:00:33. > :00:37.Good morning. The papers will scream about the heroics of Andy
:00:37. > :00:40.Murray yesterday but the bare facts remain that for the 4th Grand Slam
:00:41. > :00:43.in a row, Britain's number one came off second best in a semi-final.
:00:43. > :00:47.But the difference was yesterday But the difference was yesterday
:00:47. > :00:51.that he might have, could have, should have won it. It was the most
:00:51. > :00:56.pulsating of games for of sensational tennis, and after four
:00:56. > :00:59.hours and 50 minutes, at this volley from the world No. 1 at
:00:59. > :01:05.Novak Djokovic was just too good and he was through to the final
:01:05. > :01:06.against Rafa Nadal. What a fantastic game that promises to be.
:01:06. > :01:11.fantastic game that promises to be. For all the disappointment, Andy
:01:11. > :01:15.Murray knows that bit by bit, he is getting closer to the summit.
:01:15. > :01:20.some stage during last year, there was a significant gap between me
:01:20. > :01:24.and Djokovic, he said the bar so high last year and I have been
:01:24. > :01:29.working as hard as I could to try and close that, and that is the
:01:29. > :01:33.main thing I take away from tonight, but it has taken a great
:01:33. > :01:39.performance from him, he was so dominant last year, to get by me.
:01:39. > :01:43.So I am happy with that. That is doubtless the question he has been
:01:43. > :01:48.asking himself all day, and will continue to ask until Roland Garros
:01:48. > :01:52.today and it is a question for John Lloyd. The answer is? I think he is
:01:52. > :01:56.going to do it. I was doubting it and little bit. In the last year or
:01:56. > :02:00.so, I thought mentally he had dropped and had not achieved what
:02:00. > :02:05.the other three had and was lacking in that department but I think the
:02:05. > :02:09.Lendl signing, it is evident already the difference he has made.
:02:09. > :02:12.He is gunning for them and I think he will win a Grand Slam by next
:02:12. > :02:18.year, but it wouldn't surprise me if it was this year. That question,
:02:18. > :02:22.what does he have to do? Not much. He came that close yesterday to
:02:22. > :02:27.being the best player on the planet by a long way and his dead Djokovic
:02:27. > :02:30.big time and I think he is only going to get better. -- he scared.
:02:30. > :02:34.The French will be tough but I think he has a great shock at
:02:34. > :02:44.Wimbledon. As far as the match today is concerned, there is much
:02:44. > :02:44.
:02:44. > :03:31.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 46 seconds
:03:31. > :03:37.more at stake than just winning the So who will be the champion and he
:03:37. > :03:40.will be the world No. 1 at the end of this? They are currently ranked
:03:40. > :03:45.third and 4th behind Caroline Wozniacki and Kvitova, but there
:03:45. > :03:52.are so many ranking points at stake today, whoever is Victorias will be
:03:52. > :03:55.number one. What those occasional tennis followers -- for those
:03:55. > :03:58.occasional talent -- tennis followers, the way Sharapova has
:03:58. > :04:02.scaled the so that again, with all of her interest and her beauty,
:04:02. > :04:05.that she may have done something else, the fact that she has the
:04:05. > :04:12.resilience to get back to where she is now it is extraordinary. It is,
:04:12. > :04:16.and I think she is the greatest woman's competitor out there. There
:04:16. > :04:19.is nobody who wants to win as much as she does. The interest she has,
:04:20. > :04:24.the money she has made, she could have gone away but she just wants
:04:24. > :04:28.to win more and more and she is back where she belongs. And she is
:04:29. > :04:32.up against somebody who, by her own admission that I gather it have
:04:32. > :04:36.press conference yesterday, was all about the number of times she has
:04:36. > :04:41.thrown away at leads in matches. Do you think Azarenka is now a much
:04:41. > :04:44.more mature player that she was 18 months ago? There is no question
:04:44. > :04:48.about that, she has been impressed conferences going on about how she
:04:48. > :04:55.is not going to freeze this time and she has to say that, and I hope
:04:55. > :05:01.she doesn't. She is confronting it, at least. But we have seen so long
:05:01. > :05:06.Raval, she didn't play well as an example. That Veronica Zvonareva. I
:05:06. > :05:11.hope she goes forehead. I am not sure how she well react today, hope
:05:11. > :05:17.she plays the way she can. What is your take on Australia generally,
:05:17. > :05:20.there have been some fantastic three-set games. Whoever wins today
:05:20. > :05:25.will be number one and they will win a Grand Slam, with Caroline
:05:25. > :05:28.Wozniacki we have had the controversy, for her to be No. 1
:05:28. > :05:33.when she hasn't won a Grand Slam was ridiculous, so this will sort
:05:33. > :05:37.out who is the genuine No. 1 in the world. Seriously colourful, it is
:05:37. > :05:43.going to be, and that is a sensational yellow hooded jacket.
:05:43. > :05:47.She looks like a box about to walk into the ring. Talking about boxing
:05:47. > :05:51.and the noise, the grunting, inevitably, sadly, this match will
:05:51. > :06:01.be overshadowed as far as the media is concerned by the noise on court,
:06:01. > :06:05.because they are both in the bar -- top of two of the world's grunters.
:06:05. > :06:10.Is there anything that can be done? Not right now. Monica Seles started
:06:10. > :06:13.this and they should have stopped it then, but they didn't. The next
:06:13. > :06:17.generation are already talking about going to coaching academies
:06:17. > :06:23.and saying it will not be allowed, it has to be toned down. The only
:06:23. > :06:28.good thing about today is they both do it as well as each other. Nobody
:06:28. > :06:34.is trying to get an advantage over the other, but it has to be stopped.
:06:34. > :06:43.The noise between the two is going to be incredible. That is a real
:06:43. > :06:49.game face that Sharapova has got on. There is nothing remotely original.
:06:49. > :06:53.Peter Fleming has said there should be a line drawn in the sand, 21st
:06:53. > :07:03.January, 1920 17, give everybody the chance to get it out of their
:07:03. > :07:05.
:07:05. > :07:09.system. -- 2017. Can they do something as draconian as that.
:07:09. > :07:12.When you are taught to play tennis, and you pick up a racket for the
:07:12. > :07:18.first time, you don't make that noise, it is taught, it is coach,
:07:18. > :07:24.and they have to change it. -- coach. We are waiting for the
:07:25. > :07:30.announcement of Maria Sharapova on to court. Here she comes. That is a
:07:30. > :07:40.serious Bucquet of flowers. I wonder what happens to said
:07:40. > :07:44.afterwards. -- happens to read. The way she is a strutting it, it is
:07:44. > :07:50.like you are watching Amir Khan! This could be a really good game.
:07:50. > :07:55.I'm looking forward to it. It could be fantastic. And getting cash
:07:55. > :08:00.going slighted for Sharapova, but it is a pick and match. Kvitova was
:08:00. > :08:06.the one everyone thought was going to win and she didn't, and I am
:08:06. > :08:10.looking forward to this. somebody who is in a position that
:08:10. > :08:14.as Azarenka is the day when you are almost there but not quite, how
:08:14. > :08:20.important are the people around you, your coach, your family and your
:08:20. > :08:26.friends, in getting that last sups on of self-belief that could get
:08:26. > :08:33.you over the finish line, like that the Williams sisters, people who
:08:33. > :08:38.have been there many times before? Azarenka doesn't have anyone he had
:08:38. > :08:42.campaign has been there and done it before, but head coach will have
:08:42. > :08:47.instilled that. She is rocking out, trying to keep away from the nerds.
:08:47. > :08:52.It is tough to do that, your first Grand Slam, it is very rare not to
:08:52. > :08:56.be nervous that keep away from the nervous. She is against Sharapova,
:08:56. > :09:00.the greatest competitor in the women's game. Hey you start will be
:09:00. > :09:06.key. Big time, I hope she goes out there and opens up her shoulders
:09:06. > :09:10.and has fun out there. It is easier said than done. I hope she well,
:09:10. > :09:18.but I am not convinced. I think Sharapova or is definitely the
:09:18. > :09:25.favourite -- hope she will. The tea is the boxing analogy, Sharapova's
:09:25. > :09:32.de Mai nap, -- demeanour, she is so intimidating, that you have to be
:09:32. > :09:37.very strong within to withstand bad. That is the presents she brings.
:09:37. > :09:41.Sharapova has her demons as well that presents. If she serves well,
:09:41. > :09:48.and get a lot of first serves in and said so bad first strike, then
:09:48. > :09:53.I think she will win this title, -- sets up that first strike.
:09:53. > :09:58.Sharapova or's big weakness is have would work, her speed around the
:09:58. > :10:03.court. If she gets into big rallies, Sharapova or is the best there is,
:10:03. > :10:08.she will be in trouble -- for Sharapova's big weakness is have
:10:08. > :10:12.would work. If you were Azarenka and won the toss, were due serve or
:10:12. > :10:18.received, give yourself again to get into things that would you?
