No go, Jo/ Konta loses to Venus in semi-final

Johanna Konta’s hopes of becoming Britain’s first female Wimbledon singles champion in 40 years were dashed as Venus Williams stormed to a 6-4, 6-2 victory in their semi-final.

The American rolled back the years with a ruthless display on Centre Court and will now meet Spain’s Garbine Muguruza for a shot at her eighth grand slam title. Asked what was going through her head at the finish, Konta said: “Damn, I’m done. Then it was like, ‘Oh okay, well, I’m done’. And then it was, ‘Oh, thank you to everyone’. It was truly

magnificent, the support that I had. I wanted to acknowledge the crowd.”

Konta had chances, particularly towards the end of the first set when she opened up two break points at 4-4.

Williams, however, saved both, the second with an 106-mile-perhour second serve, and then made Konta pay by breaking herself in the next game to clinch the set.

The 37-year-old is bidding to become the oldest female major winner in the Open era but for all her brilliance, Konta can be proud of her maiden run to the semi-finals at the All England Club.

She insists she can challenge again.

“I definitely feel like there’s no reason why I would not be able to be in a position to win a title like this one day,” Konta said.

“Quite honestly, I think I was in just as much of a shot of winning this tournament here. I think today it came down on the day, and Venus played better than me.”

Konta was playing only her second grand slam semi-final, while Williams was into her 22nd.