(July 13, 2017) Venus Williams has reached the Wimbledon final for the ninth time in her career. The 37-year-old American defeated British favorite Johanna Konta 6-4, 6-2 to advance to her first final at the All-England club since 2009.
Williams is a five-time champion, claiming titles in 2000, 2001, 2005, 2007 and 2008.
Johanna Konta
“The few chances I did get, she did incredibly well to take them away from me,” said Konta to media. “All credit to her.”
The sixth seeded Konta said that tenth seeded Williams showed exactly what a true champion she was today.
Garbine Muguruza
Fourteenth seed Muguruza defeated unseeded Magdalena Rybarikova 6-1, 6-1 in the first match on Centre Court on Thursday.
Williams will play Garbine Muguruza for the title on Saturday.
Konta was attempting to become the first British woman since Virginia Wade in 1977 to reach the final.
Williams will be going for her sixth Wimbledon title and eighth career major.
This is the 23-year-old Mugururza’s second Wimbledon final. The Spaniard lost the 2015 final to Venus Williams’ sister Serena.
“I’ll have to ask Serena for some pointers,” Venus said after the match.
“Serena’s always in my corner. And usually it’s her in these finals, so I’m trying my best to represent ‘Williams’ as best as I can.”
“I’ve played a lot of finals here,” Venus said. “One more win would be amazing. It won’t be a given, but I’m going to give it my all.”
“She knows how to play, especially Wimbledon finals,” Muguruza said about playing Williams. “It’s going to be, like, a historic final again.”
Venus will be the oldest Wimbledon finalist since Martina Navratilova in 1994.
More to follow….