:10:18. > :10:22.don't think it is an edited if you do that. -- a negative if you do
:10:22. > :10:26.that. Sometimes, you are a bit tight at the start, and you can
:10:26. > :10:30.give away the first game to get the adrenalin going then get rid of
:10:31. > :10:37.your nerves. They are not grunting her during the warm-up. There you
:10:37. > :10:39.go. Andrew Castle is going to be describing this, good morning.
:10:40. > :10:46.ANDREW CASTLE: Good morning it, how are you?
:10:46. > :10:52.JOHN INVERDALE: Good morning. John has been describing it that they
:10:52. > :10:58.could be a nagging fear at for Azarenka today.
:10:58. > :11:03.ANDREW CASTLE: The Sharapova camp try not to give that much respect
:11:03. > :11:06.to the player at the other end, they try and impose. I think
:11:06. > :11:11.Azarenka has more flexibility in that regard than Sharapova does. If
:11:11. > :11:16.there is a possible nightmare out there, I had given experience, it
:11:16. > :11:21.might come from Sharapova, but this lady in your picture is no novice
:11:21. > :11:24.at number three. I once asked how at the World Championships in Paris,
:11:24. > :11:28.when she was the world junior champion from the year before, when
:11:29. > :11:34.you think you will make any impact on the senior game, what you
:11:34. > :11:37.expect? And she said, to start winning straight away. She is full
:11:37. > :11:41.of confidence, always has been. I just hope she gets her best out
:11:41. > :11:46.here today, because she is an exciting player.
:11:46. > :11:51.JOHN INVERDALE: I in -- interviewed have at Eastbourne, she is very
:11:51. > :11:56.charming. ANDREW CASTLE: She is very bright,
:11:56. > :12:01.followed social... She is a typical 22-year-old, having a really good
:12:01. > :12:05.tired and not afraid to show it. If you follow her on Twitter, you can
:12:05. > :12:09.find out a great deal about her, she does not have many secrets.
:12:09. > :12:15.Very Americanised, she went to Scottsdale when she was young. I
:12:15. > :12:19.think the last time we had someone from Belarus in the final was in
:12:19. > :12:21.1988 against Steffi Graf and she didn't win a game of. We should
:12:21. > :12:24.hopefully see an improvement on that.
:12:24. > :12:27.The JOHN INVERDALE: For all of our sakes, let's hope that doesn't
:12:27. > :12:30.sakes, let's hope that doesn't happen. She was saying on Twitter
:12:30. > :12:35.what music she will be listening to what she would be in her chair as
:12:35. > :12:40.she went out to have had photos taken. So where is this match going
:12:40. > :12:45.to be won and lost, John? I think the nerds will come into it, but
:12:45. > :12:50.what Andrew Castle said, Azarenka has more flexibility -- been there
:12:50. > :12:54.this will come into it. If Sharapova gets the first strike in,
:12:54. > :12:59.and she will be tough to beat. If she gets the wobbles, Azarenka may
:12:59. > :13:03.take advantage. Sharapova is 24, you feel like she is older because
:13:03. > :13:06.she has been at the top for so long, and when you look at their Grand
:13:06. > :13:12.Slam record, you realise she has got to a lot of major finals, she
:13:12. > :13:15.has been runner-up on several occasions and has won three of the
:13:15. > :13:21.Grand Slams. You tend to fill the Williams sisters have been so
:13:21. > :13:24.dominant but Sharapova's record has been great -- you feel. I think she
:13:24. > :13:29.is the greatest competitor in the game and I think with the injuries
:13:29. > :13:32.she has had, she has had an amazing career. She regards this as a bonus,
:13:32. > :13:36.if you listen to how press conferences. I don't think she
:13:36. > :13:40.expected to be here quite does so with all of the injuries she has
:13:40. > :13:44.had and I think she has almost amazed herself. She is talking
:13:44. > :13:49.about another five years or so are playing at the top of the game. You
:13:49. > :13:54.felt she might be the player like Anna Kournikova, who might have
:13:54. > :13:56.drifted off into other aspects of life. You get a lot of players who
:13:56. > :14:01.are in their early twenties and think there is no chance they will
:14:01. > :14:06.be playing at 30 years old. But when they actually get them to it,
:14:06. > :14:11.they love playing. You can't compare anything when getting up in
:14:11. > :14:16.the morning and going out training and playing. They have done this
:14:16. > :14:20.set they had been eight years old and it is tough to do anything else
:14:20. > :14:30.-- since they have been. They love to compete, and Sharapova is the
:14:30. > :14:34.That was quite the game against Kvitova. Sharapova just took her
:14:34. > :14:38.round and played brilliant stuff. She hasn't played this year, she
:14:38. > :14:42.was injured at the start of the season and to get to the final is
:14:42. > :14:47.so impressive. And Azarenka, again, an easy run through at the
:14:47. > :14:51.beginning bad but that if there is any consolation to Heather Watson,
:14:51. > :14:58.who was very upset that she didn't get a game in the first round, at
:14:58. > :15:03.least she lost emphatically 2 perhaps the potential winner.
:15:03. > :15:08.And coming up through against Kim Clijsters, at her was the crowd
:15:08. > :15:10.favourite. That was psychologically great come through that match.
:15:10. > :15:14.great come through that match. can see it is 30 degrees, which is
:15:14. > :15:18.just marginally warmer than it is here this morning and this life is
:15:18. > :15:23.-- this guy is slightly more blue than outside the studio here. So
:15:23. > :15:27.for you? Marginally, Sharapova. for you? Marginally, Sharapova.
:15:27. > :15:30.Andrew? ANDREW CASTLE: I think Azarenka
:15:30. > :15:33.might play a good match and come through in straight sets. I only
:15:33. > :15:41.said that because John went the other way.
:15:41. > :15:46.JOHN INVERDALE: The last time they played, Sharapova had to retire. In
:15:46. > :15:55.the same way as Djokovic against Andy Murray before yesterday's
:15:55. > :15:59.match. I am being told that Azarenka or, she did say on Twitter
:15:59. > :16:09.what she was going to be listening to and she was listening to
:16:09. > :16:12.
:16:12. > :16:20.something called... Loose Control by -- lose control. You have it and
:16:20. > :16:30.I will play it! John is going to go and join Andrew in the commentary
:16:30. > :16:32.
:16:32. > :16:37.booth for hopefully a good couple get down with their kit, you have
:16:37. > :16:42.to know these things. We hope it will be a fine tennis match -- with
:16:42. > :16:48.their kids. I don't know if we can expect something like yesterday's
:16:48. > :16:55.bat but we will certainly see some nerves on display and some
:16:55. > :17:01.tremendous shot-making. And the big question here is who will settle
:17:01. > :17:06.first and who will find their best game. Tomorrow, you can see the
:17:06. > :17:09.men's final, Djokovic and Nadal, the two top players in the world.
:17:09. > :17:19.Can Djokovic recover from that semi-final to produce his best
:17:19. > :17:19.
:17:19. > :17:25.But today is women's final day and one of the most lucratively endorse
:17:25. > :17:35.the athlete in the world, Sharapova, looking to win a 4th Grand Slam.
:17:35. > :17:35.
:17:35. > :18:33.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 46 seconds
:18:33. > :18:36.Acer culling 0.4 the 22-year-old. - - a settling of point. If anything,
:18:36. > :18:46.she hits the ball harder than Sharapova from the back of the
:18:46. > :19:04.
:19:05. > :19:08.Bat is a big double fault. Just the third point of the match -- that is.
:19:08. > :19:13.And a long way out, so she has a bit of a battle on just to settle
:19:13. > :19:23.into the match. Serve is probably not going to be that much of a
:19:23. > :19:23.
:19:23. > :20:29.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 46 seconds
:20:29. > :20:33.Here is a chance for Sharapova to strike a blow, right here. And if
:20:33. > :20:43.she has a chance to get that first hit in an attack the serve, you
:20:43. > :20:58.
:20:58. > :21:03.That is an important point for Azarenka. A deep, firm's second
:21:03. > :21:07.serve at the end of a game where she has double faulted -- firm. If
:21:07. > :21:13.you get Sharapova on the ropes, John Lloyd was saying, you are
:21:13. > :21:23.favourites to win the point. JOHN LLOYD: That second serve was
:21:23. > :21:30.
:21:30. > :21:37.key. When she threw the ball up, I Great depth from Sharapova.
:21:37. > :21:42.first Russian No. 1, she was. Several times at number one, first
:21:42. > :21:52.in 2005 and then in 2008. A real tribal -- trailblazer for that
:21:52. > :21:56.
:21:56. > :22:01.No. And Sharapova has the start she wanted. Victoria Azarenka, who will
:22:01. > :22:06.have been thinking about this final for a couple of days, it is not the
:22:06. > :22:11.start she wanted to make. It is not what she imagined happening. It was
:22:11. > :22:15.a nervous start and you sort of expected it, perhaps. This is a big
:22:15. > :22:19.game now for Sharapova now she has the added break. We have seen in
:22:19. > :22:24.the past that she can get the wobbles on the serve as well --
:22:24. > :22:29.early break. It is important that she has a good first service game.
