Johanna Konta Targeting Semi-Final Place In Centre Court Match

Johanna Konta Targeting Semi-Final Place In Centre Court Match

Johanna Konta will continue her bid to become the first British woman to win Wimbledon in 40 years as she plays in the quarter-finals.

The British tennis star will play third on Centre Court after she sailed through the fourth round.

If Konta beats world number two Simona Halep on Tuesday, she will be the first British woman to make it to the semi-finals since Virginia Wade in 1978.

Wade, who was also the last British woman to lift the Wimbledon trophy in 1977, is among those taking a seat in the Royal Box to watch the hotly anticipated match.

She will be joined by singer Ellie Goulding, Strictly Come Dancing judge Darcey Bussell, cricketer Alastair Cook and Olympic rower Dame Katherine Grainger.

Olympic gymnast Max Whitlock will also be watching the action, just days after marrying fiance Leah Hickton.

Gold-medallist Whitlock tweeted on Monday, "I am now a married man", adding he had an "amazing wedding and mini moon".

Novak Djokovic will be first up on Centre Court, taking on Frenchman Adrian Mannarino after an overnight delay.

The fourth round match was due to be played on Court One on Monday, but Gilles Muller's marathon five-set victory over Rafael Nadal meant only two matches could be played.

The All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC) said the decision not to switch the match to Centre Court was taken on safety grounds.

Centre Court was free from 6.50pm when Roger Federer triumphed over Grigor Dimitrov.

The AELTC said in a statement: "The safety and security of all visitors to the championships is of paramount importance. The preference was to play the Djokovic v Mannarino match as scheduled on Number One Court.

"When that was no longer an option, it was determined the match could not be moved to Centre Court due to the number of spectators remaining in the grounds."

Home fans will also be able to cheer on Briton Jamie Murray, who is scheduled to play in the third round of the mixed doubles with Swiss player Martina Hingis.

The pair will take on Czech duo Roman Jebavy and Lucie Hradecka first on Court Two.

Elsewhere, Heather Watson and Finnish partner Henri Kontinen will continue their defence of the mixed doubles title.

Five-time Wimbledon champion Venus Williams is also in action, playing French Open winner Jelena Ostapenko second on Centre Court.

But play at SW19 could be disrupted by rain, the Met Office warned.

Outbreaks of showers are expected throughout the afternoon before "more persistent and heavier rain" moves in from around 5pm.

Temperatures at the tournament will be much cooler, with highs of 20C (68F).

Konta and Andy Murray fuelled hopes for a double win on Monday as they reached the quarter-finals, marking the first time a British man and woman have made it to the last eight in 44 years.

Murray shook his fist in the air after beating Frenchman Benoit Paire 7-6 6-4 6-4 in two hours, 21 minutes on Centre Court.

Earlier, Konta fell to the ground and put her head in her hands after winning her fourth round match against France's Caroline Garcia 7-6 4-6 6-4.

Konta received the seal of approval from high-profile guests arriving at Wimbledon.

Dame Katherine said: "The whole nation is proud of her and she's handling that pressure and expectation brilliantly.

"I think she can win it, I think she thinks she can win it.

"But I think what she's doing is not talking about results, she's talking about how she is going to play the game.

"As an athlete, you focus on that rather than the outcome, and that's what gets you there. So she is already on top of it all, I think she'll do a great job."

Mr Cook said: "I think it's going to be great to watch a British woman play on centre court in the quarter-final.

"It should be really good, I hope she can play well and good luck to her."

Umbrellas popped up and down on Henman Hill as scattered showers hit Wimbledon around lunchtime. Covers were pulled over outside courts while Djokovic and Mannarino played under the roof on Centre Court.

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