Venus Williams is attempting to secure a 15th grand slam final spot at Wimbledon, but standing in her way is sixth seed homecrowd favourite Johanna Konta. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from around 11:30pm (AEST).
Williams has already been in one grand slam final this year and is gunning to make it a second after a strong run through Wimbledon.
The final in question, of course was the loss to sister Serena at the Australian Open in January.
She didn’t play a game between the end of the French Open and the beginning of Wimbledon, but it hasn’t affected her form whatsoever.
In fact, she has probably been better off for the rest. The only set she has dropped came in the second round against Qiang Wang, and she ran over French Open winner Jelena Ostapenko in a dominant quarter-final win.
Williams will need to be at her best against Konta though. She must find ways to work around her around the court and minimise energy expenditure early in the match if she is to go the distance.
The Sydney-born Konta, on the other hand has made a name for herself that revolves all around power and having a dominant serve.
It’s a serve she has become consistent with though. She landed almost 70 per cent in a three-set win over world No.2 Simona Halep at the quarter-finals, and with the exception of a second round match against Donna Vekic, where she was taken to 10-8 in the final set, she hasn’t been placed under a great deal of pressure.
Konta has backed up at Wimbledon after strong showings at Nottingham, Birmingham and Eastbourne, and shown no signs of fatigue or injury after withdrawing at the later of those tournaments.
The pair have played five previous matches, with Konta winning three of them in total. That includes their only grand slam match, in the first round of the 2016 Australian Open, with Konta winning in three sets. However, they have never met on grass.
The winner will face either Garbine Muguruza or Magdalena Rybarikova in the final on Saturday.
Prediction
Williams is a veteran of the sport, but Konta will have the crowd behind her. It’s the Briton’s turn to rise to the top and make her first grand slam final.
Konta in three sets.
Be sure to join The Roar for live coverage of this women’s semi-final from around 11:30pm (AEST) or at the completion of Magdalena Rybarikova versus Garbine Muguruza and don’t forget to add a comment in the section below.
Stink Fist
Roar Rookie
The brits getting so annoyed when alex downer called her an aussie. Well you can have her, little britain. They cant even produce proper english tennis folk so they claim losers like konta and perennial loser scot, murray. And thats when they bring the term britain out. And what sort of person claims to have grown up in britain when she moved there at age 14? No respect for her aussie roots, as she even called them. Not to mention her disrespect leaving the court so quickly. Are you still claiming her now, little britain? go venus! She deserves another title!
Scott Pryde
Expert
Well, that'll wrap up women's semi-final day here on The Roar as Venus Williams and Garbine Muguruza booked their place in the final. Hopefully you enjoyed the call. I'll be back tomorrow from 10pm (AEST) for the men's semi-finals as Sam Querrey takes on Marin Cilic, then Roger Federer plays Tomas Berdych. Bye for now.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Henri Kontinen and John Peers are locked at 4-4 in the fifth set in their doubles semi-final on Court 1. Could be a great finish over there.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Thoughts on the match Roarers?
Scott Pryde
Expert
GAME, SET, MATCH VENUS WILLIAMS And finally, there it is! Venus Williams is through to the Wimbledon final! Konta was brought forward on the match point that time, and Williams hit a wonderful forehand passing shot. Konta didn't play badly at all today, but she will be incredibly disappointed. Williams through to the final on Saturday to take on Garbine Muguruza. What a match that promises to be. Venus Williams 6 6 Johanna Konta 4 2
Scott Pryde
Expert
This is quite unbelievable from Konta. A double fault this time and another match point for Williams. This is number 3. Williams 6 5 - AD Konta 4 2 -
Scott Pryde
Expert
Konta survives again. Wide serve, returned out. Williams 6 5 - Konta 4 2 - deuce (4)
Scott Pryde
Expert
Sensational serve, but Konta has missed the follow up forehand down the centre of the court badly. Another match point. Williams 6 5 - AD Konta 4 2 -
Scott Pryde
Expert
Konta survives for the time being. Williams got inside the baseline there and lined up the corner on a forehand, but put it into the net. Williams 6 5 - Konta 4 2 - deuce (3)
Scott Pryde
Expert
Konta faults, then goes at the body. Williams returns to the corner, then rips a forehand with Konta making a bad error, sending a forehand wide. Match point for Williams! Williams 6 5 - AD Konta 4 2 -
Scott Pryde
Expert
The defence was about as good as it gets from Konta, running along the back wall, but eventually Williams puts an overhead away. Williams 6 5 - Konta 4 2 - deuce (2)
Scott Pryde
Expert
Body serve and that's returned into the net by Williams. Williams 6 5 - Konta 4 2 - AD
Scott Pryde
Expert
Konta with another fault before Williams returns the second short. It was a good second serve, but Konta attacked and put the backhand long down the line. Williams 6 5 - Konta 4 2 - deuce (1)
Scott Pryde
Expert
Williams with the unforced error this time, putting a backhand into it out of the corner. Williams 6 5 - 30 Konta 4 2 - 40
Scott Pryde
Expert
Konta with a fault this time. The second is at the body and Williams collects the baseline with the return. Ball slowed down and Konta swung a forehand wide, playing way too early. Williams 6 5 - 30 Konta 4 2 - 30
Scott Pryde
Expert
SHOT! Wide serve, short return and Konta shortens the angle, collecting the line on an inside out forehand. Williams 6 5 - 15 Konta 4 2 - 30
Scott Pryde
Expert
ACE! Konta fires it out wide. Collected the corner of the service box with that one. Williams 6 5 - 15 Konta 4 2 - 15
Scott Pryde
Expert
Konta serving to stay in the match. She starts with a fault, then Williams returns with plenty of depth, hits a forehand to the baseline and Konta puts her shot into the net. Williams 6 5 - 15 Konta 4 2 - 0
Scott Pryde
Expert
Konta returns a serve wide this time and all of a sudden, down a set and a break, she will be serving to stay in the match. This looks over. Williams 6 5 - Konta 4 2 -
Scott Pryde
Expert
Konta missed an easy forehand there. Could have gone down the line, could have gone crosscourt, but sent it through the centre and long. Williams 6 4 - 40 Konta 4 2 - 15