:00:00. > :00:13.Welcome to viewers on BBC Two to the semi-finals here at the Queen's
:00:14. > :00:22.Club. If you were not with us on BBC One, the first was won by Grigor
:00:23. > :00:25.Dimitrov. It has been very entertaining, and Radek Stepanek
:00:26. > :00:33.against Feliciano Lopez. We erejoin the match with Radek Stepanek
:00:34. > :00:35.serving at 5-6. An ace on the first point of the
:00:36. > :00:53.game. It's been a fairly classic
:00:54. > :00:59.old-fashioned encounter between the two. Of the two, Feliciano Lopez
:01:00. > :01:04.with the bigger serving. He has had the better of the chances. Five
:01:05. > :01:09.break points in a set but not capitalised. Stepanek had just the
:01:10. > :01:22.one. He could not take his. We could be heading for a breaker.
:01:23. > :01:58.Suddenly it got very blustery there. The wind really came up.
:01:59. > :02:08.Well, how quickly the game can change.
:02:09. > :02:13.Indeed. Leander Paes there. change.
:02:14. > :02:18.Indeed. Leander Paes He plays with Radek Stepanek. Former Australian
:02:19. > :02:41.doubles champions. Great mates. It's not a good miss from Lopez. He
:02:42. > :02:46.got stuck there. Didn't move his feet. It was not that great a second
:02:47. > :02:47.serve. He didn't move to the ball. He will be disappointed with that
:02:48. > :03:23.result. That was a huge point. What a volley. What a volley.
:03:24. > :03:29.It is wide here. He knows he has to nudge the ball. Otherwise he will be
:03:30. > :03:37.in big trouble on the next forehand. It takes off the court. It is a
:03:38. > :03:43.tremendous volley. Not many players could have hit it with that pace and
:03:44. > :04:46.accuracy. Another good opportunity there.
:04:47. > :04:50.That one he tried to come over. You wonder why he doesn't settle for the
:04:51. > :05:35.chip-back and get involved in the round.
:05:36. > :05:46.That was a key exchange. Stepanek wins both of his service points
:05:47. > :05:56.despite missing his first serve. When you are seeing errors on the
:05:57. > :06:02.Lopez slice... It is tight. So Stepanek is all animated, looking
:06:03. > :06:28.for the return. Going from one foot to another.
:06:29. > :06:37.Both players are playing a nervy tie-breaker at the moment. They have
:06:38. > :07:06.played ten times these two but never on grass. It is 8-2 to Stepanek.
:07:07. > :07:13.He does this shot well. It is difficult for Stepanek to do more
:07:14. > :07:33.than what he tried there, just trying to poke it down the line.
:07:34. > :07:38.No nerves in that shot! A full-blooded swing on this forehand.
:07:39. > :07:41.But the decision was made up for him by the fact that Stepanek got a
:07:42. > :07:46.serve in. The second time when you have time
:07:47. > :08:03.to think. That was instinct. He is a cat around the court, isn't he? He
:08:04. > :08:07.almost could have jumped off a plinth on Trafalgar square.
:08:08. > :08:19.almost could have jumped off a quite something to see.
:08:20. > :08:24.That first service vanished a bit for a while but that was beautiful.
:08:25. > :08:28.His best serve of the match. Certainly the shortest he has hit it
:08:29. > :09:27.on the forehand side. A lovely serve.
:09:28. > :09:36.This will irritate Stepanek. It didn't have much on it at the back.
:09:37. > :11:40.He gave the Spaniard a chance to take it early.
:11:41. > :11:59.You're #kiding me! How is he still standing? !
:12:00. > :12:11.That was nice. Even the opposition's coach is applauding the point. That
:12:12. > :12:19.was the point of the week, no doubt. Now, Lopez, here, forget all of
:12:20. > :12:24.that, he just blew it. Absolutely, I don't know how he manage managed to
:12:25. > :12:30.lose the point. . I think he was grunting too loud.
