Venus Williams becomes oldest Wimbledon quarterfinalist in 23 years

“I think it was a good match from both of us, on a high level”.

When invited to comment on how it felt for that match to be denied a bigger stage, and how it reflected the tournament’s attitude to the women’s game, Muguruza said: ” I think they decided who is more convenient.

Konta became the first British woman to reach the semifinals at Wimbledon since Virginia Wade in 1978.

In fact, Washington Post called Venus “ageless”, hinting that she is now playing her best tennis, and that the young players must fire up their guns to make it past her.

The Latvian seemed to know all along that she had met her match.

Williams stamped her authority quickly on the second set to break Konjuh and go up 2-1. A 101mph ace saw off another faint hint of trouble at 15-30 in the set’s fifth game and she secured the decisive break a game later.

She said for a lot of the players she’s played it’s their first time they’ve gone deep in the tournament and she banks on her experience in dealing with the pressures. She competed really well. She kept herself, you know, really in the game with her attitude. “Because she hits lots of lines today”. Venus will now serve to stay in the set. “She said Alona”, Ostapenko said. That’s why I put in the effort and the time.

Venus, flaunting her own design, a classically cut one-piece, a picture of grace and defiance, is the sentimental favourite where ever she now plays.

Ostapenko, who has won 11 straight Grand Slam matches, won her first straight set match at Wimbledon with the victory over Svitolina.

It’s easy to reduce Venus Williams to a compendium of numbers.

Konta was reduced to tears by what she felt were threats and intimidation from the Romanian fans in Constanta during her match against Sorana Cirstea, but Halep fanned the flames this week when she claimed her compatriots had done nothing wrong. She had a chance to break in the second game, but it was again Williams who got the first advantage, 3-1.

“I definitely felt very clear on what I was trying to achieve out there”.

Unseeded Slovak Magdalena Rybarikova is also through after ending the run of Croatian qualifier Petra Martic with a 6-4 2-6 6-3 victory.

Rybarikova, from Slovakia and ranked No. 87, had not advanced past the third round in any of her previous 35 appearances in the main draw at a Grand Slam.

Muguruza, the 2016 French Open champion, beat Kerber 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 in the fourth round on No. 2 Court.

Following a period in which Djokovic, then current No. 1 Murray overtook Federer and Nadal in the rankings, and started regularly appearing in – and winning – major finals, the latter two have reasserted themselves.

“I’m very happy and very pleased also with this match, because obviously Kuznetsova is a very tough opponent”, Muguruza said.