Johanna Konta’s Wimbledon fairytale has continued on Centre Court as she claimed a place in the singles semi-finals – the first British woman to do so for 39 years.
If Wimbledon needed proof of the power, drama and marquee value of women’s tennis, Konta’s 6-7, 7-6, 6-4 win over Simona Halep of Romania was the ultimate crowd-pleaser.
While umbrellas replaced sun shades for the first time this championships, inside Centre Court a new British sporting heroine was having her moment in the sun.
As the victor walked off court, a Chelsea pensioner grabbed her for a selfie and afterwards did a celebratory dance. Virginia Wade, the last British woman to reach the semis in 1978, having lifted the trophy in 1977, was fittingly there to witness the milestone win, reacting by high-fiving those around her in the royal box.
Asked if she ever thought she would see a British woman reach the Wimbledon semi-finals, Wade said: “I am just surprised it’s taken so long! It’s fine to be the last British women’s winner to win Wimbledon, but it’s better to have plenty of British players to win. It’s a win-win situation frankly and I am thrilled for her.”
Speaking immediately after the match Konta, 26, said: “Right now it’s a little bit surreal. I am definitely digesting things a little bit.
“To be in a semi final in my home slam and to do that in front of a full centre court is pretty special.
“When you get a massive crowd of people cheering, making that sort of noise in a stadium, you do get goose bumps.”
The BBC accorded her the “Murray” treatment – immediately moving the Six O’Clock News to BBC2. Outside the court crowds cheered in the rain on Henman Hill, where sales of Wimbledon ponchos had evidently been brisk, as they watched Australian-born Konta on the big screen.
The stakes were high for both women. Konta was carrying the burden of a nation’s hopes on her shoulders – and a place in British tennis history. She now faces Venus Williams in the semi-finals.
For Halep, 25, victory would have given her enough points to make her world No 1. The pair had last met three months ago in Halep’s home town Constanta, for a GB-Romanian Fed Cup tie where the Romanian team captain Ilie Nastase was eventually thrown out for bad behaviour. Konta experienced some acrimony from local fans.
This time, there was no doubting whose side the fans were on. It’s been so long since Britain had a female tennis hope this huge, they had almost forgotten how to hope. One set down, there was that all-too familiar feeling it would end with a “plucky Brit fails” headline.
Konta was having none of that. Huge cheers erupted as Halep lobbed the ball into the net at 5-5 in the tie break in the second set. A deafening roar almost raised the £80m roof when the home player then went 6-5 up to level the match at one set all after 1 hour and 50 mins of play. As commentator John McEnroe pointed out: “If you don’t think a crowd can be the difference between winning and losing, you haven’t watched enough tennis.”
The victor said later of the crowd: “They were incredible; I think they were a little over-enthusiastic in parts. But honestly I definitely cannot complain with the amount of support and general good feelings they were wishing my way.”
Halep said: “[Konta] played really well. She deserves to win.”
She queried a long toilet break taken by Konta before start of third set, and she thought the point should have been replayed when a woman screamed right at the end of the match, but the umpire had refused.
On the crowd supporting the home player, she said it was no problem. When she played in her own home country, it was the same “so we have to take it”.
Part of the secret of Konta’s winning formula appears to be baking muffins. She has produced a batch almost every day for her team, progressing from plain vanilla to chocolate and banana throughout the tournament. Reciting her match plan by rote before each match, seems to be another key element to her historic success.
Williams, a five-times Wimbledon winner, now awaits. The 37-year-old is playing her 20th championship and notched up her 100th Wimbledon singles game during her stroll to the semis, beating the 20-year-old Latvian Jelena Ostapenko 6-3, 7-5.
Williams may be the older player, but Konta said: “I definitely feel that age is not a factor with her. She’s just a tremendous champion.”
Konta has dreamed of this moment since she was nine years old, when she allows herself to dream, that is.
“I’ve always believed in my own ability and I’ve always dreamt big. But again, I am much more process mind set orientated ,” she said after the match. “So I don’t give my self too much time to dream, and more focus on the work.”
