:00:37. > :00:40.Good afternoon and thanks for joining us for the highlights from
:00:41. > :00:45.Melbourne. And there have been plenty of them today. Johanna Konta
:00:46. > :00:49.has been dreaming about this day for her whole career, the chance to take
:00:50. > :00:54.on her childhood hero on the big stage. That hero is none other than
:00:55. > :00:58.the great Serena Williams, the biggest challenge in the women's
:00:59. > :01:01.game. So, quite a task ahead for Jo Konta. With Andy Murray out, she
:01:02. > :01:09.carries the wake of British expectation. Quite a responsibility.
:01:10. > :01:17.Is she up for it? What do we know about Johanna Konta? Controlled
:01:18. > :01:26.aggression all the way through for Johanna Konta...
:01:27. > :01:36.Absolute masterclass from Johanna Konta. The amazing start to need
:01:37. > :01:39.2017 continues! As a young girl wanting to be a professional tennis
:01:40. > :01:47.player, it is an incredible honour, and I cannot wait to share the court
:01:48. > :01:48.with her. It is Serena Williams, irresistible, majestic, in a class
:01:49. > :02:06.of her own. Serena celebrates, and why not? Jo
:02:07. > :02:09.Konta is no rookie. She is ranked ninth in the world, and Serena
:02:10. > :02:14.Williams of course needs no introduction. 22 time Grand Slam
:02:15. > :02:18.champion. But remarkably, this will be the first time these two players
:02:19. > :02:22.have faced each other, a leap into the unknown for both players. The
:02:23. > :02:34.stuff of dreams on court for Johanna Konta today. And the winner will
:02:35. > :02:39.play all move, who is living her own fairy tale. She all but gave up
:02:40. > :02:45.tennis for a period of three years. It has taken her the best part of a
:02:46. > :02:54.decade to battle her way back. But here she is beating you McGeachie in
:02:55. > :02:58.the quarterfinals. 19 years ago, she last won goal at the open. And that
:02:59. > :03:04.was who was interviewing her after this latest victory. Like I said the
:03:05. > :03:08.other day, one day I will say a long story about things that happened to
:03:09. > :03:21.me. But I could never dream about being here again! This is just...
:03:22. > :03:29.I know this means a lot to every player, to reach the semifinals, but
:03:30. > :03:33.to me, this is overwhelming, I will never, ever forget this day and this
:03:34. > :03:39.last couple of weeks. This has truly made my life and everything bad that
:03:40. > :03:42.happened, it has made it OK. Just a fact that I was this strong and it
:03:43. > :03:46.was worth fighting this harder. It's really incredible. It is wonderful
:03:47. > :03:52.to see how much it means and how hard she had worked for it. So,
:03:53. > :03:55.Mirjana Lucic-Baroni is into the last four, as is Venus Williams. It
:03:56. > :04:01.means there is only one match left to complete the semifinal line-up.
:04:02. > :04:07.It is hard to imagine what was going through Johanna Konta's mind as she
:04:08. > :04:12.made the long walk to the court. Her coach had said a lot would depend on
:04:13. > :04:19.which of the many faces of Serena Williams turned up on court. At her
:04:20. > :04:27.cool, calm best, Serena might prove unbeatable. So, which Serena would
:04:28. > :04:58.it be? We will join the first set at 1-1.
:04:59. > :05:02.She has worked with a lot of great players, and the greatest in my
:05:03. > :05:07.book, Margaret Court, in attendance today. Of course she did not work
:05:08. > :05:29.with HER, let's be quite clear about that! 24 Majors for Margaret Court.
:05:30. > :05:38.Margaret, an incredible athlete, tall, when you stand next to her for
:05:39. > :05:42.the first time. Athleticism playing as much a part of the sport back
:05:43. > :06:15.then as it does now. Even more so now.
:06:16. > :06:19.Margaret Court won here 11 times. Digest that for a few minutes. I
:06:20. > :07:14.will, thanks! 11, it's incredible! That is Serena at her very best!