:12:31. > :12:36.Getting ahead of steam. He has to calm it all down now.
:12:37. > :12:44.The third set point. Can you believe it! That was the
:12:45. > :12:52.fatigue from the last point. He should have made that volley. It was
:12:53. > :12:57.a very good return. This was Lopez's set. He still may win it but after
:12:58. > :13:03.that point he had so many opportunities to put that ball away.
:13:04. > :13:09.I don't know, have we just seen it is 8-2 to Stepanek in the
:13:10. > :13:15.head-to-head. Could be. He needed that walk to regain his
:13:16. > :13:45.composure and stamina. I think he was exhausted after that point.
:13:46. > :13:51.They both look like they are looking forward to the end of the set and
:13:52. > :14:22.sit down! Lopez just screaming over at his
:14:23. > :14:29.camp there. He is so disappointed with that
:14:30. > :14:56.point. I mean he absolutely had it won, five times.
:14:57. > :15:11.That's why Lopez has another set point.
:15:12. > :15:14.Good heavens. Between first and second serves, is
:15:15. > :15:46.he trying to put himself off? Oh, that's fantastic! Ole! Am I not
:15:47. > :15:53.magnificent? Yes, you are! Marvellous. What a set that was.
:15:54. > :15:57.What a tiebreaker. That really was quite something.
:15:58. > :16:02.What a delight. And the crowd thoroughly enjoying
:16:03. > :16:07.that opening set of this second semi-final. If that has you inspired
:16:08. > :16:11.well why not take up the game. I will give you details in a moment.
:16:12. > :16:18.But let's find out who it was that inspired some of the players here.
:16:19. > :16:24.My dad was always there to support me in the tough and the good times.
:16:25. > :16:28.My father was my coach when I started playing tennis.
:16:29. > :16:37.Definitely, my parents. Obviously my parents. I came from a sporting
:16:38. > :16:41.background. I it think it was just my father, he gave me the passion.
:16:42. > :16:49.There is a theme here, isn't there? Why not look to mum and dad and head
:16:50. > :16:56.down to the local park. If you are able to show us how you are enjoying
:16:57. > :17:01.tennis, Get in touch using the hashtag.
:17:02. > :17:15.Roger Federer is through to the final yet again, chasing a seventh
:17:16. > :17:26.title. Defeating Nishikori. And Falla coming back to win against
:17:27. > :17:30.Kohlschreiber. What interesting news. The final to
:17:31. > :17:36.set up with Federer. They played at Wimbledon in 2010.
:17:37. > :17:41.Falla had a two-set lead before being crushed in the fifth set. My
:17:42. > :17:46.memory does not serve me well on this but did he have two match
:17:47. > :17:53.points? He had two sets to love lead. A brilliant match.
:17:54. > :17:59.That is the final of Falla. Dimitrov awaits the winner of this
:18:00. > :18:55.semi-final. We are bringing that to you at 2.00pm tomorrow afternoon.
:18:56. > :19:03.That's a better rhythm. It is one part of Stepanek's game he could be
:19:04. > :19:09.disappointed with. The serve, the first serve at 48%.
:19:10. > :19:19.He would like that to be a lot higher.
:19:20. > :20:09.We have to have a look at this point. It was an outrage. They ran
:20:10. > :20:15.150m between them. Set points to Lopez. He seemed in complete
:20:16. > :20:19.control. Giving a good grunt. Gets Stepanek stretching to the corner.
:20:20. > :20:23.This one had to go away, about no, Stepanek is on balance.
:20:24. > :20:30.That forehand down the line excellent as well. Here he comes. Up
:20:31. > :20:38.at the net. Over the hip, then this is how you hit an overhead...
:20:39. > :20:42.Unbelievable. How many squash shots did he hit in that rally? And he
:20:43. > :22:28.slides so well on the grass. Watch him look at the line after he
:22:29. > :24:18.place this one. He has a quick look to decide if he should challenge.