:22:29. > :22:32.She has remodelled her serve under the tutelage of Michael Joyce after
:22:32. > :22:36.such -- a shoulder surgery and she really was unsure whether her
:22:36. > :22:40.shoulder would come out. She didn't know whether the muscles around the
:22:40. > :22:44.shoulder would support the service motion. So she had to remodel it
:22:44. > :22:51.and it has never looked quite the force it was when she first came
:22:51. > :23:01.out on tour and one would bothered in 2004. -- of one Wimbledon. It
:23:01. > :23:13.
:23:13. > :23:18.Just going for too much at the moment, Azarenka. Still tied and
:23:18. > :23:22.just trying to force the issue a little bit. -- tight. It is easy to
:23:22. > :23:32.say you should relax but somehow she has got to do that. You can see
:23:32. > :23:59.
:23:59. > :24:05.the way she opened up too soon on That is good tennis. A very good. -
:24:05. > :24:09.- very good. Like a sledgehammer forehand there. It has always been
:24:09. > :24:12.the case, everybody in the game said the same thing about Azarenka,
:24:12. > :24:17.that if she could add a little bit of Defence and a change of pace
:24:17. > :24:21.every now and again. Only marginal, every now and again from a high
:24:21. > :24:31.ball in with some top spinner, she would be an even better player, and
:24:31. > :24:53.
:24:53. > :24:58.That second serve, it is very flat and that is where sometimes she
:24:58. > :25:03.does get in trouble and has no this point, but you can see the height
:25:03. > :25:09.of the ball is coming up. -- nervous points. But it is up to
:25:10. > :25:13.shoulder height, it is amazing the pace she gets on to that serve.
:25:13. > :25:23.is 6 ft 2, statuesque, and uses that full height on the serve. It
:25:23. > :25:36.
:25:36. > :25:41.is when it drops low she gets in Battered too much at this stage of
:25:41. > :25:51.the game. That is the time to throw them in. -- the back went matter
:25:51. > :26:09.
:26:09. > :26:14.too much. -- that won't matter too That was a coach on the lead.
:26:14. > :26:24.her hitting partner. -- left. I am sure he is very diplomatic in the
:26:24. > :26:31.
:26:31. > :26:41.Could be a challenge. UMPIRE: Miss Sharapova is
:26:41. > :26:45.
:26:45. > :26:49.challenging the call. The ball was The ball was good, they play a let.
:26:49. > :26:53.The players get three challenges in a set and if the challenge has
:26:53. > :26:59.proven to be correct, they maintain that challenge. If they are wrong,
:26:59. > :27:06.they lose 1. Yesterday, it was a feature of the match. It was very
:27:06. > :27:16.much a feature of Sharapova's victory over Kvitova as well, at 4-
:27:16. > :27:39.
:27:39. > :27:45.I know it is stating the obvious, but this is a huge game right now
:27:45. > :27:51.for Azarenka. She has got to establish herself. She doesn't want
:27:51. > :27:55.to go down two breaks. Seeing that trophy, seeing what you are playing
:27:55. > :28:05.for. A reminder of beyond and the place in tennis history that is on
:28:05. > :28:10.
:28:10. > :28:14.She has come out to play today, Sharapova. She is looking immense
:28:14. > :28:18.at the moment with the ground strokes. That was good movement as
:28:18. > :28:28.well, because it was a touchback hand. She gets herself back at the
:28:28. > :29:06.
:29:06. > :29:11.point. That is not going to do the What I was saying about the 1988
:29:11. > :29:19.French Open final, losing to South -- Steffi Graf love and love.
:29:19. > :29:29.was painful. The last player from Belarus in the final of a slam.
:29:29. > :29:29.
:29:29. > :30:58.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 46 seconds
:30:58. > :31:04.This is two-the love... I am not These are three very important
:31:04. > :31:07.points that Victoria Azarenka has just one. Sharapova will always
:31:07. > :31:13.look to attack the second serve. You should watch her in practice,
:31:13. > :31:23.if you get a chance. The extraordinary intensity she brings
:31:23. > :31:37.
:31:37. > :31:46.to have the thing, but the returns She has got some fire to her, this
:31:46. > :31:50.one. She has no on the board. one. She has no on the board.
:31:50. > :31:56.She needed that one so badly, it was getting a little doubtful. She
:31:56. > :32:01.got that second survey in, Sharapova missed the big forehand,
:32:01. > :32:06.that was a huge point. She wants to intimidate. If you miss your first
:32:06. > :32:10.serve, I am coming after you on the second. That puts a doubt but in
:32:11. > :32:13.the opponent's mind. That was a huge game for hard to win.
:32:13. > :32:20.huge game for hard to win. It really was, and there was
:32:20. > :32:26.excellent defence and that previous rally, as well. Well done to her.
:32:26. > :32:31.She has been in Grand Slam finals before, just not in singles. She
:32:31. > :32:38.was the Mixed Doubles champion with her countryman. Then in 2008, with
:32:38. > :32:44.Bob Bryan, she won the French Open. She won a couple of next titles,
:32:44. > :32:47.three times runner-up in doubles. She has already had a tremendous
:32:47. > :32:55.output at the Grand Slam level, but the final singles match must be
:32:55. > :33:05.very different. She would be a great Mixed Doubles partner. John,
:33:05. > :33:19.
:33:19. > :33:23.I wonder how much they paid for that short? -- shot? I can think of
:33:23. > :33:33.a clothing company that would be quite happy this final is between
:33:33. > :33:33.
:33:33. > :34:15.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 46 seconds
:34:15. > :34:21.who it is. They have not been slow This is good stuff, now. That shows
:34:21. > :34:27.how big that game was at 2-1 down. She is engaged in the match now,
:34:27. > :34:37.that was an excellent return of serve. That set up to point, then
:34:37. > :34:37.
:34:37. > :35:39.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 46 seconds
:35:39. > :35:46.she just steps in, beautiful Sharapova challenges on the left
:35:46. > :35:53.baseline. They says more about hope, really.
:35:53. > :35:58.-- this says more about hope. The game has gone with the challenge.
:35:58. > :36:02.Azarenka has settled down, and seems, perhaps temporarily, to have
:36:02. > :36:05.forgotten this is a Grand Slam final and remembered it is just a
:36:05. > :36:15.tennis match against someone down the other end and that was an
:36:15. > :36:48.
:36:48. > :36:58.Marshalling the ball boys and girls at tea and of the court, there. --
:36:58. > :36:58.
:36:58. > :37:06.at the end of the cord. All fired up, the competitive Azarenka --
:37:06. > :37:13.fire from Azarenka is having an effect on Sharapova. The backhand
:37:13. > :37:23.there, just getting Sharapova on the run. That was beautiful, she
:37:23. > :38:01.
:38:01. > :38:05.hit the half volley. Great timing Had a feeling she would change the
:38:05. > :38:09.direction of the serve there. If you're going to serve to
:38:09. > :38:13.Sharapova's backhand, you can spirit all the time. If it becomes
:38:13. > :38:23.predictable she will pick you off. Changed up is very important in
:38:23. > :38:34.
:38:34. > :38:40.terms of direction, perhaps, speed, It did not look inevitable that at
:38:40. > :38:47.-- Azarenka would settle into this, but she has won 11 matches in a row.
:38:47. > :38:53.She had some great wins in Sydney, as well. She is confident, she has
:38:53. > :38:55.played a lot of matches, six of them here, but this is impressive.
:38:55. > :39:02.them here, but this is impressive. You have to give her a lot of
:39:02. > :39:07.credit, because there is nothing like a Grand Slam final, 2-0, 0-30,
:39:07. > :39:13.serve very shaky, and to have steadied her opponent and got back
:39:13. > :39:17.into the game through good play, not through her opponent missing.
:39:17. > :39:26.Now she is playing lovely stuff, she has got rhythm when going on
:39:26. > :39:33.the ground strokes, impressive from 2-0 down, very impressive. It is
:39:33. > :39:43.easy to panic. It is not like the men's final, it can go very quick,
:39:43. > :39:47.
:39:47. > :39:49.said pro-can go in the blink of an eye. -- saids. Playing for the
:39:49. > :39:59.world number one ranking, that became inevitable when Kim
:39:59. > :40:00.
:40:00. > :40:06.Clijsters beat Caroline Wozniacki. The top ranking is on the line for
:40:06. > :40:16.the winner of this memorial trophy. If you don't win a Grand Slam, you
:40:16. > :40:16.
:40:16. > :41:40.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 46 seconds
:41:40. > :41:44.should not really the world number That was a big return in combat
:41:44. > :41:48.Azarenka sending out a message here, the Serbs are coming back, she is
:41:48. > :41:54.getting them into good positions, putting Sharapova under pressure of
:41:54. > :42:04.the first return. She is the favourite to win a lot of these
:42:04. > :42:30.
