Day 1 Tennis: Eastbourne

JOHN INVERDALE: 1974 - two general elections, England failed to qualify

for the World Cup and somebody had the idea of staging a tennis

tournament at Devonshire Park. Four decades on, it really has provided

40 years of world-class champions. COMMENTARY: She's done it!

That's out. That's it. Game, set and match, Miss Austin.

Martina won this title four times, Tracy Austin twice, and Virginia

Wade once. As the '80s wore on, one name continued to dominate.

COMMENTARY: Game set and match Miss Navratilova. Martina won this title

11 times. Her last victory coming in 1993. As we headed into the third

decade of this great tournament, it was time for the next generation to

take over. COMMENTARY: Game, set and match Miss

Seles. A devastating display. What a great final. What a wonderful way to

finish it. Into the fourth decade, a whole variety of winners, but all

from the top drawer of the women's game.

COMMENTARY: Kim Clijsters wins in Eastbourne.

What a final and a terrific win for Agnieszka Radwanksa. Happy 40th

birthday, Eastbourne, so many great matches, so many great champions,

but lots of upsets, too, not least yesterday at the very first round

stage when the top seed was knocked out in three sets.

Under grey skies, the clouds lifted for Caroline Wozniacki. It is

amazing to be back here. The crowd is always incredible. Her next

opponent is another high-profile winner from yesterday, Sloane

Stevens. Agnieszka Radwanksa, a former winner here, was knocked out.

Hopefully, this year will be the same at Wimbledon. The seagulls

swoop in our English country garden here. This could only be Eastbourne

in June. After 40 years, an integral part of the warm-up to Wimbledon,

which of course begins on Monday. One of the British players who has

been given a wildcard into the women's draw next week, she has had

an outstanding victory against Belinda Bencic. That means that

Johanna Konta goes through to an interesting next round. Her opponent

will either be Azarenka or Camila Giorgi. That is how the top half of

the draw looks. At the bottom, Jankovic against

Madison Keys is a very good game today.

So, here is confirmation of what we are going to see on the Centre

Court: The focus today is on Azarenka

because this is her first return to competitive action after being out

injured for a long while. She missed the French Open. She hit a few balls

in anger at Queen's Club in that charity event with Andy Murray and

others on Sunday afternoon. This is her first appearance on to the real

stage and when she spoke to our reporter yesterday, it was very

obvious from her tone, from her demeanour, that she is really

excited to be back. It is a really exciting time for me. It is not

harsh realities, just beautiful thing, I can't wait to be back on

the court. I couldn't wait to be back on the court during this time

because that is what I love to do. And that's my most favourite passion

and I know coming back after a while, it is not easy. But that is

what you take the challenge for, you know. I like to fight. I like to

take challenges. And that's what it is all about. The important thing is

that I can start playing and then just pick it up from here. How do

you stop yourself from starting to go crazy in that period of

rehabilitation? I do things that maybe I wasn't able to do while you

play. I started to paint, I sing, I dance, which I couldn't dance for a

long time. So I had to improvise! Just different things, you know. I

love meeting new people. I had great time with my friends and enjoyed

every part of that. So, yeah, just a lot of things that - just fun,

whatever makes you happy. JOHN INVERDALE: There is Victoria

Azarenka, repeating in that interview what injured people say

when they are out of action, they do normal things. So, I wonder what

shape she is going to be in. Let's talk to Annabel Croft and Chris

Bradman. How are you? Hello. Very well, thank you. The clouds have

banished. The great thing about being at the seaside, the weather

fluctuates in the blink of an eye, so it was quite cloudy five minutes

ago, now it is glorious! The women's game has missed Azarenka, hasn't it?

You say that, John. There's been some exciting new names bursting out

on to the scene since she's been away.

I sort of think there's been more talking points out there and that

might inspire and motivate Azarenka to want to get back up to the top.

