Jo Konta breezes past Naomi Osaka into third round

The British No 1 didn’t look in trouble at any stage and was dominant in the crucial points and ended up winning 6-3 6-2.

Despite not being seeded, the 19-year-old Osaka is very much an up and coming force in the women's game but simply could not cope with Konta's powerful game and the fast pace of the courts.

"Very happy to have come through that," said Konta. "I knew going into the match I had played her once previously, and we had two close sets. She's obviously a great server and a big ball striker.

"I was definitely keen on making my stamp in the match, and I feel like I managed to do that as the match went on."

Konta is looking a real contender after her run to the last four at the same tournament last year, with 10 wins under her belt this year already.

"I love playing on these amazing courts and I'm looking forward to staying here as long as possible," she said.

Konta's clear focus on process bears the hallmarks of mind coach Juan Coto, who died suddenly late last year, after two years of helping her sharpen her mental game. Konta has said he is still "very much a part" of all she does.

That was evident in her sound victory over her potentially tricky opponent in one hour and nine minutes, bashing out nine aces and winning a remarkable 89 percent of points on her first serve.

Konta is building on a roaring start to the year, with last week's warm-up win in Sydney, the city of her birth.

She is now facing a third round showdown with 17th seed Caroline Wozniacki with the imposing shadow of six-times champion Serena Williams potentially looming in the quarter-finals.

Konta has also to contend with the pressure of being Britain's brightest chance for a first women's singles grand slam title in 40 years.

"I believe that if I continue to keep my priorities straight, really take care of the work, of my body, then I will continuously be able to have the opportunity to improve, to experience more matches, more situations," she said.

"And I think in turn, a lot of it is time."

She joins Andy Murray and Dan Evans in the last 32 and will now face Caroline Wozniacki.