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BBC presenter John Humphrys came under fire today after grilling Wimbledon hero Johanna Konta on her British citizenship and getting her place of birth wrong.

Konta, who rose to a career-high fourth in the world after last week becoming the first British female tennis player to reach the Wimbledon semi-final in 39 years, was interrogated by Humphrys on Radio 4’s Today programme this morning.

Known as the “Rottweiler” for his tough interviews with politicians, Humphrys asked Konta - who was born in Australia to Hungarian parents - about her nationality and whether she was truly British.

He said: “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 [Wimbledon] quarter-final said ‘Great to see an Aussie win’ and we were saying ‘Great to see a Brit win’ - so what are you?”

Laughing incredulously, Konta replied: “I was actually born in Australia to Hungarian parents but I’ve lived here for half my life now almost and I’m a British citizen.

"I’m incredibly proud to represent Great Britain... I’ve represented Britain in the Olympics so I’m definitely a British athlete.”

In today’s Radio 4 interview, Humphrys also said Konta had been “the 388th best junior in Australia” and added “normally people wouldn’t look at you and say: ‘Ahhh she is a future champion.’”

What Humphrys said: “I seem to remember that the Australian High Commissioner when you won the [Wimbledon] quarter-final said ‘Great to see an Aussie win’ and we were saying ‘Great to see a Brit win’ - so what are you?” “She (Konta) did it at the grand old age of 26 which raises the obvious question, why?” “We've got a great champion at the moment, a great men's champion who's probably going to go on till he's about 80, haven't we?” “We talk about you being British but you were born in Hungary (and have an) Australian citizenship.”

“That’s not entirely accurate,” she said. “I won the under 12s nationals in Australia when I was a youngster. I was definitely one of the best in the country.

"That’s the thing with sport, [...] there are a lot of things that become misleading or half truths.”

Humphrys also implied Konta, 26, was old for a professional sports woman.

Konta said: “I hope to be playing for many years,” to which Humphrys replied: “Well, what are you? 26 now?”

“I am 26, yes,” she said. “26 years young.”

Rounding up the awkward interview, Humphrys said: “You will be back in Wimbledon next year and maybe, yeah. Get through to the finals, or whatever.”

On Twitter, fans leapt to her defence, with Travis James Bacon writing: “What the hell is with John Humphrys’ belittling interrogation of Johanna Konta?! Disgraceful. Show some respect man.”

Another wrote: “JH Konta: patronising, lazy, ill-informed, ungenerous. If he can’t be bothered, take him off air.”

Susie Harris added: “Note to John Humphrys: Johanna Konta isn’t a politician. She is a tennis player that brought joy to millions during Wimbledon. Grow up.”

Konta - who was 14 when her parents moved to the UK from Australia in 2005 - initially competed for Australia before gaining British citizenship in 2012 and switching her playing allegiance.

Last year, Konta told reporters at the Australian Open: “It’s a compliment for you guys to be interested in my Australian roots. I’m very happy, very pleased to be representing Great Britain. That is my home. That is where my heart is. That’s where my parents are. That’s where I grew up essentially.

"So when people ask where I’m from, where is home - that’s where it is.”

