Third seed Karolina Pliskova has bowed out of the US Open after losing to Johanna Konta in the second fourth-round upset after Ashleigh Barty was eliminated by Qiang Wang.

The British No.1 dropped the first set on a tie-break but battled back to win 6-7 (1-7) 6-3 7-5 on Sunday.

In doing so Konta became the first British woman to reach the last eight at Flushing Meadows since Jo Durie in 1983.

“The key was to just keep going,” she said.

“You know with Karolina there will be massive portions of the match where I don’t really know what I’m doing. I’m pleased to have played a great match.

“I’ve been in this position twice before here, so to go one step further is a massive achievement for me. Now I’m hoping to go two or three steps further.”

Konta had lost six of her previous seven matches with Pliskova, including twice on her home turf of Eastbourne, as well as in Nottingham and Birmingham.

Earlier on Sunday, Barty has crashed out of a fourth-round shocker at Flushing Meadows.

Australia’s big title hope floundered in a sea of unforced errors, succumbing 6-2 6-4 loss to China’s Qiang Wang in one hour and 22 minutes.

World No.18 Wang was the highest-ranked rival Barty had played since the French Open semi-finals two months ago – and she was simply unable to rise to the occasion.

Formerly coached by Australian Davis Cup winner, the late Peter McNamara, Wang was like the Great Wall of China, her relentless defence and counter-punching driving Barty mad.

The second seed’s numbers told the story, Barty committing 39 unforced errors in 18 games and unable to convert any of nine break-point chances.

Meanwhile, eighth seed Serena Williams fought through the pain of a twisted ankle which needed lengthy treatment to beat Petra Martic of Croatia 6-3 6-4 in the last 16.

The American former world No.1 scorched the court with 37 winners and will face China’s 18th seed Wang Qiang in the quarter-finals.