Not so long ago, of course, she was the world number one before Serena

Williams took over. There was a difference about her demeanour, she

was more relaxed, more excited. It has done her a world of good to be

away for a time being. I interviewed her at Queen's Club, she seemed as

if the cares of the world had been lifted from her as opposed to

feeling that the pressure was greater. Also at Queen's, I spoke to

Marcos Baghdatis who had taken two months out of the game to - he said

reacquaint himself with himself! It is interesting when players do take

a long period out, it makes them realise what a fantastic life being

a tennis player is. I think that's right. It is very much a bubble

world when they are travelling around. Sit like a travelling Sir --

it is like a travelling circus. They get a lot of people taking care of

them. They are, in some ways, treated like rock stars. I think

sometimes they do lose a bit of perspective on life outside that

bubble world. So, the fact that Victoria Azarenka was talking about

how much she's enjoyed walking her dog, meeting new people, cooking a

little bit, painting, as she said, wasn't able to dance! It gave her a

sense of life and normality which, of course, is not normal for me

normally. When you come back from a fairly lengthy period out, what is

the most important thing about a match like this? I think not to be

too hard on yourself when things don't go according to plan. She is a

perfectionist, she would be having a two-time Grand Slam Champion at the

Australian Open. I think, as she said herself, when you practice in

practice matches, that is one thing. It is quite another to do it in a

match situation and her opponent here today, Camila Giorgi, is a very

exciting young talent, someone who had a breakthrough at the US Open

last year reaching the fourth round and also has reached the fourth

round at Wimbledon before. When she played at the Arthur Ashe Stadium

she brought the crowd alive, she loves a crowd and she is dangerous.

She can hit winners from anywhere on the court. She is a great mover. It

is one of the most tricky draws that she could have in terms of her first

match back after an injury. It is not going to be easy. We saw a great

shot of Eastbourne pier there, which hasn't changed a great deal in the

40 years of this tournament. You must have played here a few times? I

have. This is very strange for me coming back here. I first played

here when I was 12 in the Nationals and every year we came back here.

When you hear those seagulls, and all the wind, it brings back some

terrifying memories of playing lots of intense battles here. Obviously,

this is still very much the centrepiece of the county. Anyway,

here we go. This is our first action from Eastbourne in 2014. Chris and

Annabel. CHRIS BRADMAN: A first meeting

between these two. Such an aggressive player, Giorgi.

ANNABEL CROFT: She is a real risk-taker and you only have to look

at the way she walks around the court and her bouncing around. She

makes her presence felt. Debut here in Eastbourne, so she

will be pleased it is not as windy as it can be.

When your game is as big as Giorgi's, the wind does not help

because she never holds back. The thing is, she likes to stay up on

the baseline and she will just go for those lines, go for the corners

and pressure you and because on grass the rallies are so short, you

do not have much time to think out here.

And Azarenka coming in, she said expectations for this tournament, it

is not going to rain today! That is a great approach mentally for her.

It is her fourth tournament of the year. She doesn't really know where

she is at yet. I think that is right. As I said earlier, the key

for her is not to get too upset with things if they don't go according to

plan. It is about building confidence and building her way back

into match fitness because it's so different, isn't it, to playing on

the practice courts and hitting the ball well in that type of situation?

CHRIS BRADNAM: familiar sound. Familiar habits. Her coach has been

with her since the beginning of 2010. She has been a great calming

influence. Camila Giorgi is way inside the

court for this return. It paid off. I think she's trying to

psyche out Victoria. At the end of last year, Victoria had all sorts of

serving issues, she started to get the jitters on her serve and Camila

will know all about that. You can almost tell a battle of two

strong minds out here. She is saying if you are going to come in and

pressure my serve, I will show you I can come up with the goods out here.

It is having some sort of effect. It is almost where Serena Williams

stands to receive serve. First

to get your first service game under your belt. Yes, that was a very deep

second serve, wasn't it? And Giorgi almost having to half-volley that

one, she was so far inside that pace line. Nice t to get up on the --

nice to get up on the scoreboard. Expect quite a lot of that. She is

so ambitious off first and second serves.