:24:19. > :24:27.It's been a lovely week for tennis so far. The weather's been just
:24:28. > :24:29.about perfect. We only lost an hour on Monday evening to some drops of
:24:30. > :24:46.rain. Cooler today. Stepanek lost the first set to Kevin
:24:47. > :24:50.Anderson in the previous round and came back very strongly. The
:24:51. > :25:06.difference here is that he has given an hour's worth of effort in that
:25:07. > :25:12.losing first set. This is a 56-draw tournament. The
:25:13. > :25:16.top eight seeds get to buy in the second round. Neither of these
:25:17. > :25:21.players were one of the top eight seeds. They missed out, so they have
:25:22. > :25:25.played all the way from the beginning. And playing doubles as
:25:26. > :25:30.well, Stepanek. So you look for signs of fatigue in a 35-year-old
:25:31. > :25:34.man at this point. It is the mental as well as the
:25:35. > :25:44.physical fight. The emotion of the week.
:25:45. > :25:49.He's also a player that doesn't get a tremendous amount of free points
:25:50. > :25:56.on his serve and other parts of his game. He is a manoeuvrer. Slicing
:25:57. > :25:58.and dicing and moving you around the court. But it is a tiring way to
:25:59. > :27:59.play. Well that's an important hole. He
:28:00. > :28:05.does well to maintain the composure and hang on to his serve.
:28:06. > :28:11.It was a big disappointment to him a at the end of the first.
:28:12. > :28:19.Stepanek is such an old campaigner. Such a Wiley player. He beat
:28:20. > :28:28.Nicholas Almagro of Spain in the Davis Cup. They laid a court in the
:28:29. > :28:34.Czech Republic, the fastest surface you can imagine, just for that
:28:35. > :28:41.occasion. Then last year, again in a fifth match over Serbia, he beat
:28:42. > :28:45.Dussain. So he is not going anywhere here. I think that Lopez would have
:28:46. > :28:49.been ten places higher in the rankings if he had played the big
:28:50. > :28:54.points a little better over his career.
:28:55. > :29:00.I agree. No reason why not. He has a great game to watch and so many
:29:01. > :29:05.weapons in his game. He has had a successful career but with that
:29:06. > :29:10.extra little, maybe the work ethic? I don't know if that was the
:29:11. > :29:15.strongest it needed to be at the top level? And he doesn't have the top
:29:16. > :29:21.spin backhand. The slice is a great strength.
:29:22. > :29:23.And the Spanish do a great job of keeping former pros and those
:29:24. > :29:37.involved in the community in the game. We should learn from that.
:29:38. > :29:56.A great angle to see what you face. In terms of natural disguise, Lopez
:29:57. > :30:01.has plenty of it with his fast motion, be the greatest I saw in
:30:02. > :31:01.terms of disguise was Ivanisovich. He plucked that out of the air, he
:31:02. > :31:08.is working with Pace. The former world number one and a doubles
:31:09. > :31:11.player with Jim Puig. They were magnificent.
:31:12. > :31:18.If he had missed that catch, he would have got a lot of stick in the
:31:19. > :31:25.locker room. Once he went up for it you have to snag then. Caught on TV.
:31:26. > :31:34.There he is, rick Leech in the blue. He won the world over 40s or 45s in
:31:35. > :31:39.Palm Beach. A God catch Rick. If you missed it we would have given you
:31:40. > :31:42.almighty trouble at the end of the match. Well done!
:31:43. > :31:53.His dad was one of the great coaches. What was that? UCLA, I
:31:54. > :32:49.think. He has two good opportunities, this
:32:50. > :32:52.game, to play two poor error, that last one, the forehand, Stepanek
:32:53. > :33:02.trying to keep his feet moving here, I think he is a bit fatigued.
:33:03. > :33:35.He is trying to really pun himself through this.
