:00:41. > :00:44.CHEERING COMMENTATOR: The world's best is
:00:45. > :00:48.out. STUDIO
:00:49. > :00:57.Andy Murray has packed his bags. And Dan Evans's golden run in Melbourne
:00:58. > :01:01.too is over. But for Johanna Konta, the dream continues. Johanna Konta
:01:02. > :01:06.looks like a woman on a mission. She has been playing formidable tennis
:01:07. > :01:12.in Melbourne so far and today's opponent was Russian Ekaterina
:01:13. > :01:14.Makarova. For both players, it is a case of deja vu.
:01:15. > :01:28.COMMENTATOR: This is going to be a contest... First set to Makarova by
:01:29. > :01:35.six games to four. Another poor reply from Makarova decides the set
:01:36. > :01:40.in favour of Johanna Konta, one set all. What a result! Outstanding
:01:41. > :01:43.results for Johanna Konta. First British woman to make the
:01:44. > :01:50.quarterfinal of a Grand Slam since 1987. So, a familiar foe for Johanna
:01:51. > :01:54.Konta today, but come through this meeting
:01:55. > :02:02.-- with Ekaterina Makarova and a whole new challenge awaits, because
:02:03. > :02:09.six time champion Serena Williams is through to the quarterfinals and she
:02:10. > :02:14.will play the Konta or Makarova next.
:02:15. > :02:27.We joined the action with Konta three games to one up.
:02:28. > :02:29.COMMENTATOR: Is getting low for that ball, a lot of Spain, working the
:02:30. > :03:01.angle. That is a big shot. She likes to go
:03:02. > :03:05.down the line, she's not afraid to go forward if she the opening. -- if
:03:06. > :03:20.she sees the opening. Well, that's a great example I think
:03:21. > :03:26.it, because she served the last three or four serves down the T on
:03:27. > :03:28.that deuce side. So that's a nice way to mix it up, keep your opponent
:03:29. > :03:56.guessing. Just missed.
:03:57. > :04:03.UMPIRE: Miss Makarova is challenging the ball on the baseline, the ball
:04:04. > :04:08.was called out. I think it was out. We will see. Though no.
:04:09. > :04:28.It was in. How have you got on with the challenges over the course of
:04:29. > :04:32.the tournament, Jelena? I think it was 9-2, something like that! Not
:04:33. > :04:45.bad. Good control on the server too, 167.
:04:46. > :04:49.That T serve working particularly well on that side. She hasn't really
:04:50. > :04:52.given Makarova any chance on her serve. She has served five aces
:04:53. > :05:13.already in this match is. And it is for games to one, for Jo
:05:14. > :05:48.Konta. Well, I think that is what Konta
:05:49. > :05:52.makes you do a bit, because she takes the ball early and is
:05:53. > :05:57.aggressive, so when you do have a chance and an opening, you feel like
:05:58. > :06:01.you really have to go for it because if you don't, she will. So you start
:06:02. > :06:08.making more and more errors. That is just beautiful control by again.
:06:09. > :06:13.This is the variety you like to see from the top players. They will step
:06:14. > :06:18.in and make that move forward and do it nicely. Not overplaying. Look at
:06:19. > :06:22.that height over the net, she has really got some margin for error.
:06:23. > :06:27.She does hit the ball quite hard and take it early, but she does have
:06:28. > :06:37.that margin for error. There is height above the net on most of her
:06:38. > :06:42.shots. Just able to do what she likes at the moment. That was well
:06:43. > :06:46.inside the baseline, but that serve was very slow. She's going to have
:06:47. > :07:07.to do a lot better or at least get better placement against Konta.
:07:08. > :07:17.Jo Konta serving for the opening set now, five games to one. I think it
:07:18. > :07:20.has been all but Jo Konta so far and Makarova hasn't been given the
:07:21. > :07:27.chance and the time on the court to do what she wants to do. Makarova
:07:28. > :07:33.only has three winners and five unforced errors. It's not bad, but
:07:34. > :07:39.Konta, only three unforced errors and ten winners. Which is... Well,
:07:40. > :08:14.its dominance, isn't it? Yet, it's pretty great. -- yeah.
:08:15. > :08:19.Really the only blemish so far on serve for Jo Konta. That first
:08:20. > :08:39.double fault. You can see Makarova try to guess
:08:40. > :08:43.there. You start to do that when you really have no idea where your
:08:44. > :08:44.opponent is going to serve all play, so she tried to guess and she did
:08:45. > :09:29.guess wrong. Well, it has been all Jo Konta in
:09:30. > :09:34.this set, and she has got two set points now. It was a difficult shot
:09:35. > :09:45.from Makarova, she really got under that too much, difficult depth.
