Video: Nothing personal for Johanna Konta as she continues with pursuit of Wimbledon dream

JOHANNA KONTA is the first British woman into the last eight at Wimbledon since 1984 and now stands just three wins away from a much bigger prize.
Johanna Konta celebrates winning the first set against Caroline Garcia (Picture: Gareth Fuller/PA Wire).Johanna Konta celebrates winning the first set against Caroline Garcia (Picture: Gareth Fuller/PA Wire).
Johanna Konta celebrates winning the first set against Caroline Garcia (Picture: Gareth Fuller/PA Wire).

Jo Durie’s run 33 years ago ended at the quarter-final stage, but Konta, who beat Caroline Garcia 7-6 (7/3) 4-6 6-4 on Monday, looks capable of becoming the first British female to win this tournament since Virginia Wade in 1977.

First, Konta must overcome Simona Halep, the world No 2, for whom the stakes are also high as the Romanian needs just one more victory at SW19 to become world No 1.

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“I hope I will not think that much during the match,” Halep said, after beating Victoria Azarenka in the last 16. “I just want to go there and win it.”

There is also likely to be a personal edge to today’s contest after Konta and Halep’s last meeting, in the Fed Cup in April, turned sour.

Konta was playing Halep’s team-mate Sorana Cirstea when she left the court for a 20-minute break, claiming to have been abused by a section of the crowd.

Romanian team captain Ilie Nastase had earlier been ejected for making his own threatening comments, but Halep and Cirstea felt Konta had taken advantage.

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Halep went on to beat Konta 6-1 6-3 on the tie’s second day and afterwards said she had felt “extra motivation” while adding the public “didn’t say anything bad” to her opponent.

Neither player was keen to revisit the episode at the All England Club, but they also stuck to their positions.

“I’m playing against another tennis player, another opponent. I’m not playing against a crowd. I’m not playing against a past experience,” Konta said.

“Again, they were not in my shoes. They were not being verbally threatened. I think it’s very difficult for them to understand my position in it.”

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Halep said: “After the match that day I said sorry if she felt bad. In my opinion, the public was very fair.

“I didn’t have an emotional match with her. The problem was not with me. I don’t expect it to be emotional, I expect a battle.”

Konta has won both of her two WTA matches against Halep.

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