Johanna Konta’s coach Wim Fissette gave the Wimbledon Channel a taste of the high life currently enjoyed by the last Briton standing in the two singles draws.
“It’s just very exciting for her,” said the Belgian ahead of Konta’s semi-final showdown with Venus Williams. “She said to us yesterday, ‘Suddenly I’m getting so many friends.’
"She got an invitation from U2 to go backstage at their concert at the weekend, Mick Jagger tweeted this morning, yesterday she took a picture with Ellie Goulding – all new friends! It’s a different situation than before the start of the tournament."
Not that Konta is letting her surging celebrity go to her head. The 26-year-old has been far too focused both on court and off – as she continues her quest for the perfect muffin.
“I had white chocolate and raspberry muffins – so far they're the biggest hit,” Konta said after beating Simona Halep. “Previous to that it was a chocolate chip muffin. Maybe tomorrow, if I've got time tonight, it will be a chocolate chip and banana muffin, though I'm getting a lot of pressure to make a banana nut muffin from a certain member of my team, but I'm holding strong.”
HISTORY REPEATING?
Wednesday’s quarter-final results gave the Gentlemen’s Singles draw a decidedly 2009 feel heading into the semi-finals.
Sam Querrey’s five set win over Andy Murray – his third in as many matches – makes him the first American man to reach a Grand Slam singles semi-final since Andy Roddick did so at The Championships in 2009.
Novak Djokovic hadn’t retired from a Grand Slam match since 2009 – at the Australian Open against, curiously enough, Roddick. The Serb’s departure means that he, Murray and Rafael Nadal are all missing from a Grand Slam semi-final line-up for the first time since Roland Garros 2009.
No doubt Roger Federer would like to see the trend continue. The reigning Australian Open champion hasn’t won two Grand Slam titles in a season since…
You guessed it: 2009.
HENIN THE HAPPY HALL OF FAMER
She is arguably the greatest woman never to have landed her hands on the Venus Rosewater Dish on the final Saturday at Wimbledon but Justine Henin admits she is at peace with the lone missing piece in her career Grand Slam.
For a renowned perfectionist, with one of the most exquisite all-court games seen, it serves as an almost bittersweet reminder in retirement. The Belgian seven-time Grand Slam champion returned to the All England Club this week where she was presented with a ring to announce her induction into the Tennis Hall of Fame.
For the little girl who was dreaming, being part of the history of the game, it’s much more than I could have hoped for
“I feel very happy about my whole career and my life today and for the little girl who was dreaming, being part of the history of the game, it’s much more than I could have hoped for,” Henin said.
“It’s a lot of memories. It was here that I played my first Grand Slam final. I lost to Venus [Williams]. That day I heard that my grandfather died actually so it was quite an emotional moment so every year I was hoping that I could do also the same on grass.”
Henin conceded she often found the grass a little more difficult as she lacked the height or all-court power some of her contemporaries possessed.
“In 2006 I lost to Amelie Mauresmo in the final, I was very close to it. In 2010 I fell down on Court No.1 and broke a ligament in my elbow. It’s almost there that my career ended so a lot of emotions, positive, a little bit negative also,” Henin said.
“Having something a little bit incomplete in your career’s a good feeling because I always look for perfection and it doesn’t exist for sure so I wouldn’t say I’m happy I never won the four Grand Slams but there’s something a little bit incomplete and I almost feel happy about this.”
LUXEMBOURG'S FINEST
Gilles Muller’s run to his first Grand Slam quarter-final is naturally headline news back home in little ole land-locked Luxembourg.
The nation, boasting a population of just 569,676, is better known for its investment banking than its sporting accomplishments so when the 34-year-old stunned two-time champion Rafael Nadal in a marathon fourth-round boilover, Luxembourgers were popping the champagne for their renaissance man.
And he was not short of support from high places in his quarter-final clash with Marin Cilic. Luxembourg’s Prince Guillaume and Prime Minister Xavier Bettel were cheering on from the stands on No.1 Court on Wednesday, while back his hometown of Dudelange – population 19,734 – organised a big screen and a food truck in the main square.
Unfortunately for Muller and his adoring Luxembourgers, a third five-set battle of the Championships was too much as he bowed out to No.7 seed Marin Cilic.
“I think today I lost against a guy who is No.6 in the world. It's not like a huge surprise, I think,” Muller said.
“But yeah, I mean, I don't think the match [against Nadal] had an impact. I think I did my job pretty well after that match to stay focused, didn't try to let all the hype around me take any effect. I think today I played a pretty good match. So he was just better at the end. I don't think there's a special reason.”
ACTING ROYALTY
British acting royalty was well in the Wimbledon spirit on Tuesday, as Dame Maggie Smith and Sir Ian McKellen cheered on Centre Court royalty.
The pair took in the men’s quarter-finals action from the Royal Box as their fellow knighted countryman Andy Murray went down before the so-called King of the Grass, Roger Federer, restored order later in the afternoon.
The 78-year-old McKellen, best known as Gandalf in the Lord of the Rings trilogy, even shared his binoculars with the 82-year-old Smith, best known for her roles as Downton Abbey’s Dowager Countess and as Professor McGonagall from the Harry Potter films.