Johanna Konta vs Venus Williams, Wimbledon semi-final as it happened
Follow updates from Konta's semi-final defeat to Williams on Centre Court
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Your support makes all the difference.The Wimbledon spotlight will shine brighter than ever on Britain's Johanna Konta when she faces American veteran Venus Williams in the semi-finals on Centre Court on Thursday.
Sixth seed Konta finds herself the sole focus of the home nation's hopes a day after men's defending champion Andy Murray's painful quarter-final exit.
In what promises to be a clash of the power servers, Konta will seek to become the first Briton since Virginia Wade in 1977 to reach the grasscourt grand slam final.
Five-time winner Williams, 37 and seeded 10, will be aiming for her ninth Wimbledon singles final, and victory on Saturday would make her the oldest women's grand slam champion since tennis turned professional.
Follow live updates from the Wimbledon semi-final...
What time is it?
Konta’s semi-final against Williams is second up on Centre Court.
Garbine Muguruza takes on Magdalena Rybarikova at 13.00, so expect Konta’s match to start at around 3pm.
Where can I watch it?
The match will be screened live on BBC One.
Alternatively, you can follow game by game coverage and analysis with The Independent’s Wimbledon live blog.
What is the head to head record like?
Good! Konta currently leads the head-to-head 3 wins to 2.
The pair have played twice this year, with Konta winning in the semi-finals of the Miami Open, but losing their last meeting, at the Italian Open.
What have they been saying?
Johanna Konta: “I'd like to think actually that all the matches I played - I know this will be my second slam semi-final - but I do think nerves and excitement and those sorts of emotions that come along with big matches aren't necessarily specific to grand slam moments.
“I've been a part of some great moments and exciting moments in other events as well. I'd like to think that I'll be using all that experience come Thursday.”
Venus Williams: “I definitely think experience helps, for sure.
“For a lot of the players I've played, it's their first time in the third round or the quarter-finals.
“So I have an opportunity to bank on experience in having dealt with those sort of pressures before.”
What are the odds?
Johanna Konta to win: 4/5
Venus Williams to win: 1/1
Konta 4-6 1-3 Venus* (*denotes next server)
Konta can only find the tramlines with a cross-court forehand before Venus benefits from consecutive net cords within the same point to move 0-30 ahead on the Briton's serve. Konta then double faults to give Venus three break points. Konta saves the first with a delightful drop volley before also saving the second with a cross-court forehand winner... but the sixth seed can't deny the American for a third time as she sends a forehand into the bottom of the net.
Konta* 4-6 1-4 Venus (*denotes next server)
An unreturnable serve followed by an ace takes the game to 30-0. The pair then exchange groundstroke errors as Venus brings up two game points for a 4-1 lead in this second set... and she needs just one as Konta sends a forehand return well long.
It's a long road back for the Briton from here.
Konta 4-6 2-4 Venus* (*denotes next server)
Konta sandwiches a well-executed cross-court backhand pass with a couple of unreturnable serves to bring up three game points. The first one goes begging as she hits a backhand into the net before Venus also staves off the second with a forehand winner down the line. Konta then squanders the third with a missed forehand as Venus wrestles the game back to deuce. An unreturnable serve follows to bring up another game point... and this time she takes it with a backhand winner down the line.
Konta* 4-6 2-5 Venus (*denotes next server)
Venus starts the game with a winning backhand drive volley before an inside-out forehand winner takes the game to 30-0. The American then sends a short backhand long but seals a hold to 15 as she follows up a Konta mistake off the ground with an unreturnable serve.
Venus reacts
On reaching a ninth final at SW19: "I've played a lot of finals here. It's been a blessing. I couldn't have asked for more but I'll ask for a little more. One more win would be amazing. It won't be a given but I'll give it my all."
On the home crowd favouring Konta: "I thought the crowd was very nice to me. They could've been even more boisterous. I thought they were so fair. I know that they love Jo and she gave it her all today. It's a lot of pressure and I thought she handled it well but I think my experience just helped a lot."
On the winning moment: "She played so well. No point was easy. I just tried to climb on top each time to get another point and then it was done and I was just so happy."
On her opponent in the final, Garbine Muguruza: "We both play really well on grass. The last time (in the 2015 final) she played Serena so I'll have to ask Serena for some pointers. Serena's always in my corner and usually it's her in these finals so I'm trying my best to represent Williams as best as I can."
On how much she's missed Serena at Wimbledon: "Terribly. I missed her so much before this match and I was like, 'I just wish she was here.' Then I was like, 'I just wish she could do this for me' and I was like, 'no, this time you have to do it for yourself.' So, here we are!"
Quotes from BBC
Murray/Hingis* 4-3 Skupski/Rae (*denotes next server)
The first break of the match on Centre Court goes to Murray and Hingis as Rae drops her serve to 15.
↵
Tomorrow's order of play
This is how men's semi-final day will shape up on Centre Court:
Murray/Hingis 6-4 Skupski*/Rae (*denotes next server)
A hold to 15 on Murray's serve as the top seeds move into a one-set lead.
Men's doubles final line-up confirmed
Oliver Marach and Mate Pavic, the men's 16th seeds, will contest Saturday's final against the fourth-seeded Marcelo Melo and Lukasz Kubot.
Marach and Pavic are into the final after an epic five-set win (4-6 7-5 7-6 3-6 17-15) over Nikola Mektic and Franko Skugor on Court Two.
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