HISTORY GIRL!
And we reveal secret weapon that powered Konta into semis
JOHANNA Konta thrilled the nation last night by taking a step closer to becoming the first British woman to win Wimbledon for 40 years.
She beat world number two Simona Halep to reach the semi-finals – and a match tomorrow against five- time champion Venus Williams for a place in Saturday’s final.
Fans now hope Miss Konta, 26, will be the first Briton to lift the ladies’ singles trophy since Virginia Wade in 1977.
She is already our first semi-finalist since Miss Wade reached the last four as defending champion in 1978.
Miss Wade, 72, was in the Royal Box on Centre Court to cheer on Miss Konta as she fought back from a set down to knock out Romanian Miss Halep.
Playing under the roof as rain lashed down outside, Miss Konta, now ranked seventh in the world, appeared stunned to have won.
The crowd had been cheering so loudly for her earlier that the umpire had had to ask them to be quiet – but one woman could not contain her excitement and screamed loudly during the match point, which seemed to distract the players and caused some confusion.
But once her achievement had sunk in, a smile spread across Miss Konta’s face as she thanked the crowd for their ‘incredible’ support.
Outside on Henman Hill, fans huddled under umbrellas to watch the big screen as they cheered a historic moment for British sport.
Miss Wade said: ‘It was an absolutely stunning performance and the pressure was relentless that Konta kept applying – it was brilliant, she never really wavered one bit.
‘I have to hand it to her that was a brilliant performance and I’m very, very happy for her. I’m ultra-impressed, I haven’t seen a player really with the same sort of dedication and determination for a long time.’
She said Miss Konta should beat Miss Williams, adding: ‘It’s absolutely on the cards.’ Miss Konta said: ‘It’s a little bit surreal. In terms of the home support I feel, I feel very excited and very humbled by it. When you get a massive crowd of people cheering, making that sort of noise in a stadium, you do get goosebumps.’ She joked: ‘I think they were a little over-enthusiastic in parts. But honestly I definitely cannot complain with the amount of support and general good feelings they were wishing my way.’ Spectators, who included Miss Konta’s boyfriend, tennis photographer Jackson Wade, could barely believe what they had witnessed.
Fran Barnes, 45, from Warwickshire, said: ‘It was nail-biting. It’s absolutely superb. We were on the edge of our seats.’ Caroline Finn, 53, from Epsom, Surrey, said: ‘It was brilliant. Well done to her. It was a bit on the edge – well done to her for dragging it out.’
Susan Harper, 56, said: ‘While I was watching [the match] my daughter gave birth. She said, “Mum, still go”. That was worth every penny. It was wonderful.’ Mrs Harper joked that her baby granddaughter may now be called Johanna.
Looking ahead to her match against 37-year-old Miss Williams, Miss Konta – who less than three years ago was not even in the world’s top 150 – said: ‘She’s a tremendous champion and I feel very humbled to share a court with her again.’
Miss Williams said: ‘I’m sure she’s confident and determined. She’s probably dealing with a different kind of pressure playing here at home. But she seems to be handling it well.
‘It looks like she really does well under the pressure.’
Andy Murray today faces Sam Querrey for a place in the men’s semi-finals. If he succeeds it will be the first time both a British man and woman have made the last four since Ann Jones and Roger Taylor in 1967.