:07:15. > :07:16.Even though Konta lost that point, I like where she's standing, right up
:07:17. > :07:22.on the baseline, going to two-tone with Serena Williams. It's just that
:07:23. > :07:28.last shot that Serena has, just a little bit more firepower on eight.
:07:29. > :08:37.-- on it. Struggling to make a first serve at
:08:38. > :08:39.the moment. And pays the price. When you've got
:08:40. > :08:44.someone like Konta, who takes the ball early and can return like that,
:08:45. > :09:07.it will just continue to add the pressure.
:09:08. > :09:15.There you go. The baseline position is so important, to take time away
:09:16. > :09:20.from one of the greatest feats this sport has ever seen. First couple of
:09:21. > :09:23.games in this first set will determine how this match will play
:09:24. > :09:35.out, we said, and it's good signs for Konta early on. She's got a
:09:36. > :09:48.break point. You can hear what Serena is saying - get a first serve
:09:49. > :09:50.in! It gives you a good idea of what an important cornerstone that is in
:09:51. > :10:32.her game. Serve well, play well. Into the top 20 just before
:10:33. > :10:37.Wimbledon steer, Konta. The first British woman to do so in almost 30
:10:38. > :10:53.years. -- just before Wimbledon last year.
:10:54. > :11:05.Once again, punishing a Williams second serve. Just that added depth
:11:06. > :11:29.on the return which allows Konta to get shorter response.
:11:30. > :11:38.UMPIRE: Advantage, Williams. That's two missed returns. Konta has to
:11:39. > :11:56.take those opportunities. And what a difference that first
:11:57. > :11:59.serve makes. Makes this sport a lot easier, when you're getting free
:12:00. > :12:15.points, like that. Williams survives.
:12:16. > :12:22.Serving from the tougher end, looking directly into the sun. It
:12:23. > :12:31.will be tough for the next 45 minutes or so. Wow!
:12:32. > :12:42.Konta served very well in her match against Makarova. However, against
:12:43. > :12:44.Serena Williams, she has to add a bit more placement on that second
:12:45. > :13:13.serve. Tell you what, when Serena starts to
:13:14. > :13:43.hit a forehand well, you'd better watch out.
:13:44. > :13:51.What was so impressive, which numbers in particular in her
:13:52. > :13:59.previous match? Well, on her first serve, she did go in, Konta, and she
:14:00. > :14:02.won those points 80% of the time. It goes to show, when you can start
:14:03. > :14:05.with a big first serve, Konta, who likes to be aggressive, it's almost
:14:06. > :14:36.always going in her favour. And that is supposedly the less
:14:37. > :14:41.reliable side for Serena. She's striping it at the moment. She's got
:14:42. > :15:01.herself two break points early on. Always helps when you can win free
:15:02. > :15:08.points of that first serve. They're like gold dust. Two aces apiece so
:15:09. > :15:27.far. UMPIRE: Game, Williams. She's
:15:28. > :15:33.looking rock-solid from the back of the court, Williams.
:15:34. > :15:42.STUDIO: Which Serena would walk out on court? We have our answer. Konta
:15:43. > :15:45.was broken again and ended up losing the first set 6-2. Into the second
:15:46. > :16:37.set, with Serena leading 1-0. This really is a must buy from hold
:16:38. > :17:47.for Johanna Konta. She cannot to let this second set slip away quickly.
:17:48. > :17:56.She was giving it the old sabre there. Why not, when you're
:17:57. > :18:24.training? -- trailing? For once, unable to manufacture
:18:25. > :18:55.something. Just reminding herself to get that
:18:56. > :19:00.net clearance. Always want to get that might have passed the first
:19:01. > :19:05.obstacle, any good coach will tell you. -- get that ball past the first
:19:06. > :19:32.optical. Matty Done! She waited for the
:19:33. > :19:35.shorter opportunity, Konta. She hasn't had many short responses from
:19:36. > :19:49.Serena Williams, but she took a traffic. Serena, applauding her
:19:50. > :20:01.efforts. -- she took advantage of it.
