Konta gets very real talking about pressure

Johanna Konta had to hold her nerve on Monday at the Australian Open when she faced Ekaterina Makarova in the fourth round. World No. 9-ranked Konta won the first set comfortably and very quickly, but had to dig deep to come back in the second, winning 6-1, 6-4.

The Brit has been here before though. She broke through in Melbourne last year, reaching the semifinals, and will try to repeat that run when she takes on Serena Williams on Wednesday.

The 25-year-old's rise has been slow, and difficult—it took her seven years to crack the Top 50. But she's grown comfortable dissociating herself from the high pressure moments, something she credits to her recent success.

"I think when you get to a position where you might see a glimmer of what you have dreamed of as a little girl or what you hoped for, what you've worked so hard for, it can feel kind of an all-or-nothing moment or what if I never get this chance again?" Konta said on Monday. "I think it's more a bit of possibly fear of being able to replicate the position you're in more than anything, but then I think that's where you have also got to have a good perspective on things, and you've got to keep, I guess, the simple things in mind of what's important to you.

"Are you healthy? Is your family healthy? Do you have people around you that you love? Do you have people around you that love you?"

Konta will have her hands full in her first time facing her idol and 22-time Grand Slam champion Williams, but she's certainly got the right attitude and has yet to lose a set in Melbourne.

"I believe in my own ability," Konta said. "I believe in the good things that I bring to the court, and I believe in my ability to fight till the very end."