Ladies Final Wimbledon

SUE BARKER: And the Wimbledon champion of 2015, Serena Williams!

CHEERING You may write me down in history

with your bitter, twisted lies. You may trod me in the very dirt, but

still, like dust, I rise. Just like moons, and like sons, with the

certainty of tides, just like hopes springing higher, still I rise. Did

you want to see me broken? Bowed head and lowered eyes, shoulders

falling down like teardrops? Out of the hearts of history's

shame, I rise, up from a past that is rooted in pain, I rise. I am a

black ocean, leaping and wide, swelling and swelling I bear in the

tide. Leaving behind nights of terror and fear, I rise. Into a

daybreak that is wondrously clear, I rise.

Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave, I am the dream and the hope of

a slave. I rise, I rise, I rise. SUE BARKER: Those powerful words

from Serena Williams were written by Maya Angelou, who mentored and

inspired her throughout her career. As Serena aims to join Steffi Graf

as the greatest player of the open era with 22 Grand Slams Comer

standing in her way is the Australian Open champion, Angelique

Kerber. It promises to be a titanic battle. Here we are on the members's

lawn, with 36 grand slam titles between them. It is lovely to have

you here on members's lawn. I haven't seen you all tournament, we

have been locked in studios all over the place. Great job, you're doing a

great job. We used to play tennis with this young lady and she didn't

use to talk much, now we can't shut her up. I could get a word in

actually! Powerful words, and that is her inspiration. My Angelique,

amazing poet, there is a lot that story obviously, and as a champion

Serena has fallen many times that she always gets up and rises. Knight

and she has really risen here, she looks back to her best. She has been

such a role model to a lot of young ladies and I think it is reflected,

there are 14 American tennis players in the top 100 in the world. So the

influence she and her sister has is starting to show that she is peaking

at just the right time. Amazing the passion, the desire, the drive she

was still has had the game. She was tired, she said after the French

Open she had not played enough tennis, but it was more mental

tiredness. You know how much she wants to win. She hasn't played that

many matches, so she is fresh in her physique, she is fresh in her mind

and she wants it, no doubt about that. Now you get this close, that

is the best part about waking up this morning, you wake up and it

really is the final. You have dreams about that, you wake up, and it is

not just a dream, this is real. Serena is ready. And knowing that

she lost the last two finals, that will be adamant in her mind because

she was not going to let it slip through her fingers again. She

senses the opportunity, the grass court is tailor-made for her game,

her power. She doesn't have to think that she can just react. She gets

the first served in. I was watching Serena play doubles and she revises

really well. She is off-balance that that is where the athlete comes

through. She hit a backhand volley yesterday that surprised herself in

the doubles. I think the doubles, as physical as it has been, it has

helped her singles, and being on court with her sister at the same

time, it is a dream Wimbledon for her. New great champions love

records Comanche has been chasing this 22nd grand slam title since she

left Wimbledon last year. It is added pressure, isn't it? Just one

more to equal Steffi. Yes, it is interesting she has won eight Grand

Slams after she is 30, so what does that tell you? Almost like she said

her best tennis, her most focused tennis, to the end of her career.

Perry, has she been playing great. At the beginning of her career,

Martina had some tips and was not -- Serena had some tips and some ebbs.

She was not at the same place in her life. She is fresh this year, but

she has not played that many matches in her career, that is why she is

fresh mentally, as well as physically, in her 30s. But still,

Dublin eight slams in your 30s, I don't gets the energy. I was reading

that when she is practising, she never likes to play games, because

she is too competitive, so she just does points and works out

strategies. She is just the ultimate competitor. I don't know about you

when you are practising, but I like to play points. I counted. I wanted

to keep track. Whether it was hit ten backhands or first player to 11,

seven, 21, whatever the game was, I like to keep track. You would set up

and try to do the strategy and put it in play. But she is so intense,

she needs to say that for the match. The difference with hers that she

will be in a grand slam, and five minutes later forget about it, when

is the next one. A lot of players, I don't know if they are partying,

celebrating. I haven't stopped celebrating! LAUGHTER

But they don't seem to get that in Guinness and hangar straight.

Angelique Kerber, for her, she played a great final at the

Australian that she has got to do that again. Serena, talk about

waking a sleeping tiger, when Serena loses a match, she works hard for

the next one to get revenge. But this is a Wimbledon final, I don't

think it is that much on her mind, she just doesn't like the fact she

lost the last three slams. Again, this is her best surface, it is like

coming home for her. So Angelique Kerber, she would be better off if

she had played Serena Bonds between the Aussie and now, but we will see

if she can bring it. She has to hope that Serena is not at her best.

Serena is more focused, I think, and nobody beats Serena Williams two

times in a row. She is about revenge and getting back at a player. Her

pride has been affected. But I think everything is falling in place for

her. All of her shots are working. There is a little pressure on

Angelique Kerber to maintain that form in the Australian Open, it will

not be easy. Badly she has been in a grand slam final, let's remind you

how she won that final in Melbourne. COMMENTATOR: Angelique Kerber, the

surprise finalist for some. The force of nature that is Serena

Williams. So good, outstanding product. 6-4 Kerber. This is all

about willpower. Second set, Serena Williams. Oh, fantastic! And Kerber

breaks! It's a way, I can't believe it! Oh, that is wonderful for her.

Look what she has gone and done. This is one of the biggest upsets in

years. What a performance. SUE BARKER: What a Win it was for

Kerber. Can she make it two Grand Slams this year at the expense of

Serena Williams? The final gets underway at 2pm. Here is Angelique

Kerber, a lefty, a great athlete, but that she had enough firepower to

very Serena? It will be tough, first of all she has to get a lot of Serbs

in. I think she only won 27% of second serves against Venus, and

Serena is a better return. So she has to get a high percentage of

first serves in. She continues to create these unbelievable angles,

short angles. Everyone hits with depth, but she is able to hit shot

angles and get her opponent off the court. I would like to see how you

that today. Angelique as to accept the serve, it is very predictable.

She has a server that is ten mph slower than Serena, which is OK,

most players do. Serena will be sitting on a backhand, so I think

Kerber has to hit some Serbs down the middle in the court and out

wide. I often wonder why she did not ask you for advice on her serve,

because for a while she did not have that true lefty serve, which drove

us all crazy. You won nine Wimbledon is a lot in part to that served,

getting your opponent off the court. But that she do different to you? It

is technical, she faces the net too soon, she needs to stay turned and

rotate better and get more pace. She is strong enough. The technique,

that is where her wig as weakness and most room for improvement for

Angelique Kerber is, her serve. Andy Murray has changed his technique on

his serve and it has improved, so never too late. She could be such a

great player, because that is the shot she loses points on. She is a

great player, and she could be better. Maybe get a specific coach

for a serve, but also there are these biomechanical labs that tell

you where you are losing power, what you can change, your legs, hips, Mr

Royal, the wrist snap, so there is a lot of room for -- most of her

lovely wrists nap. But she is a student of the game. Now you're

telling me, I should have done more research! Knight the technology

wasn't there when we were playing. We have got a fuel little floats of

you two at Wimbledon that they want to run in. This is 1978. It is

different, when we watch the players walking out today, there were so

many people on the court when you came out. LAUGHTER

And we had a curtsy. Who are these guys? What are they doing there?

Photographers all over the place. And individual rackets! We just

can't get out of that. What a great preparation! I used my curling iron

before that, like far-off faucet, the cold flip back. And more flowers

that day. We used to give our flowers to the attendants in the

locker room, remember? They are trying to tell me to say how long

ago it was, and I am refusing to say how long ago it was. Why?

This is 1976. This is when you were playing doubles together. I won the

singles. Oh my heavens. Lea gene. This is 76. That is a good effort.

That is my only Wimbledon doubles win, and I away say I won Wimbledon,

and they say, with her? And I say with Martina, and they say anyone

can win with Martina. LAUGHTER Do you still enjoy coming back here?

Because it still has the same feel about the tournament. This

tournament changes the least of all the Grand Slams, just that

electricity, and the sense of history, and the green ivy. I love

to come back. I have said before, when they built this millennium

building, Oldcorn one, and it is new roles that they already have ivy on

it? How did they do that? That is how much they expand, but you don't

feel it. It still has that same feel. It really does. And also the

Centre Court, it must still, when you were out there, bring back the

memories. It is a different feeling to walking out at the Australian

Open, don't you think? When you walk out, there are sort of a hash, and a

feeling of respect and reverence. You can hear a pin drop -- a bit of

a hush. You feel the pressure right away. We want to do is warm up and

get the nerves under control. Not to take anything for all the other

centre courts of other places, but when players get, like they change

the schedule and they get put on Centre Court, they get so excited.

Everyone remembers their first time on Centre Court, and they might not

remember that on others. I played Bueno on Centre Court. She had

finished her career and came back. LAUGHTER

That is even worse! I lost the first set 6-1, though, I was like, wake

up! But also we have had the Royal Box, a lot of dignitaries in the

Royal box. Martina is in there today. I will be talking about you.

