AT some stage, sooner rather than later if her rate of progression continues at the same pace, Johanna Konta will become the hunted, no longer the hunter.

The Briton’s 7-5, 6-2 victory over Belgium’s Kirsten Flipkens, a former semi-finalist at Wimbledon, was tough, but in many ways was as impressive as if she’d romped to a simple rout.

Seeded ninth, having reached the semi-finals here last year, Konta has been talked up in the local media, especially, as a potential champion.

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In part that’s because Konta was born in Sydney and the Australians would love to claim her, but it’s also because outside of Angelique Kerber and Serena Williams, the women’s draw is wide open.

Flipkens caused Konta some problems with her dice and slice game, but after failing to serve out the first set, she made no mistake second time around, before easing through the second set to take her place in round two.

"When any player is playing someone who's top 10 there's a freedom that comes with that, so I'm now having to be ready for opponents who bring a new level, who come with inspired tennis.

“That's a privilege I'm getting used to and hopefully I'll have it for a long time to come.

"The thing about our game is that the depth is much greater than before. There really isn't much separating the top girls from the Top 50 and even the Top 100."

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Konta steadfastly refuses to get carried away, though, which is probably sensible since she plays the talented Japanese youngster Naomi Osaka next.

Should she survive that encounter, she could play Caroline Wozniacki and Dominika Cibulkova and that’s before a likely quarter-final against Serena Williams.

“Like I said to you here last year, I didn't cure cancer,” she said. “I'm just lucky enough to play a sport I love. I'm very blessed and fortunate and that's pretty incredible a career to have.

“As long as my focus remains one of just getting better all the time, there's not much to get carried away with."

For only the second time in her career, Heather Watson reached the second round here yesterday as she beat Australia’s No 18 seed Sam Stosur, 6-3, 3-6, 6-0.

Watson said she was taking inspiration from the performance of the other British players, especially Konta.

“I watched Jo’s today because I was on that court,” Watson said. “She’s playing so good. I really enjoy watching her play too. She does everything right, everything like you're supposed to do.

“If you want to put it down the line, she puts it there. It’s great to see, she works really hard and I think she’s definitely going to have another great year and is one of the contenders for a slam.

“With Jo doing so well, it’s great to see and I think it’s good for all of us and pushes us all along.”

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Watson will play the American Jennifer Brady, someone she admitted will require a bit of homework.

“I don’t know a lot about her,” Watson admitted. “I have seen her play a few times and warmed up with her once.”

Naomi Broady narrowly missed out on making it six Britons into round two as she was edged out 3-6, 6-4, 7-5 by the No 22 seed Daria Gavrilova in a match that finished well after 11pm.

Serena Williams, chasing a record 23rd grand slam title and a seventh Australian Open crown, impressed in a 6-4, 6-3 win over Switzerland’s Belinda Bencic.

Third seed Agnieszka Radwanska needed three sets to get past Bulgaria’s Tsvetana Pironkova but fifth seed Karolina Pliskova crushed Sara Tormo Sorribes 6-1, 6-2.