:42:30. > :42:34.I am surprised she did not go for a He knows where Victoria Azarenka's
:42:34. > :42:44.eyes are going straight away after a point like that, the close
:42:44. > :42:49.
:42:49. > :42:54.Watching an Azarenka practice session can be quite frightening.
:42:54. > :43:04.The sheer pace she hits the ball at, it is all so different than 15-20
:43:04. > :43:14.
:43:14. > :43:24.years ago. They're hitting the ball There have been some close calls on
:43:24. > :43:24.
:43:24. > :43:29.A hot evening, 85 degrees or more, it will probably come down two or
:43:30. > :43:37.three degrees, but nor wind gets into this Rod Laver Arena, which
:43:37. > :43:47.holds 15,000 Hot People. There is no breeze on the court, at all.
:43:47. > :44:04.
:44:04. > :44:09.That was the ball she could have made, but she just got caught this
:44:09. > :44:14.up excellent from Azarenka. On the backhand side she was defending so
:44:14. > :44:19.well, then she got the ball she should have fancied. It is so quick.
:44:19. > :44:26.Kicking the ball back from all positions. A couple of shots there
:44:26. > :44:36.were like Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray. Some of the shots from the
:44:36. > :44:53.
:44:53. > :45:01.men's game yesterday were The worrying thing from Sharapova's
:45:01. > :45:11.side, she is not getting many cheap points on the first serve. In
:45:11. > :45:20.
:45:20. > :45:30.general Azarenka seems to be That was a let. Nothing from the
:45:30. > :45:33.
:45:33. > :45:39.chair. Hold on... We had this yesterday with Novak Djokovic.
:45:39. > :45:49.Strange, isn't it? That felt like a Let to me, as well. By he added.
:45:49. > :45:52.
:45:52. > :46:02.That ball was good. She got two she'd points,
:46:02. > :46:03.
:46:03. > :46:10.completely contradicting what I just said. -- cheat points. Those
:46:10. > :46:20.were basically two Line service. That certainly was right on the
:46:20. > :46:25.
:46:25. > :46:34.line. Rod Laver, The 50th anniversary of his first Australian
:46:35. > :46:40.triumph and a Grand Slam, Great shot, I can think of a more
:46:40. > :46:46.modest champion than him. He talks about a couple local tournaments in
:46:46. > :46:50.the park. He is so modest about his achievement, an amazing man.
:46:50. > :47:00.Twice winner of the Grand Slam, all four major championships in the
:47:00. > :47:24.
:47:24. > :47:30.same year. And there is the Find exchange. Sharapova tried to
:47:30. > :47:35.change the angle and hit the cross- court off pace. It did not work,
:47:35. > :47:45.Azarenka is too quick, but it easily. She tried to change it up,
:47:45. > :48:13.
:48:13. > :48:18.get the angle, it did not work and The tennis has gone up a level, and
:48:18. > :48:28.so have the rather appears in acoustics as well from both players,
:48:28. > :48:33.
:48:33. > :48:39.as the intensity increases. -- the -- acoustics. They once measured
:48:39. > :48:49.Victoria Azarenka for five decibels and it lasted for 1.2 seconds, the
:48:49. > :49:28.
:49:28. > :49:34.An important moment. Through the serve, into the body, made sure she
:49:34. > :49:44.got the first one in. Excellent match play. She did not want to be
:49:44. > :49:44.
:49:44. > :50:28.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 46 seconds
:50:28. > :50:32.serving a second serve, so that his Undoubtedly it would have been a
:50:32. > :50:36.tactic they would talk about. Whether she could ever bring it
:50:36. > :50:41.into play in the match, but they would have gone into every detail.
:50:41. > :50:44.The coach-player relationship, they have known each other for two years
:50:44. > :50:54.now. They would have talked about a point just like that, perfectly
:50:54. > :50:56.
:50:56. > :51:02.constructed. Getting that a first seven at 30-30 was key. This one,
:51:02. > :51:06.to change the pace up with a variety, the drop shot, not easy
:51:06. > :51:10.against Sharapova because of the pace of the ball coming against you.
:51:10. > :51:16.On that one, she was inside the baseline when she hit that cross-
:51:16. > :51:20.shot. Sharapova had no idea it was coming, and when she get into the
:51:20. > :51:25.net she is not very comfortable. She had plenty of time to direct
:51:25. > :51:32.the lob. A very well executed last couple of points.
:51:32. > :51:36.She is only 22, but this is a 25th major championship. She did not
:51:36. > :51:41.mess about with university or anything like that, they go out
:51:41. > :51:47.young, and it is not an easy adjustment for the young women to
:51:47. > :51:51.quote and travel the world, I think it is more difficult for the young
:51:51. > :51:55.women compared to the young men. Although they are stronger, younger,
:51:55. > :52:01.more physically developed, but it must be so demanding to learn on
:52:01. > :52:05.the road about things and to be away from home. Both of these women
:52:05. > :52:12.have known what it was like to have separation from parents, to
:52:12. > :52:22.sacrifice their only. -- to sacrifice their way. It has made
:52:22. > :52:27.
:52:27. > :52:32.Maria Sharapova did not see her mother for two years. When she was
:52:33. > :52:39.just nine years old she went to -- went with her father to the academy
:52:39. > :52:49.in Florida. At the age of 14 she left Minsk and went to Scottsdale,
:52:49. > :53:06.
:53:06. > :53:11.A bigger second serve. It is so flat.
:53:11. > :53:15.There is no cake on it whatsoever, so there is not much control of the
:53:15. > :53:25.depth. The height over the net is probably only two or three inches,
:53:25. > :53:26.
:53:26. > :53:36.as well. Her coach is up there they will be saying, first served in,
:53:36. > :53:56.
:53:56. > :54:02.Fabulous. Very good change up to go behind Azarenka. Good game from
:54:02. > :54:06.Sharapova. Did look like Azarenka was going to win that point, but a
:54:06. > :54:12.beautiful change up, wrong-footed Azarenka, she was not expecting
:54:12. > :54:16.that one. If she had taken one step less she might have been able to
:54:16. > :54:26.recover. Look at how she keeps the racket straight up, a little
:54:26. > :54:26.
:54:26. > :56:13.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 46 seconds
:56:13. > :56:17.That is a big one. Addis two in this game. -- that is.
:56:17. > :56:22.That was outbid by a long way. It is out of control, it does not
:56:22. > :56:26.look in sync entirely. That was just a kick serve, a basic for
:56:26. > :56:34.everyone is to throw a kick Serevent on the second serve. A
:56:34. > :56:44.professional would expect to make it 100% of the time. Not many women
:56:44. > :56:50.
:56:50. > :56:55.UMPIRE:, Sharapova calls on the second serve. The ball was called
:56:55. > :57:05.out. A little desperate, wasn't it?
:57:05. > :57:26.
:57:26. > :57:31.Challenge, because I don't want to Azarenka on the prowl, helped by a
:57:32. > :57:41.couple of double faults from Sharapova in this game. Hasn't she
:57:42. > :58:01.
:58:01. > :58:04.settled after a 2-0 down? She is That is a wonderful forehand! Short
:58:04. > :58:10.ball with no pace on it. She just got enough of the racket around the
:58:10. > :58:15.outside edge of the ball to take it away from her opponents. Well done.
:58:15. > :58:25.This was huge, and it was awkward looking, she had to move up to that.
:58:25. > :58:44.
:58:44. > :58:50.You can see the extra spin she got We talk about her endorsements, and
:58:50. > :58:57.it was rumoured she had made a contract with a clothing company
:58:57. > :59:07.for $65 million, �55 million, but it is more than just the look. It
:59:07. > :59:36.
:59:36. > :59:41.is the way she fights and goes Yes! Sharapova's defence was strong.
:59:41. > :59:45.How comfortable does this young player look at the net? She looks
:59:45. > :59:55.fabulous of there, as well. That was a left-handed forehand from
:59:55. > :00:11.
:00:11. > :00:18.Chapel Bar, she was a really under Brilliant, set up by that wonderful
:00:18. > :00:21.return of serve again. She has hit back some of Sharapova's best
:00:21. > :00:29.serves in this game. Anticipating them very well, you can see the
:00:29. > :00:32.depth on that return. Not afraid to come to the net, that is for sure.
:00:32. > :00:42.A conventional volley on the previous point, this one is the
:00:42. > :01:17.
:01:17. > :01:20.This willingness to experiment with This willingness to experiment with
:01:20. > :01:27.the ball and probe the short ball air and the ability to do it as
:01:27. > :01:35.well. -- Afro the short ball in. It marks her out clearly, along with
:01:35. > :01:38.Kvitova, they are expected to be the big names going forward. I just
:01:38. > :01:48.wondered if this quarter the exact middle, but it was absolutely fine
:01:48. > :02:11.