I think I am the only women's champion that is not get to sit in

the Royal Box on Saturday because I'm working. Take a day of! I did

e-mail Philip, the chairman, and I said can I get -- I get the raw deal

on Saturday, can I come on Sunday. So I came on Sunday and I brought my

son, Nikki. Hopefully I can do that tomorrow as well. They are getting

it already for you, Martina, probably a nice lunch as well.

Billie Jean is going to be there, Jana Novotna. Who else? I have no

idea. We have seen you around the courts working for American

television but you're also doing a lot of coaching now. I am. Your

Academy. Over that! Yes, I have a tennis academy. These kids go to

school there, they live with us in the dorms, not with me in my house,

but in the dorms. Actually Martina's stepdaughter... Both of my daughters

were there. Did you charge her double? I was filming her for

Martina. It is nice, seven minutes away from home. I have a hand in the

coaching and mentoring, I love it. And you still play? If you can call

it that. I am hitting with the 12 and 13-year-olds now. They are good!

Tennis is the greatest sport of a lifetime. For cardio, and it is

really wonderful, and you can play until you are 80, 90 years old. And

tennis is looking up. Yes, we have a very talented up and coming player,

on the women's side medicine keys... We have more than we have had in a

long time. These are players who were five and six years old when

they were just coming on the scene so that is the influence they have

had. Back to the final and your prediction, are the first few games

really crucial for Kerber? Yes, she has got to get off to a good start

but Serena is the one that has a tendency to get off to a slow start.

The beginning will be important, and the nerves will be different for

Kerber walking out at Wimbledon versus the Australian. Serena has

experienced it so many more times. What do you think about that? The

adage, you need to lose a Wimbledon final before you win one, and I read

that before I was playing you. I didn't understand it, but looking

back, yes. Did you lose one before you won? No, I won in 1978, but it

is overwhelming, a different ball of wax really. The fact that Angelique

has beaten Serena at the Australian Open is huge. I think she would have

enough coaching and know enough. OK, I'm playing the ball. I'm playing a

Wimbledon final but I am playing Serena as well. You have got to deal

with that. She played Venus and she kind of got used to that base

because they have a similar pace so that will help also. But also Serena

really imposes herself on the court, you are very aware of who you are

playing. You can't look at her. Even if you don't look, she gets noisy.

Either during the point or after the point, she lets you know you are

there. I don't think there is any mental games going on that way, they

both play the ball and they are both great champions. That is what John

McEnroe is trying to get Milos Raonic do, to let your opponent know

that you are down the other end, but how easy is it? I think Kerber's

attitude is a lot better, because she used to get down on herself, but

I see positive body language. One thing we didn't talk about is the

drop shot, and look out from that backhand drop shot from Kerber

because she uses it very effectively. As far as the angles

she gets, she is almost like a gymnast in the way she moves. She

moves so well, she has got to try to get the angles and keep Serena

running. That's the most difficult thing, to get into the point because

she has a big serve, big return, but her weakest point is eight shots or

longer. There she is in the minus, everywhere else she is in the big

loss. Kerber is in the plus. We knew that anyway, but the tricky bit is

neutralised the Serena serve and her return, which wouldn't be a problem

for most people but Kerber's serve doesn't have much pace on it. She

will have to hope that Serena misses a few. It is the softer shot Serena

will see in a rally so she will jump up in the baseline and go for higher

returns. If Serena gets down 3-0 she can come back but if Kerber comes --

gets down to 3-0... I think Serena got a little tight in the last three

Grand Slams, hasn't had her a game nerves wise so let's see. I don't

anticipate any nerves as far as negatively but you never know with

her how she is feeling that day. As you said, a lot of pressure playing

for history, trying to tie Steffi Graf. She has had a bite of the

cherry every year so she must think this is not the last chance I have

had but it is the best one right now. I have got to say goodbye to

you because you are doing some work for American television. I love your

necklace by the way! Martina is staying with us but we are going to

look back to yesterday and Andy Murray's amazing victory, and

Martina and I will talk about that in just a moment. Here we go again.

Who knows what's ahead. Out of this world! Very tidy set of tennis from

Andy Murray. That's a great ball from Raonic right there. Raonic, to

his first final! And here is Andy practising. This

was earlier today. It was a very good performance, Tomas Berdych is a

solid player, but Andy never let him in. Andy has more variety and his

better every aspect of the game than Berdych. And he has improved so much

mentally. Berdych has had some issues mentally as well, both have

matured beautifully but Berdych just couldn't find an opening. You could

see the reaction when Andy saved the break point. He knows the big

moments and he plays so much better during them. Raonic has got weapons

tomorrow though, hasn't he? Raonic beat Roger Federer because he could

attack his backhand, where will he go with Andy Murray? I would say

Andy is in really good shape because there is no weakness, he's almost

like Novak Djokovic but taller and more variety but maybe not as solid,

but now playing best tennis I think than he has ever played. Raonic will

have a hard time trying to find the openings like he did against Roger

Federer. Now we are going back to the ladies championship and... Where

are we going? We are going to go to Pat because he has been looking at

one of Serena's strengths. I think it is appropriate to look at

one of the most powerful and dominating shots in the women's

game, Serena Williams' serve. How often have we seen her opponents

looking hopeless as that's whizzes past? Let's have a closer look at

her technique and what she does with the ball. What she does very well a

lot of the guys do, but not the girls so much, is get into that

position here. It is called the trophy position, because it is like

a little man or Lady on top of the trophy like that when you are a

little kid and you win the trophy, that's it. Her body weight moving

forward quickly into position and that pulls her arms, a little bit

like a javelin thrower. Their body weight is going forward, the javelin

is at the back, in her case it is the racket. All of her momentum is

going forward, pulling the racket. We go a bit further, we will pause

it right at the top at contact. The ball is not in front of her, it is

above her. Initially it was in front of her but as her body moves

forward, she contacts the ball right at the top which will give maximum

power. Another interesting thing to look out, look where her face is

aiming. She's not watching the ball. How often have you heard from your

coach, watched the ball, no, you don't do that. Not Serena Williams,

not any of the big players. Occasionally on the second serve

were not very often. She cannot keep her head up, she is spinning so

fast. This is her ball toss. It has been an area of uncertainty for her

over the years. It is something she continuously has to work on. From

that position, the opponent cannot really tell where she is serving and

that is one of her great qualities. A lot like the great 's servers in

the men or in the past some of the women. Look at the width, how can

Kerber deal with that? She may have to change her position. This is

where Serena is aiming for. You can see the red aces, she is going for

the lines, she doesn't want the ball to come back. Why would you if you

have such a powerful serve? In the body? Forget about it, always going

for the Lions. You can see the yellows. -- always going for the

lines. Kerber can use her defensive skills to put pressure on Serena,

and hope she has a bad day and misses a few. Serena hits her

targets, it will be a long day for Kerber.

Or may be a short match! It is interesting, she really hit the

Lions and it opens up the court. I'm surprised she doesn't use the body

serve very much, but most of the time when she hits her target it is

over. She has the least amount of serve returns than any other player.

She can hit the slice and the flat long, hard to deal with. You saw on

the numbers, pretty much 50/ 50. It is hard to read. And I want to ask

you, she is 34 years of age. You were winning Grand Slams in your

30s, does it get much tougher? Do you feel more nerves? You feel more

nerves because you know the end is coming and you won't have that many

opportunities any more, and everything slows down. Everything

slows down as you get older apart from deterioration, that speeds up!

Even how long it takes you to get out of bed, digest your food and

warm up. But if the motivation is there, OK, all I have to do today is

play one match and you get ready for it. Because she has been playing her

best tennis, it is easy to keep the motivational and the sky is the

limit. Also the way Serena plays the game, it is pretty simple in that

she doesn't have to have that much strategy. Maybe she has a lot of

strategy but it almost doesn't matter where she hits the ball

because it has so much pace and spin on it. The ball is six feet inside

the sideline because the player is off the court, she works the point

so well that she hits big shots into very safe places. That's where she

has gotten so much better, hitting big shots and doesn't miss. You

mentioned may be time is running out, the three losses she has had in

the last three Grand Slams... It adds up. Do you feel you are running

out of time? Most of all it is about maintaining where you have been, she

doesn't need to do anything better or differently, but there is a

little bit of fall off. Speed wise, the reaction wise. When I was 35,

38, whatever, you think, there is a drop shot, I need to run, when you

were younger you didn't think about it. You have to make yourself move

and that gets tiring. I suppose the message takes longer to get down

there. I don't know what happens, it is peculiar. You have to react but

she doesn't seem to have that issue because she is moving as well as

ever. And you are predicting Serena? You have to, when she plays her best

tennis she is better than everybody out there. The only chance Kerber

has is its Serena doesn't play well. Of course it can happen but you have

to put your money on Serena Williams. And she has changed the

face of women's tennis, hasn't she? Were used to be ever to be short and

fast, not that much power, all you were tall but not that fast, because

you had length and reach, now you need to have both, really, tall and

fast, because the balls are coming that much faster and Serena won't

let you get away with that. I am glad I played when I did, then! We

are going to head down to Centre Court. Tracy and Lindsay will be

with me but first Clare looks back at what has been a wonderful ladies

championship. CLARE BALDING: It wouldn't be a

Grand Slam as this generation knows it without Serena Williams being

installed as the overwhelming favourite before a racket has been

strong, volleyball has been hit. The other 127 players know the deal. But

this was a tournament in which it's defending champion seemed unusually

vulnerable. Two grand slam final defeats in a row. There was a new

generation of talent finally emerging from Serena's shadow? Well,

maybe. The French Open champion and second seed was an early casualty.

