VENUS Williams took inspiration from sister Serena as she ended the title hopes of British hopeful Johanna Konta at Wimbledon.

In a tough Centre Court battle, Williams proved indomitable and emerged a 6-4, 6-2 winner to reach the final.

The five-time champion will be bidding on Saturday to keep the title in the family after Serena won in 2015 and 2016.

Venus Williams said, ahead of her clash with 2015 runner-up Garbine Muguruza: "Last time she played Serena, so I'll have to ask Serena for some pointers.

"Serena's always in my corner and usually it's her in these finals, so I'm trying my best to represent Williams as best as I can."

This year Serena Williams is absent and on hiatus from the tour as she awaits the birth of her first child.

Venus Williams admits to missing her younger sister "terribly" and said: "I just wish she was here.

"I wish she could do this for me but I said, 'No, this time you have to do it for yourself'. So here we are.

"I've played a lot of finals here at Wimbledon. One more win would amazing. It won't be a given but I'm going to give it my all."

There was praise for Konta from her 37-year-old conqueror, who reflected: "I thought the crowd was very nice to me, actually.

"They could have been more boisterous but I thought the crowd was so fair. I know they love Jo.

"There's a lot of pressure and I thought she handled it well. I think my experience just helped a lot.

"She played so well. No point was easy. I just tried to climb on top each time to get another point and then – wow – it was done, so I was just so happy."

Konta's title dream went up in smoke as she was beaten by an inspired Williams.

The British number one had been hoping to become her country's first female singles champion in 40 years at SW19 but Williams proved a class above.

Konta had two break points at the end of the opening set but failed to capitalise and instead it was Williams who broke the very next game. The American never looked back.

Williams is through to her ninth singles final at Wimbledon and now has a chance to win her eighth grand slam title.

At 37, she would be the oldest woman to win a major tournament in the Open era.

Konta looked primed to etch her own name into the history books as the first British woman to reach the Wimbledon final since Virginia Wade beat Betty Stove to become champion in 1977.

But Konta, playing only her second grand slam semi-final, simply failed to deliver in the crucial moments on Centre Court, where Williams' experience proved decisive.

It means the 26-year-old follows Andy Murray in crashing out before the last hurdle – but while Murray is well-versed in the pressures of a home tournament, Konta had won only one match at the All England Club in five prior appearances.

She will climb from seven to five in the world rankings when the computer updates on Monday and four if Muguruza wins the title. Hopes will be high on her preferred hard courts at the US Open next month.

Williams, meanwhile, will be confident of winning her sixth singles Wimbledon crown, nine years after her last at the venue in 2008.

Her battles off-court with Sjogren's syndrome – a condition causing fatigue and pain in the joints – and, more recently, the court case surrounding her involvement in a car crash in Florida, make her progress all the more remarkable.