Briton Johanna Konta’s hopes of a first Wimbledon final ended with a straight-set semi-final defeat by five-time champion Venus Williams.
The 37-year-old American 10th seed played superbly to win 6-4 6-2 on Centre Court and set up a final against Spain’s Garbine Muguruza.
Sixth seed Konta, 26, had hoped to become the first British woman in a Wimbledon singles final since 1977.
“It was very difficult for me to get a good foothold in the match,” she said.
“The few opportunities that I did get, she did incredibly well to take them away from me.
“I don’t think I did too much wrong out there. I think it was all credit to her.”
Konta will at least break into the world’s top five for the first time in the next rankings.
Virginia Wade, the last British woman to win the title 40 years ago, said: “Maybe 41 years will be her number.
“It was sad she couldn’t come through in an anniversary year, and it’s so long since we had a winner, but I think next year she could make it, or make it to the final and progress that little bit more.”
Williams is the oldest Grand Slam singles finalist since Martina Navratilova finished runner-up at Wimbledon in 1994.
The American, through to her ninth final, won her first Wimbledon title in 2000 and the most recent of her seven major victories came on Centre Court in 2008.
Make that 87 #Wimbledon singles wins for @Venuseswilliams – the most by any active female player… pic.twitter.com/e8sKU8e4PO
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 13, 2017