There's not a lot of controlling spin. It looked as if she let that

ball drop and didn't accelerate up into the motion there. Her dad

trying to hide after that one! Her father is from Argentina. A

rugby player. Super. She served two double faults. She seldom doubts

herself. She's got such a positive outlook on a court. You only have to

look at the way she walks and moves around the court, just very

effervescent. That must have clipped the back edge

of that line here. Again, you can see, trying to get on that front

foot. She needs that body weight going into that backhand, right on

the backline. She is very much at one pace, isn't

she? Yeah. She blasts the ball very hard and flat from the back of the

court. There is not much height variety going to come out of her

racket today. It is great depth, keeping Azarenka

on the back foot here, It is great depth, keeping Azarenka

change direction there. That It is great depth, keeping Azarenka

of the hardest things on the grass courts, getting that footwork right.

Gutsy second serve. She's obviously got a bad memory!

Anything short she is going to hammer away.

Very straight back, very positive walk.

That's a really good hold, three double faults in the game. That's

encouraging for her. Very bright, colourful outfit, all designed by

her mother. That has caused quite a lot of interest. She is known for

her outfits. Yeah, her mum has designed them. I think they are

trying to build a fashion brand there. She's really fun. I think

she's really great for the game. As I said, everybody remembers that

breakthrough at the US Open out on the Arthur Ashe Stadium beating

Caroline Wozniacki. She brings this great energy out on to a tennis

court and a fabulous presence. You can tell just as we say, the body

language counts for so much out there. It is such a mental sport.

Think about that positive energy, you are sending such a clear message

to your opponent. She has an air of positivity in this match as if

to your opponent. She has an air of believes she is capable of winning

against a former world number one. 8,000 seats on this Mag --

magnificent Centre Court. 1-2 first set.

I think it is also unusual, not only how far forward she is on the second

serve, but to be that far inside the baseline on a second serve. She is

trying to outpsyche her down there and take the ball early.

Takes time away with her brand of tennis, Camila Giorgi. Azarenka

knows all about that. You can't compare it to match play. Her

backhand is her best side. It is her best shot. She caught that one a bit

late. The preparation has to be really efficient on a grass court.

It was the right move here from Giorgi, she can suddenly sense that

Azarenka is going to have to come underneath this ball. She misjudged

the height on that one. She took her racket away, she

hesitated. She is timing the ball beautifully

already. A couple of mis-hits in the opening receiving game, but that was

right out the middle. UMPIRE: Two games all.

Julien Benneteau has said the court is bouncing a lot harder this week

than it did at Queen's last week. Interesting hearing him say that.

Agnieszka Radwanksa was saying the ball was really low, I had to bend

my knees, but she didn't play at Queen's.

It is always interesting when you watch somebody serving, and as

aggressive as that serve was from Giorgi, players try not to get

pushed too far behind Giorgi, players try not to get

so the next strike is deep into the corners. If Azarenka returns as deep

as she has, it is not easy to do that.

Backhands down the line don't come much better than that one. Great

preparation here. Bends those knees, stays down throughout that strike

and an effortless change of direction there.

taking the ball quickly from the ball kids, rushing the pace.

businesslike and she has made a steady rise up the rankings. Playing

at a of 42 in the world today. She went into Wimbledon at 279, and that

was a real breakthrough in terms of her play. She always appears to be

fearless on court. Some players come out on the tour and hit the grass

courts and think it is alien to them because this season is so short.

Some of them never get the hang of it and prefer tennis on the clay

courts. But Camila Giorgi came onto the grass courts and came through

qualifying with difficult matches in Roehampton and reached the fourth

round and he obviously loves it. It suits her game and she has got the

hang of it pretty quickly. She looks like a real threat in this match.

Nobody is slipping yet. Different footwork patterns are required on a

new grass court. I wonder what Azarenka's thoughts

are. First meeting against Giorgi. How early she is looking to nail the

return. I think this point is a prime

example of how well she moves. She is looking to go back crosscourt,

realises the board is behind her, and makes just a couple of

adjustments. Twice she managed to change direction and get underneath

that ball and guide it down the line.

