British hope
Venus draws on spirit of Serena in title quest
Konta faces Venus with place in Wimbledon final on the line
WIMBLEDON: Johanna Konta was born in Australia to Hungarian parents and trained in Spain, but she is the reigning darling of Britain.
Konta, 26, who likes to discuss muffin baking and her adoration of the band U2, captivated her adopted nation on Tuesday by ending a 39-year spell of futility for British women at Wimbledon.
The sixth-seeded Konta, who gained her British citizenship in 2012, came from a set down to defeat No.2 Simona Halep, 6-7 (2/7), 7-6 (7/5), 6-4, and became the first British woman to advance to a Wimbledon singles semi-final since Virginia Wade in 1978.
With the Halep loss, Karolina Pliskova became the new world No.1 despite tumbling out of Wimbledon in the second round and never having won a Grand Slam.
Halep would have become the new No.1 had she beaten Konta and made the semi-finals.
Konta said: “To be in the semi-finals of my home Slam, and to do that in front of a full Centre Court, I mean, it’s pretty, pretty special.”
Wade, who is also the last British woman to win the event, in 1977, watched nervously from the royal box, and when victory was ensured, she beamed with joy and high-fived guests sitting near her in a celebration of British tennis.
“I was so happy for her,” Wade told a reporter. “I know how much pressure there is, but she behaves very nicely.”
Konta’s next barrier in her quest is a tall one. She will play No.10 Venus Williams, a five-time Wimbledon singles champion who beat the reigning French Open champion, Jelena Ostapenko, 6-3, 7-5, with little difficulty.
Konta is No.1 with British fans, many of whom stood in a steady rain inside the grounds to watch her victory. They huddled under umbrellas on Henman Hill, watching on a giant video screen as Konta played under the roof of Centre Court.
Against Williams, Konta will have to return one of the best serves on grass, and contend with Williams’ savvy and power. Wade said she thinks Konta will win. If so, she will be one step closer to her dream.
“I’ve dreamed of success in every Slam,” Konta said. “I think it makes it more special because it is home. I do get that home support, which I don’t get anywhere else. In that sense, I guess it makes it that much sweeter.”
Five-time champion Williams is drawing on the emotional support of her absent sister Serena at Wimbledon as the 37-yearold American remains on course to seize one of her sibling’s records should she go on to claim an eighth Grand Slam title.
Williams won a cross-generation battle when she beat 20-year-old Ostapenko 6-3, 7-5 on Tuesday to reach her 10th semifinal in 20 attempts.
The American stands two victories away from a remarkable triumph and a win in Sunday’s final would allow her to replace Serena, who is taking a break from tennis to give birth to her first child, as the oldest women’s Grand Slam winner.
“They’re definitely here with me, for sure,” Williams said on Tuesday. “Even if it’s not physically. That is one thing I do know. They’re fighting right alongside me.”
In a professional career lasting more than two decades, Williams is closing in on a 50th WTA title and credits her longevity to a love of the game and a desire to constantly improve. “I love it,” Williams said. “I try really hard. There’s no other explanation. You do your best while you can. That’s what I’m doing.
“I love the challenge. I love pressure. It’s not always easy dealing with the pressure. It’s only yourself who can have the answer for that.
“I love the last day you play, you’re still improving. It’s not something that is stagnant. The competition keeps you growing. You have to get better if you want to stay relevant.”
The veteran last triumphed at Wimbledon in 2008, which remains her seventh and final Grand Slam singles title. Johanna Konta (GBR x6) v Venus Williams (USA x10) Garbine Muguruza (ESP x14) v Magdalena Rybarikova (SVK)
TODAY’S SCHEDULE Women’s semi-finals