Gimmie hope Johanna
> Konta became the first British woman to reach the quarterfinals since Jo Durie in 1984; Sexism row as Kerber crashes, Venus oldest in last-eight for 23 years
ANGELIQUE KERBER crashed out of Wimbledon and lost her hold on the world No. 1 ranking, while five-time champion Venus Williams became the oldest All England Club quarterfinalist in 23 years yesterday. Amid a scheduling row that saw accusations of sexism aimed at Wimbledon chiefs after they put just two women’s matches on the main show-courts, Williams wasn’t the only star savouring a historic last 16 triumph. Johanna Konta, the bookmakers’ favourite for the title, became the first British woman to reach the quarterfinals since Jo Durie in 1984. Kerber was beaten 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 by Spanish 14th seed Garbine Muguruza as the German’s fourth round exit extended a miserable run for last year’s Wimbledon runner-up. The 29-year-old, who lost to Serena Williams in the final 12 months ago, has failed to make the last eight at any of this year’s three Grand Slams. Kerber was unfazed by her ranking blow, saying: “I know the feeling already to be No. 1. I know the feeling to be No. 2, in the top 10. “It was the best match for a long time for me, so I think I’m still on a good way even though I lost.” Kerber, who had taken the top ranking from Serena in March, will be replaced at No. 1 by either Karolina Pliskova or Simona Halep. Halep, the Romanian world No. 2, defeated Victoria Azarenka 7-6 (7/3), 6-2 and will be guaranteed top spot if she beats Konta in the last eight. If Halep, a two-time French Open runner-up, loses to the Briton, then Czech world No. 3 Pliskova will be the new No. 1 despite losing in the second round. Muguruza, the 2015 Wimbledon runner-up, goes on to play Russian seventh seed Svetlana Kuznetsova for a place in the semifinals. Former US and French Open champion Kuznetsova, 32, reached her first Wimbledon quarterfinal in 10 years with a 6-2, 6-4 win over Polish ninth seed Agnieszka Radwanska. With Centre Court and Court One largely taken up by four men’s matches, Kerber was exiled to the less grand Court Two.
played last night – Cooky, Keaton (Jennings) and Gary (Ballance).”
It was a decision that brought criticism for Wimbledon organisers and Kerber was visibly frustrated by the state of surface after she slipped on several barren patches of grass on the baseline.
Kerber twice led by a break in the final set, but couldn’t close out the victory and she was quick to attack the court scheduling.
“To be honest, I was really surprised that I was playing on Court No. 2. I was actually looking forward to playing on one of the two big courts,” she said.
Granted showcourt billing, Williams didn’t hang around as she crushed 19-yearold Croatian Ana Konjuh 6-3, 6-2 in 64 minutes on Centre Court.
Williams made her Grand Slam debut at the 1997 French Open, seven months before Konjuh was born.
Williams plays French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko for a place in the semifinals.
Ostapenko advanced to her first Wimbledon quarterfinal after finally converting her eighth match point to defeat Ukrainian world No. 5 Elina Svitolina 6-3, 7-6 (8/6) on tiny Court 12.
Ostapenko, the 2014 junior Wimbledon champion, joined the sexism row as she admitted she was surprised not to be put on a larger court.
“I thought we would play on a bigger court. Elina is No. 4 in the world. I think our match was very interesting for the people to watch,” the Latvian 13th seed said.
World No. 7 Konta defeated France’s Caroline Garcia 7-6 (7/3), 4-6, 6-4 on Court One.
Konta is aiming for a second Grand Slam semifinal appearance following her run at the 2016 Australian Open.
Slovakia’s Magdalena Rybarikova is into her maiden Grand Slam quarterfinal after a 6-4, 2-6, 6-3 win over Croatian qualifier Petra Martic.
Next up for the world No. 87 is a clash with American 24th seed Coco Vandeweghe.
Vandeweghe moved into her second Wimbledon quarterfinal with a 7-6 (7/4), 6-4 victory over former world No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki.
In the men’s category, Defending champion Andy Murray reached a 10th successive Wimbledon quarterfinal with a 76 (7/1), 6-4, 6-4 win over Benoit Paire of France.
The world No. 1 will face Sam Querrey of the United States who defeated South Africa’s Kevin Anderson 5-7, 7-6 (7/5), 6-3, 67 (11/13), 6-3.
Men’s seventh seed Marin Cilic of Croatia beat Spaniard Roberto Bautista Agut 6-2 6-2 6-2 to reach the quarterfinals. – AFP/ Reuters