Emma day two tough day at the office. Likewise, Petra Kvitova. The

third seed nearly followed, taken the distance, and then some, by the

18-year-old. Even Serena didn't have it all her own way. She looked

anxious and then angry as Christina McHale put up a brave fight before

kicking into what she calls the area mode. What a way to finish! Heather

Watson is all about the value married, having been on the other

end of it last year. In round one, her own was not -- her best was not

enough. Laura Robson's stay was also over quickly, but Britain had a seed

in the women's draw for the first time in 32 years and Jo Konta made

it through to round two in impressive fashion. Any optimism was

quickly dampened though. She succumbed to an apparently resurgent

Eugenie Bouchard. Tara Moore was left as the last British woman

standing, and the wild card left nothing behind, taking a set from

Kuznetsova. The other Williams sister, Venus, has been on something

of an emotional roller-coaster at Wimbledon this year. Putting the

five-time champ on court 18 rows are eyebrows but Venus rose to the

occasion. At the most inopportune moment... It is pouring, match

point. Eventually she won in three sets. Round four saw a couple of

fine matches. Simona Halep beat big hitting Madison Keys. The dynamo

that is Dominika Cibulkova and the third seed Agnieszka Radwanska gave

everything they had. This was the match of the Championships, and it

was eventually won by the Eastbourne champion. Cibulkova's run at

Wimbledon was apparently something of a surprise to her as well. Finals

day was also due to be the Slovakian's wedding day. Going into

the quarters, plans were being tentatively rearranged. Unnecessary,

as it turned out. Elena Vesnina, the burden 50, was the surprise

semifinalist. The other quarterfinals went rather more to

script. Australian Open champion Angelique Kerber ended Simona Halep

is not run, and the Williams sisters were both comfortable victors. On

opposite sides of the draw, it looked as if Serena and Venus might

meet in a fairy tale final. However, fairy tales rarely come true, and

Kerber curbed the enthusiasm of the resurgent Venus. Her fast feet

propelling her to one more shot in every round. What a winner, and what

a way to win. Serena did her bit, though, dominating every aspect, and

looking back to her very best. So, from 128 to just two, and Serena

Williams is still the overwhelming favourite. Angelique Kerber, who

beat her in Australia, stands between the American and another

piece of tennis history. SUE BARKER: Can reflect more on the

ladies tournament, we can join Richey over on Henman Hill.

I am not alone. We look back at the semifinals, straight sets victory

for both winners and an easy one for Serena. Earlier in the tournament,

some wonderful matches, Annabel, particularly the Radwanska Cibulkova

match. ANNABEL CROFT: That was probably my favourite of the

tournament, when you watch them slugging it out and pushing it to

their capabilities. Cibulkova is one of the fittest players out there,

but she said she left it all out on the court. She said it was

physically the less demanding that she has ever played in her career

and that was saying something. Agree, Sam? It was a great match.

Because the semifinals were easily won, the women's game got a bit of a

bashing in the press but people forget about the great matches in

the earlier rounds. No one is talking about the strength and depth

in women's tennis because some of the big names went early such as

Muguruza. It might not have happened ten years ago. The Williams sisters

both in their 30s, where are the young stars? Who is the next

Muguruza? For quite some time we have had some good talent coming

through like Belinda Bencic, who won in Eastbourne last year. Bouchard

who reached the final here couple years ago, and then she faltered.

Muguruza who won at the French Open and came out early, so I think in

women's tennis it is quite wide open. We keep looking at new stars

that emerge, then they have their honeymoon period and that is over

and the players find them out. I think all the players feel on the

tour that at any time they can beat any of the top players. Kaz Aquino,

only about 18 years of age, maybe she is one to look out for. The tour

is tough, it sorts them out. There are some players Sam who are

struggling to make the bridge, the likes of Madison Keys, Sloane

Stephens, Simona Halep. Will they come through eventually? We are

still waiting for Simona Halep and she will probably feel a lot better

if Kerber wins today because that was a wonderful quarterfinal. For

me, some of these young players are not so young any more, keys and

Stephens. They were like good racehorses but did not progress.

That is worrying now because Serena and Venus are pushing into their

mid-30s, and the Keys and Stephens have grown up watching them, and you

would think they would have come through by now. I think it is a real

puzzle why they haven't. I think players are developing later these

days and fitness levels, it requires that much more time for their bodies

to develop and to be able to get the fitness levels required on the tour.

Emotionally it is very demanding as welcome as I think that is why

players are playing much better into their later years. Thank you for the

moment. We wish you the best of luck, enjoy the final today. We are

all set here on the Hill. SUE BARKER: They can very much, Richey.

Everyone taking their place, those who are not lucky enough to have a

ticket for Siddikur can go on Henman Hill.

A busy day for the Williams family today. We have made our way down

into Sandercock, Tracy and Lindsay are with us. Just watching how

blustery it was outside, and yet not fear. That is good news for Kerber

in a way. I think it feels more protected. With the roof, then it

became a bit more in closed. It used to swell around when we played. I

think additions will be OK, a bit of wind on one side. Having said

that... Here we go! Maybe it hasn't changed! LAUGHTER

But who does that favour? Serena can just hit through the win. Serena can

hit through the wind and her service just so fluid, I don't think she

will have much problem with that. As we talked about yesterday, I think

so much of it comes down to nerves, whether Serena is going to be calm,

like she has been for most of the tournament, particularly since

beating McHale in that second round, that tough three-setter she came

through. Oh boy! LAUGHTER What were you saying about the wind?

Let's stay calm. She has looked phenomenal since coming through the

second round, and gotten better with each match she has played. Her

surface stats, Lindsay, I thought was interesting, better in every

category, first serves won, percentage of first serves in, than

the rest of the year, and that doesn't bode well for Kerber. That

seems to be part of her game that has got better, because it wasn't so

good in the year. And she struggled in Australia, she wasn't winning

those keypads with her serve. When she loses that confidence, she gets

a bit more anxious. That is what Tracy was talking about every little

stat has got better. The points one, this will be interesting. 54% of

Serena's first serves have not come back into play. Trevor has made 80%

of her returns. Something has to give, and Kerber has to make a high

number of returns back into play and it is hardest to do that again

Serena on a grass court. That would be telling to me. It is hard to

defend those shots, but that is what Kerber has to do to get into five or

six Paul rallies to have a chance. And Kerber broke Serena five times

at the Australian Open in that final, and we saw her retrieval

skills. They were just incredible, the way she was able to get so many

balls back in play. And then on the run she has such ability to create

this angle, but as Lindsay said, it is so much tougher on a grass court

to get back to neutral, once you are on defence. And I think this surface

rewards Serena's style of play with the big first serve, the big return.

Her stats in returns are also up at Wimbledon compared to the rest of

the year, so if she is able to maintain that level, and again we

have seen Serena in a view of these late stages of a Grand Slam, in the

last year, particularly in the semifinals at the US Open, where she

has got a little bit nervous and anxious. That is something to look

for. Let's here from Serena. After the match, she spoke to Clare.

Playing for history now. Serena Williams has been confirmed as the

greatest player of all-time. How much does Wimbledon mean to you?

Winning here would mean so much, I wanted so bad. But it is a fine line

between winning it and doing it, sometimes you can want it too much

that you can stress yourself out. I am at the point that I wanted to

bad, at the same time I have to realise, I have to realise that this

is all bonus. My career has been unbelievable, and I am playing just

for bowlers now, and this is fun. It has been an humbly wartime, and

winning this Wimbledon would be great for me. When you go out there,

do you know you are on it straightaway, do you think this is

it, I am unbeatable today? No, I never, I am always the kind of

person that picks everything, I am a real perfectionist. I am always

looking to see what I can do better. You looked happy and like you are

enjoying it too, which has to help? Yes, I definitely was enjoying the

moment, and I feel like when I am relaxed and happy, I play well. It

is just getting there, but at the same time keeping that super focus.