:09:46. > :09:53.And she finishes it off nicely! Another ace. Jo Konta takes the
:09:54. > :09:58.first set 6-1. UMPIRE: New balls please.
:09:59. > :10:06.6-1 that first set. Konta hardly giving Makarova a look in so far, so
:10:07. > :10:11.would this be another straightforward win? We joined the
:10:12. > :10:32.first set at 2-1 and on serve for now.
:10:33. > :10:44.Well, I think Makarova just got a little bit lucky there. She is
:10:45. > :10:48.staying in the rallies longer. Yes, I was going to say, good effort to
:10:49. > :10:50.stay in that point. She has got those unforced errors down a little
:10:51. > :11:40.bit. Just missing a few serves here, down
:11:41. > :12:04.to 33% in this set. Great defence from Makarova. Just
:12:05. > :12:19.that moment there, where -- where Konta was waiting for the
:12:20. > :12:27.ball to come to her before playing her next shot. She had a shot neck a
:12:28. > :12:36.forehand which really drag Makarova, maybe she could have come to the net
:12:37. > :12:38.on that shot. She really does have great ground strokes on both sides
:12:39. > :12:51.and she can really take advantage of that.
:12:52. > :13:00.This is it, under a bit of pressure on her serve now. It is a great
:13:01. > :13:26.serve. Again to the body of Makarova.
:13:27. > :13:33.Makarova has stayed tough, laid some tough points, made contact play on a
:13:34. > :13:54.lot of shots. Now she has her first break point for the match.
:13:55. > :14:07.And she gets there! Is a momentum change. It is 3-1 in the second set.
:14:08. > :14:11.Well, that is her first real chance since she got in this match and she
:14:12. > :14:16.took it. I think Konta will be disappointed with that service game.
:14:17. > :14:24.We talked about her being about 75% in that first set and down to only
:14:25. > :14:27.30% right now. So a real difference. Coming down from that high level of
:14:28. > :14:30.tennis she was playing in the opening set. Within a couple of
:14:31. > :14:52.games of the opening of the second. That is her favourite shot. The
:14:53. > :15:02.confidence growing for Ekaterina Makarova.
:15:03. > :15:38.And again. Playing a lot better in the second set.
:15:39. > :15:42.We talked about that second serve and she doesn't have a great second
:15:43. > :15:47.serve. She doesn't do a huge amount of double faults. But the second
:15:48. > :16:27.serve just doesn't have enough speed on it.
:16:28. > :16:33.Back to what we saw in the opening set really. That one sitting up
:16:34. > :17:15.right in the hitting zone. Well, two double faults in this
:17:16. > :17:19.game? Really went for that serve, so a bit of that pressure again from
:17:20. > :17:45.Konta, standing inside the court on that second serve.
:17:46. > :17:53.The left-handed serve coming in handy, the ball swinging away, Konta
:17:54. > :17:58.at full stretch to try to get it back. That is what the right-handers
:17:59. > :18:11.will have a problem with, that swing serve.
:18:12. > :18:20.APPLAUSE Makarova hangs on! Gets the lead to
:18:21. > :18:38.4-1 now in the second set. So, is a change here in this second
:18:39. > :18:50.set. Jo Konta now under pressure. 1-4 in the second set.
:18:51. > :18:56.She will be looking to serve a little bit better in this next game.
:18:57. > :19:18.Down to 30% of first serves in in this set.
:19:19. > :19:26.Important for Konta to hold her serve here. Get another chance at a
:19:27. > :19:44.Makarova serve, which she has been able to break today.
:19:45. > :19:55.Makarova had an opportunity to lean into that lob. Just didn't do enough
:19:56. > :19:56.with that. This was not a difficult shot, she has made the mistake of
:19:57. > :20:25.maybe coming forward. Back on track for Jo Konta, holding
:20:26. > :20:35.to love. So, the pressure is back on Makarova
:20:36. > :21:23.right now. That's a great point. Makarova needs
:21:24. > :21:27.to be careful here not to let Konta get a look at too many second
:21:28. > :21:34.serves. She's really stepping into that. Well inside the baseline.
:21:35. > :21:39.Great point. That second serve was only 125.
:21:40. > :21:42.APPLAUSE I was thinking, that ball was
:21:43. > :21:48.heading into the net, so she didn't go for it. -- Jo Konta was thinking
:21:49. > :22:10.the ball was heading into the net. UMPIRE: Miss Makarova is challenging
:22:11. > :22:15.the call on the right baseline. The umpires will just signal from the
:22:16. > :22:25.chair whether the ball is in or out. Let's see. She didn't miss that, --
:22:26. > :22:30.if she didn't miss that, I wonder if she would have asked for the
:22:31. > :22:41.challenge. Yeah. So, in a bit of trouble here.