:02:11. > :02:21.with an open court -- if this Azarenka has won five of the last
:02:21. > :02:21.
:02:21. > :03:18.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 46 seconds
:03:18. > :03:28.Look at this shot here. Sharapova's response to any kind of threat on
:03:28. > :03:54.
:03:54. > :04:04.the tennis court is to hit harder She came on court with a swagger,
:04:04. > :04:18.
:04:18. > :04:23.didn't she, Azarenka? And a hooded And she has the swagger now. One
:04:23. > :04:25.set up Ed have first Grand Slam final. -- In her first. I wonder
:04:25. > :04:35.final. -- In her first. I wonder what Sharapova can do to repel the
:04:35. > :04:38.
:04:38. > :04:43.JOHN INVERDALE: It seems, are watching this in the studio, 10
:04:43. > :04:48.minutes or so into the game, there was a horror thought that when
:04:48. > :04:53.Azarenka or ballooned her second serve while longer, we would be
:04:53. > :04:57.into a Natascha Zvereva Situation, but the way she has got into the
:04:57. > :05:02.first set and asserted herself is hugely impressive.
:05:02. > :05:07.JOHN LLOYD: We might not be talking about what we are talking about now,
:05:07. > :05:13.the first set to Azarenka, if she had lost that game to go down to a
:05:13. > :05:16.double break. She got that came back, Sharapova missed a big return
:05:16. > :05:20.of serve which was crucial, but since then she has soaked up the
:05:20. > :05:24.pressure and the worrying thing for Sharapova or is that the winners
:05:24. > :05:29.are the same that she is making double the unforced errors and she
:05:29. > :05:33.is not finding a way through. Azarenka is counter-punching
:05:33. > :05:37.brilliantly and getting Sharapova on the move. Even though
:05:37. > :05:40.Sharapova's mind is incredible and she is not going to back away, the
:05:41. > :05:44.variety there, it is difficult to see how she is going to get back
:05:44. > :05:49.into this match because she doesn't seem to be able to find a way to
:05:49. > :05:53.get Azarenka off the court. The movement from Azarenka is brilliant.
:05:53. > :05:59.We spoke before the match about how Sharapova intimidate her opponent
:06:00. > :06:03.but Azarenka is not intimidated. -- intimidates.
:06:03. > :06:07.ANDREW CASTLE: She has the belief to go out about -- against anybody.
:06:07. > :06:11.You have to remember she is number three in the world. She was a semi-
:06:11. > :06:16.finalist at Wimbledon last year and she has been climbing through the
:06:16. > :06:19.rankings. She is no novice, this girl. She belongs at the very top
:06:19. > :06:22.level. It looks like she believes level. It looks like she believes
:06:22. > :06:28.it, doesn't it? JOHN INVERDALE: That is the key
:06:28. > :06:32.factor. What the Sharapova needed in this second set, John? She only
:06:32. > :06:36.plays one way, she is not going to change that up. She just needs to
:06:37. > :06:38.be a bit more precise and accurate with they serve a, and the ground
:06:38. > :06:44.with they serve a, and the ground strokes, pick the right balls to
:06:44. > :06:54.attack. She just has to keep on trying to intimidate her opponent
:06:54. > :07:29.
:07:29. > :07:33.and believe that she can win, which The thing about Sharapova as we
:07:33. > :07:38.said earlier on, of what she does is brilliant but she is a bit one-
:07:38. > :07:41.dimensional. She doesn't change the pace, she has not got much of a
:07:41. > :07:45.slice, no real drop shot, so I don't think there is much she can
:07:45. > :07:50.do in terms of changing the game. She just has to cut down on the
:07:50. > :08:00.Erez she made in the first set and keep that first serve percentage as
:08:00. > :08:20.
:08:20. > :08:24.That has been a rarity, an exchange from the back of the court. I don't
:08:24. > :08:29.care if you saw that graphic, but Sharapova is only winning one in
:08:29. > :08:36.five of the. Played from the baseline. Bear in mind that most of
:08:36. > :08:40.them are paid from the baseline -- of the points. Azarenka is
:08:40. > :08:50.perfectly happy to trade from the back of the court with Sharapova.
:08:50. > :08:59.
:08:59. > :09:04.She has got to try and win these rallies earlier than she has been.
:09:04. > :09:09.The first serve, she got into a good position, there was the big
:09:09. > :09:19.forehand and she got into the right position. But you can't miss a
:09:19. > :09:36.
:09:36. > :09:41.Obviously, the tendency when this sort of thing happens and you are
:09:41. > :09:44.not finding the easy winners, you start to over strike the ball, and
:09:44. > :09:54.that is what Sharapova is doing. She is going for too much but she
:09:54. > :10:08.
:10:08. > :10:11.has no choice, really. She has got She picked the side, Azarenka,
:10:11. > :10:14.She picked the side, Azarenka, moved into the court and took a day
:10:14. > :10:22.early. Sharapova will be so disappointed, another gay have gone,
:10:22. > :10:26.it is a break of serve. -- another game gone. It has been complete
:10:26. > :10:29.game gone. It has been complete dominance from 2-0 down. That was
:10:29. > :10:37.quite a high ball, so she wouldn't have noticed where Azarenka was.
:10:37. > :10:45.She picked a side, went for it and that goes to show how focused
:10:45. > :10:49.Azarenka it is at the moment, We'll see what happens if the
:10:49. > :10:54.winning line looms. At the moment, that is the only way to look at it.
:10:54. > :11:00.You know that Sharapova will be disappointed, she will be the stare
:11:00. > :11:08.their way she looks at the opponent and says "I am still coming after
:11:08. > :11:18.you". -- she will stare at her opponent. But Azarenka totally
:11:18. > :11:43.
:11:43. > :11:52.It has been overruled. By the vicar, had nickname on the tour. It was
:11:52. > :12:00.overruled from the chair. -- her nickname. It was called out. No, it
:12:00. > :12:10.was called in, overruled from the chair. And challenged at the second
:12:10. > :12:16.
:12:16. > :12:21.That was why does well. Back wide as well. It is supposed to be an
:12:21. > :12:31.instant challenge, but it is a bit of a grey area.
:12:31. > :12:31.
:12:31. > :13:27.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 46 seconds
:13:27. > :13:32.UMPIRE: Miss Azarenka has a two Just to ram through that Paul,
:13:32. > :13:38.didn't steady herself. -- just to ram through the ball. She might
:13:38. > :13:48.have expected a drop shot, Sharapova looked vulnerable to the
:13:48. > :14:03.
:14:03. > :14:10.drop shot after being pulled out of That is a big miss from Sharapova.
:14:10. > :14:20.A comfortable forehand at 0-30, in the middle of the net, very
:14:20. > :14:20.
:14:20. > :15:11.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 46 seconds
:15:11. > :15:15.How was that return? The direction of the body serve was very good.
:15:15. > :15:20.Maria was just able to make enough room to bring the racket through on
:15:20. > :15:27.the backhand side. Just getting out of the way, an extra step and they
:15:27. > :15:37.shut down the line. That was an explosive return. -- A show of. You
:15:37. > :15:37.
:15:37. > :16:29.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 46 seconds
:16:29. > :16:35.would never count Herat. She is a These are desperate times for
:16:35. > :16:40.Sharapova. She is being forced to go for winners from positioned on
:16:40. > :16:44.the court that you don't want to be having to do so, like that last one,
:16:44. > :16:47.brilliant counter-punching play from Azarenka. She got that down
:16:48. > :16:57.the line, Sharapova off balance going for a clean winner down the
:16:58. > :17:21.
:17:21. > :17:25.line and she won't make many of And from break point down, Azarenka
:17:25. > :17:32.wins her first service game in the second set. It has been paid -- a
:17:32. > :17:37.tough start to the second set for Sharapova. We wondered how she
:17:37. > :17:41.would feel, this new bill to this arena, in a Grand Slam final -- a
:17:41. > :17:46.new girl. She has settled absolutely, after maybe 10 minutes
:17:46. > :17:56.in the first set. She looks so comfortable. She looks the champion
:17:56. > :18:20.
:18:20. > :18:30.The evidence of Jerez it is certainly clear. She is perspiring
:18:30. > :18:36.
:18:36. > :18:43.very clearly -- the evidence of her A key factor on Sharapova winning
:18:44. > :18:53.this match was domination on her serve and it has just not happen. -
:18:54. > :18:54.
:18:54. > :20:13.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 46 seconds
:20:13. > :20:17.Very willing to step up, whether it be a volley or an overhead, she
:20:17. > :20:27.looks comfortable in all areas. Nothing wrong with that motion, is
:20:27. > :20:37.
:20:37. > :20:44.That was the difference, in that rally, right there, when Sharapova,
:20:44. > :20:49.with acute backhand cross-court -- that huge. But Azarenka got off
:20:49. > :20:54.court and hit it back just as deep. When Sharapova gets on the run, she
:20:54. > :21:04.can't stay in the rally, with the athleticism of Azarenka or so far
:21:04. > :21:22.
