Venus looms large for Konta

London – Johanna Konta (above) has history in her sights as the world No 7 bids to become the first British woman to reach the Wimbledon final for 40 years when she faces her childhood idol Venus Williams today.

Konta displayed nerves of steel in her pulsating 6-7 (2/7), 7-6 (7/5), 6-4 quarterfinal victory over world No 2 Simona Halep on Tuesday.

The 26-year-old is the first British woman to make the Wimbledon semifinals since Virginia Wade in 1978 and a victory over five-time champion Williams would make her the first Briton into the women’s final at the All England Club since Wade won the title in 1977.

Born in Australia to Hungarian parents, Konta didn’t move to the UK until she was 14, but regardless of her heritage she has been adopted as one of their own by the Wimbledon fans.

Now a resident of the sleepy seaside town of Eastbourne, the historic significance of her Wimbledon run, and the crowd’s reaction to it, has been an eye-opener for Konta, who until this fortnight could have walked unrecognised down any street in the country.

“I’ve dreamed of success in every slam but I think it makes it more special because it is home,” said Konta, who was ranked outside the top 150 only two years ago. “In terms of the home support, I feel very excited and very humbled by it.’’

In the other semifinal, former French Open champion Garbine Muguruza faces Slovakian world No 87 Magdalena Rybarikova. – AFP