Murray and Konta raise home hopes

Andy Murray and Johanna Konta have given Britain representation in the men's and women's singles quarter-finals at Wimbledon for the first time in 44 years.

Johanna Konta reacts to reaching the quarters

Johanna Konta and Andy Murray have given Brits hope of a rare Wimbledon double. (AAP)

Andy Murray has surged into his 10th consecutive Wimbledon quarter-final to raise hopes of an historic home double.

Britain's top-seeded titleholder joined legends Roger Federer, Ivan Lendl and Jimmy Connors in the grand slam record books with his 7-6 (7-1) 6-4 6-4 fourth-round win over Frenchman Benoit Paire.

The quartet are the only players in the 49-year open era to reach 10 straight quarter-finals at the same major, with Federer achieving the feat at the Australian Open and Lendl and Connors in New York.

With Sydney-born Johanna Konta also advancing to the last eight, Britain has representatives in the men's and women's quarter-finals at the All England Club for the first time since Roger Taylor and Virginia Wade both made it this far 44 years ago.

Britain hasn't provided the two singles champions since Fred Perry and Dorothy Round Little reigned in 1934.

"It's great. A lot of people in Britain who like tennis won't enjoy watching me play," a typically dry Murray said after setting up a last-eight clash with American Sam Querrey, who outlasted South African Kevin Anderson 5-7 7-6 (7-5) 6-3 6-7 (11-13) 6-3 in a fluctuating five-setter.

While grand slam quarter-finals have become commonplace for the two-time champion and men's world No.1, Konta was jubilant after becoming Britain's first woman to do so at the All England Club since Jo Durie in 1984.

"It's very exciting. It's another step forward to being involved in the event for the full two weeks," the 26-year-old said after 7-6 (7-3) 4-6 6-4 win over Frenchwoman Caroline Garcia.

"It is a massive compliment to me. It's a great achievement."

Born at Royal North Shore Hospital, Konta represented Australia in juniors before moving to Spain at age 13.

The world No.7 said the reasons for her defection to Britain were "a little more complicated than one answer".

"One actually just being geographically: how far away Australia was," Konta said.

"My parents and I wanted to be closer to Europe. That's why we went to Spain, to be able to be more in the heart of tennis more than anything.

"So, yeah, that was our main move."


Share

2 min read

Published

Source: AAP



Share this with family and friends


Get SBS News daily and direct to your Inbox

Sign up now for the latest news from Australia and around the world direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Download our apps
SBS News
SBS Audio
SBS On Demand

Listen to our podcasts
An overview of the day's top stories from SBS News
Interviews and feature reports from SBS News
Your daily ten minute finance and business news wrap with SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves.
A daily five minute news wrap for English learners and people with disability
Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS
SBS World News

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service
Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world