:22:42. > :22:49.That is a great return from Konta. Great return, good depth. As we saw
:22:50. > :22:59.throughout the opening set. Two break points for Jo. A few better
:23:00. > :23:06.games from her. Cut down the unforced errors. Maybe just took
:23:07. > :23:10.some pace of the ball a little bit, made sure she got a few balls in.
:23:11. > :23:45.That is a better serve. She is back in the contest in this
:23:46. > :24:06.second set! We are back on serve. It is Makarova 4-3 in the second set.
:24:07. > :24:14.So, 54 minutes in, punter getting things
:24:15. > :24:29.-- Konta getting things back contract now. Konta's first serve
:24:30. > :24:33.percentage, as we've said commedia glow in the second set, 43%, but she
:24:34. > :24:46.does win 83% of points behind her first turf. -- first serve. I think
:24:47. > :24:52.I agree with you. I will say in. Let's see how we go. Both players
:24:53. > :24:58.staying on that side of the court. Hey, no problem! They should have
:24:59. > :25:27.just asked us! It is an ace. Her sixth ace of the match.
:25:28. > :25:35.She has had not a lot but a couple of balls that Makarova has been able
:25:36. > :25:39.to slice off both sides that go low. Konta has a bit of trouble with that
:25:40. > :25:42.on the backhand side. Just doesn't get low enough to give it enough
:25:43. > :26:27.spin to get it over the net. Some tough points that Makarova is
:26:28. > :26:31.playing here. She is making this a good battle right now, tight contest
:26:32. > :26:52.between these two players. That's the way to do it! Great
:26:53. > :26:57.serve. Get out of trouble with another ace. Racking them up today.
:26:58. > :27:00.That is a seventh or the match. There is a real difference between
:27:01. > :27:09.these two players in their first and second serves. Konta is able to get
:27:10. > :27:13.a lot more free points. Not just that but her serve has really not
:27:14. > :27:19.been, you can't really step in and attack it, whereas with Makarova's,
:27:20. > :27:46.you can. That is a great point by Konta. And a great first serve.
:27:47. > :27:52.It is something that also Angelique Kerber has been struggling with. The
:27:53. > :28:00.great player that she is, imagine if she had a little bit of a better
:28:01. > :28:09.serve. That has gone deep! So we are level in the second set, it is for
:28:10. > :28:13.games all -- four games all. So, the pressure back on Makarova. She had
:28:14. > :28:45.4-1 in this second set and it is back to 4-4.
:28:46. > :28:55.And when she does go for a little bit of a bigger second serve, it is
:28:56. > :28:59.just too hard and too flat. There's not even a little bit of kick on it.
:29:00. > :29:10.And then she does the double fault. Falling a little bit to that right
:29:11. > :29:31.side when she is serving. Good shot by Makarova. But the ball
:29:32. > :29:34.a lot deeper. Great depth. The difference between the first and
:29:35. > :29:46.second set has been her ability to move Konta around.
:29:47. > :29:53.That is a great return from Konta, just trapping that ball. She has
:29:54. > :29:57.returned a few balls even in the rally is straight down the middle of
:29:58. > :30:01.the court but a little bit more into the Makarova forehand, which we said
:30:02. > :30:04.can break down a bit at times, and also the footwork, her feet can get
:30:05. > :30:07.stuck like a Vaclik what happened there.
:30:08. > :30:16.-- like it's actually what happened there.
:30:17. > :30:46.So she is going there, obviously, that's the game plan to do that.
:30:47. > :30:53.You can see that she is really attacking the forehand side,
:30:54. > :30:55.especially on the big points, and it's working.
:30:56. > :30:59.That is the side that is going to break down. She is not able to get
:31:00. > :31:03.an angle on it when she is in the middle of the court where she was on
:31:04. > :31:15.the last 2-3 points. Break point for Konta.
:31:16. > :31:22.And again, that forehand. Broken down again. Konta gets the
:31:23. > :31:26.break. She will come out to serve for the match at 5-4 in the second
:31:27. > :31:38.set. I think Makarova will be
:31:39. > :31:44.disappointed with herself, she had 4-1, losing her serve twice. She has
:31:45. > :31:50.broken pretty easily with the second serve really letting her down.
:31:51. > :31:53.A great turnaround for Johanna Konta, leading 5-4. She will be
:31:54. > :31:59.serving for the match. I think it is new balls. Yeah.