Pretty difficult to keep taking that ball on the rise after the first

served. Giorgi has not made many but she is not backing off. It is trying

to meet the ball in front when you are that close inside the baseline.

I don't think that toss was quite in the right place. She was chasing

round the outside of the ball and the breezes picking up a bit. That

is the hardest the breezes picking up a bit. That

is the thing at Eastbourne, getting the toss in the right place.

That was off-course. Always have to have the ponytail on the front left

shoulder. A bit lucky. A misfit, a bit late,

but it provided a great angle. -- mishit. She only just made it but

good preparation. Just managed to get the racquet head through in

time. You can see the breeze is picking up.

Azarenka is so grateful for the tournament to give her a wild card

to play. So was Grigor Dimitrov last week,

champion at Queen's. Faith was put in him by Chris for many years.

Uncanny how often aces followed by double faults and the other way

round. That one was brewing. It got a bit low. Some mind games going on

here with the server and return. Even from the start of this match, I

would say Giorgi has been much more on the front foot and Azarenka, and

normally Azarenka looks to dictate the points. But she is slightly

trailing in that department. First break point. A test of the

second serve. UMPIRE: Game, Miss Giorgi.

Two doubles in the game, costly. The first break of this first round. You

almost feel as if all that positivity about standing in, yes,

she missed some returns of serve, that they build in pressure until

she eked out a double fault at the most pressurised situation at the

end of the game. A call from the chair, Alison Hughes

of Great Britain. No Hawk-Eye, just eagle eyed Alison! One of the best.

I miss it when it is not there. I want to see it now! I think the

players do, too. That backhand really shot through

the court. She took her time, bend the knees, and an extra injection of

pace on the last one. Quite a leap off the ground on this server as

well. Quite a murmur in the crowd because

Azarenka's return that was mishit looked well long. I agree but no

comment from Giorgi and no looking at the umpire but murmuring from the

crowd. UMPIRE: Game, Miss Azarenka. Miss

Giorgi leads 4-3. Azarenka is so fiercely determined.

The coach has been a calming influence because it is all about

channelling the fierce emotions. I agree. He has often said that about

her when he has been interviewed, that his role is to calm her down

and make sure everything is channelled in the right direction,

because she has so much energy, aggression and passion for the game.

She is a very determined player, very stubborn. She really believes

in herself. Sometimes emotions can get the better of her and the wheels

can come off. It is a difficult time for her, coming back from an injury,

her first match back after quite some time off the tour. She only

started hitting balls about three weeks ago. A bit of a nightmare

draw. Not too much time to think about things out there. You have to

react quickly. They have been a wonderful combination. It is

fascinating how the other players are going after the Australian Open.

That might give her more motivation. An extra spring in Azarenka's step

right now. UMPIRE: Game, Miss Azarenka.

The first love game of the match. It doesn't look like Giorgi will back

off from a tactic on the return games, even though she is not making

that many and Azarenka has settled into the rhythm of it. I agree. It

was clearly the game plan when she came out and she is not going to

back away from it. came out and she is not going to

back away from it. She has just slightly dropped off in

intensity since that break of serve. Hopefully she cannot see her

father's reaction in the crowd! That is a nightmare when you look at your

support camp and they are playing every shot with you.

That was not an easy ball. Running on the diagonal and then getting the

racquet face below the height of the ball and guiding it over the lower

part of the net. Three double faults in her second

service game and she held but two more here and that would get anybody

agitated. He is definitely playing the match with her, I have been

watching, and he's pretty animated! Some of the time he can't look.

