Johanna Konta’s defeat, a love letter to Wimbledon and Roger Federer’s “bear-like” strength are the main focus of the international media.
The British press is full of praise for Konta, who lost her first Wimbledon semi-final in straight sets to five-time champion Venus Williams.
“If there is one thing we have come to learn about Jo Konta over the past fortnight, it is that she has a core of steel,” the Daily Telegraph said, adding that her run will inspire a generation of young players. “Surely there can be no doubt that her shining example not only of talent, but grit and determination, is inspirational indeed.
“The Venus Williams defeat was a painful blow for Jo Konta - but she has proved she has what it takes to reach the top,” said the Daily Mirror.
The American media focuses on Williams, who at 37 is the oldest Wimbledon finalist since Martina Navratilova in 1994.
“Venus Williams is one win away from her miraculous Wimbledon run ending with the trophy,” the New York Post said.
“If Venus wins, I think this one might mean more to her than any other one, just because of everybody writing her off - no one thinking she could ever continue to play the level that she wanted to play,” David Witt, Williams’ long-time coach, told the New York Times.
“After all these years, they all run together,” Venus’s mother and first coach, Oracene Price, told the paper. “But we’ll see,” said Price, who has seen Venus and younger sister Serena win a whopping 12 singles titles at the All England Club. “I may remember this one. I’ve been waiting on it because Venus has been working on it so hard.”
If Venus wins, I think this one might mean more to her than any other one, just because of everybody writing her off
Federer will be playing his 12th Wimbledon semi-final, and for Swiss newspaper Blick there can only be one winner on Sunday. “With all due respect to the opponents – everything but a Swiss victory would be a huge surprise,” it said in an editorial. “Who can stop this Federer, when he is as strong as a bear?”
Serena Williams, at home awaiting the birth of her first child, has praised Andy Murray for his defence of the women’s game. When asked a question by a (male) reporter about Sam Querrey being the first Grand Slam semi-finalist from the US since 2009, Murray corrected him by pointing out that the Californian was the first American man to do so. “I don’t think there should be a woman player, and there shouldn’t be a female athlete who isn’t completely supportive of Andy Murray,” Metro quoted Williams, winner of 23 Grand Slam singles titles, as saying. “He has spoken up for women’s issues and women’s rights, especially in tennis, for forever. And he does it again, you know! That’s who he is and one thing we love about him.”
And finally, a moving tribute to The Championships by the chief sports writer of the New York Times, Christopher Clarey, who is covering the tournament for the 27th year. “Wimbledon, the oldest tennis tournament, is full of strawberries,” he said. “But above all it’s also full of memories, and I have been reporting here long enough that I now see a few ghosts of my own.”
Clarey has covered all the major events in sports, but for him there is only one Wimbledon: “...a place greeted with an exclamation mark even by jaded sportswriters trained not to arch an eyebrow at spinning dunks, buzzer-beating jumpers and diving volley winners.”