:20:02. > :20:23.That's a big hold, isn't it? In the circumstances. Going back to 0-40,
:20:24. > :20:25.that was a crucial point. It was an absolute must-hold for Konta. Well
:20:26. > :21:58.done. They're the returns I would love
:21:59. > :22:01.Konta to make. She's not missing them by much. It could add so much
:22:02. > :24:11.value to this game. A big body blow if Williams gets
:24:12. > :24:14.broken, she was up 0-40 in the previous game, 40-15 in this one.
:24:15. > :24:36.The first serve has just deserted her.
:24:37. > :24:43.That is where the frustration is coming from. Williams having a
:24:44. > :24:51.number of opportunities to take the lead here in the second set. Three
:24:52. > :25:27.of 13 first serves, only 23% of them.
:25:28. > :25:40.Johanna Konta has stolen another game from right underneath Serena
:25:41. > :25:45.Williams' nose. STUDIO: So, Konta fighting back
:25:46. > :25:51.against the champion, the next two games went with serve, so here is
:25:52. > :25:55.Konta serving at 3-2. COMMENTATOR: Serena dominated the
:25:56. > :26:00.opening set, serving big, hardly making any unforced error s, plenty
:26:01. > :26:15.of winners. She was up 40-15 in her next service
:26:16. > :26:35.game, got broken. So that is where we are.
:26:36. > :26:44.This is where Konta has to work even harder than she has in the second
:26:45. > :26:47.set to not let this lead slip away. She has to pick the right moment to
:26:48. > :27:27.dictate play on. And just like that, it's three more
:27:28. > :27:45.break points for Serena. The raw athleticism at its very
:27:46. > :28:22.best. There is that flat one again. She
:28:23. > :30:07.just wants 10% slice on it, and I think she will make more.
:30:08. > :30:13.Williams is currently serving at 32%, but when she has got her first
:30:14. > :30:17.serve in, which has been on seven occasions in this second set, she
:30:18. > :31:20.has been successful every single time in terms of winning the point.
:31:21. > :31:47.Great off the ball movement from Konta.
:31:48. > :32:39.A very aggressive second serve, just enough on it to get the error.
:32:40. > :32:54.Dropping the hammer. The serve comes to the rescue. 4-3, Serena leads,
:32:55. > :32:59.second set. Girls' day out by the looks of it. It is a perfect day to
:33:00. > :33:45.witness some fantastic tennis. The sun is out, hats out.
:33:46. > :33:52.Just a couple of times Konta not getting her feet in the right
:33:53. > :35:03.position, also off that backhand side.
:35:04. > :36:16.Just solid tennis from Serena Williams.
:36:17. > :38:40.UMPIRE: Game, set and match Williams.
:38:41. > :38:59.A great start for 2017 for Johanna Konta, and she will get a lot of
:39:00. > :39:03.feedback from playing Serena for the first time, she will no what she
:39:04. > :39:10.needs to work on, where she needs to get a little better, but of course
:39:11. > :39:16.with that win today, Serena with Venus representing the first time in
:39:17. > :39:23.the open era to players aged 35 or older have reached the semifinal at
:39:24. > :39:27.a Grand Slam. But is pretty cool. They were there at the beginning and
:39:28. > :39:35.they are still going strong in the latter stages of their respective
:39:36. > :39:44.careers. Joe came into this tournament having won Sydney, she
:39:45. > :39:48.has been playing fabulous tennis. I was in the locker room watching her
:39:49. > :39:52.win, and she is doing so well, so she is definitely a future champion
:39:53. > :39:59.here for sure, so I was happy to be able to get through that. I don't
:40:00. > :40:07.know if you saw the next match, and Mirjana Lucic-Baroni, what is up
:40:08. > :40:15.with you guys? 34, 35, Venus is 36, girls in their 30s are happening! It
:40:16. > :40:27.Israeli amazing, 30s is the new ten! I am so ploughed of Mirjana -- so
:40:28. > :40:30.proud of Mirjana, it is so great to see her back out here, playing in
:40:31. > :40:35.the semifinal, it is so inspiring for me, and no matter what happens,
:40:36. > :40:40.some 134 or all do will be in the final, so that is great!
