Johanna Konta’s route to the Australian Open semi-finals

Johanna Konta after losing her semi-final match against Angelique Kerber on January 28, in Melbourne, Australia.

Johanna Konta’s Australian Open dream finally came to an end as the world No. 47 lost in straight sets to Germany’s Angelique Kerber.

Konta penned the latest chapter of her fairytale run at the Australian Open by defeating Chinese wildcard Shuai Zhang 6-4, 6-1 to reach the last four of a major tournament for the first time.

Konta said after the game: “I played against a better player today who earned her right to a Grand Slam final”.

She has now matched Jo Durie – who lost in the last four at the US Open 33 years ago.

Konta admitted her lack of experience was crucial against Kerber, the seventh seed, who will face Serena Williams in the final.

So she’s reaching out to someone who might be able to help – Steffi Graf, who leads Williams by one major title on the all-time list and was the last German to win the Australian Open in 1994.

Radwanksa’s admission after the match was telling.

After some well-earned rest, Konta will reset her sights on Great Britain’s Fed Cup matches in Israel, where Judy Murray’s team will be looking for promotion to the second tier of world group nations.

“I think I was a little bit too flat today”.

With his brother Jamie having made the semi-finals of the men’s doubles, alongside Brazil’s Bruno Soares, it is the first time two brothers have reached the last four of the Australian Open.

“I’m incredibly humble and grateful for the position that I’m in”, Konta said.

Even if Konta loses to Zhang, the Briton is expected to climb to No 32 in next week’s updated world rankings list, which would be high enough to ensure she would be seeded at Grand Slam tournaments.

“I created a lot of opportunities, but then I was not enough in my opportunities. She has managed to get her nerves under control and to believe in herself”, the 48-year-old Becker, who coaches Novak Djokovic, said. “I just said to myself keep making opportunities and hopefully they’ll go my way”.

Holding with a solid service game, which included her 21st ace for the tournament, there was suddenly a match on as Konta grew in confidence and Kerber tightened up.

“Konta has got all the shots – her serve is terrific, the forehand is a weapon and more reliable than it was – but now she has the mental attitude”, said BBC Sport presenter Barker.

“I’m just going to let whatever emotion come to me”, Azarenka said.

“I started hitting the ball better from the back of the court”.

“She is really unbelievable and I’m very proud of her. We saw her when she was 208th in the world and she is now [provisionally] 28th”.

“I was just trying to give everything on court”.

Kerber broke Konta’s serve in the 11th game, and held in the next to take the set in 49 minutes.

The pair split the opening two sets of their quarter-final and Murray had just broken for a 3-1 lead in the third when organisers delayed the match to shut the roof with a heavy storm approaching from the west.