The tie was considered an unlikely match-up with Konta competing in in the main draw of the tournament for the first time, while Shuai had earned stunning wins over Romania’s Simona Halep and America’s Madison Keys having come through the qualifying tournament.

Owning to her higher singles world ranking of 47, Konta arguably began as the favourite to reach the semi-finals and began the far stronger of the two players, moving into a 5-2 lead.

Shuai threatened to claw her way back into the tie, breaking back and then earning another break point which would have levelled the set at 5-5,

Konta, though, held her nerve to eventually serve out the set.

Having recovered from the blip, Konta took full control of the tie by establishing a double break in the second set and was quickly able to seal a straight sets 6-4, 6-1 victory.

“I felt I did quite a good job of removing any sort of occasion from the match,” said Konta, the first British woman since Jo Durie at the US Open to make the last four of a Grand Slam.

“I really just took it as tennis match and I was competing against a really good opponent.

“I just wanted to make sure I was executing to the best of my ability what I wanted to get done out there. I felt I did that.

Konta will meet Angelique Kerber for a place in the final, after the German overcame two-time Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka.

The Belarusian player began as the favourite, despite being ranked seven places lower in the tournament at 14th seed, due to her excellent form, but Kerber dominated proceedings in the opening set, claiming it 6-3.

Azarenka attempted to battled back into the contest in the second but ultimately proved unable to force a deciding set as Kerber sealed a 6-4 6-1 win.

In the men’s draw, second seed Andy Murray battled past Spain’s David Ferrer in the Rod Laver Arena, to keep his bid for a first Australian Open title on track.

Ferrer had not dropped a set prior to the meeting but failed to keep the run going against his British opponent, with Murray claiming the opener 6-3.

While Ferrer was able to hit back immediately by winning a second set tie-break, four-time runner-up Murray eventually proved too strong, sealing a 6-3, 7-6, 6-2, 6-3 win.

With his brother Jamie having made the semi-finals of the men's doubles, alongside Brazil's Bruno Soares, it is the first time two brothers have reached the last four of the Australian Open.

Andy Murray will meet Milos Raonic in the last four of the singles, after the Canadian battled past France’s Gael Monfils to reach his fourth Grand Slam semi-final.

The 25-year-old claimed the opening set 6-3, but 23rd seed Monfils levelled the tie with an impressive range of shots to secure the second 6-3.

Raonic, though, became the first Canadian to reach the semi-finals of the Australian Open after winning the remaining sets 6-3, 6-4.