So you are into your ninth final, how do you prepare differently for

walking out there on Saturday afternoon? I don't know, I have to

talk with my coach about it. Obviously I have been in several

finals this year and I have not won yet, so hopefully we will come out

with a different game plan on how to be of to hold up a trophy. You are

more than a tennis player, you have a greater message to the world, I

think. What do you want kids to take on what you are doing? I think it is

so important to always fight. I read a great quote today, it said "If you

are going through something, get through it, keep going". You can

never let anyone tell you who you are, or what you are supposed to do,

how you are supposed to win. You have to do is be true to you. There

are things that create you, and situations, time after time again,

and it creates the person that you will become. So, yes, you will

definitely change as you grow older and as time goes on. You always want

to change for the better, always. SUE

She is so driven, isn't she, Lindsay? She says I want to stay

relaxed and happy, I want to stay focused, but how much will be she

thinking of the missed opportunities in the last three Grand Slams?

LINDSAY DAVENPORT: I think she would be thinking about it, but sometimes

players are in denial about it. She has been so open, I calmly there did

not win those, I was so devastated but I have learned from those

losses. She has something so real to play for to go down as the greatest

female player of all-time. There is obviously a lot of pressure on her

with that but it is a huge goal as well and it motivates her to

practice more and more. I don't know, I think she has got a really

mature, realistic approach in of this. The calendar year Grand Slam

that Lycos to much for her. But it is a source of motivation as well.

Also, such a great athlete. We were stuck about the great power game,

the big serve, the tennis she does but such a great athlete. They a lot

of work off the court as well. She does, she is physically so strong.

You have to also think as she ages, at 34, whether she might have to put

in more time as well to keep that body. She is travelling with a

physio. I know that Israeli important for her because she had an

injury at the French. She had that slight tear in her abaca. So again,

she hasn't had really long matches. Just that McHale match was the one

that pushed her. She lost the first set, slammed her racket, got

frustrated, let it out, and she feels that is important too.

I don't think Angelique Kerber be affected. No, she already has that

Belize, in the biggest moment I know my game can hold up. Obviously a

greater challenge for Kerber on this surface against the weapons Serena

has, but throughout the week she sounds pretty confident and she

hasn't dropped a set so she comes into this match with the most

believe she has ever had that she can win this tournament. She is

playing her best tennis, but Serena said she is back to her best. In the

years since she has been working with her current coach, she has won

eight Grand Slams. Is it a surprise she hasn't won a Grand Slam since

last year? I know everybody expects her to win every tournament she

plays, because she has been so dominant and has the pressure of

being number one in the world. When things are not that easy, it doesn't

help you perform well. You feel like it is more of a burden. That

explains why at some point she has not been able to win as much as she

has been winning in the last four years. One of the things she

attributed to you is the fact you can keep her peaceful and calm. We

saw one moment when she got worked up in the match against Kuznetsova,

and she spoke to you in the break and you brought her anxieties down.

How do you do that? First of all there is no recipe, I am adapting to

her and the needs of my player. If she needed to be pumped, I would do

that, but she doesn't need that. Most of the time she is very

naturally pumped, dynamic, she wants to perform so much that her body,

everything shows it. Sometimes the stress comes and this is when she

needs to calm down, and the best way to do that is to have a look at the

situation, to have a simple and clear view of the situation. That's

what I try to give to her. You guys are too professional and focus to

think about a final against Kerber as revenge, we know that. How do you

go about setting Serena up to perhaps correct the score of that

defeat at the Australian Open? It is important when you fail... Failing

in life is not a problem if you learn something from it, and

learning something is first accepting the idea I did things

wrong. I mean not the right way or it would have worked, understand

what you did wrong and be better next time in the same situation. SUE

BARKER: They are great and they? Absolutely, you just have to look at

the numbers. Patrick has just really got her in the right frame of mind

and chasing history, and really let her know it is not just one

tournament at a time, it is the bigger goal. It is extra motivation

to keep her at 34, 35, still passionate about playing. I think he

has added a little spin on her forehand as well so it is these

little tweaks. And she trusts him, she really buys into what he says.

When they were at 5-5, and went off for a rain delay against Kuznetsova,

and Kuznetsova was changing pace and Serena was out of sorts, he calmed

her down, and changed her game. It is a wonderful atmosphere, really

filling up. It is Serena Williams taking on Angelique Kerber. We have

heard from Serena, let's talk to Angelique Kerber she has been

talking to Annabel. I started playing tennis when I was three

years old. Wimbledon was always a dream for me.

Who was the biggest influence in your career early on? Your parents?

Both of them. My father was playing really good tennis in Poland

actually, and my mum as well. I understand your father is Polish and

your mother German so what were the dynamics like at home and what

language did you speak in the house? Actually both. I am starting to

speak Polish, that was my first language, then I went to

kindergarten and learned German, and right now we are speaking more

German but also Polish. What do you dream in? I am dreaming in German. I

have watched you for many years, your physique is the fittest I have

ever seen it so what do you put it down to? I have spent a lot of time

at the gym, running, doing sprinting because I know this is really

important. Right now when you would like to play your best tennis. I am

feeling good with this. And of course that has paid off because it

has been a good year for you, you won your first Grand Slam in

Australia. COMMENTATOR: I can't believe it! That is wonderful for

her. I played really great tennis, and I remember the final against

Serena, I played really good tennis and just the best memories I have so

far in my career and my highlight. It is my dream come true on this

night. I came here playing really good tennis from round to ground,

and now in my second Grand Slam in my career. It is something really

special for me. It is something I really try to enjoy now. Has it sunk

in yet? Yes, the Wimbledon final was always a dream for me since I was a

little kid, now I will try of course to win the final but it won't be

easy. Of course you matched Serena in that final mentally as much as

physically, how will you match her on the grass courts here? I think it

will be a completely different match than in Australia. She will go out

there to beat me for sure but I will try to play my best tennis and not

think too much that I am playing against Serena,

and try not to think too much that it is the final at Wimbledon. I will

just try to focus on my game and try to go for it. It is 20 years since

Steffi Graf made that walk from the locker room onto Centre Court, are

you ready for that? I am ready for that and I will try to enjoy it

because this is something I was always dreaming for. 20 years ago

Steffi Graf was the last German and I will try to step in her footsteps.

SUE BARKER: And Steffi Graf has been in touch, Angelique been to stay

with the Agassis. Yes, she will make her believe in herself, give her a

few tips. It was nice to have some champions to practice with! And how

to handle the situation after she won in Australia because her life

changed. There's more expectations, pressure and more to deal with as

well from the media. We will look at how she defeated Serena at the

Australian Open, and this is it. She played so well, but Serena says, I

made mistakes. She did, it was an interesting combination of offence

and defence from Kerber. I don't think Serena was moving at her very

best. When she came to the net, Kerber went for low passing shots,

to the side, she didn't make it easy for Serena with a lot of variety and

awkward shots. I don't know if that's because Serena was nervous or

not 100% healthy, she was off balance so many times. At this

tournament so far her movement has been great, she has been staying low

but we will see today Kerber can throw her off her game again. I

don't think we will see her allowing her to dominate the rallies. That is

crucial, the first date we have talked about. We know the Annika

Beck's serve can be a liability, and in Australia I think Kerber served

just about the best we have ever seen her. She really mixed them up.

Her serve can be predictable, and it is difficult if she cannot serve a

high percentage with pace and mixed up to different locations. Yes, she

has got to be at her a game and the serve has to be a high percentage. I

would like to see her go for the second serve a little more, and she

might hit more double falls but she has to establish that. If Serena is

dictating, that gives her more confidence and Kerber is always

defending, trying to get in there. She has to get in the rally more.

Something has to change just a little bit for Kerber. The other

thing with Kerber is that she plays her best right on the baseline, and

she defends so well. She has great feat, but she has also got great

hands as well so she can absorb the power, redirect really well.

Particularly with her forehand down the line, but will it be too

overpowering today with Serena? Because if you are playing on grass,

Serena can kick it up a notch with that power. They will be leaving the

locker room in a moment, will it be 22nd Grand Slam title for Williams

or will she be denied yet again by Angelique Kerber? COMMENTATOR: So

cool under pressure... And exhibition performance from Serena

Williams. Wow. At the age of 28 she has reinvented herself. Another

superb performance. The winner in Melbourne and now Wimbledon final

for Angelique Kerber. SUE BARKER: These are the scenes

live. That is Patrick pacing up and down. John McEnroe has just joined

us on Centre Court. It is a big finals day and I love these moments.

It has a feeling this is the match, this is what we have been waiting

for. JOHN MCENROE: Being this close to Centre Court is amazing, it is a

cliche that it is the moment you dream up but it is so true. Also the

nerve factor as well, everyone deals with it differently, at least both

of these have been in a Grand Slam final before. You know, I was

hinting earlier it is a little windy and that will be an issue in this

match. Obviously the way this stadium is setup helps that a little

bit. So I stopped talking because I can hear...? No, we are waiting for

Serena to come back out. Tactics! When you are player, you try to

impose your will, and Serena's is her serve and power. Kerber's is her

movement. In these type of conditions, at least I found out it

is more difficult for the person who wants to hit a cleaner ball, for the

poker player it helps because they can readjust more quickly. I'm

guessing Kerber is telling herself that right now. Her coach is as

well. This is good for you! Perfect. We spoke about the wind, but Kerber

has to hit through it. Yes, to me it is about the nerves as well.