:40:41. > :40:45.STUDIO: There must be something in the water in Melbourne, the veterans
:40:46. > :40:55.seeing off the youngsters. Serena Williams' serve too much for Johanna
:40:56. > :40:58.Konta, but Jo is positive. So much of the matches on her terms, and I
:40:59. > :41:01.think having good acceptance of that and acknowledging that sometimes you
:41:02. > :41:06.are not doing anything wrong, it is just the quality of player that she
:41:07. > :41:12.is and the competitor that she is, so I think having better acceptance
:41:13. > :41:15.of that, and also staying a bit, and more perspective when you do get the
:41:16. > :41:20.opportunities, and not feeling too stressed that that is the only one
:41:21. > :41:23.you are going to get. And she has said that you will win the title one
:41:24. > :41:30.day, you have to win seven matches to do that, but generally would you
:41:31. > :41:34.say that here and New York at the US Open are your best chances for a
:41:35. > :41:39.Grand Slam? I hope that I will be able to play great tennis at all of
:41:40. > :41:44.the slams on all of the surfaces, it would be nice to be able to say
:41:45. > :41:49.that. All I can do is focus on the work, all I can do is look to keep
:41:50. > :41:55.trying to get better, and hopefully one day if it is on the cards for
:41:56. > :41:59.me, I will get my chance. So, this is how the semifinals line-up now,
:42:00. > :42:06.Serena through to play Mirjana Lucic-Baroni, a 35 you rolled
:42:07. > :42:09.against a 34-year old, while 36-year-old Venus Williams meet
:42:10. > :42:13.Vandeweghe, a junior in comparison at 26! Now let's bring you the
:42:14. > :42:17.wheelchair events, and there has been a shock, because offending
:42:18. > :42:22.champion Gordon Reid is out of the men's singles, losing in three sets
:42:23. > :42:28.to Gerard, the man he beat in last year's final. And Alfie Hewett is
:42:29. > :42:32.also out, Lucy Shuker has reached the finals of the women's event.
:42:33. > :42:37.Grigor Dimitrov remains unbeaten in 2017, he beat David Goffin in
:42:38. > :42:42.straight sets to reach the semis, and Rafael Nadal's comeback
:42:43. > :42:48.continues, he beat Milos Raonic in straight sets and is through to his
:42:49. > :42:51.first Grand Slam semi since 2014. Raonic now says his participation in
:42:52. > :42:58.next trick's Davis Cup tie against Braid Great Britain is very much up
:42:59. > :43:03.in the air, he had been named in the Canadian team. The semifinal line-up
:43:04. > :43:08.is now completed, it is a bit like turning back the clock, with Serena
:43:09. > :43:13.and Venus through, and Rafa and Roger still going strong. Tomorrow
:43:14. > :43:19.Roger takes on Stan in and also is tied, they have won Olympic together
:43:20. > :43:21.and the Davis Cup together, but now it is each man himself, 12 years
:43:22. > :43:29.after the first of their 21 meetings. And we will bring you that
:43:30. > :43:35.on BBC Two from 5pm, commentary on Radio 5Live from 7am tomorrow as
:43:36. > :43:38.well. And the world indoor Bowls Championships continue in Hopton on
:43:39. > :43:42.set, live on the red button from 10am, and then from one o'clock here
:43:43. > :43:46.on BBC Two as well. So it wasn't a beaver Johanna Konta,
:43:47. > :43:52.today it has been a Grand Slam of surprises so far, Djokovic out, and
:43:53. > :43:56.underdogs like Dan Evans and Mirjana Lucic-Baroni triumphing against the
:43:57. > :44:02.odds. -- it wasn't to be for Johanna Konta. She was served up a
:44:03. > :44:07.masterclass in Melbourne today, a sora mind that Serena is still
:44:08. > :44:18.supreme. Thanks for watching. Goodbye.
:44:19. > :44:22.To break someone physically... Agh! ..is not a problem.