:21:22. > :21:24.That is why did. And it is now a That is why did. And it is now a
:21:24. > :21:28.two breaks. -- wide. Azarenka is three games away from the world No.
:21:28. > :21:33.1 spot and the first Grand Slam championship of what could well be
:21:33. > :21:40.many. This young woman plays with confidence. She is a force of
:21:41. > :21:42.nature on court, and she has now won nine of the last 10 games. She
:21:43. > :21:47.won nine of the last 10 games. She has really turned it around from an
:21:47. > :21:52.understandably nervous start. I wonder what Sharapova can do. The
:21:52. > :21:58.most lucratively endorse athlete in the game, obviously a beautiful
:21:58. > :22:06.woman, a great competitor and also the most followed female athlete on
:22:06. > :22:13.Facebook, so she is big time. She is engaged now to Sasha visit --
:22:13. > :22:22.the Sasha Vujacic. Her coach was telling her there to moving closer
:22:23. > :22:32.to the baseline. -- move in. We caught him doing that. That is what
:22:33. > :22:34.
:22:34. > :22:44.they are playing for. Had basketball star fiancee it plays in
:22:44. > :22:47.
:22:47. > :22:57.Turkey now. But he played for the LA Lakers. -- her basketball star
:22:57. > :22:58.
:22:58. > :23:05.That must be one of the worst service statistics that Sharapova
:23:05. > :23:12.service statistics that Sharapova has ever had. She is basically
:23:12. > :23:22.coming up against a survey like Sharapova, Azarenka, and completely
:23:22. > :23:22.
:23:22. > :25:49.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 46 seconds
:25:49. > :25:51.She is certainly not going to hold back, Sharapova. It is the only way
:25:51. > :26:01.back, Sharapova. It is the only way she can play. She will have the
:26:01. > :26:40.
:26:40. > :26:50.belief that she is going to keep A spectacular set. Azarenka has
:26:50. > :26:56.
:26:56. > :27:06.Sharapova taking her time. Just be gripping. She obviously has to hold
:27:06. > :27:06.
:27:06. > :28:01.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 46 seconds
:28:01. > :28:11.UMPIRE: Miss Sharapova is challenging the call on the right-
:28:11. > :28:49.
:28:49. > :28:56.Once again, Azarenka or red bed big shot from a Sarratt -- Sharapova.
:28:56. > :29:00.She seems to be able to anticipate where she is going -- once again,
:29:01. > :29:10.Azarenka or read that big shock from Sharapova. She seems to know
:29:11. > :29:18.
:29:18. > :29:28.where that Paul is going. That one UMPIRE: Ms Azarenka is challenging
:29:28. > :29:56.
:29:57. > :30:00.So you agree that the call is late? She is accepting the logic from the
:30:00. > :30:06.umpire's chair, because she knows there is no future in arguing it,
:30:06. > :30:16.but what she is saying is is that call, or the lack of it, affect the
:30:16. > :30:36.
:30:36. > :30:42.play? Of course it didn't, it That is the pattern we have seen so
:30:42. > :30:45.much. Sharapova does not have the foot speed to recover, or the
:30:45. > :30:49.recovery speed to get back and cover the other side of the court
:30:49. > :30:55.after being pulled out wide. This is the shot from Azarenka that does
:30:55. > :31:00.the damage. She can't recover. is almost like she needs the court
:31:00. > :31:10.to be about three times faster, Sharapova, so she can get the ball
:31:10. > :31:32.
:31:32. > :31:38.away from Azarenka. She hasn't been Just can't get through the defences.
:31:38. > :31:44.No. We have seen recently in Grand Slams, at different champions
:31:44. > :31:49.coming to the fore. Petra Kvitova, winning at Wimbledon, beating
:31:49. > :31:55.Azarenka in the semi-finals. Sharapova, in the final. We saw Sam
:31:55. > :31:59.Stosur at the US Open, Li Na at the French. If Azarenka wins one of
:31:59. > :32:09.these next two points, she is very close to becoming a first-time
:32:09. > :32:11.
:32:11. > :32:17.What we don't know in women's tennis, at the moment, our is where
:32:17. > :32:21.Serena Williams is. After recovering from health problems,
:32:21. > :32:31.she has declared that she is not happy on the court and did not look
:32:31. > :32:58.
:32:58. > :33:03.That is long. Azarenka could not be more pumped up. One feels for the
:33:03. > :33:08.person on the receiving end, that is Sharapova, but this has been
:33:08. > :33:15.dominant from a new champion in waiting. It has. It is a complete
:33:15. > :33:18.blow-out. There is a buzz about the crowd. It is disappointing, or
:33:18. > :33:21.finals like this, you want a close match of some sort and this has not
:33:21. > :33:27.match of some sort and this has not been a challenge, after the first
:33:27. > :33:31.three games. It has just been a walk in the park for her. She has
:33:31. > :33:35.completely dominated Sharapova. The way she has blunted all the weapons
:33:35. > :33:40.that Sharapova or possesses in her game, it has been remarkable, and
:33:40. > :33:45.she has just embraced the situation. Looked a bit shaky at the start, it
:33:45. > :33:51.is understandable, but got it back together very quickly after those
:33:51. > :33:54.first two-and-a-half games. Since then, it has been so easy. She beat
:33:54. > :33:57.Radwanska in the quarter-finals, Kim Clijsters, the defending
:33:57. > :34:04.champion in the semi-finals. She had to go three sets in both of
:34:04. > :34:08.those matches. This looks to be a straight set drubbing at the moment.
:34:08. > :34:14.She had to struggle to suppress a She had to struggle to suppress a
:34:14. > :34:22.smile, there. There will be a party smile, there. There will be a party
:34:22. > :34:28.tonight, if she wins. She is a lively professional. Full of fun.
:34:28. > :34:32.After being world junior champion, she won the Australian Open juniors.
:34:32. > :34:37.She has worked her way up through the game, it is all on the line
:34:37. > :34:47.here, serving for the Australian Open. And the world number one
:34:47. > :34:47.
:34:47. > :36:42.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 46 seconds
:36:42. > :36:49.Sam Sumyk, working with the This may be the best backhand she
:36:49. > :36:59.has hit all day. Just turned slightly, there. And just drilled
:36:59. > :37:12.
:37:12. > :37:19.You are going to see her smile liked the place up, if she does
:37:19. > :37:29.when. She hasn't yet. -- liked the The sort of complacency that we are
:37:29. > :37:29.
:37:29. > :38:26.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 46 seconds
:38:26. > :38:32.allowed in here, but there is going It is a shame we don't have a heart
:38:32. > :38:42.rate monitor on the players. I would suggest that Victoria
:38:42. > :38:48.
:38:48. > :38:58.Azarenka is pretty excited about A master class of tennis, this has
:38:58. > :39:29.
:39:29. > :39:39.A new champion in Australia. Women's tennis has a new world
:39:39. > :39:41.
:39:41. > :39:44.number one. That is what it means. number one. That is what it means.
:39:44. > :39:49.A life's ambition, it realised. Playing partners, friends and
:39:49. > :39:54.colleagues, coach, parents, brothers, sisters, relatives,
:39:54. > :40:02.brothers, sisters, relatives, followers. They will all know what
:40:02. > :40:12.she has sacrificed to make this happen. She still can't believe it.
:40:12. > :40:19.
:40:19. > :40:29.This is your time. How nice is that from Sam Sumyk, her coach? "this
:40:29. > :40:30.
:40:30. > :40:35.time is for you". Is that her of the physiotherapist? Yes. When you
:40:36. > :40:45.were Davis Cup captain, he was your physio? He was for a while. Great
:40:46. > :40:52.
:40:52. > :41:01.Just great moments. This one is for you, says the coach. This is your
:41:02. > :41:08.time. She has just played the best match of her career in the most
:41:08. > :41:12.important match of her career. People who haven't seen this
:41:12. > :41:16.Victoria Azarenka on court, everyone is talking about the
:41:17. > :41:22.screeching and all that sort of stuff. But she really is quite a
:41:22. > :41:32.bubbly personality, I think she will be a great world number one.
:41:32. > :41:36.
:41:36. > :41:40.Friends with all the other players. And this is really a time to
:41:40. > :41:45.celebrate the achievement of an ambition, and a life defining
:41:45. > :41:50.moment. Now we get ready for the presentation. As she empty circuit
:41:50. > :41:56.back into the Rod Laver Arena. I don't know if she has got 15,000
:41:56. > :42:03.bits and bobs in there. The tournament director will say, it
:42:03. > :42:06.will be a few minutes. Thoughts the Maria Sharapova. It is not back to
:42:06. > :42:15.the drawing board, it has been a fabulous comeback, she has done it
:42:15. > :42:19.all before. Perhaps she can do it again. JOHN INVERDALE:, they are
:42:19. > :42:25.the most fantastic pictures. You said a live defining moment, you
:42:25. > :42:29.can see that 14 years of hard work, because from a very early age, this
:42:29. > :42:38.was her course of action, it has come to fruition today. You can see
:42:38. > :42:48.that in her face. Who is she texting? I am going to turn on my
:42:48. > :42:54.