Australia is one thing and winning that title will help are an awful

lot because she has not only beaten Serena in the final but she beat her

6-4 in the third. You can hear the cheering behind us because walking

onto the Centre Court is Uma, who will be doing the coin toss.

Meeting James Keothavong, she will certainly have a day to remember.

This is the exact same court that Maureen Connolly played on, there's

just so much history here. It always brought a few extra notes as well.

You don't get chance to practice out here, you don't get to see it, you

don't get to warm up on it. If you are lucky, you get to play on it, if

you are great you get to win on it it is just the most special place we

have in the sport. Even though it has changed so much, with the

state-of-the-art facility it still has that air of tradition. It is two

o'clock, this is when the players should be on court.

JOHN MCENROE: It might be too oh 1pm instead of 2pm! When you see someone

like Serena chasing history, it makes it better to be here now.

Absolutely, she had a difficult 12 months trying to win. It wasn't that

bad, was it! Trying to win the calendar Grand Slam, she wants to

win Grand Slams and she hasn't won one since. Three finals and a semi-!

But is not what she plays her, she plays to win titles. As she said,

just about everyone on the planet would love to have had the year I

have had, but I think we inspect so much from her, the bar has been

raised so high. Yes, because it is all about the records, it is why

Patrick got her motivated to say, on, you can get a 22, you can be

remembered as the greatest player ever. Absolutely, and for her, she

had not lost in many Grand Slam finals coming into it, so it has

been a bit of a shock. But she talked about it openly, trying to

learn from those losses. The one in particular was at the US Open, the

semifinals, it looked so doable, so much on the line, and also was left

in the draw. It showed what it meant to her, that loss, because she took

off the rest of the year. Just walking down, they will be passing

the trophy, being led by Lorraine Gracie, who looks after the lady

players here. A nice little addition, that longer work. In the

order is the locker room was much closer, that is very cool. Yes, and

it just adds to the history and tradition of the club to pass all

the great champions. So Centre Court awaits, and here they come.

It is incredible how Serena has changed women's tennis. As you say,

she has raised the bar. Even impact this, she gets angry if hating

partners are not hitting hard enough. Just don't ask her to hit

with her -- don't ask me to hit with her. She has changed the sport. The

physicality of the sport in general has got so much better. You are

looking at the greatest athlete that I think has ever been on a tennis

court. Steffi Graf is close, her sister is close, but when you

combine that with her will, her competitiveness. I have never seen

any player on the men's or women's side that has come back from match

point down, match game down, a set down. She battles hard. There is a

buzz here, because this young lady Angelique Kerber was able to beat

her in a major. I don't know if maybe you to thought different, but

I didn't see her like winning a major, and now all of a sudden there

is a shot here where she can tell herself I am another one player in

the wild if I win this match because I have two majors already. Yes, and

very few people can say they beat Serena Williams in two slams in one

year. We talked about the dip in form, losing the first round in the

French. She has got her top player credentials back now. She is another

player that sometimes struggles to get out of the early rounds, but if

she does, watch out. She gets better as the tournament goes on, she has

more belief in her game. She was match point down in the first round

of the Australian Open, goes on to win the title. This tournament has

been different, hasn't dropped a set, looked comfortable throughout.

That shows the dominant that Serena has had. There have been 20

different number two is. That is incredible, the topsy-turvy nurse of

the WTA. No one has been able to sustain that like Serena has. Here

is her big moment, well done. Serena Camilla were talking about it, not

only she has the game, she just has that are the champion, doesn't she?

She really does. That has helped her win probably five to ten of them.

But now that she is becoming a bit more mercurial and her movement

wasn't quite what it was, there is that all of invincibility has left

her. Enough so that people like Herbert, people like Vinci,

Muguruza. They actually believe there is a case to be made that I

can actually beat this lady. When she is on, hitting her power game, I

mean, if she is on today, because I think it is different than

Australia. On the grass courts here, her server will have more of an

impact. The concern is that is pretty gusty here and that will be

an issue, I believe, for the player to play to the level they want to.

At least when I played in the wind, I felt like I had to be more

conservative, the ball toss sometimes it is moving around. So,

to me, that would benefit Kerber, because Serena Wilmot be as easily

able to go for the shop she wants to go to, to dictate. It is a high ball

toss Serena has had as well, but something she has worked on and it

is such a weapon. Yes, and the footwork in the wind is so crucial.

Lindsay, as you pointed out in Australia, sometimes when she gets

nervous she starts reaching for Poles, the footwork is not quite as

precise. I think the beginning of the match is something to really

look for, whether Serena has a let footwork and is getting all of

dither board. She hit so hard. She can't be off-balance to much,

because she hits a clean ball. For Kerber as well, she needs to have a

quick start. If Serena gets away with this match, Serena could be

like a freight train. It can go very quickly, particularly if Serena is

playing like she did in the semifinals here. Seven are unforced

errors. I guess the good part, they seem to have a very clear idea of

what Kerber is going to do. It is amazing that they are convinced that

if they hit certain shots, she will reply with angles, likes to go

crosscourt, hit shorter angles. In that case, if in fact they are

correct, it will be easier to deal with the situation, because they

will be able to move exactly and know where to go to to deal with it.

The question is how well is Kerber able to do it, because they seem to

be or to execute and win. Kerber moves so well. Yes, offensively and

defensively she is quick to get a leather balls into play, quick to

take Paul's early as well, the athleticism how she stays down. But

it is interesting, the tactics that go on. Early in her career, Serena

would say I was about myself, I don't care about who is on the other

side of the net. That has been a real difference for her the last few

years, also with Patrick ongoing with a game plan, and a plan B if

plan a is not working. Another reason why she has got so much

better these last few years. Yes, because Kerber is going to try to

keep her on the back foot. Kerber is so good at that, absorbing power and

creating those angles, even wrong footing her opponents. Kerber likes

to hit the outer thirds of the court, she went it down the middle

too much. She actually had a couple of really crucial drop shots in the

third set in Australia. Now drop shots on grass are going to be a

little more difficult to hit if the borrowers coming at you Mark Tullo.

But once in awhile if you tried -- at you mach two. It will all be

about who get that first break, and holding serve, that will be crucial

for her. She has dropped her serve so much in this championship but she

has been able to make up for it with good returns. But we have the best

return in the game, Serena. She will have a look every time Kerber

serves, no question. That is Angelique's coach coming in. She

says she is playing the best tennis of her career, but the server needs

to be more of a weapon. I don't know if it can be, if I was Serena, I

would stand at least a step or two rider. But she doesn't use it that

well. I think the serve is the weakest part of the game. But for me

she likes angles. So I wouldn't give her that. I would force her to hit a

ball she is not comfortable with, correct me if I am wrong. First her

to hit a flatter serve. She will not hit much more than 104 mph, I would

say. Even if that was the case, Serena would have a nice look at a

forehand and be back in the centre of the court. I would absolutely

take that server away. We must not forget Angelique has not dropped a

set. Serena has laid most of her matches out on Centre Court, she has

been away and about and has not dropped a set. That has been really

good for Angelique. She has talked about the pressure she was putting

on herself, the self-imposed pressure she thought that the

French. Just looking at the stats, it is incredible what she has

achieved, and what she continues to achieve along with Venus, who is six

years. Had a great chance here to get to seven. No one thinks she is

even close to being done. It is about winning, this is what she

plays for. She doesn't play much outside of the Grand Slams. This is

what keeps her motivated. No question. I find it amazing that she

fails at any of the tournament 's -- she plays any of the tournaments,

why bother? She plays like she is doing all right. But she is starting

to cut it down a little. Slams only! LAUGHTER

As far as Angelique, she has to get off to a decent start, try to keep

on the scoreboard. You would think. But she is a battler. That goes

without saying, Angelique Kerber will fight to the bitter end,

especially since she beat her in Australia. Absolutely. We are

getting ready here, thank you to Tracy, Lindsey and John. John and

Lindsay are on the way to the commentary box, they will be calling

the match for us, along with John Inverdale.

JOHN INVERDALE: It is the height of summer, and it actually feels like

it, a bird, breezy summer Saturday, and so much of the build-up to this

sporting some of which still has a much to offer, culminating in Rio is

month, centres on the 20th anniversary of Euro 96. And another

20th anniversary of one of the key elements of this final at Wimbledon,

because while England and Terry Venables were making it through to

the semifinals in those days, Steffi Graf was beating Arantxa Sanchez

Vicario in straight sets for her seventh title here and her last.

Since then, tennis has been with the odd exception something of a

jeweller believe between Serena and Venus Williams, but here we are, 20

years on, with Serena once again trying to equal Steffi Graf's tally

of 22 Grand Slam victories. Standing in her way, a German train to be the

first man from -- the first person from her country to win here since

Steffi Graf. And obviously Serena could be coming here having already

equalled Margaret Court's all-time record of 22 major titles, but at it

is she is still chasing one more to equal Graf. In the Royal Box is the

Reverend Margaret Court. Her total of 24, if Serena was to win today,

that would be the next target and perhaps the final chapter to be

aimed at in what has been a truly remarkable career. JOHN MCENROE: I

think Margaret Court wants her to get a 24, because all she has about

a Steffi Graf. And a quick word, you were saying earlier, John, you were

knocking up with Milos Raonic, is it breezy, gusty, what is it?