:32:00. > :32:03.It is a tough task here for Makarova, but full credit for Konta,
:32:04. > :32:14.what I talk about at the beginning of the match, her focus, positivity,
:32:15. > :32:16.positive body language. She is then able to do a lot in the last couple
:32:17. > :32:32.of games. She's able to stay strong mentally.
:32:33. > :33:06.She went point by point, and took it each game at a time.
:33:07. > :33:15.Only her second double fault of the match, her first in this set. Not a
:33:16. > :33:55.great time to do it, when serving for the match at 5-4, and 0-15.
:33:56. > :34:03.Went for it. It didn't come. So, Makarova with three break points.
:34:04. > :34:56.To get this back to 5-5. That's a good response. Still under
:34:57. > :35:05.pressure, though. She has a great serve. She's able to
:35:06. > :35:09.get quite good power, but I think that ball toss sometimes gets a
:35:10. > :35:17.little bit too low, and gives her a bit of trouble.
:35:18. > :35:27.And again. Great shot. It's a controlled shot, that's what
:35:28. > :35:34.it is. She went for it, but again, that margin for error, getting the
:35:35. > :35:38.height over the net. Especially down the line, I see a lot of players
:35:39. > :35:39.hitting that hard and flat, really going for it. So she has that
:35:40. > :35:53.control. That's a great serve, really smart
:35:54. > :36:00.serve. It's under pressure, coming from three break points down. No
:36:01. > :36:03.problem. Great placement. Especially on break point, that's her eighth
:36:04. > :36:21.ace of the match. And again. Incredible.
:36:22. > :36:25.It's been controlled aggression all the way through for Johanna Konta.
:36:26. > :36:26.Staying mentally strong, as we can see.
:36:27. > :36:57.Now she has match point. That's a great return. It wasn't a
:36:58. > :37:16.bad second serve. She really went for it.
:37:17. > :37:24.Great shot. Really holding that baseline.
:37:25. > :37:30.We talked about her getting down to the ball, and in that particular
:37:31. > :37:34.position, to have balance to hit through that shot, just control it
:37:35. > :37:35.into the open court, she did that well. Impressive, another match
:37:36. > :38:02.point now for Johanna Konta. And brings it up in style! The
:38:03. > :38:11.amazing start to 2017 continues for Johanna Konta. Through to the
:38:12. > :38:15.quarterfinals, impressive, 6-1, 6-4 over Ekaterina Makarova. One hour
:38:16. > :38:25.and nine minutes on court, and looking very good in this round of
:38:26. > :38:30.the Australian Open. Impressive from the beginning of a second set. There
:38:31. > :38:36.were a couple of games, it was a great match for her. Going into the
:38:37. > :38:42.quarterfinals. As we said, playing Serena Williams next.
:38:43. > :38:47.Congratulations, through a game, well done. You are playing some sort
:38:48. > :38:51.of tennis at the moment. The first set was 24 minutes, outstanding.
:38:52. > :38:57.Thank you. First of all, thank you to the amazing crowd again today.
:38:58. > :39:03.You guys are incredible. APPLAUSE Honestly, it is what makes playing
:39:04. > :39:05.professional tennis so amazing, playing in front of crowds like you,
:39:06. > :39:09.so thank you again. And I am really happy to have come
:39:10. > :39:18.through that. Next opponent, Serena Williams.
:39:19. > :39:23.Believe it or not, that's an incredible experience for me. She's
:39:24. > :39:29.one of the few players who is still playing who I watched growing up, so
:39:30. > :39:35.as a young girl growing up wanting to be a professional tennis player,
:39:36. > :39:36.it's an incredible chance, and I can't wait to share the court with
:39:37. > :39:42.her. Very nice words, but no room in the
:39:43. > :39:46.autograph book in two days' time, it is all business.
:39:47. > :39:50.Of course, once I am on court against anyone, everyone is there to
:39:51. > :39:54.compete and give their best. And to hedge bets in their favour and
:39:55. > :39:58.hopefully walk off the court as the winner. In terms of enjoying the
:39:59. > :40:02.opportunity and the atmosphere, and the competition and the fact that I
:40:03. > :40:06.get to play someone like Serena Williams, I will definitely cherish
:40:07. > :40:10.every minute out there. STUDIO: Johanna Konta against her
:40:11. > :40:15.childhood hero in the quarterfinals. She is the team forward to it, and
:40:16. > :40:19.so are we. We have highlights from 4:45 on Wednesday evening. Don't
:40:20. > :40:23.miss that one. With Konta playing the way she is, even the experts
:40:24. > :40:27.think she has a chance against the great Serena Williams.
