarter-final of a Grand Slam since 1984.
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The 24-year-old continued her fine recent run of form on 25 January to come from a set down to win in three sets (4-6 6-4 8-6) on the Margaret Court Arena.
Konta also beat Makarova at the Eastbourne International in June previous year.
With no local women left in the main draw with the exit of Daria Gavrilova, Australia will look to claim Konta, who was born in Sydney. She will play either Madison Keys or Shuai Zhang next. In the early stages Makarova made more mistakes, particularly when she had to generate her own pace on the ball. But her serve will be interesting: “I feel like Jo could get after her second serve”.
Things started off in the first set with both players having two break points against each other’s serves before holding. Konta did not seem in any trouble until the final game of the opening set, when two double faults helped Makarova to take it.
How has she mastered the mental side of her game?
Konta held her nerve superbly well as the match went into a final set tie break. After an hour and three-quarters, the match went into a deciding set.
Serving under pressure again, this time to win the set not save it, Konta delivered as Makarova ballooned long and the contest was sent to a decider.
However, in another twist to awaken the crowd from its late night slumber, Konta broke her opponent at 6-6 and then produced a game of the highest composure and calmness as she served out to love, Makarova sinking a return into the net, and Konta jumping to her feet in jubilation.
At 6-6, nevertheless, Konta broke again as Makarova, feeling the pressure, made some crucial errors. It was some victory.
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She beat the Russian on grass at (literally) her home tournament on the way to a quarter-final run that actually might have been the catalyst for her successes later in the year. David Ferrer reached the last eight by beating John Isner 6-4, 6-4, 7-5.
