JOHANNA Konta may be one win away from becoming the first British woman to reach the quarter-finals at the Australian Open for 33 years but that is the last thing on her mind in Melbourne.

The 25-year-old, who put out Venus Williams in round one, was far too strong for the Czech Denisa Allertova, her 6-2, 6-2 victory putting her through to the last 16 for the second consecutive Grand Slam event.

Konta is the first Briton into the fourth round here since Jo Durie and Anne Hobbs in 1987. If she beats Russia’s Ekaterina Makarova tomorrow, she will emulate Durie’s achievement in 1983.

True to form, the 25-year-old said she had no idea Durie was the last woman to achieve the feat and that she was trying to avoid all hype surrounding her performances.

“I’m not unaware of [the interest] but I think it’s as big as you make it. It becomes as important as you want it to,” Konta said.

“It’s very much not the focus point of my career. It’s not what I play tennis for, it’s just staying in the present, enjoying what I’m doing and making sure I’m making the kind of improvements and moves forward that I want to.”

When she lost in the first round of qualifying last year, Konta was ranked 141 but her victory over Allertova means she will now break into the top 40.

Durie, whose run in 1983 was ended by Martina Navratilova, but not before she had won a set, has been impressed by Konta’s rise.

“She used to be emotional and a little bit fragile, but now she has such a good sense of confidence and self-worth,” Durie said. “She is so consistent and secure, she looks like she belongs.

“I think players find it difficult to know how to get after her mentally, as well as physically. They think ‘Where do we go with her?’ Maybe her mind is now her strongest suit.”

Two-time champion Victoria Azarenka surged through the draw with a 6-1, 6-1 demolition of Naomi Osaka of Japan. But Wimbledon runner-up Garbine Muguruza became another big name to fall as she was beaten 6-3, 6-2 by another Czech, Barbora Strycova.

And Shuai Zhang of Chinawho had lost all of her previous 14 grand slam matches, crushed Varvara Lepchenko 6-1, 6-3 to reach the last 16.

Konta was unable to make it a double success as she and Heather Watson lost the battle of the Brits with Jocelyn Rae and Anna Smith winning 6-2, 6-3.