Definitely breezy and gusty. It is tricky out there. I would use the

word tricky. Footwork essential. Smaller steps. The first decision

that was made today was by Angelique Kerber, who decided to put Serena

Williams into that, and so the most formidable serve in the history of

women's tennis will hit the first ball in this year 's final.

If the whole match is like that, we are in for a good afternoon! That is

exactly Kerber's gameplay, short, low balls dangling off the court.

Changing direction. That might be the most running Serena has done in

her last few matches. She has cruised through the last two.

Not many nerves on either side at the moment. That would be hard to

believe. But both of the ladies seem to be hitting the ball cleanly.

I have seen Serena looking across court, that is what Kerber likes.

She almost always goes across court, both sides. Yes, Serena cut the

angle off, she was right on top of the net and that's a change from

Australia. She was passed by that shot on a number of occasions.

Was that the wind or did Kerber not read that? I believe that was a

combination of the two, maybe expecting the ball in a different

area. We will see a few more of those

today. 62 aces from Serena in this tournament alone. Lindsay, she has

obviously got the physical stature to hit the ball like that, but it is

actually such an easy swing as well, isn't it? Absolutely. Her technique

is so perfect and that's what helps her with that shot and that contact.

The longer the rally goes, the better the chance for Kerber. Some

star power! We have some serious a list. And that is in Serena's box.

Look at the slice on that. Should probably say as well, in case you

didn't recognise who that was in Serena's box, that was Beyonce and

her husband. And it is interesting the Beyonce concerts have been the

most sought-after tickets by the players this year. You have got to

take them on early light Serena did. John, you said before you thought

Patrick said they thought they had a good idea of Kerber's strategy. Get

back to those low, short balls as quickly as possible. You see the way

she is standing, she's not going to give her that wide serve. We were

talking about it in the build-up, but it is so key for Kerber to get

on board early. Yes, Serena is a great front runner, and particularly

at the beginning of match. Look at the quality of the movement

there, had a great bit of touch by Williams as well to win that point,

and it is the first break of this final. Let's see if Kerber can or

will make an adjustment. Look how she is standing, she's just waiting

for it. That is a great inside out winner.

That's the type of adjustment Kerber has to make, and it is a great risk

there. When she has a split of time she has got to take her chances and

play offensively. That has been a problem for her

throughout her career, a few double faults. And that undoes the good of

that brilliant winner a few seconds ago.

She has actually served 11 double faults in the tournament so far,

just two by Serena. Too good. John, you talked about it

before that you thought Serena should move over to her left. She is

definitely one step further to the left than she would be, but Kerber

cannot afford to be so predictable on the backhand serve.

A little bit unlucky for Serena Williams, unlucky for Kerber who hit

off the line and took a bad bounce. That had all the air of a double

fault. Just clambered onto the line at the very last moment. This is a

long old service game for Angelique Kerber, and a really important one

too. She just reached for that, and

footwork is key. Took a few smaller steps. She could have had a much

easier look at that backhand. And she has put it long! Well, an

epic second game. And that is what the crowd wanted. They feel we may

have a match here. Kerber extremely fortunate she held serve there.

Better volley there. Interesting, after Serena lost that game, turned

around to her camp, showing frustration already. You always want

to keep an eye on that with Serena. If she does get a little anxious on

court. What kind of mood is she on? Which is why the key element for

Kerber is to keep in the match. The longer she stays in the match, the

more potentially rattled Serena might get. Scoreboard pressure is so

important. Easier for Serena Williams to hit through the court in

this wind on her serve. It will be a battle every time Angelique steps up

to the line. If the wind is going to play a part

in this match, is it swirling? Going one way or the other? It felt like

that before the match, it was going every which direction. Or you can

take the wind out of the equation altogether. That's one way to do it.

Here's some facts and figures because this is the only Grand Slam

title Serena holds at the moment and there have been three falterings

over the course of the last ten months or south. What about Serena's

serve, when that dips below a level how does it impact on her game? I

think she feels more pressure on her ground strokes, she's not as

relaxed, force is it a bit more. Her game revolves around her serve, it

is the cornerstone and allows her to free up when returning, allows her

to be more aggressive in baseline rallies. I think the other part of

this equation is when she is around 50%, because she has lost a couple

of these matches recently, she has got a little more tentative of her

second serve. I don't think her second serve is quite as good as it

used to be and that is allowing the Kerbers of the world to go after it

a little more. Kerber was quite amusing her -- in her press

conference, she said all the papers now are saying, Angelique, you have

the whole of the nation's sporting hopes resting on you - no pressure!

That kicked off the service line as well.

For Andy Murray too, but since he is Scottish that doesn't come into

play. Don't go there, John! And again, she goes crosscourt and

Serena is just sitting there waiting for her. The ball in the basket,

simple point. That's the favourite choice of Kerber, especially when

she is on the run and I think Serena has come into this match prepared on

her opponent's game. She has done the video analysis.

That's a number of times we have already seen in this match Serena

off-balance on her backhand. Is that just a footwork thing? That is

footwork but make no mistake, the wind is making it tricky for these

two. It is hard to play your A game. I think that benefit Kerber because

she can move more easily. Great shot. Two great angles in

succession from Serena. APPLAUSE

And a more straightforward hold for Kerber. It could scarcely be harder

than the first one, mind you. Serena Williams on that server in

particular has to give herself more margin, particularly in these

conditions, it threw the ball. She could have that six, eight, ten feet

over the net and still have it Rop well inside the baseline.

That was an extraordinary second serve from Serena. 65. It could be

the slowest serve she ever hit. Yes, I would say that. Ever.

So by way of contrast... She hammers one down at 121 mph straight to the

line judge! We have gone from one extreme to the

other. A third ace of this match so far.

So wearing your coaching had here, John, if Kerber, her natural

instinct is always to go across court, and she knows that is what

she is going to do, and Serena knows that she knows that is what she is

going to do, and Serena knows that she knows, how does that change, how

does Kerber go I know you are waiting for this ball? Can you take

a punt and go, it is almost worth losing a couple of points by going

down the line, just to put doubt into Serena's mind about where to

go? That would be what I would absolutely tell her to do, because

it wouldn't take too many times at all before Serena might start second

guessing her own coach, and how convinced he was that it is going to

happen consistently. What has happened so far and in Australia and

recently from what they have watched, I believe, is that they

believe that Kerber is still willing, thinking she will hit a

good enough shot anyway, even knowing that she knows that she

knows... How does it start again? Because Kerber believes she will be

leaving it long. On serve at the moment.

Those are those little subtle adjustments that the best of the

best make out there. And Kerber, I do think she can afford to get

burdened with that crosscourt pass too many times. She will have to

find a way to go up the line, a lord, something different.

That will also have to be an intelligent player, and read the

game and heat of the moment. And take stock of what is happening.

What has worked, what hasn't. The net is on cover's side at the

moment, and even at that early stage, the first service game that

Kerber held might have been very significant.

Pretty obviously, you can see how wind-up Serena Williams is, trying

to tie Steffi Graf. She has missed a number, nothing is easy in the

finals I guess, but pretty makeable returns. She will have to bank on

that serve, hang on, and wait until she gets hot here. Then she can

relax a little bit. Four aces already.

And we have seen so many epic matches on this court over the last

few days, but the advantage of serving first can be really key in a

set. Especially when you serve like that.

Made it! If APPLAUSE Kerber applauds Serena. The net

almost won it for her again, but that was a magnificent rally from

both sides of the net. By further best point of the match. I saw

Kerber staring down the line for about 15 seconds. "Maybe I should

think about doing a passing shot". APPLAUSE

Great shot. Great response. After losing that point before. She had

done so well to get back into that rally.

Does Serena ever challenge a call? Hawk-Eye is currently redundant.

Deuce on a Serena serve. Kerber doing a great job of making returns,

she has made 60% of them so far in this match. In case you were

wondering, Hawk-Eye confirms that the serve from Serena was long.

Very interesting. Kerber has to sided to back up when the toss goes

up to try to give herself a little bit more time. Look at that, a total

mismatch in winners so far. UMPIRE: New balls, please.

