As Konta reaches the semis and Murray plays today – a nation dares to dream
Historic victory for British No 1 marred by opponent’s complaint that she was distracted at match point
JOHANNA KONTA made history last night by becoming the first British woman to reach the Wimbledon semifinals for nearly 40 years.
But her triumph in beating the Romanian Simona Halep was marred by controversy when her opponent hit the ball into the net on Konta’s match point after being distracted by a loud scream from a woman in the Centre Court crowd.
Halep said later that she had expected the umpire to replay the point, but he refused, giving Konta the set and a place in the next round against five-times winner Venus Williams.
Halep, 25, said: “I was surprised that that lady was screaming. I thought he’s going to repeat the point. I think it’s normal to repeat the point when someone is screaming like that.”
But she added: “He said, ‘we cannot replay’. I cannot change anything. So why I should fight?”
Konta’s entralling 6-7, 7-6, 6-4 victory puts her within one match of the Wimbledon final – something no British woman has achieved since 1978, when Virginia Wade, who had won the singles title the previous year, reached the semis.
Within minutes of her win, the British number one paid a moving tribute to the man she credits with helping her fulfil her potential but who tragically took his own life last year.
Sports psychologist Juan Coto – who would spend hours with Konta encouraging her to relax during high-pressure moments out on court – killed himself at the age of 47 in November.
Speaking after the two hours and 38 minute match, Konta said: “Juan was a tremendous influence on me. That went beyond my tennis career. He did a tremendous job with me in working on my happiness as a person, as a human being, as dealing with life in general. In turn, looked to help me enjoy something that I’ve loved since I was a little girl, and to try to be the best at that.”
Konta explained that Coto had helped her distance herself from her immediate results and focus more on her potential.
She said: “I guess it was more of not associating myself with where I was ranked or what my result was, but truly just seeing my career as being the best that I can be.”
Coto, who was found dead at his Surrey home, did not travel with Konta to tournaments but spoke frequently by telephone or email with the player between matches and formed a key part of the team that helped her rise into the top 10 of women’s tennis.
Konta, 26, described yesterday’s match as one of the most exciting of her career so far, saying: “To be in the semifinals of my home slam, and to do that in front of a full Centre Court, I mean, it’s pretty, pretty special. I think the level of tennis that both of us played today, it was just a tremendous match. I’ve been very fortunate this Championships, I’ve had two of those now, I feel very lucky.”
Konta also thanked the Centre Court crowd for its enthusiastic support.
“I feel very excited and very humbled by it. When you get a massive crowd of people cheering, making that sort of noise in a stadium, you do get goosebumps,” she said.
Konta said she had heard the scream that put off her opponent, but said it was a normal part of such a big game. “There were some overenthusiastic moments, which happens I think with every match where it comes to a tense moment. I think it’s a part of sport, the crowd getting excited and getting sometimes a little too involved,” she said.
Among Konta’s fans was Chelsea Pensioner John Griffiths, 72, who managed to get a selfie with her. He said: “I think she’s doing brilliantly, I really do. She’s a brilliant lady.”