Classy Konta puts an end to 33 years of hurt

JOHANNA Konta is the first British woman into the last eight at Wimbledon since 1984 but now stands just three wins away from a much bigger prize.

Jo Durie’s run 33 years ago ended at the quarter-final stage but Konta, who beat Caroline Garcia 7-6 (7/3) 4-6 6-4, looks capable of becoming the first British female to win this tournament since Virginia Wade in 1977. First, Konta must overcome Simona Halep, the world number two, for whom the stakes are also high as the Romanian needs just one more victory at SW19 to become world number one.

“I hope I will not think that much during the match,” Halep said, after beating Victoria Azarenka in the last 16. “I just want to go there and win it.”

There is also likely to be a personal edge to their contest after Konta and Halep’s last meeting, in the Fed Cup in April, turned sour.

Konta was playing Halep’s team-mate Sorana Cirstea when she left the court for a 20-minute break, claiming to have been abused by a section of the crowd.

Romanian team captain Ilie Nastase had earlier been ejected for making his own threatening comments but Halep and Cirstea felt Konta had taken advantage.

Yesterday, an emotional Konta said: “It’s very exciting. It’s another step forward to being involved in the event for the full two weeks. But it is a massive compliment to me. It’s a great achievement.”