French Open 2019 - Johanna Konta impresses as she cruises into first Roland Garros quarter-final

The victory lifts Konta into her first Grand Slam quarter-final since her semi-final run at Wimbledon two years ago.

The match started frenetically, with two breaks on the Vekic serve and one on Konta’s in the opening three game, but the 28-year-old got a much-needed cushion at 5-2.

She struggled to serve out the set as Vekic carved out four chances to break back but eventually got the first in the bag.

The decisive break in the second came as she went 5-4 up with a wonderful drop shot and she suffered no similar problems in serving it out with Vekic sending a defensive lob long.

“Over the last few months I’ve been playing at a better and better level – more than anything I feel like I’m building on each match that I’m playing and each day I get to spend out on court I feel like I’m adding to how I want to be playing," Konta told Eurosport after the match. "I’m really pleased to have made it this far and I’ll be working hard to get to the very end.

“A lot of the work I’m doing does translate to all surfaces but what clay requires is for you to play the game more than other surfaces because you have more time. With the things that we are doing that’s a big part of it – to give myself the space and the freedom to play out there - to create the points the way I want to, to trust what I do out there because I’ve got a lot of goods things to do and Dimitri has been really great in giving me the space to express myself out on court.

“I’ve got a good group of people around me, some here and some at home, and more than anything once I’m finished here I just look to get out of here and rest and take a step back. I’m staying in an apartment here which gives me that separation, which is nice. I’m doing some cooking, nothing like to the extent to which I do at home, it’s always easier to cook in your own kitchen!”

“I think I’m enjoying the game more now and seeing it for what it is. I think when you are younger it’s hard to disassociate yourself with it, and not be too emotional about It, more than anything. I’m definitely really grateful for what the game is.”

Konta will face either Sloane Stephens or Garbine Muguruza in the last eight, with the 2016 champion set to face last year's beaten finalist later on Sunday.