Jo crashes out to the genius of Venus
Fans are left shattered as brave Konta is eclipsed by Venus
FOR a while yesterday, she had the nation daring to hope.
The Centre Court crowd cheered and office workers furtively switched their screens to the tennis as Johanna Konta looked to move a step closer to ending British women’s 40-year Wimbledon drought.
But gradually it became clear that the 26-year-old had met her match in her semi-final opponent, veteran five-times champion Venus Williams, 37.
Up in the Royal Box, it all seemed too much for Sophie, Countess of W essex. She grimaced, gasped and nervously held her head in her hands.
Miss Konta’s father Gabor, 59, and her boyfriend Jackson Wade, 24, urged her on from the stands but her mother Gabriella was too nervous to watch.
Although the Briton began well, she lost 6-4 6-2 – her dream shattered in less than an hour and a quarter.
Afterwards Miss K onta, the first British woman to reach the semi-final since 1978, vowed to return and win a Grand Slam.
‘I definitely feel like there’s no reason why I would not be able to be in a position to win a title like this one day ,’ she said.
Virginia Wade, the last British woman to win the title in 1978, looked ahead to next year, telling the BBC: ‘Maybe 41 years will be her number.’
Other experts heaped praise on Miss K onta – who is now set to be ranked in the world’s top five – and agreed she could be a Wimbledon champion.
A victorious Miss W illiams said of her: ‘She played an amazing tournament. She showed a lot of courage, played in tough situations against players who were in form.
‘I feel she wants these majors, she’ll have an opportunity.’
Less than three years ago, Miss Konta was ranked outside the world’s top 150. By last night, after days of K ontamania, she was a household name who won tennis fans’ hearts – and left Wimbledon with £550,000 in prize money. She appeared not too unhappy in defeat, and was buoyant about her future.
‘I would like to be sitting here enjoying the fact that I would be playing here on Saturday . That Broken dream: Johanna Konta covers her face in defeat before waving to the crowd as she leaves is my preference,’ she said. ‘But keep getting better . I’m not, I I think I’ve also got to acknowl - guess, satisfied with where I am edge the level of how my oppo - now. I do want to keep improv - nent played today. She was just, ing. I definitely do want to keep quite frankly, better than me.’ pushing myself to be the best She vowed: ‘I’m looking to that I can be.’
Fans were generous in their praise. Ollie Lane, 24, said: ‘We’re proud of her.’ Janey Cathro, 59, from Dunbar, Scotland, said: ‘Andy Murray was out so the pressure was all on her.’