Wimbledon semis preview: Venus Williams v Johanna Konta, Garbine Muguruza v Magdalena Rybarikova

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  • Huge clash: Johanna Konta v Venus Williams.

    Each of the four Wimbledon semi-finalists has an incredible story-line around her.

    From the experienced veteran excelling at 37 amid incredibly difficult circumstances, to the home favourite carrying British hopes on her shoulder, to the surprise dark horse, who was competing at an ITF event last month, to the former runner-up looking to make the most of a second chance.

    Every one of Venus Williams, Johanna Konta, Magdalena Rybarikova or Garbine Muguruza would be a Wimbledon champion the tennis world would happily get behind.

    Here’s a closer look at the numbers behind each semi-final match-up.

    Venus Williams (USA) [10] v Johanna Konta (GBR) [6]

    – At 37 years and 29 days, Venus is bidding to become the oldest Wimbledon finalist since Martina Navratilova in 1994.

    – Venus is 15-6 in Grand Slam semi-final matches. 7-8 in Grand Slam finals.

    – Venus has played exactly 100 Wimbledon main draw matches. She has now matched her sister Serena with 86 main draw match wins at the All England Club, the third-most in the Open Era.

    – Venus is gunning for a sixth Wimbledon singles title and eighth Grand Slam trophy.

    – Venus is 3-2 against top-10 opposition in 2017.

    – At 37, Venus is the fourth oldest woman in history to reach the Wimbledon semis.

    – Venus is playing her 75th Grand Slam main draw – an Open Era record.

    – Venus could return to the top-five for the first time since January 2011 if she wins the title.

    – Konta was ranked 19 in the world entering Wimbledon last year. She is the current world No7.

    – Konta is the first British woman to reach the Wimbledon semi-finals since Virginia Wade in 1978.

    – Konta is bidding to become the first British woman to reach the Wimbledon final since Wade in 1977.

    – Konta has hit the most aces of any female player in the tournament, hitting 28 in her five matches.

    – Konta will make her top-five debut after Wimbledon. She will be only the fourth British woman to ever crack the top five.

    – Konta is 8-2 against top-20 opponents in 2017.

    – Konta had won just one match at Wimbledon prior to this fortnight.

    Garbine Muguruza (ESP) [14] v Magdalena Rybarikova (SVK)

    – Muguruza is 2-0 in Grand Slam semi-final matches.

    – Of the four semi-finalists, Muguruza has dropped the fewest games (37) en route to the last-four stage.

    – Muguruza hasn’t reached a final since she won the French Open 13 months ago.

    – Muguruza will return to the top-10 after Wimbledon and could rise to No4 in the world if she wins the title.

    – Rybarikova is on a 10-match winning streak, having won the title in Ilkley in the build-up to Wimbledon.

    – Rybarikova missed seven months from last year’s Wimbledon, to February 2017, and had surgery on her left wrist and her right knee.

    – Rybarikova’s ranking slipped to No453 last March. She’s guaranteed a return to the top-40 on Monday, and could crack the top-20 for the first time if she reaches the final.

    – This is Rybarikova’s first Grand Slam semi-final in her 36th major appearance.

    – At No87 in the world, Rybarikova is the fourth lowest-ranked woman to reach a Wimbledon semi-final.

    – Rybarikova is the first Slovak to reach a Wimbledon semi-final.

    – Rybarikova is 2-1 against top-20 players in 2017. Muguruza is 6-5.

    – Prior to this fortnight, Rybarikova has never made it past the third round at any Grand Slam.

    – Rybarikova has an 18-1 win-loss record on grass this season, including two ITF $100k titles.

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