Tuesday will see the eight remaining players in the women’s draw bid for a place in the semifinals of the Wimbledon Championships. The group features seven seeded players, four former grand slam champions and three making their quarter-final debut at SW19. With so much at stake, some players also have the added pressure of creating history in the sport.
Konta’s British bid
Johanna Konta wasn’t born the last time a British woman reached the quarter-finals at Wimbledon. Jo Durie reached the last eight in 1984 before falling to Hana Mandlíková. 33 years later, Konta is now bidding to go one step further.
“It’s very exciting. It’s another step forward to being involved in the event for the full two weeks.” Konta said after defeating Caroline Garcia on Monday.
“It’s a great achievement.”
Konta will play Simona Halep on Centre Court. She currently leads their head-to-head 2-0 on the tour. On the other hand, Halep has been victorious when they clashed in the Fed Cup.
“She’s very much in form. She’s playing very, very well. I’m looking forward to playing her because, again, she’ll definitely challenge me. I’m really looking forward to playing someone who’s playing such great tennis.” The Brit said about playing Halep.
Should Konta defeat Halep, she would become the first British female to progress to the last four since Virginia Wade in 1978. In the Open Era only two home players have won the Women’s title at SW19. Ann Jones in 1969 and Wade in 1977.
Halep’s No.1 task
Romania’s Halep will experience a sense of deja vu when she walks onto Centre Court on Tuesday. For the second time this year, she will be playing on one of the biggest courts in tennis knowing that a win will elevate her to world No.1. She had a chance to do so at the French Open, but lost in the final of Jelena Ostapenko.
“I want to win more, not just one match. So I’m not thinking about that.” Halep replied when asked about potentially becoming world No.1.
A win on quarter-finals day wouldn’t just be significant for Halep, but for Romanian tennis. Since the introduction of computerise WTA ranking in 1975, a Romanian woman is yet to be world No.1.
Williams eyes No.86
Five-time champion Venus Williams is already the oldest player to reach this stage of the women’s draw since Martina Navratilova in 1994. Making her 75th main draw appearance, the American has participated in more grand slam tournaments than any other female player in the Open Era.
Williams will play Ostapenko in her last-eight match. Should she win, she would become the most successful active player in the tournament along with sister Serena. Williams has currently won 85 matches at SW19, just one adrift from Serena’s benchmark.
“I think that the game has changed a lot in terms of the depth and the power since the first time I won (Wimbledon). I would say that’s the biggest difference in the game.” Williams analysed.
“And of course, I’ve matured, learned a lot about the game since that time. It’s really a big difference.”
Compared to the other quarter-finalists, Williams has won at least 55 more matches at Wimbledon than anybody else. The second highest is Svetlana Kuznetsova’s tally of 31.
Rybáriková’s late blossom
Ostapenko was just 11-years-old when Slovakia’s Magdaléna Rybáriková made her grand slam debut at the 2008 French Open. Now she is set to play in her first major quarter-final at the age of 28.
Rybáriková’s unexpected run in the tournament saw her disposed of Karolina Pliskova in the second round. It is a remarkable achievement considering she has lost in the first round in eight out of her nine previous appearances at the tournament.
“I had a very good grass season. I was quite confident about maybe first round, and I was not thinking more.” She said.
“When when I saw the second round, I was like, okay, that’s going to be very difficult, because I think Karolina was the favourite to win this title here. I know she won recently just Eastbourne.So I knew it’s gonna be amazing, tough match. I mean, somehow I won that match. Now, I mean, I’m speechless about everything right now. I’m so happy.”
Wimbledon is Rybáriková’s 36th grand slam appearance. Only five other players have played more grand slam tournaments before making the quarter-final debut during the Open Era.
Tanasugarn (45) – Wimbledon 2008
Farina Elia (44) – Wimbledon 2003
Vesnina (42) – Wimbledon 2016
Dechy (37) – Australian Open 2005
Peng (37) – US Open 2014
Rybáriková (36) – Wimbledon 2017