:40:28. > :40:32.The game is there to beat anybody, but it is a big ask, when you have
:40:33. > :40:35.never played Serena Williams. To beat her at a Grand Slam
:40:36. > :40:38.quarterfinals, but you never know. But she has the game to beat
:40:39. > :40:43.anybody. What does she need to do in the
:40:44. > :40:46.match to be successful? She needs to have a game plan, follow it and
:40:47. > :40:52.believe in it, and commit on every shot. You have doubts, with Serena,
:40:53. > :40:59.it is your life. Know what to do and be brave enough to do it.
:41:00. > :41:05.Sound advice. Two other fourth-round matches today, Pliskova beat
:41:06. > :41:09.Gavrilova, and the last remaining Australian, much to the crowd was my
:41:10. > :41:16.dismay. In the last eight, Pliskova faces Lucic-Baroni, who beat
:41:17. > :41:19.American qualifier Jennifer Brady. Amazingly, it is the first time
:41:20. > :41:25.Lucic-Baroni has reached a clan Slam quarterfinal since 1999.
:41:26. > :41:30.In the men's draw, Rafael Nadal goes from strength to strength, back from
:41:31. > :41:38.injury, he beat Gael Monfils in four sets. He will face third seed Milos
:41:39. > :41:42.Raonic, after he saw off Roberto that is staggered in four sets.
:41:43. > :41:45.There were also wins for David Goffin and Grigor Dimitrov, who
:41:46. > :41:49.looks back to his best. He beat Denis Istomin to reach the first
:41:50. > :41:53.Grand Slam quarterfinal for him in more than two years.
:41:54. > :42:00.This is the full line-up for the men's quarterfinals. Roger Federer
:42:01. > :42:05.takes on Andy Murray's and Cara, Mischa Zverev, playing his first
:42:06. > :42:08.quarterfinal at a major. There is an intriguing clash between 2014 winner
:42:09. > :42:15.Stan Wawrinka and former runner-up Jo-Wilfried Tsonga. While Milos
:42:16. > :42:22.Raonic meets Rafael Nadal, and David Goffin faces Grigor Dimitrov. It is
:42:23. > :42:25.the first time in a decade that Murray and Djokovic have not been in
:42:26. > :42:29.a final and the news is sinking in. You cannot exclude the last six
:42:30. > :42:35.months of Andy's life, maybe just too much too soon, with the
:42:36. > :42:39.off-season so short. He gave so much of himself winning Wimbledon and the
:42:40. > :42:42.Olympics. And the number one ranking on the line in the very last match
:42:43. > :42:47.of the year. It is a lot of emotional and mental energy. I am
:42:48. > :42:50.sure... he did not look happy the whole tournament, he was yapping at
:42:51. > :42:56.his box even when things were going well. It is just mental tiredness,
:42:57. > :43:01.and I am sure he will sort it out. He just won a Grand Slam, there are
:43:02. > :43:04.still three left. He is favourite in every other Grand Slam still. This
:43:05. > :43:11.Grand Slam is better because the court is much faster. If you go for
:43:12. > :43:16.big shots, if you come to the net, it helps you. The last couple of
:43:17. > :43:27.years, the best tennis was played in the Australian Open by far.
:43:28. > :43:31.I never thought that Mr -- Mischa Zverev as Denis Istomin would be
:43:32. > :43:35.those two guys. The top guys are beatable, especially on a faster
:43:36. > :43:42.court. It happened in completely different circumstances, but two
:43:43. > :43:45.huge surprises, no doubt about that. With the top two seeds gone, Roger
:43:46. > :43:49.Federer is the bookies favourite for the title now, and we have
:43:50. > :43:56.highlights of the quarterfinal against Germany's Mischa Zverev
:43:57. > :44:01.tomorrow on BBC Two from 4:4 five. We also have highlights of the world
:44:02. > :44:09.indoor Bowls tracking chip tonight from 12:15am.
:44:10. > :44:12.Quarterfinals for Johanna Konta for a second year. It is her first
:44:13. > :44:17.chance to take on the great Serena Williams. She says it is a challenge
:44:18. > :44:18.she is going to cherish, but it would be a win she'd never forget.
:44:19. > :44:26.Thanks for watching, goodbye. The amazing start to 2017 continues
:44:27. > :44:31.for Johanna Konta. Returning soon to BBC Two -
:44:32. > :44:33.Insert Name Here, a comedy panel show
:44:34. > :44:35.all about people. Each week, everyone we talk about
:44:36. > :44:38.will share the same name.