:42:54. > :42:58.mobile device, I am going to get on her Twitter. She is Vika7. I don't
:42:58. > :43:06.know if she will be calling her mum and dad, or tweeting to the world.
:43:06. > :43:11.I wonder when it will sink in. won so convincingly, so
:43:11. > :43:15.conclusively in the end, are we looking at a face that could
:43:15. > :43:19.actually dominate the women's game for the next two or three years?
:43:19. > :43:26.is an interesting question. This is a confidence player. When she gets
:43:26. > :43:32.confidence, she is virtually I think Petra Kvitova is another,
:43:32. > :43:35.she perhaps has the slight advantage of being left-handed, the
:43:35. > :43:39.Wimbledon champion who beat Maria Sharapova in the final last year.
:43:39. > :43:46.There has been a changing of the guard. Azarenka is number one, I
:43:47. > :43:56.think a bit of a will be at number two in the world. -- i think of it
:43:57. > :44:07.
:44:07. > :44:14.There we have a new number one as well as a new Australian champion.
:44:14. > :44:19.John, you said you did think that Sharapova or might, if not rollover
:44:19. > :44:26.in the second set, you felt that Azarenka might actually run away
:44:26. > :44:31.with it. What happened to Sharapova or's game in the second set?
:44:31. > :44:38.problem was that there was nothing she could do to get Azarenka off
:44:38. > :44:45.the court, to win these points. The first serve from Azarenka was not a
:44:45. > :44:55.bad percentage but it was neutralised. -- the first serve
:44:55. > :44:55.
:44:55. > :45:00.from Sharapova was not bad. Azarenka did not let her into the
:45:00. > :45:05.match, she was so good in defence, Sharapova had to keep going for way
:45:05. > :45:08.too much. The percentages did not stack in her favour. Once she got
:45:08. > :45:13.through those first few games in the first set, when Sharapova
:45:13. > :45:16.should have been up a double break, and we might have been talking
:45:16. > :45:21.about a totally different match, after that it was one-way traffic,
:45:21. > :45:26.a brilliant display. Losing is losing, but losing it to love, does
:45:26. > :45:33.it have any impact on Sharapova or Dechy put it down as one of those
:45:33. > :45:38.things and move on? -- or does she put it down? She will put it down
:45:38. > :45:44.to one of those things. She has done it before. This is the final
:45:44. > :45:47.of a major championship, but Sharapova, she is an amazing
:45:47. > :45:52.champion and the mind is incredible. She will say, I didn't expect to
:45:52. > :45:58.get to the final, and she will go back to the drawing board. With her
:45:58. > :46:02.coach, to try to find ways to beat people like Azarenka. She needed a
:46:02. > :46:07.faster court today. The speed wasn't enough for her. She just
:46:07. > :46:15.could not find a way to penetrate it all. It was a brilliant
:46:15. > :46:19.performance by an Arak -- Azarenka. I'm told that Kuznetsova has
:46:19. > :46:24.already texted heard to say congratulations on being the world
:46:24. > :46:30.number one. I am sure that is the first of many messages, she seems a
:46:30. > :46:34.very engaging personality, a good one to be at the top of the women's
:46:34. > :46:38.game. Yes, women's tennis has been lucky. Caroline Wozniacki was a
:46:38. > :46:42.tremendous ambassador but to the wider public, she had not won a
:46:42. > :46:48.Grand Slam, people did not understand how she could be world
:46:48. > :46:52.number one if she had not won one of the big ones. She is not only a
:46:52. > :46:58.wonderful personality but she has won one of the Slams. People get
:46:59. > :47:02.this, she has won the big matches, she is world number one. It is
:47:03. > :47:05.entirely comprehensible to people. You may be wondering why we are
:47:05. > :47:10.waiting endlessly for the presentation ceremony, they do tend
:47:10. > :47:14.to drag things at the Australian Open. I am sure in a few moments,
:47:14. > :47:22.we will have the presentation party. It is a very glamourous trophy, it
:47:22. > :47:27.was kind of winched on in a kind of trapeze and presented to Martina
:47:27. > :47:32.Hingis before the final took place. I don't know if she is part of the
:47:32. > :47:41.presentation party but she was wearing a spectacular white dress.
:47:41. > :47:50.I think we're getting close to the The presentation party have made
:47:50. > :47:54.their way there. The flags of the nations are represented at the
:47:54. > :47:58.first Grand Slam of the year, just first Grand Slam of the year, just
:47:58. > :48:01.behind the net. Ladies and gentlemen, it is time to commence
:48:01. > :48:05.our women's singles final presentation. Can I ask you to put
:48:05. > :48:09.your hands together for all the women who have given us so much
:48:10. > :48:17.fabulous entertainment in the last two weeks. It has been quite
:48:17. > :48:24.outstanding. I am joined on stage by the President of Tennis
:48:24. > :48:28.Australia, Steve Healey, and one -- from ANZ, one of the major sponsors,
:48:28. > :48:32.Mr Mike Smith. And also a young lady who knows this cord better
:48:32. > :48:42.than most, and I am sure you will give her another warm welcome back,
:48:42. > :48:43.
:48:43. > :48:47.But to commence official proceedings, it is my pleasure to
:48:47. > :48:57.call to the microphone, the President of Tennis Australia,
:48:57. > :48:57.
:48:57. > :49:03.You're Excellencies, his Royal Highness, prime ministers,
:49:03. > :49:07.dignitaries, ladies and gentlemen, what a privilege it has been to
:49:07. > :49:11.watch a fantastic performance tonight, and indeed, an incredible
:49:11. > :49:18.two weeks of competition between the very best female players in the
:49:18. > :49:25.world. There have been moments of great exultation, despair, high
:49:25. > :49:28.drama, great excitement, with some disappointment. Undoubtedly, non-
:49:28. > :49:34.stop entertainment and quality tennis throughout the fortnight.
:49:34. > :49:38.More than ever before, the Australian Open and the city of
:49:38. > :49:44.Melbourne has captured the attention of world sport. In
:49:44. > :49:50.particular, watching these amazing athletes display their puts it --
:49:50. > :49:54.spectacular talent in this incredible venue. I would like to
:49:54. > :49:59.thank the Victorian government for their support in even further
:49:59. > :50:03.improving this venue, and in particular, our more than 4,000
:50:03. > :50:12.tennis Australia staff who have done such a fantastic job in
:50:12. > :50:16.supporting this event, and making it's such a special one this year.
:50:16. > :50:20.You have all out done yourselves, congratulations and thank you for
:50:20. > :50:24.that. Maria, bad luck tonight but it is terrific to see you back near
:50:24. > :50:34.the top of women's tennis after a period of injury and I am sure the
:50:34. > :50:38.
:50:38. > :50:43.next Grand Slam is not too far away. Victoria, congratulations on your
:50:43. > :50:53.first Grand Slam win, here in Australia at the Australian Open.
:50:53. > :50:54.
:50:54. > :51:04.To go with it, the number-one ranking in the world from next
:51:04. > :51:09.Victoria, we now add your name to some of the legendary names of
:51:09. > :51:18.world tennis on the Daphne at curst Memorial Trophy, congratulations
:51:18. > :51:25.and well done. Thank you, ladies and gentlemen, could I ask you to
:51:25. > :51:35.also acknowledge our chair umpire for the final, Caroline Kremer.
:51:35. > :51:41.
:51:41. > :51:44.So, too are one or -- runner up in the 2012 win in singles Australian
:51:44. > :51:48.Open Championship. It is great to see her back after the problems she
:51:48. > :51:53.has had with their shoulder, and I am sure another Grand Slam is not
:51:53. > :52:03.too far away, but for the moment, she is the runner up of the
:52:03. > :52:20.
:52:20. > :52:24.First of all, the first congratulations goes to Victoria.
:52:24. > :52:30.It is an honour to play against you, you have owned this title, you have
:52:30. > :52:40.worked so hard for it over the years. -- her and this title.
:52:40. > :52:42.
:52:42. > :52:48.Congratulations, cherish it for as As in any sport, you have your good
:52:48. > :52:54.days, your tough days and days where things don't work out. Today,
:52:54. > :52:58.Victoria was better on so many levels, and a display too good. As
:52:58. > :53:02.an athlete, to be at this stage, it all comes down to the last two
:53:02. > :53:06.athletes, winner takes it all out of all the players in the draw. To
:53:06. > :53:10.stand here after so many years, it has been a few years since I have
:53:10. > :53:14.been back on this stage. I have had great moments here, tough losses,
:53:14. > :53:18.and this was another one. But there is no doubt I will be back and
:53:18. > :53:28.performing in front of all of you guys, you mean so much to me.