Made it, just. I don't think Azarenka agrees. She looked shocked

that that was called in. It was awfully close to the line. That is

Giorgi for you. awfully close to the line. That is

Giorgi for She does not hold back, goes for broke, not much margin for

error. Giorgi for She does not hold back,

goes Giorgi is six from 17 already behind on the second serve, which is

key. It is quite a lull for Giorgi but we

have talked about this. It is either unbelievably good or it can really

help the opponents, the number of errors. She buries herself in her

towel. It is like developing the middle game. She is very much one

place. She is hard, flat, deep to the baseline, 1 million miles an

hour, go for broke, but she does not have the ability to step off the

accelerator, maybe put some spin on the ball to keep it in play for

longer, and just feel her way through the match. I always remember

Paul talking about his time with Pete Sampras, who was the greatest

player before Roger Federer came along with his 14 Grand Slam titles,

and he said he had this extraordinary ability to feel his

way through the match and know when to put his foot on the accelerator

and when to come off. The great players know when to do that. They

don't have to be at 100% full throttle for every point. You feel

with Giorgi that she kind of is like that. She could feel the pressure

when she got that first break of serve in the game. She just lost

intensity. A couple of double faults, unforced errors, and he did

not keep the pressure on Azarenka. -- she did not. So far it is so good

for Azarenka and it is like she has not been away. This is the test,

serving for the set at 39 minutes. An interesting serve straight down

the centre of the box, right at the centre of Giorgi, not going pretty

much. Got the error. She has just been a touch late on a

couple of balls that have shot through the grass, and that is

tricky on grass, having the time so the ball does not take off from the

strings and leave the racquet face very quickly.

That is the one. Slower to her right, Azarenka. Every player is

better one way or the other. She is getting dividends playing that ball,

Giorgi. Looking to move forward all the time

after that backhand. Good hitting. Giorgi is playing

smart tennis at this juncture of the match. She knows she will get more

joy from that forehand side of Azarenka than the backhand, so as it

gets pressured you want to be hitting to the Azarenka forehand.

These are the sort of areas that can take a while when you are match

rusty, winning these games and digging yourself out of a hole to

serve for a set, which she was so good at of course.

Just the 11th match this year for Azarenka.

That was a little bit wild. A really big point. You want to make your

opponent play that ball. She will be disappointed she did not get that

return back into play. Set point. Great return this time. She hit it

hard and down the middle, very much like Serena Williams. It is

effective, that tactic. As a server, you have just finished the serving

motion and you are landing on the front foot and your body weight is

going into the court, so you have to react and go backwards into the next

swing. Second set point. A real march to

the baseline from Azarenka. Azarenka holds from 15-40. 45 minute

set. Pretty impressive. Her first setback after the long lay-off. She

must be pretty pleased with that. She has got to be. It felt like when

you watch a hockey match and you see most of the game played down one

end. It is all possession down that end and then suddenly the game takes

off in another direction and they score. It felt like that. She was

just hanging in, on the back foot quite a bit. A little bit rusty,

which you would expect, and then somehow she kept a lid on all the

emotions, waited for the tornado to blow through, and came up trumps and

not the set. It is interesting. -- she got the set. Great champions

always rise when they play the best. But Victoria has fought like a

champion at those moments, too. She made her first final earlier this

year before losing to Cornet. It is releasing those thoughts at a level

you are not used to winning at but the thought process has to be the

same. That is exactly the case. That is why scheduling for players is so

key, keeping confidence levels up, picking events where you know you

will get wins, or testing yourself against the best. This is one of the

problems when a junior breakthrough, the likes of Laura Robson, used to

winning as a junior, and then they are testing themselves in the main

field and it is getting the balance between winning because you have had

a winning mentality as a junior, and not winning as many matches against

the tour players, who find out your weaknesses very quickly. It is about

finding all of that out and not being too hard on yourself. It

really is a super day on the South coast.

Six doubles already. That is just too many. The server a bit

unpredictable. I sometimes think she does not get

the toss in the right place and she makes adjustments with her body

position trying to hit it. CHRIS BRADNAM: Different shoes, of

course. Grass court shoes have pimples in the sole to get better

grip. No slip there, just lost her balance.

See why she's had the wins she's had, Giorgi. When she puts it

together, unplayable comes to mind! ANNABEL CROFT: The backhand was rock

solid from Azarenka. But losing a bit of control on the forehand side.

