Australian-raised tennis star Johanna Konta has insisted she is a British athlete after her nationality was questioned by BBC presenter John Humphrys.
On BBC Radio 4’s Today program, the veteran interviewer asked Konta: “So, what are you?” after he got the country of her birth wrong.
“We talk about you as being British, but you were born in Hungary, Australian citizenship, and I seem to remember that the Australian high commissioner, when you won the quarter-final, said: ‘Great to see an Aussie win’, and we were saying: ‘Great to see a Brit win’ – so, what are you?,” Humphrys asked.
Konta laughed before replying: “I was actually born in Australia to Hungarian parents, but I have lived half my life here now, almost. So, I’m a British citizen, and I’m incredibly proud to represent Great Britain. I have done so officially since 2012.
“But, definitely, I have personally since 2005 when I moved here. I have also represented Great Britain at the Olympics, so I’m definitely a British athlete.”
Konta was knocked out of Wimbledon by Venus Williams after becoming the first British woman to reach the semi-finals for 39 years.
She played her formative tennis in Australia but after not being considered amongst the junior elite took up a scholarship to play in Spain with her family moving to England.
Humphrys’ tone in the interview drew some sharp criticism on social media.