Best quotes and fact of the eighth day at Wimbledon

A SELECTION of some of the best quotes and facts from the eighth day at Wimbledon:

Quotes

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"Today it (her hair) was just in my way, and the wind. I was missing a shot because it's in my face. I was like, this is not happening. I just needed to get it out of the way, put the business bun up and just get to business," Serena Williams on stepping up her game after getting her hair together in a bun.

"(The) French Open was not negative pressure. I felt it because, of course, I was the defending champion. But it was a new experience. I saw how it is to lose after you win a title. Nobody died. I just came here relaxed," Simona Halep on managing expectations heading into Wimbledon.

"I don't think you need to pick on me in a harsh way. I think I'm very open with you guys. I say how I feel out there. I'm a professional competitor who did her best today, and that's all there is to that," Johanna Konta defended her performance after losing to Barbora Strycova in the quarter-finals.

"For the past months it was not easy because I was travelling with my injury. But we were talking a lot. It really opened me as a person that I really started to understand what's important for me," Elina Svitolina on partner and fellow professional Gael Monfils being crucial to her resurgence.

Fact

At 33, Barbora Strycova is the oldest first-time major semi-finalist in the Open Era, overtaking Roberta Vinci, who was 32 when she advanced to the 2015 US Open semi-final and finished runner-up.

(Reuters)