It is a wonderfully athletic, aesthetically pleasing shot, that

forehand. As a leftie you must enjoy that. I wish I could hit it the way

she did, and excellent weapon. She is a tremendous athlete. And it

helps her I think during Wimbledon, the fact that it does not kick up to

high on grass, stays in her strike zone. She has got the doubles finals

later. Why didn't she show before? Was she practising? She has got a

grand slam final today too. Of course Angelique Kerber has beaten

one half of the family already and she would like to complete the

double today. Just going back to that forehand, though, because of

the contours of the court fact that the net is lower in the middle, it

is so much easier of course to go crosscourt, and the margins are so

much less if you go crosscourt rather than down the line. The

beauty of our sport is you have so little time to decide and assess the

geometry of the situation, and get the ball is in a position where you

feel if you need to go down the line you can execute. It is extremely

important that Kerber does that. All players are able to do that when

needed. So far, she has been unable to

capitalise on that. The hardest serve she has hit in the entire

tournament is 103 mph. When Venus came in at 4-3, it is

worth saying that the fastest serve a hit by a woman at Wimbledon was

Venus Williams, 129 mph. Mir that inside out backhand return

has worked better for Serena, than trying to get around the outside of

the ball and try to go to the forehand wing of Kerber. I liked

that return a lot because you can aim even towards the centre, if you

catch it late, it still goes in, in fact it is better.

That's huge there, to be able to come outside her comfort zone and go

for her least favourite serve on a big point shows are confident

Kerber. Didn't think that would be the same, unreturned serves equal?

The hardest serve overturned and. I think half an hour if you had said

to Angelique Kerber before either of them had hit the ball that you had

offered her four apiece half an hour into the game, she would have taken

that. It is game on now. It is great to see Kerber come out

with the mindset. You can tell that she believes she can win this match,

and that isn't always the case. When players are facing Serena in a major

final. I suppose Kerber had to make sure

she was not destructive there and put the ball in court. Went down on

that right knee, it looks like. A similar fault... A similar fault of

Roger yesterday. Needs to keep an eye on the ankle. She plays every

match with both ankles taped. Healthy ankles there.

Brilliant from Kerber! A lot of flat hitting and then suddenly off

Serena's slice a lovely drop shot. One of her favourite shots is that

backhand drop shot. I don't think the Williams camp prepared for that.

That is just too good. You just have to walk away and say, OK.

That was a medium paced delivery, 114.

Kerber might think she had a chance there. You were half kidding about

that medium paced delivery, but that serve is so incredible. We are not

talking about someone as tall as a lot of the other players, what is

she? 5'10? 5'11 maybe. Let's say under six foot! At that height, to

get up to that ball and attack it, she has 68 aces for the tournament,

Kerber has 11. 57 more aces, that's 15 games, that's two and a half sets

just by banging the ball down and it's not going to come back. It's

not just because she is John Isner's height, she is 5'11. There's plenty

of players that don't have the type of serve she has at that height.

That's the technique, the ball toss, the whole combination where she uses

her body. You were saying in the semifinal, John, that you saw her

play when she was eight. Did you see that kind of... I didn't see that

serve! But did you see the ability to project the ball in the way she

does? I didn't see her long enough for that but right away you could

see there was something special in both of them, Venus and Serena.

I think Venus was about 14 when she turned professional.

Kerber has played well up until now but this is the first pressure

moment. She hasn't been playing yet up to

her ability. Kerber has in her own way really

been picking on the backhand of Serena. She gets the upper hand in

the exchange, really testing that wing of Serena's.

She was almost knocked off her feet by the ferocity of that shot.

Her knees touched the ground, that's a tough spot to recover from. It is

almost like a trick shot. You cannot get any lower on the ball than that.

For all the aces that Serena is serving, 13-3 she is leading on

unforced errors. So we are all square after 40 minutes, and this is

just the kind of match this Centre Court crowd wanted today.

That first step speed, Kerber is better than Serena and she's taking

advantage of that. In some of these rallies, taking the ball early.

It has gone long. For all of the nerves she must have had before she

walks out on court, Kerber now will be looking at the scoreboard and

thinking, I am more than in this. Serena looks more uptight than

Kerber does. That was a really nervy serve. That is so tight. We have

seen it so often. That single shot gets her out of so many jams in a

match. She took the pace off that. But it is every bit as effective.

And then she put the pace back on that. Eight aces. That's what is so

frustrating when you play big hitters in the men's game, big

servers, because a lot of times the smaller opponent feels like, and

rightly so, they are winning a lot of points when they get into a

rally. The problem is consistently being able to do that. And when you

keep holding serve the pressure is ramped up for someone who doesn't

win as many free points. Kerber, to her credit, despite hitting five

winners, I think I saw 25, is right in this set. It is not for now

obviously but the great proponents who say you should only have one

serve, that is why people cannot bang the ball down. There would be

more element of risk if you couldn't gamble everything on the first serve

in the knowledge you have a second to come. If you do something like

that, you should penalise them and save the server gets two points if

the returner misses them. You would have to change all types of rules.

I'm sure Peter Kay could do a very entertaining routine on that. And

Sir John Hurt, stars of theatre and television in the Royal box today.

That is too good. Perfect work by Serena with the footwork, stayed

inside the baseline the entire rally.

That was what Kerber couldn't do in the first point of this game, get

Serena off balance or Moran. Two loose points that are really bad

moment. Having said she played a really conservative game would no

unforced errors, two in a row at a key moment from Angelique Kerber,

and here we have two set points. She probably wants that drop shot

back. Magnificent crosscourt from

Williams! APPLAUSE She hasn't won the match yet,

although you might think she has from that reaction, but she is

halfway there. Halfway to number 22. She has just

got so much heart and determination, even when she wasn't playing her

best, she figured out a way to get it done. You don't think she cares

about winning number 22? What does Kerber do now? That was,

you know, tight, but ultimately she just fell short. She blinked at a

key moment. What do she do now? I would say she will continue to do

exactly the same thing. She has competed hard, played pretty well.

Hope that Serena keeps telling herself, look, I won the Australian

Open, did it in the third set. If things had got differently, it could

have been me who won the first set. I don't see her changing her game

plan. That is not like she can go out and hitting aces. So Serena's

game has got the dip, she has to get more nervous almost with the

finishing line in sight, she has to think I might actually do it now.

That might be Kerber's moment to get in? It might be. It is the first

serve, it is just killing Kerber when Serena is winning is 90% of

those points. Any time Kerber had a little bit of a return game lead,

Serena got out of it with the serve and that is something that Kerber

can't do, so she feels the pressure, hence the two unforced errors in

that last game. She has got to believe, though, Kerber, and she has

to keep hanging in there in these return games. She is always going to

be playing catch up again. Maybe she will regret having invited Serena to

serve at the start of the first set. She starts the second.

No question that the Serena Williams serve has more than impact on this

court than any other. Looking up at her box now,

frustrated that she is not able to do anything on this awesome serve.

Billie Jean King with a blue jacket. Brutal stuff from Williams. Do you

think Billie Jean King gives commentary in her sleep? LAUGHTER

Yes, that brain never shuts off, she is watching a tennis match full stop

she would be liking this one, the contrast in style, and how Serena

has stepped up so far today. They are sure a contrast in styles when

it comes to serving. Another ace. It is starting to wear on you if you

are an opponent of Serena Williams. Seeing Billie Jean King and Margaret

Court, we will talk about it in the second actually because the

interesting point about the comparison in where they are

choosing to hit the ball. Serena is working so hard to try to hit the

ball as early as possible on her terms inside the baseline, and she

is giving Kerber so few opportunities to do the same. Kerber

is left far behind the baseline scrambling. That is well done by

Serena, and great intent. I was going to say yes, there is

Billie Jean King the blue of the left, and Margaret Court, two away

from her. They played in a final once that was 14-12, 11-9.

In those days before tie-breaks. You will see Kerber as she did the first

couple of points, make a more concerted effort to take the ball

earlier. She tried to there, but the ball was

too hard for her to find that type of angle. A tough shot to execute up

the line there. There is another great forehand down

the line. A real, positive fist pump from the German. She understands how

critical this is early to hang close. Try to get the crowd behind

her. Strong game by Kerber. Really good

effort. And it is the same in this set as it was in the first, Lindsay.

If Serena's server is going to keep going in this metronomic way, it has

two, I have to stay there as long as is humanly possible. Yes, and not

flinch, like she did at the end of the first set. She can't afford to

give away any free points on her service games and just keep hanging

around. Maybe she will get more second serves, maybe she will make

good contact on if you first serve returns. But Serena has served

pretty spectacularly so far. No question she is making more than

ever to get inside that baseline more often. Good idea. Hard to deal

with a serve that is struck as well as that one was. You can see how

much Kerber feels the research pressure on her in these return

games. You can see her look to the sky, oh, I needed to make that.

APPLAUSE Serena is winning 89% of the points

on her first serve. I suppose the wonder of that stat is it is not

100%. And look at Kerber's reaction to

that. That was a microcosm of all the reactions of all of the players

who have been mobilised by Serena over the years.