:33:36. > :33:44.No Blakes at all this in match so far, first set of this semifinal on
:33:45. > :33:51.a tie-breaker one. Talking about that senior tennis in your neck of
:33:52. > :33:58.the woods in Florida recently Michael Purnfor won the singles and
:33:59. > :34:01.doubles Championships, the over 50s. Congratulations. There is nothing
:34:02. > :34:08.commercial in them, but it's the life blood of the game still, age
:34:09. > :34:11.group tennis, nay have an over 85s. Mike scoring one for the ex-pros
:34:12. > :34:16.there, didn't lose more than two games in a set the entire way
:34:17. > :34:21.through, he will be playing at hurling ham next week They play well
:34:22. > :34:29.the over 80s, I wasn't going to take him on. What the? The over 80s. I
:34:30. > :35:15.didn't like the look of those. Drop shot lobbing, no thank you!
:35:16. > :35:26.That is a very good approach again. That approach is so good from Lopez.
:35:27. > :35:28.It is so difficult. He used that shot well to get himself out of many
:35:29. > :35:49.difficult positions in this match. He didn't have much to aim at, step.
:35:50. > :35:55.He had to thread the needle. He certainly did. Perfect.
:35:56. > :36:03.Soap. -- Stepanek. The way to stay low on
:36:04. > :36:23.the ball on the grass, you have do that, use the legs.
:36:24. > :36:54.Low on the ball on the grass, you have do that,
:36:55. > :36:59.We have one more match for Stepanek, they both played the doubles as well
:37:00. > :37:08.as the single. Lopez played with Melzer. Lost in
:37:09. > :37:13.the second round of the doubles. Pace and Stepanek went round
:37:14. > :38:30.further, lost to the French Open champions.
:38:31. > :38:37.He expected that ball to come at him more. He did well to recover. The
:38:38. > :38:42.quick movement well anticipated by Stepanek. But he couldn't do enough
:38:43. > :39:00.about it, it was too good a shot. He knew where it was going.
:39:01. > :39:06.This is very FBI performance from Lopez -- very fine performance from
:39:07. > :39:10.Lopez. He is stretching a very tired opponent over this court. I am
:39:11. > :39:15.surprised with Stepanek, he looks tired. I am surprised he is not
:39:16. > :39:20.coming in more, another two occasion in that rally where he could have
:39:21. > :39:31.chipped, just past the service box and elected to hit and go back to
:39:32. > :39:35.the baseline. It is unusual. He caught it!
:39:36. > :39:39.And it is a real bonus to him when he comes over a backhand, and makes
:39:40. > :39:52.an effective shot. That is effective.
:39:53. > :40:24.Two break points. And he has picked it up again. Yes!
:40:25. > :40:29.He did try and come in at least on that rally, but unfortunately Lopez
:40:30. > :40:33.hit his best two that rally, but unfortunately Lopez
:40:34. > :40:37.match, coming over the ball. This is probably his weakest shot, he has
:40:38. > :40:43.hit a tremendous one, hit the one previous on the line, as well. The
:40:44. > :40:50.way he stayed low on that ball. The racquet acceleration too. Fantastic
:40:51. > :40:59.passing shots in that game. Having said Stepanek should come in more,
:41:00. > :41:05.and I said well Lopez's backhand can be a weakness We did well there! It
:41:06. > :41:08.St the truth. He would have been fired immediately as a double coach
:41:09. > :41:13.act. We would have been. It is a sign of his confidence he is coming
:41:14. > :41:17.over that and hitting it and it is going well. Seventh match of the
:41:18. > :41:22.week for him. And just locking less fatigued, more excited than his
:41:23. > :41:27.opponent. He does. He is under enormous strain now Stepanek, I
:41:28. > :41:33.wonder how will much he has left. We will see.
:41:34. > :41:38.Like that about Stepanek, there as an old pro there, even if he tired
:41:39. > :41:42.you see the way he jocked out. Sending a message out to his
:41:43. > :41:45.opponent. Still there. Might give it a cup couple of press ups, no
:41:46. > :42:53.problems. That is too long. . Overruled there.
