Johanna Konta vs Venus Williams, Wimbledon semi-final as it happened

Follow updates from Konta's semi-final defeat to Williams on Centre Court

Konta will take on Williams in the biggest match of her career (Getty )

The Wimbledon spotlight will shine brighter than ever on Britain's Johanna Konta when she faces American veteran Venus Williams in the semi-finals on Centre Court on Thursday.

Sixth seed Konta finds herself the sole focus of the home nation's hopes a day after men's defending champion Andy Murray's painful quarter-final exit.

In what promises to be a clash of the power servers, Konta will seek to become the first Briton since Virginia Wade in 1977 to reach the grasscourt grand slam final.

Five-time winner Williams, 37 and seeded 10, will be aiming for her ninth Wimbledon singles final, and victory on Saturday would make her the oldest women's grand slam champion since tennis turned professional.

Follow live updates from the Wimbledon semi-final...

What time is it?

Konta’s semi-final against Williams is second up on Centre Court.

Garbine Muguruza takes on Magdalena Rybarikova at 13.00, so expect Konta’s match to start at around 3pm.

Where can I watch it?

The match will be screened live on BBC One.

Alternatively, you can follow game by game coverage and analysis with The Independent’s Wimbledon live blog.

What is the head to head record like?

Good! Konta currently leads the head-to-head 3 wins to 2.

The pair have played twice this year, with Konta winning in the semi-finals of the Miami Open, but losing their last meeting, at the Italian Open.

What have they been saying?

Johanna Konta: “I'd like to think actually that all the matches I played - I know this will be my second slam semi-final - but I do think nerves and excitement and those sorts of emotions that come along with big matches aren't necessarily specific to grand slam moments.

“I've been a part of some great moments and exciting moments in other events as well. I'd like to think that I'll be using all that experience come Thursday.”

Williams last won Wimbledon in 2008 (Getty)

Venus Williams: “I definitely think experience helps, for sure.

“For a lot of the players I've played, it's their first time in the third round or the quarter-finals.

“So I have an opportunity to bank on experience in having dealt with those sort of pressures before.”

What are the odds?

Johanna Konta to win: 4/5
Venus Williams to win: 1/1

[13 July 2017 12:51 · Ed Malyon]

Gordon Reid beaten in last eight

The 25-year-old won the men's singles and doubles titles 12 months ago.

[13 July 2017 13:00 · Ed Malyon]

Muguruza the favourite

Jo Konta vs Venus Williams may be the most high-profile match at SW19 today but the bookies' favourite to win the women's singles title is Garbine Muguruza, the Spaniard who reached the final here in 2015. 

She's first up on Centre Court against Magdalena Rybarikova in just a few minutes' time. 

Muguruza has already eliminated world No 1 Angelique Kerber and seventh seed Svetlana Kuznetsova on her way to the last four.

[13 July 2017 13:04 · Ed Malyon]

Cilic 'thrilled and excited'

The Croat takes on Andy Murray's conqueror Sam Querrey in the men's semi-finals tomorrow.

[13 July 2017 13:12 · Ed Malyon]

Muguruza 1-0 Rybarikova* (*denotes next server)

Rybarikova sends a defensive backhand long before Muguruza returns the favour with an error of her own. The Spaniard moves 30-15 up as her opponent shanks a backhand but a dreadful volley sees her lost the next point. An unreturnable serve brings up game point, which she takes with a nice backhand volley.

[13 July 2017 13:20 · Ed Malyon]

Muguruza 3-0 Rybarikova* (*denotes next server)

Muguruza, who is playing with heavy strapping on her left thigh, begins the game with an unreturnable serve before an error from Rybarikova and another unreturnable serve bring up three game points. The 14th seed squanders the first with a netted backhand but takes the other as Rybarikova produces a backhand error of her own. 

The 2015 runner-up couldn't have asked for a better start.

[13 July 2017 13:34 · Ed Malyon]

Muguruza 5-0 Rybarikova* (*denotes next server)

A couple of unforced errors from Muguruza see her fall 15-30 behind on serve. The two players then trade forehand errors as Rybarikova brings up her first break point of the match... but she can't take it as Muguruza hauls the game to deuce with some good net play. A backhand error from Rybarikova follows before Muguruza seals the game with her first ace of the match.

[13 July 2017 13:41 · Ed Malyon]

Muguruza 6-1 Rybarikova* (*denotes next server)

Muguruza starts the game with a wild forehand drive volley before another missed forehand puts her 0-30 down on serve. Back-to-back groundstroke errors from Rybarikova bring the game back to 30-30... and the Slovakian nets a backhand slice to bring up set point for Muguruza, which the Spaniard takes with an unreturnable serve down the T.

[13 July 2017 13:47 · Ed Malyon]

Muguruza* 6-1 1-0 Rybarikova (*denotes next server)

At 40-30 up on serve Rybarikova nets forehands in back-to-back points to hand Muguruza an early break point at the start of this second set... and the Spaniard takes it with a forehand volley that Rybarikova can barely get a racket on.

[13 July 2017 13:51 · Ed Malyon]

Muguruza 6-1 2-0 Rybarikova* (*denotes next server)

The two players trade forehand errors in the opening couple of points before Muguruza fires down an ace followed by a cross-court forehand pass to bring up two game points... of which she needs just one as she produces another ace.

Needless to say, it's all one-way traffic at the moment.

[13 July 2017 13:57 · Ed Malyon]

Muguruza 6-1 4-0 Rybarikova* (*denotes next server)

Muguruza approaches the net in the first three points of the game, winning two and losing one of them. A backhand winner down the line follows before the Spaniard switches it up, this time hitting a backhand winner cross court, to take the game.