Well played. The reason she is a grand slam champion is that she does

not get tomorrow lies by that and she comes back for more. What a nice

change of energy that was from Kerber. Winds that point. It fist

pump for the crowd. Just when you think you have got a

chance, Serena snuffs it out. Here we go again. Who knows what is

ahead. Hopefully something special. It is out of this world. Very tidy

set of tennis from Andy Murray. A great ball by him. Raonic to his

first final. SUE BARKER: And that is what we are

looking forward to tomorrow. Our build-up starts at one o'clock, the

final start at 2pm. Andy Murray takes on Milos Raonic, that is

tomorrow. Back we go to centre. JOHN INVERDALE: Henman Hill will be

packed for that men's final tomorrow, any thoughts on that,

John? CHUCKLING Do you get to watch or do you have

to work? That is a good question. I believe that I'll be working. There

is work and there is work. You hardly call this work. Exactly, good

point. Either way, it is going to be a tremendous day.

APPLAUSE A good, positive start of this came

from Kerber. And again you see her use that short angle as a setup

shot. Oh, made it! And Serena Williams

applauds too, the shot of the match. And it is from Angelique Kerber.

Making the type of adjustment we are talking about. An extremely

difficult ball to hit as well. She just did.

John, is there anything that you think she could do differently in

the return games? She hasn't had a break point yet. Serena has had a

tremendous, she has been serving a truly well so far. I would start to

move around. I never recommend to a player to guess. I am not a

believer, guessing and moving to one side. Certainly giving her different

looks, as far as either starting further back, starting to go to your

left, is trying to give her a different look to throw her off.

Easier said than done. What a rally! And what a fighter

Kerber is, and she is still right in this. You can start to understand,

if you didn't see the Australian Open final, what a competitor

Angelique Kerber is. How well she moves, how cleanly she strikes the

ball off the ground. But she will know that she hasn't had a single

break point yet in this match, and at some point she will have to get

that. As if Serena needed any more help, she has got new balls.

It is a bit gusty out of there so that helped Serena Williams. That is

a smash straight out of the coaching manual, fantastic. You can see from

the ball toss and from the hair and the dress that the wind is

definitely getting up. It is rough out there right now.

How was that not distracting? It is impossible. It is a humid day on the

Centre Court, I haven't said that this year.

UMPIRE: Miss Kerber has two challenges remaining.

Made it, brilliantly, Serena Williams crosscourt. Kerber could

not hit the ball any deeper in that rally. That was a fantastic point

again, sweet angle here from Serena Williams. And she covered the line.

She has great instincts in anticipation up at the net so far

today. You know it's coming, but I'm not

sure there was a whole lot she could have done about that. That's one of

the few points at the net Serena has lost today.

It's the point you keep making, Lindsay, that you are under so much

pressure when you get a shot at second serve that you almost

overplay it. You can see, every time she makes an unforced error, Kerber

is so disappointed. She doesn't want to give any free points away but she

has got to take a risk. It has been a very high quality match, the

difference being the Serena serve and the number of points she has

been able to get off that serve. Especially considering these windy,

gusty conditions at Wimbledon final. Making the battle extremely hard.

Serena has kept that concentration and focus on her serve, which has

helped her. Trying to make her run as much as possible. She should keep

positive. For her to hold serve is not nearly as easy a proposition.

This was a great point, and also the key point from your perspective,

Lindsay, is that when Kerber goes down the line, Serena has the

option. She hasn't been suckered into thinking it will go crosscourt.

No, that was the shot of the match so far. Serena looks like she has a

better awareness today of where Kerber is going with her shots than

she did in Australia, when she was caught flat-footed at the next

several times. Yet again, the heat is on Angelique Kerber. She has got

to hold serve. That picture tells a story. 76 mph,

that serve, and just dispatched with almost contempt.

That is just too good there from Serena. The body forehand still able

to get her on the outside of the ball.

That was an incredible effort by Kerber. Just doing everything

possible to find her way in this match.

Somehow she holds it. How did that happen. Every time she's on a second

serve you can feel the tension in her body being transmitted to us.

She defended the first great return so well and she has done a fantastic

job of staying in this match because Serena is playing at an extremely

high level. Not many players could keep up with Serena Williams and the

way she is playing on Centre Court here.

She is like a boxer on the ropes, just absorbing a barrage of punches,

but she is still standing. But that is Serena's knockout blow, isn't it?

She just keeps on punching, throwing roundhouses.

Kerber backed off about four yards on the serve. She is doing

everything she can to try to get more returns in, read the serve

better. And she needs Serena to make more

errors like that. That is just out and out extra effort by Kerber, you

have got to hand it to her. She really didn't have any business

winning that point. Just made her hit that extra ball.

Error on the forehand, the third double fault. A quarter of a half of

a look at this game for Kerber. And the bigger cry there was almost

from Kerber actually. And so for the first time in this

year's final, and the crowd are telling you, it is a break point on

the Serena Williams serve. What can you say? There is nothing

to say. Exactly. There is even less to say about

that. The serve of the tournament right there.

Two big aces, and the tiniest hold of Serena Williams -- hole was dug

out very successfully and the pressure swings onto the other side

of the net now for Kerber to do it again and again. Not only is she

serving huge as we have seen throughout this match today, she is

starting to hit the ball cleaner as well so that will make life more

miserable for Kerber. She can smell the finishing line, she knows she is

so close, and she just cannot believe she cannot get a break. She

just wants a chance to play a point and Serena is not allowing that.

Those two serves were immense, given the context of the match, not just

to do it once but to back it up with another serve. And the combination

of hitting with that speed in a tense moment, it is truly

remarkable. That is what the best of the best can do. She threw up her

arms in supplication, help, after that second one, but she has got to

help herself now. She is one of the best, no question, Australian Open

champion but she is not able to win points like that. Zero aces. Serena

has got more aces in this match than Kerber has had in the entire

tournament. Should need a bit of luck going her

way, hit some lions. Get a bounce. That was a pressure error. She just

can't afford to miss those rally shots. She has to take some chance.

Because she is getting so few on her return games, she just feels this

enormous pressure in her service games.

CHEERING Oh! Serena thinks she either hit the

net all... Kerber is grinning all over her face, she might well do.

Even Serena's camp, they were on her feet as well, applauding that

wonderful point. Amazing effort by Serena, hands by Kerber.

We will see that again in a second, I'm sure.

You have to hand it to Kerber, because a lot of lesser players

would have crumbled against this onslaught, but she is still

fighting. Put under the weight of all that

pressure, and 3-4-macro in the second set, deuce on the Kerber

serve, these could be the key moments.

APPLAUSE And you would think that error,

which gives Serena Williams break point, might almost be match point,

record book point. So after an hour and 20 minutes,

Serena Williams, a set and 5-3, eyes history.

CHEERING Their PR! It is Serena Williams,

again! 14 years after that first victory here, Grand Slam number 22.

Irresistible, majestic. And the judgment of history will surely be

that she was in a class of her own. Kerber was brave, she took

everything that Williams could throw at her. But, in the end, there was

no answer to that phenomenal service that Serena Williams has. And two

fingers on each hand, 22. How many of those grand slam titles has that

serve one? 22? That is a phenomenal moment. You can see she is overcome

with emotion. She handled all the pressure and expectation so

beautifully this tournament. She retains the title, it is worth

saying that, and she was hoping to make it 22 in New York last autumn,

and fell at the semifinal. She was hoping to do it in Melbourne in

January, she fell short there. Hoping to do it at Roland Garros a

month ago and fell short there, I suppose there was a feeling that

possibly she was becoming fallible, that there was a weakness in her

temperament at the enormity of what she was about to achieve and that

was the best hope with her opponents had. But today there was no sign of

frailty there at all. Her efforts have been superhuman. You are

mentioning times when she was actually human. This Centre Court at

Wimbledon is absolutely perfect for her, what she has got to offer, in

terms of her will, her mental strength, her game, in terms of that

serve. What do you think, John, Kenji Goto 25? I think so. We are

going to have to have Margaret Court here again next year. Exactly. There

is Patrick, he has been a huge factor in the Renaissance, if you

like, of Serena in the last three or four years will stop it is not

beyond the bounds of possibility that Serena could be a next year

having already broken Margaret Court's record. That's true. If she

plays more matches like sheep did today. She will be. With the

organisation, as here, is so swift of the mark, there is no hanging

around for ten minutes after the last ball is struck before the

presentation happens. We have the presentation party out, the ball

ready. -- the parole board is ready. ANNOUNCER: It is time for the

presentation of the Ladies' Singles. Please welcome onto Centre Court,

His Royal Higness, the Duke of Kent, President of the All-England on ten

is club, along with chairman Philip Brook and the president of the Lawn

Tennis Association. You might think that the presentation on Centre

Court is a tradition that goes back to this beginning of time but it was

actually only begun in 1949 when the then Duchess of Kent presented the

trophy to his graph. In those days before that they used to do all of

the presentations in the Royal Box, which of course they still do for

some of the doubles trophy is these days and the Mixed Doubles, which

will round things off tomorrow night.

APPLAUSE A quick word, as we wait for Kerber

to come out, how good a performance wizard by her, Lindsey? She played

great. It still wasn't enough today. She only got broken once a set, only

saw one break point and did not get a hit. First, please show your

appreciation for the chair umpire, James Keothavong. APPLAUSE