:42:54. > :42:59.It was overruled, Stepanek I think... Certainly was ready to
:43:00. > :43:55.challenge. Well long.
:43:56. > :44:05.Just slowed up the ball, you never know what a net call is going to do.
:44:06. > :44:21.That sat in the middle and said "Hit me, please."
:44:22. > :44:44.Oh! What a shot. What a lob. What a ferocious forehand.
:44:45. > :45:13.Applauded by Stepanek as well. That was magnificent. A bit of a
:45:14. > :45:19.surprise to Stepanek. That's in. It is going to be challenged. The ball
:45:20. > :45:24.was called in. I think there was just enough of, a sort of lovely
:45:25. > :45:29.mishit side swipe, it was coming back in, had plenty of height on it,
:45:30. > :45:38.the wind is coming from that direction.
:45:39. > :45:46.I would be surprised if this was out. Look at it curl.
:45:47. > :46:34.The wind takes it. Oh. Lopez has been ready to serve since
:46:35. > :46:40.way before that review. Surprised again. Stepanek. Just
:46:41. > :46:45.allowing Lopez to be thing a reso in those rally, you would have thought
:46:46. > :46:46.Stepanek would be trying to do, reversing it, going to the Lopez
:46:47. > :47:40.backhand as well. What a hold from love 30. And once
:47:41. > :47:44.again Lopez showing mental strength as well as fiscal because he does
:47:45. > :47:50.get nervous, who doesn't when the winning line is approaching.
:47:51. > :47:52.-- physical. Maybe he can have a nibble at this
:47:53. > :49:29.game. Stepanek serves to stay in it. That is pinpoint rabbling sip. Come
:49:30. > :49:33.on -- accuracy. Come on, one more big effort from Radek Stepanek for
:49:34. > :49:38.the match to continue. But he is going to have to do
:49:39. > :49:53.something which is rare indeed. That is break serve.
:49:54. > :49:59.Just got to try and get in and hope that Lopez gets a bit tight Agree.
:50:00. > :50:04.If he gets a second serve, gets into a rally perhaps, take the chance and
:50:05. > :50:08.come in. Make Lopez pass him on the backhand side, put a bit of pressure
:50:09. > :50:13.on him. He is going to be nervous serving for the match. Put him in
:50:14. > :50:18.positions where he is not at his best. Don't let him dictate. Of
:50:19. > :50:22.course if gets the first serves in, it is tough to do much about it, the
:50:23. > :50:28.way he has been serving this tournament. The serving has been
:50:29. > :50:33.superb from Lopez, it has been a Masterclass really.
:50:34. > :50:40.Doesn't matter how experienced you are, serving for the match, a big
:50:41. > :50:44.semifinals too, sometimes you get tight -- a big semifinal too. It
:50:45. > :50:46.would be strange if you didn't get up tight. An interesting game coming
:50:47. > :51:17.up here. Oh that is a missed opportunity for
:51:18. > :51:21.Stepanek. That there was nothing on the
:51:22. > :51:26.volley, really. He certainly had a play. Just stabbed at that one. He
:51:27. > :51:29.did well enough to do that but really Stepanek should have make
:51:30. > :52:01.that -- made that. Such a good first volley there.
:52:02. > :52:06.A touch perfect control. Look that the, how deep it is, nothing
:52:07. > :52:19.Stepanek can do from that position. Very solid first two points.
:52:20. > :53:13.Stepanek tried to come in, didn't do enough with the approach though. A
:53:14. > :53:42.point to go at least one better. Match points.
:53:43. > :54:42.Oh it's wide. Oh please. No, it's OK. Regroup.