:53:28. > :53:29.
:53:29. > :53:34.Melbourne has been my home away from home for the last month, it
:53:34. > :53:40.has been... I could not have asked for a better home. Many thanks to
:53:40. > :53:45.my team, my coach, Thomas, Vladimir, Max, my mother and my father, who
:53:45. > :53:50.always believed in me, no matter if I played tennis, went to school,
:53:50. > :53:53.whatever I did. My fiancee, I can't wait to see you soon, and all my
:53:53. > :53:58.friends who have supported me over the years. I love you, we are going
:53:58. > :54:01.to have so many great moments. Everyone who makes this event
:54:01. > :54:05.happen, the sponsors, anyone I have forgotten, the volunteers, the
:54:05. > :54:12.drivers, the ball kids, or not you, thank you so much and I can't wait
:54:12. > :54:17.to be back. -- all of you, thank you so much. Well done, Maria,
:54:17. > :54:21.thank you very much. And welcome back to Melbourne Park. As Steve
:54:21. > :54:31.mentioned, there is a new world number one in women's tennis, and
:54:31. > :54:54.
:54:54. > :55:04.she just happens to be the 2012 Wonderful pictures from Melbourne,
:55:04. > :55:10.
:55:10. > :55:15.sorry you might have lost them for First, I want to congratulate Maria,
:55:15. > :55:18.and thank you for such kind words. It has been a great two wigs, you
:55:18. > :55:23.did really well, I am sure we are going to have many more finals that
:55:23. > :55:33.we are going to perform, I wish you all good luck for the rest of the
:55:33. > :55:38.
:55:38. > :55:44.I would like to thank my team, Sam, JP, Susanne, John, you guys have
:55:44. > :55:51.been supporting me for so long and believing in me. It made me realise
:55:51. > :56:01.I can believe in myself, and I can finally raised this trophy.
:56:01. > :56:03.
:56:03. > :56:07.I want to thank my parents, who are watching for sure. My friends, my
:56:07. > :56:17.boyfriend and my grandmother, the person who inspires me most in my
:56:17. > :56:22.
:56:22. > :56:27.Of course, I would like to thank all the sponsors for making it such
:56:27. > :56:31.an amazing was a -- event. I have been lobbing coming back every year
:56:31. > :56:36.since I was the junior -- loving coming back. I can't wait to be
:56:36. > :56:46.back next year. I had an amazing month in Australia and it was a
:56:46. > :56:47.
:56:47. > :56:52.dream come true, thank you so much. Of course, all the volunteers, the
:56:52. > :56:55.drivers, I hope you guys enjoyed my doughnuts, I have been feeding it
:56:55. > :57:00.forever these two weeks, I know you gained weight but I know it makes
:57:00. > :57:10.you smile every time. All the ladies in the locker room, the
:57:10. > :57:12.
:57:12. > :57:15.physios, the ball boys and ball girls, the lines people, I know we
:57:15. > :57:20.are hard on you sometimes but with algae we would not be playing,
:57:20. > :57:29.thank you so much. -- without you we would not be playing. Of course,
:57:29. > :57:34.for the crowd. There you go, come Thank you so much, you have been an
:57:34. > :57:41.inspiration, I can't wait to be back. Thanks again.
:57:42. > :57:47.Let's hear it once again for the number one player in the world and
:57:47. > :57:51.the Australian Open champion, Victoria Azarenka. Two absolutely
:57:51. > :57:54.charming speeches from two of the finest ambassadors for women's
:57:54. > :57:59.tennis that you could possibly imagine, Maria Sharapova and
:57:59. > :58:02.Victoria Azarenka. She will pose with that trophy and share the
:58:02. > :58:09.moment with somebody who has raised the trophy three times, Martina
:58:09. > :58:13.Hingis, and with Maria as well. Fabulous moments, you can see how
:58:13. > :58:19.popular she is. Good luck to her this year, and the other players,
:58:19. > :58:23.it has been a fantastic women's draw. At the end of it all, the top
:58:23. > :58:32.player in the world is the one who won this tournament. Victoria
:58:32. > :58:35.Azarenka, the new champion of JOHN INVERDALE: You suspect a few
:58:35. > :58:43.more victory speeches will be delivered like that by Victoria
:58:43. > :58:48.Azarenka this year, and in the years to come. John, overall, was
:58:48. > :58:51.that the biggest testimony to her, the way in which she overcame the
:58:51. > :58:56.shakes and the wobbles at the start, to prove what a good player she was,
:58:56. > :59:01.because 2 1/2 games in, you were thinking, this could be a horror
:59:01. > :59:05.show. She righted the ship and won it emphatically. JOHN LLOYD:
:59:05. > :59:09.Absolutely right, she did it the hard way. You would expect her to
:59:09. > :59:14.be a bit nervous, and she was. The first service game, a couple of
:59:14. > :59:20.double faults. Then she was down 0- 30 and Sharapova was thinking, I
:59:20. > :59:25.have got this one. She was nervous, had a chance to break, made a
:59:25. > :59:29.couple of bad errors. Once she got that game, she bisected Maria
:59:29. > :59:35.Sharapova's game. The way she embraced the situation was
:59:35. > :59:39.incredible. I think we can show you how that means Azarenka is top of
:59:39. > :59:41.the world rankings. It does not mean that Sharapova moves into
:59:42. > :59:51.second but the gap will have narrowed because of the ranking
:59:52. > :59:59.
:59:59. > :00:03.Andrew made the point in his closing remarks that the women's
:00:03. > :00:07.game is in a very healthy state, having perhaps a few years ago
:00:07. > :00:11.suffered a bit of a lull. There are a lot of players who are very
:00:11. > :00:16.competitive and it means that the latter stages of the Grand Slams
:00:16. > :00:20.for this year should be very good. I think so. I think we have needed
:00:21. > :00:25.this. Wozniacki, it might also help her that she has been knocked off
:00:25. > :00:28.the number-one spot. I think the pressure of that stuff going when
:00:28. > :00:34.she was number one and had never won a Slam, I think she will be
:00:34. > :00:38.back. Azarenka, the personality she has got, as well as the game, and
:00:38. > :00:42.Petra Kvitova, such an exciting player. Serena Williams is not
:00:42. > :00:46.around at the moment but she will be back. We have got Kim Clijsters
:00:46. > :00:56.back for what looks like only one more year. I think the women's game
:00:56. > :00:56.
:00:56. > :01:00.We have lots more sport to show you on BBC television through today.
:01:00. > :01:05.Football Focus is coming up at lunchtime, and it is also an
:01:05. > :01:09.Olympic here, who will be the woman's cynic -- singles champion
:01:09. > :01:15.at the Olympics, because that is almost the fifth major this year,
:01:15. > :01:20.obviously being played at Wimbledon, which will add tension to the
:01:20. > :01:23.competition this year. We have delayed -- latest of the Olympic
:01:23. > :01:28.delayed -- latest of the Olympic dreams programmes, at 1pm today on
:01:28. > :01:33.BBC One. In an Olympic here, obviously athletics is top of the
:01:33. > :01:39.agenda, and that the start of the Olympic here we have our first
:01:39. > :01:47.indoor action starting at 1:30pm on BBC One, and then the indoor bowls,
:01:47. > :01:55.BBC One, and then the indoor bowls, obviously. Tomorrow, we have Rafael
:01:55. > :01:59.Nadal against Nadal -- Djokovic. The one imponderable, I will ask
:01:59. > :02:06.you, it is impossible to know, how much will yesterday have taken out
:02:06. > :02:10.of the world number one? It will unquestionably hurt him. A
:02:10. > :02:15.few years ago, when Rafael Nadal beat Roger Federer and the final,
:02:15. > :02:20.he had a five-hour game the day before, which she won and won the
:02:20. > :02:25.final. He is in such good shape, Djokovic, that I don't think that
:02:25. > :02:30.will make the difference. Will it have any bearing if we get into a
:02:30. > :02:35.fourth or fifth set? You would think so, but again Nadal did not
:02:35. > :02:39.when he beat Roger Federer a couple of years ago. I have a sneaky
:02:39. > :02:44.feeling Nadal will win this, even though the form book doesn't say he
:02:44. > :02:50.will. If it goes into the latter stages of the match, perhaps that
:02:50. > :02:58.will make the difference. That was the match point that took Djokovic
:02:58. > :03:08.into another grand-slam final. He would love to make it four majors.
:03:08. > :03:13.
:03:13. > :03:15.You can see it live at 8:15pm on BBC Two tomorrow. -- 8:15am. Her
:03:15. > :03:19.much do you think that match yesterday will have given him
:03:19. > :03:25.confidence? He came into this tournament saying he would not win
:03:25. > :03:29.it, he is in the final now, he wants the final and the challenge,
:03:29. > :03:36.this is a situation that Nadal loves. I think he will win tomorrow.
:03:36. > :03:39.It will be fascinating to see. Thanks for watching yesterday and