Wimbledon: Johanna Konta ends long wait for British quarter-finalist in women's singles

Not since Jo Durie in 1984 has this country boasted a female in the last eight of the singles but Konta was made to work hard for her progress by a player Andy Murray once labelled a future world number one.

Garcia has all the shots but Konta’s resilience again proved key in a 7-6 (7/3) 4-6 6-4 victory that means the British number one will now face either Victoria Azarenka or Simona Halep.

When Garcia slapped a final forehand into the net, Konta fell to her knees, struggling to hold back the tears before embracing her opponent at the net.

“It was such a tough match to play,” said Konta.

“She’s really on impressive form so it’s very hard to get any rhythm out there when she’s serving so well and gets her first strike in.

“Overall I was just happy to get enough returns in in that last game. I was trying to stay light on my feet and strong in my body to try to neutralise her balls. There was very little between us today.”

Konta described it as “pretty special” to match Durie’s feat but she will justifiably now have another long-standing record in her sights, that of Virginia Wade - the last British woman to win Wimbledon in 1977.

Garcia had beaten Konta, also in three sets, at Indian Wells in March but she is yet to beat a top-10 player at a grand slam and this time it was Konta’s serve, and nerve, that came up trumps.

The world number seven was placed on Court One for the third time in her four matches here, with Venus Williams the preferred women’s tie on Centre Court along with Murray and Roger Federer.

The home favourite started like a train, winning eight out of the first 10 points, but she was aided too by a nervy Garcia who flashed a smash long in her opening service game.

The error helped Konta grab the break but Garcia soon found her range and by the end of the set it was the Frenchwoman cranking up the pressure.

Konta, serving for the set, saved two break points and then squandered a set point of her own, but her frustration grew moments later when Garcia clinched the game with a successful challenge.

Feeling her error had been prompted by the out-call, Konta briefly protested but she quickly recovered and stormed into a 3-0 lead in the tie-break.

Garcia should have closed the gap to one but her drive volley was met with a sizzling forehand pass and instead Konta served out the set with an ace.

She had crawled over the line but Konta’s first serve and forehand were both breaking down and it was not such a surprise when Garcia took a 5-1 lead in the second.

Konta surged back to 5-4 and while Garcia held her nerve at the second time of asking to serve out, it felt like the momentum had returned to the Briton.

She won the first game of the decider to love but it took nine games before either managed a sniff of a break.

Serving to stay in the match, Garcia watched a backhand pass sail past her before a missed backhand of her own gave Konta match point.

Garcia had the court at her mercy but instead thrashed the forehand into the net and, after two hours and 12 minutes, Konta was able to celebrate.