VENUS SQUASHES KONTA’S DREAMS
▶ Home hopes dashed as Johanna loses 6-4, 6-2 ▶ Muguruza into her second final in three years
Venus Williams became the oldest Wimbledon finalist in 23 years as she ended Johanna Konta’s history bid with a masterful 6-4, 6-2 win.
Twenty years after making her Wimbledon debut, five-time champion Williams is into her ninth final at the All England Club and her first since 2009.
The 37-year-old American’s sublime display of power-hitting on Centre Court stopped Konta becoming the first British woman to make the final for 40 years and set up a title match against Spain’s Garbine Muguruza.
Williams, aiming to win her first Wimbledon title since 2008, took only 73 minutes to write her name in the history books as the oldest Wimbledon finalist since Martina Navratilova in 1994.
“I’ve played a lot of finals here. It’s been a blessing. I couldn’t ask for more, but I’ll ask for a little more! One more would be amazing,” she said. “I thought the crowd were so fair. Jo gave it her all. It’s a lot of pressure. I think my experience was important.
“I just tried to get one point after another and - wow - it was done. I’m so happy.”
Standing in her way next is 2016 French Open champion Garbine Muguruza, who stormed into her second Wimbledon final in three years with a 6-1, 6-1 demolition of nerve-ridden Magdalena Rybarikova.
Muguruza, seeded 14th, took advantage of a woeful performance from the Slovak world No 87 to secure her third grand slam final appearance.
“I played very well for sure. Today I stepped on court super confident and everything went well,” Muguruza said.
“Once you are in these situations before you know how to handle them better. Definitely that helped me. I’m playing well. I want to keep it up for my last match and hopefully it goes well. I’m going to enjoy it. Being in a grand slam final is a great achievement.”