Hasn't missed many of those. It's the right play. It is hard to get a

rhythm against her because you don't know what is going to come out of

her racket next. Seventh double. Even on that last

one, I feel as if she fell off the ball! He just can't look! He is

suffering watching this match. We need to send him off for a cup of

tea somewhere and come back when it's finished.

Backhand is so strong through the legs of Giorgi, sets up so well.

As a receiver, once the first serve is missed, you must be thinking,

"I'm going to get a cheap point." It's eight double faults. It is hard

to trust that she is going to hit it properly. It doesn't look like her

body position is in the right position when she is going after the

ball. That hit the baseline virtually. It

must be a horrible feeling. Just a look. Alison Hughes thought

it was long, too. Azarenka not doing very much but has a break-point. She

did well to control that return of serve. That was hit-and-miss second

serve, but it happened to go into the corner.

She's already saved a service game with three double faults in it in

the match already, Giorgi. She would love to do it again at the start of

the second set. Just to put a seed of doubt in Azarenka's mind.

This was a great wrong-footing backhand, getting great width on

that backhand. Gets that racket head through the ball.

That's a magnificent stroke. That's pleased her father. Three double

faults again, but she holds. That's interesting, twice to serve

three double faults and there were four from Azarenka in the first set.

And to hold. That must be frustrating the Belarussian. I think

for Giorgi, as you look back at the first set summary, the first serve

percentage, 44%, she would want that to go up a lot. The unforced error

count is well over double her opponent's. That is that very

important balance and ratio that you want to kind of have more winners to

unforced errors. Full marks for attitude from both of them out here.

0-1 Azarenka, second set. The bottom line is, a serve is a

short ball. It has to bounce before the service line. That's the first

time she's really caught it cleanly. That's a beautiful backhand from

Azarenka, really staying with that ball herself. And, again, just

looking to close in, move forward on that backhand.

It is pretty difficult not to look down the other end and see where

your opponent is standing and not be a bit psyched out by it. It takes a

great presence of mind and a calm mind to try and put it aside and not

think about it. Then that, once you are committed,

almost irrespective of the serve, to hit that and the errors are big.

There was no let-up from Giorgi at all. And that was a wonderful serve.

Oh, hit the net twice. My goodness! That was a very cheeky drop net

cord, wasn't it? It almost crept over the net there. Break-point.

That very nearly paid off. Was Monica Seles the best at taking very

early returns? I think she definitely was. She threatened just

as much as we are seeing here from Giorgi and being double-handed on

both sides as well. She had unbelievable timing, ruthless

hitting from the back of the court and Serena is one of the best as

well. Great footwork, very neat, tidy

mover around the court, isn't she? She is very light on her feet.

Nothing stomping about the way she moves around a court.

That was a bit of a wild one. Giorgi breaks. She had the break first set

remember. That is when she had the lull, the let-down, she cannot

afford that again here. No, she needs to maintain the pressure

without the errors. She's got to get this first serve in. Seven from 23

behind the second serve, Giorgi. She has still only lost three points

behind her first serve in the match. A sort of Jekyll and Hyde shot, the

serve for Giorgi. It is. She comes almost to the side of her body as

she goes up into that motion. We get a good view of it here.

She's got some momentum going now. She almost starts to walk quicker

and quicker. Yes. As she gains momentum and keeps that scoreboard

going. First ace for Giorgi. What a

difference it makes when the first serve goes in. Everything flows

behind it as well. A serve and volley there. She loves

drop shots, normally. We haven't seen one yet.

If you are going to double fault, it is best when you are 40-0 up.

It is important to have the last word(!)

That is really well played. There was more spin on that second serve

and the warmth in the applause, it's a debut in Eastbourne for Giorgi,

she seems to gather support very quickly wherever she plays. I think

that's right. Because she is an exciting player and she is certainly

not boring. When it is all on fire, it lights up a tennis court and, as

we said, she is a great mover around the court, she is light on her feet.