:54:43. > :54:45.And Lopez, the smile of a finalist. A fascinating semifinal. Great
:54:46. > :55:04.match. The first set tie-break was
:55:05. > :55:19.spectacular, it's the first final of 2014 for Feliciano Lopez. He got
:55:20. > :55:24.over the winning line. He is dramatic to watch It was a joy to
:55:25. > :55:29.watch that match. It really was. Radek Stepanek is getting a warm
:55:30. > :55:36.hand of applause. How much did he contribute to an amazing tournament
:55:37. > :55:41.here. The way he conducted himself on the court, and so enthusiastic,
:55:42. > :55:45.he was brilliant. Two sets. Lopez through to play
:55:46. > :55:49.Dimitrov in the final. The winner is talking to John.
:55:50. > :55:53.I am sure you are happy it finished in two sets but I think everybody
:55:54. > :55:58.here would have loved it to have been three. It was a fantastic
:55:59. > :56:01.match. Thank you to you and Radek Stepanek for a magnificent
:56:02. > :56:04.exhibition of grass court tennis, you have been coming here to a
:56:05. > :56:10.decade and you have made the final at last. Yes, I think it is an
:56:11. > :56:15.amazing feeling for me to be in the final of this wonderful tournament
:56:16. > :56:18.at Queens. It is great. Thank you for the crowd because since Monday
:56:19. > :56:24.they were here, supporting me, supporting all of us, so you guys
:56:25. > :56:28.made this tournament special. APPLAUSE.
:56:29. > :56:34.Some of the tennis in match was very special. The tie-break, there were
:56:35. > :56:39.spectacular points, but that lob that Radek Stepanek put over your
:56:40. > :56:45.head in the last but one game and you turned and smashed that inside
:56:46. > :56:51.out forehand past him, where did that come from? Nowhere! I don't
:56:52. > :56:56.know, 30 all was a important point. I didn't know what to do. I didn't
:56:57. > :57:01.expect the lob. It was amazing, I wept for the shot and then, I made
:57:02. > :57:06.it but I think I was a bit lucky. Well I think you make your own luck.
:57:07. > :57:11.What about playing Grigor Dimitrov in the final, that could be a
:57:12. > :57:15.tremendous match? He is one of the youngest guys coming, right now, he
:57:16. > :57:20.is one of the best players in the tour and he will be tough. He beat
:57:21. > :57:24.Stan very easy today so he will be confident. As I am, I have won a
:57:25. > :57:29.couple of great matches this week, so I just hope to be, to be as
:57:30. > :57:34.consistent as I was today, and I will get my chances maybe. Thank you
:57:35. > :57:35.for an hour-and-a-half of tremendous entertainment and a finalist
:57:36. > :57:39.tomorrow. Feliciano Lopez. Congratulations.
:57:40. > :57:42.Applause applause. -- APPLAUSE.
:57:43. > :57:48.We have witnessed some glorious tennis on this Centre Court at the
:57:49. > :57:52.Queens club. First of all Grigor Dimitrov going through and Feliciano
:57:53. > :57:57.Lopez. Tennis of the highest standard. So, that the final
:57:58. > :58:02.tomorrow, it is Grigor Dimitrov against Feliciano Lopez, and we will
:58:03. > :58:07.be on the air at BBC Two at 2.00. Of course a glorious final tomorrow,
:58:08. > :58:12.a big game tonight for England against Italy, but the football is
:58:13. > :58:17.on over on BBC One right now. It is Colombia versus Greece, that is over
:58:18. > :58:23.on BBC One, confirmation on BBC One right now but England later on
:58:24. > :58:29.tonight. 10.20 on BBC One, against Italy who will put them out of euro
:58:30. > :58:37.2012 so maybe revenge tonight. So that is it for thises and this
:58:38. > :58:41.these semifinals and this crowd have witnessed two wonderful matches and
:58:42. > :58:46.it is Grigor Dimitrov against Feliciano Lopez so do join us for
:58:47. > :58:49.that on BBC Two. So, that is is tomorrow, we look
:58:50. > :58:53.forward to a glorious final tomorrow, I wonder how we will feel
:58:54. > :59:18.the morning after the night before. Goodbye.
:59:19. > :59:22.MUSIC: "Hotel Room" by Richard Hawley