Johanna Konta vs Simona Halep, Wimbledon quarter-final live: Can British hope make it into the final four?
Follow live coverage of Konta's Wimbledon quarter-final today
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Your support makes all the difference.Johanna Konta what promised not to let Simona Halep divert her attempt to become the first British woman to reach the Wimbledon semi-finals since 1978.
Konta beat France's Caroline Garcia 7-6 (7/3) 4-6 6-4 in the last 16 and is now looking to match Virginia Wade's run to the last four 39 years ago.
She may also have her eye on Wade's most significant record as the last British female to win Wimbledon in 1977.
But first, Konta must overcome Halep, the world number two, for whom the stakes are also high as she needs just one more victory at SW19 to become world number one.
Follow live coverage of the quarter-final below...
Here’s everything you need to know about Konta’s Wimbledon quarter-final.
What time does it start?
The match is third up on Centre Court.
Expect Novak Djokovic to beat Adrian Mannarino in three, but don’t be surprised if Jelena Ostapenko’s quarter-final against Venus Williams turns into a real slugfest.
All things considered, we think the match will likely begin at around 4pm.
Where can I follow it?
You can watch the match live on BBC One.
Alternatively, you can follow game by game updates and analysis with the Independent’s Wimbledon liveblog. Just bookmark this page.
What is the head to head record like?
Encouragingly for British tennis fans, Konta has won both of her previous matches against Halep who is the second seed at The Championships.
In 2015, Konta beat Halep in three sets at Wuhan.
And this year, Konta fought back from a set down to beat Halep 3-6 7-6(7) 6-2 in the quarter-finals of the Miami Open.
What are their Wimbledon records like?
Johanna Konta: 5-5
Simona Halep: 15-6
What have they been saying?
Johanna Konta, on whether there would be any bad blood between herself and Halep after their Fed Cup spat: “I'm playing against another tennis player, another opponent.
“I'm not playing against a crowd. I'm not playing against a past experience.
“Again, they were not in my shoes. They were not being verbally threatened. I think it's very difficult for them to understand my position in it."
Simona Halep, on the same topic: “After the match that day I said sorry if she felt bad. In my opinion, the public was very fair.
“I didn't have an emotional match with her. The problem was not with me. I don't expect it to be emotional, I expect a battle.”
Odds
Johanna Konta to win: 1/1
Simona Halep to win: 4/5
Additional reporting by PA.
Halep* 7-6 6-7 Konta (*denotes next server)
The first three points of the tie-break all go with serve before Halep gets the first mini break to go 3-1 up courtesy of a shanked Konta forehand.
Halep misses a routine forehand to lose the next point before Konta claws the mini break back with a short forehand winner down the line.
A successful Halep challenge gives her the next point as she moves into a 4-3 lead but Konta dictates the next point to level the breaker at 4-4.
Halep wins the following point against serve to go 5-4 ahead but fails to win either of the next two points on her own serve as Konta brings up a set point, which she takes with a cross-court backhand that her opponent can barely get a racket to.
No further play outside Centre Court today
Magdalena Rybarikova vs Coco Vandeweghe will be completed on Centre Court after the conclusion of Konta vs Halep.
Halep 7-6 6-7 2-2 Konta* (*denotes next server)
Halep sends three groundstrokes long as Konta holds to 15.
Halep 7-6 6-7 2-3 Konta* (*denotes next server)
Konta misses the mark with a forehand before Halep follows suit to lose the next point. At 15-15 aggressive hitting from the Briton forces an error from Halep and the Romanian dumps a forehand into the net to lose the following point and go 15-40 down. Konta takes advantage as she seals the first break of this deciding set courtesy of another Halep error.
Game, set, match! Konta beats Halep in Centre Court epic (6-7 7-6 6-4)
Konta balloons a forehand long to lose the opening point as she attempts to serve this match out. Halep then repays the favour with a similar shot to lose the next point. The Briton moves to within two points of the semi-finals with a cross-court backhand winner before a forehand passing shot brings up two match points... and she needs just one as Halep puts a forehand into the net after seemingly being distracted by a shrieking member of the crowd. A rather odd end to an enthralling match.
Konta reacts
Here's what Jo had to say immediately after her incredible win:
Rybarikova vs Vandeweghe resumes
Venus Williams, Garbine Muguruza and Jo Konta are already into the last four. Who will join them there?
Vandeweghe* 3-6 2-3 Rybarikova (*denotes next server)
Rybarikova is taken to deuce but holds to keep her nose ahead in this second set.
Vandeweghe 3-6 3-5 Rybarikova* (*denotes next server)
Vandeweghe goes 0-30 down at the start of the game as she follows up a double point with a missed lob. Rybarikova misses with a couple of forehands to lose the next two points but a wild overhead by Vandeweghe brings up match point for the Slovakian. The 28-year-old squanders it though as she shanks a forehand passing shot. Two more match points come and go before Vandeweghe eventually holds.
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