Konta sights on title ahead of Halep test
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 yesterday, looks capable of becoming the first British female to win this tournament since Virginia Wade in 1977.
First, Konta must today overcome Simona Halep, for whom the stakes are also high as the Romanian needs just one more victory at SW19 to become world No 1.
“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.”
Konta has won both of her two WTA matches against Halep, each in a final set.
Halep, runner-up at the French Open last month, will offer an altogether different test to the more aggressive Garcia, who had all the shots on Court One but lost a battle of nerve, faltering at the climax of the deciding set.
When Garcia’s final forehand hit the net, an emotional Konta fell to her knees. “It’s very exciting. It’s another step forward to being involved in the event for the full two weeks,” Konta said.
“But it is a massive compliment to me. It’s a great achievement.
“Of course I’ve dreamed of it ever since I was a little girl, to be a grand slam champion – but right now I’m in the quarter-final stage.
“I’m playing against an incredibly tough opponent next. That’s my next battle. That’s all I’ve got my mind on.”
Five-time champion Venus Williams, 37, outgunned Croatian Ana Konjuh to tee up a quarter-final tussle with French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko, who beat Ukrainian fourth seed Elina Svitolina.