TITLE WARNING

Petra sets up clash with Jo

AS she stared down the barrel, it was shrug after shrug of exasperation in the direction of her coach.

Never a good sign, Johanna Konta seemed to be losing it … on all levels.

She was even complaining about mystery noises to the umpire.

Emotions are never far from the Konta surface and, outmanoeuvred by a slick Sloane Stephens, that suspect temperament seemed to cracking.

She was hanging on in the second set, but the American looked in serious control.

About an hour later, the shrugs had been succeeded by a string of fist-pumps, the frustrated grimace by a smile the width of the net.

Konta had dug deep into a well of fortitude few knew was so deep and, from four apiece in that second set, the Brit won eight of the next nine games to set up a fourth round meeting with two-time champion Petra Kvitova.

The sixth seed will present a formidable challenge and in the quarter-finals, but Williams believes a player 22 years her junior could also contend for the title.

Like so many people, Serena has been swept up by the Coco Gauff phenomenon.

She said: “I think she’s doing everything great. I’m a big fan, actually.”

And, when asked if Gauff could actually go all the way here, Williams said: “I think there are some 15-year-olds, like me, who wouldn’t know what to do at Wimbledon.

“Then you have a 15-year-old like Coco who knows what to do.

“I think she’s definitely on a different level, so I think she’s totally capable and ready, to be honest,” added Williams.

TWO-TIME Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova cruised to a last-16 showdown with British hope Jo Konta.

And she admits she’ll have to battle a partisan crowd – as well as her worrying arm injury.

Kvitova (left) said: “I think Jo likes to play on the grass and, of course, the crowd will be on her

side. It will be difficult match.” Czech star Kvitova, 29, was grateful of a routine 6-3 6-2 victory over Magda Linette.

She added: “It’s great to play just two sets for my arm.

“You really never know what is coming next. The pain can come in my forearm at any time and I have to retire.”