Wimbledon 2017: 'Memorable' SW19 run gives Johanna Konta hope a Grand Slam is around the corner

Konta will become only the fourth British women ever to enter to world's top five next week

Konta leaves Centre Court for another year after starting the tournament with only one Wimbledon win in her career (Getty)

Johanna Konta’s disappointment at losing her Wimbledon semi-final to Venus Williams is tempered by the fact that her performances here over the last 11 days have strengthened her belief that she can win a Grand Slam title.

“I definitely have a lot more to improve on,” Konta said. “There's a lot of exciting things that I can still get better at, which is exciting for me and exciting for my team and my own development. But I definitely feel like there’s no reason why I would not be able to be in a position to win a title like this one day.”

This was Konta’s second loss in a Grand Slam semi-final following her defeat to Angelique Kerber at last year’s Australian Open, but it was her best run at Wimbledon. The 26-year-old Briton had arrived here a fortnight ago with only one win to show from her five previous appearances in the tournament.

“I think that only strengthens my belief that if I’m ever in a position to be involved in a Slam for the full fortnight, that I will be able to keep myself in that mental and physical state to be able to deal with hopefully one day playing for a title,” Konta said.

“I’m very happy with how I was physically and mentally able to hold up this past grass-court season. I did play every week. I stayed healthy and I stayed actually mentally quite fresh and ready to keep getting challenged and embracing those challenges along the way.”

Konta said she had been pleased with how she had handled the occasion against Williams. “She definitely came into the match with a lot more experience than I did, but in terms of how comfortable I felt out there and how focused I was on what I wanted to try and achieve out there, I felt really comfortable,” Konta said.

“I would sum up my whole Wimbledon experience as memorable. It was very special to be playing all my matches on such great courts with such massive support.”

Next week Konta will become only the fourth British player – after Virginia Wade, Sue Barker and Jo Durie - to be ranked in the world’s top five. “I guess it’s a nice club to be a part of, but I'm looking to keep getting better,” she said. “I’m not satisfied with where I am now. I do want to keep improving. I definitely do want to keep pushing myself to be the best that I can be.”

Wade, meanwhile, said Konta should be proud of her run. “I don't think she needs to be discouraged at all,” the 1977 champion said. “She needs a little more experience because, unless you’re young and so good and so have nothing in your head, it’s very difficult.

“I think you have to build up, get some experience, get to the final, win a few more tournaments. She’s won Miami, but she hasn’t won that many tournaments. It’s very different at the end of the week. This will be hugely important for her. She played a remarkably good tournament.”

Wade said she found it hard to believe how well Williams has been playing this year. “She had a couple of years where she was hitting shots all over the show,” Wade said. “She seems to have eliminated errors. She plays with more margin, which I think was a big key in this match and I think that’s something that Jo will add to her repertoire, putting a little more safety margin on the balls.”

Venus Williams will battle for her sixth Wimbledon title on Saturday (Getty)

Williams will now play Garbine Muguruza on Saturday. It will be the Spaniard’s second appearance in the final following her loss to Serena Williams two years ago.

“We both play really well on grass,” Venus said. “The last time she played Serena, so I’ll have to ask her for some pointers. Serena’s always in my corner and it’s usually her in these finals. I’m trying to represent the Williams family the best that I can.”

She added: “I've never played her on grass, so that definitely becomes a different factor. I'll have to see what’s working. I’ll want to try to continue to play like I have in all these matches that I’ve played so far.”

Sister Serena is not here because she is expecting her first child. “I miss her so much,” Venus said. “Even more yesterday and today. I try to take the same courage on the court that she would have. I did think of that. I tried to do the things she would do. I don’t know that I play exactly the same way she does, but I really tried to be inspired by it.”

Asked about the prospect of facing Williams, Muguruza said: “She’s won here five times, so she knows how to play Wimbledon finals especially.”