British tennis star Johanna Konta is 2 matches away from Wimbledon glory — and now Australia wants to reclaim her

Johanna Konta.Michael Steele / Getty Images

Wimbledon hopeful Johanna Konta slayed Simona Halep on Tuesday and earned a semi-final place against Venus Williams on Centre Court on Thursday.

If Konta can defeat five-time champion Williams, she will become the first British woman to reach a Wimbledon singles final for 40 years.

British tennis fans have a fight on their hands to keep Konta as their own, though.

The 26-year-old was born in Sydney, but moved to England with her family when she was 14. She switched sporting alliegances from Australia to Britain when she became a citizen in 2012. Now, Australia is trying to reclaim her.

After Konta’s victory over Halep, the Australian High Commissioner to the UK, Alexander Downer, said: “Great to see an Aussie win.”

Even talkSPORT radio listeners in the UK are divided over whether Konta is British, Hungarian, or Australian.

At the Australia Open in 2016, Konta attempted to clarify any confusion about her nationality.

“I am very happy and very pleased to be representing Great Britain, that is my home,” Konta said, according to The Independent.

“Great Britain is where my heart is and where my parents are. And it is where I grew up, essentially. So when people ask where I’m from, and where is home – that is where it is.”

Wimbledon quarter-final.Michael Steele / Getty Images

All eyes will be on Konta when she takes on Williams for a place in the Wimbledon final. If successful, she will face Magdaléna Rybáriková or Garbiñe Muguruza on Saturday July 15.

Justin Sherring, Konta’s former tennis coach, told Sky News that his former pupil can realise her Wimbledon dream. “Her dream is to be number one and win Wimbledon and I think she can achieve both those dreams.

“There’s a lot of good players out there but it would crazy for me to not think she can top all of them.”

Tim Henman, a former number one Brit himself, previously told Business Insider to keep tabs on Konta. “[Konta] has had good results for the last couple of years — [she] must be up there. It would be fantastic for her and the tournament if she did well.”