Highlights of Wimbledon eighth day: History girls Konta, Venus into semis

Johanna Konta became the first British woman to reach the semi-finals of Wimbledon in almost 40 years on Tuesday when she beat Romanian Simona Halep 6-7(2) 7-6(5) 6-4 in a tension-filled match on Centre Court. Virginia Wade was the last British woman to reach the last four in 1978, the year after she won the title. Halep's defeat cost her top spot in the world rankings as she was overhauled by Czech Karolina Pliskova, who was knocked out in the second round. The second-seeded Romanian would have become number one had she beaten sixth seed Konta. American Venus Williams rolled back the years to defeat Latvian Jelena Ostapenko in straight sets and will meet Konta in the semi-finals while Spain's Garbine Muguruza moved confidently into the last four by beating Russia's Svetlana Kuznetsova. Muguruza, who is seeded 14th, will meet the unseeded Magdalena Rybarikova of Slovakia, who beat American Coco Vandeweghe 6-3 6-3 in a rain-delayed contest to reach the semi-finals of a grand slam for the first time. In the men's draw, second-seed Novak Djokovic of Serbia eased past France's Adrian Mannarino with a routine 6-2 7-6(5) 6-4 victory, and will meet 11th seed Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic in the quarter-finals on Wednesday. Highlights from day eight of the Wimbledon championships on Tuesday (all times GMT):RYBARIKOVA INTO SEMIS FOR FIRST TIME- Slovakia's Magdalena Rybarikova beat American Coco Vandeweghe 6-3 6-3 to reach the semi-finals of a grand slam for the first time. - Rybarikova will meet Spain's Garbine Muguruza next.KONTA INTO SEMIS AFTER BEATING HALEP- Johanna Konta beat second seed Simona Halep of Romania 6-7(2) 7-6(5) 6-4 to become the first British woman since Virginia Wade in 1978 to reach the semi-finals of Wimbledon.

A point that sums up one of the matches of the tournament...

Jo Konta and Simona Halep combine for today's @HSBC_Sport Play of the Day... pic.twitter.com/L1ayyNIOHo— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 11, 2017

- Konta meets American 10th seed Venus Williams next.RYBARIKOVA V VANDEWEGHE TO CONTINUE ON CENTRE COURT- All matches on the outside courts were suspended for the day due to rain, and the quarter-final between Slovakia's Rybarikova and American Vandeweghe was moved to Centre Court from Court One after the conclusion of the match between Konta and Halep.  WILLIAMS CRUISES INTO SEMIS WITH STRAIGHT-SETS WIN- American Williams beat Latvian Jelena Ostapenko 6-3 7-5 in their quarter-final on Centre Court.

Another day, another selection of shots to savour...#Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/aNGRovXt9S— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 11, 2017

MUGURUZA POWERS INTO SEMIS AFTER DOWNING KUZNETSOVA- Spain's Garbine Muguruza beat Russian seventh seed Svetlana Kuznetsova 6-3 6-4 in their quarter-final on Court One.DJOKOVIC INTO QUARTER-FINALS AFTER STRAIGHT-SETS WIN- Second seed Novak Djokovic beat Frenchman Adrian Mannarino 6-2 7-6(5) 6-4 in the fourth round.

Instinctive.

A typical return winner from Novak Djokovic...#FeelWimbledon pic.twitter.com/sFRpsrSmRz— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 11, 2017

- The Serb will meet 11th seed Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic in the quarter-finals.RESULTS:Men 4th rd Novak Djokovic (SRB x2) bt Adrian Mannarino (FRA) 6-2, 7-6 (7/5), 6-4 Women Quarter-finals Garbiñe Muguruza (ESP x14) bt Svetlana Kuznetsova (RUS x7) 6-3, 6-4 Magdaléna Rybáriková (SVK) bt Coco Vandeweghe (USA x24) 6-3, 6-3 Venus Williams (USA x10) bt Jelena Ostapenko (LAT x13) 6-3, 7-5 Johanna Konta (GBR x6) bt Simona Halep (ROM x2) 6-7 (2/7), 7-6 (7/5), 6-4

women's singles semi-finals line-up

Garbine Muguruza (ESP x14) v Magdalena Rybarikova (SVK) Venus Williams (USA x10) v Johanna Konta (GBR x6)

From 128 to just four... #Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/Ln5pppzAKs— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 11, 2017