Konta’s on a grass high

JO KONTA is just two wins away from becoming the first Briton to win a WTA event on home soil since Virginia Wade.

The British No.1 reached the semifinal of the Aegon Open in Nottingham after beating Ashleigh Barty 6-3 7-5. She now faces Magdalena Rybarikova.

Wade was the last Brit to win a Tourlevel event at Eastbourne in 1975 before going on to win Wimbledon two years later.

Konta said: “I am getting surer of my footing on the grass and executing my game plan with each match that I play.”