Johanna Konta's Wimbledon 2017 - In pictures 33 show all Johanna Konta's Wimbledon 2017 - In pictures 1/33 Johanna Konta reacts during the Ladies Singles semi final match against Venus Williams Clive Brunskill/Getty Images 2/33 Venus Williams celebrates winning against Johanna Konta of Britain during their semi final match EPA 3/33 Johanna Konta in action against Venus Williams on day ten of the Wimbledon Championships PA 4/33 Fanss Johanna Konta before her semi final match against USA's Venus Williams Reuters 5/33 Johanna Konta returns against Venus Williams during their women's singles semi-final match on the tenth day of the 2017 Wimbledon Championships AFP/Getty Images 6/33 Venus Williams returns to Johanna Konta in their semi final match during the Wimbledon Championships EPA 7/33 Venus Williams and Johanna Konta pass each other as they change sides AFP/Getty Images 8/33 Johanna Konta ahead of the semi final match on day ten of the Wimbledon Championships PA 9/33 Johanna Konta and Venus Williams pose together before their semi final match Rex 10/33 Johanna Konta and Venus Williams (C) of the USA arrive for their semi final match EPA 11/33 Jackson Wade, partner of Johanna Konta looks on prior to her Ladies Singles semi final match against Venus Williams Getty Images 12/33 Johanna Konta practices before her semi final Jeremy Selwyn 13/33 Johanna Konta arrives at Wimbledon Jeremy Selwyn 14/33 Johanna Konta and coach Wim Fissette during a practice session on day ten of the Wimbledon Championships PA 15/33 Johanna Konta celebrates her historic win over Simona Halep on day eight and is the first British female player in the semi finals since Virginia wade in 1978 PA 16/33 Johanna Konta help Chelsea Pensioner John Griffiths take a selfie following her victory BBC 17/33 There were pre-Wimbledon injury fears after Konta took a nasty fall at a tournament in Eastbourne AFP/Getty Images 18/33 Johanna Konta arrives for training at Wimbeldon with her homemade muffins Jeremy Selwyn 19/33 Johanna Konta giving a press conference ahead of the Wimbledon Championships EPA 20/33 Her injury seems to be in the past as Konta serves against Donna Vekic on Day Three of Wimbledon Getty Images 21/33 Konta acknowledges the crowd after seeing of Vekic in the second round Getty Images 22/33 Johanna Konta deals with a flying ant invasion during her match vs Vekic 23/33 Great Britain's Johanna Konta during a practice session at SW19 Reuters 24/33 Johanna Konta serves to Greece's Maria Sakkariin their third round match during the Wimbledon Championships EPA 25/33 Konta defeats Greece's Maria Sakkari in the third round AFP/Getty Images 26/33 Johanna Konta meets Andy Murray at The All England Club during the Wimbledon 1027 Championships Jeremy Selwyn 27/33 Konta celebrates victory over Caroline Garcia to reach the quarter finals Alex Lentati 28/33 Konta celebrates victory over Caroline Garcia to reach the quarter finals Alex Lentati 29/33 Konta celebrates beating France's Caroline Garcia in the fourth round Reuters 30/33 Virginia Wade (left) Britain's last Women's singles champion back in 1977, celebrates after Johanna Konta beat Romania's Simona Halep at the end of their Women's quarter final on day eight at Wimbledon AP 31/33 Chelsea Pensioner John Griffiths dances to camera after successfully getting a selfie with Johanna Konta BBC 32/33 Konta beat Halep in three sets in a spectacular match on Tuesday evening Getty Images 33/33 Johanna Konta Instagram's a photo of her with Darcy Bussell and Ellie Goulding following her win over Simona Halep Johanna Konta 1/33 Johanna Konta reacts during the Ladies Singles semi final match against Venus Williams Clive Brunskill/Getty Images 2/33 Venus Williams celebrates winning against Johanna Konta of Britain during their semi final match EPA 3/33 Johanna Konta in action against Venus Williams on day ten of the Wimbledon Championships PA 4/33 Fanss Johanna Konta before her semi final match against USA's Venus Williams Reuters 5/33 Johanna Konta returns against Venus Williams during their women's singles semi-final match on the tenth day of the 2017 Wimbledon Championships AFP/Getty Images 6/33 Venus Williams returns to Johanna Konta in their semi final match during the Wimbledon Championships EPA 7/33 Venus Williams and Johanna Konta pass each other as they change sides AFP/Getty Images 8/33 Johanna Konta ahead of the semi final match on day ten of the Wimbledon Championships PA 9/33 Johanna Konta and Venus Williams pose together before their semi final match Rex 10/33 Johanna Konta and Venus Williams (C) of the USA arrive for their semi final match EPA 11/33 Jackson Wade, partner of Johanna Konta looks on prior to her Ladies Singles semi final match against Venus Williams Getty Images 12/33 Johanna Konta practices before her semi final Jeremy Selwyn 13/33 Johanna Konta arrives at Wimbledon Jeremy Selwyn 14/33 Johanna Konta and coach Wim Fissette during a practice session on day ten of the Wimbledon Championships PA 15/33 Johanna Konta celebrates her historic win over Simona Halep on day eight and is the first British female player in the semi finals since Virginia wade in 1978 PA 16/33 Johanna Konta help Chelsea Pensioner John Griffiths take a selfie following her victory BBC 17/33 There were pre-Wimbledon injury fears after Konta took a nasty fall at a tournament in Eastbourne AFP/Getty Images 18/33 Johanna Konta arrives for training at Wimbeldon with her homemade muffins Jeremy Selwyn 19/33 Johanna Konta giving a press conference ahead of the Wimbledon Championships EPA 20/33 Her injury seems to be in the past as Konta serves against Donna Vekic on Day Three of Wimbledon Getty Images 21/33 Konta acknowledges the crowd after seeing of Vekic in the second round Getty Images 22/33 Johanna Konta deals with a flying ant invasion during her match vs Vekic 23/33 Great Britain's Johanna Konta during a practice session at SW19 Reuters 24/33 Johanna Konta serves to Greece's Maria Sakkariin their third round match during the Wimbledon Championships EPA 25/33 Konta defeats Greece's Maria Sakkari in the third round AFP/Getty Images 26/33 Johanna Konta meets Andy Murray at The All England Club during the Wimbledon 1027 Championships Jeremy Selwyn 27/33 Konta celebrates victory over Caroline Garcia to reach the quarter finals Alex Lentati 28/33 Konta celebrates victory over Caroline Garcia to reach the quarter finals Alex Lentati 29/33 Konta celebrates beating France's Caroline Garcia in the fourth round Reuters 30/33 Virginia Wade (left) Britain's last Women's singles champion back in 1977, celebrates after Johanna Konta beat Romania's Simona Halep at the end of their Women's quarter final on day eight at Wimbledon AP 31/33 Chelsea Pensioner John Griffiths dances to camera after successfully getting a selfie with Johanna Konta BBC 32/33 Konta beat Halep in three sets in a spectacular match on Tuesday evening Getty Images 33/33 Johanna Konta Instagram's a photo of her with Darcy Bussell and Ellie Goulding following her win over Simona Halep Johanna Konta

Humphrys is known for his hard interviews - with Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, shadow attorney general Shami Chakrabarti, shadow education secretary Angela Rayner and chancellor Philip Hammond among those facing a “car crash” grilling in the past six months.

Retail expert and TV presenter Mary Portas this week told Radio Times that when she is interviewed on Radio 4 “Is always hope they don’t give me John Humphrys.”

It comes ahead of the publication tomorrow by the BBC of the salaries of its top presenters. It has already released a statement claiming fewer than a quarter of 1 per cent of its TV and radio stars are on more than £150,000 a year.

The disclosure comes following government pressure for the corporation to increase transparency on pay.

Today did not respond to requests for a comment.