WADE: JO ON VIRG OF FINAL

VIRGINIA WADE has predicted a repeat of her 1977 semi-final win over an American superstar.

In the Queen’s Silver Jubilee year, Wade shocked Chris Evert in the last four, before going on to beat Holland’s Betty Stove in the final. Wade, now 72 (left), played her final match at Wimbledon in 1985, at the age of 40.

And although she praised Venus Williams, Great Britain’s last female Major champion said: “I think Jo Konta should win that match.

“Venus is a great player – at 37 she looks good still, but I believe it is not beyond Konta to beat her. It will be difficult, but she can do it.

“Venus remains motivated still, which is very important. At that stage of my career, I was not quite so focused, it was not quite such an ambition for me.

“With her, you sense it is.”