There is something energetic about what she is doing out here. She is

always looking to impose her game, go for broke, look for the lines,

look for outright winners and that is an exciting brand of tennis but

you want to cut out some of the unforced errors. She has such a

great positive energy about what she does out here. Another woman who is

coached by a parent - a lot of talk about Andy Murray and his new coach

and generally coaching. It is a general theme on the women's tour?

It is. It was interesting when you look at the top ten players in the

women's game, not one of them is coached by a female. They are all

coached by males, actually. So, it is unusual and it is so intriguing

with Andy Murray taking on Amelie Mauresmo, a former world number one,

a former Wimbledon and Australian Open Champion, it is the first time

we have ever seen that for a top ten player in the world in the men's. It

is fascinating. I'm intrigued as to what he is looking for from Amelie.

We know he is one of the great tacticians in the game. I think he

is looking for something else. Terrific! Even off the back foot,

leaning backwards. The backhand is pretty special of Giorgi's. That

one. She creates width with it when that ball bounces, it keeps

travelling away from the opponent. That is one of the first more

traditional volleys we have seen in this match. We have seen quite a few

drive volleys, but the punching volley got an extra cheer.

Part of me would love to see Giorgi stand back a little on the return,

to see the difference it would make. If you slightly mis-hit it, drop it

a bit short, she is going to get punished. She is out of position

almost being this far forwards. I agree with you. It looked like she's

stepped back a touch for this one. It's almost bordering on hindrance!

It was like the ball hit a worm or something! Everybody remembers

Serena Williams being docked a point at the US Open for hindrance from

the noise she made. Ball toss, the culprit. Showing that

too far out in front of the body, chasing that ball all the way. Now,

the wind has died down again, you have to make the extra adjustments

for that as well, so you have to be very versatile in these conditions.

It is not often you see Azarenka lose a battle of the backhands and

here she absolutely did. That one just took off, more acceleration on

it, more pace. Another break-point. The "Come on" is getting more

strangulated. A warrior. Fast and straight back at you.

Giorgi's way. If you keep doing it, I suppose you

are going to get better and better at it. Certainly getting plenty of

chances to break. It's all on her racket. He's

definitely done a few signals out here today, almost as if he is - he

is definitely playing the match with her, but he wants her moving

forward, trying to be aggressive, that is her game. He is quite a

character. He's been jumping around. He's been fielding out there every

time the ball is around his area. I can see where she gets her energy

from. He's got to be pretty happy with his

daughter's last forehand cross-court. A little bit of a lasso

finish on that forehand. A little lucky. Giorgi has the

double break. Four games in a row. Yes, she is pretty difficult to stop

when she has momentum like this. Once she gets going, as you say, a

little bit lucky there, the wind took hold of that ball, a lot of

spin on it from Giorgi. Yes, she's just on fire at the moment. Azarenka

has to try and stay with her and wait for some of those errors to

come again. She's won 22 of 25 points on serve

behind the first serve. How impressive is that?

But eight from 25 behind the second. Certainly taking more time here on

this one. To no avail. That is ten double

faults now. She is still 4-0 up second set

against Azarenka. Oh no. Extraordinary how well she

actually absorbs all of this and stays positive and it doesn't have a

real negative effect on the rest of the game. I agree with you, very

much like Sharapova. Nice, smooth movement, transitioning

up the court there. Six doubles titles for Azarenka, three-times

runner-up in a major. She ran around her forehand to

release the backhand. That says it all. She's more confident on that

side, isn't she? She seems all. She's more confident on that

able to - as you say, that ball was up the middle of the court, but

great footwork to get that ball out in front of her. It is a very smooth

delivery. She is so much better when she is on that front foot.

Was long, pushed it a little, Azarenka. Although Hawk-Eye might

have been busy again. Alison Hughes said it looked "long from here". She

slightly guided it, just at the end of the swing. Maybe an adjustment

for the wind again. There's the confirmation, just

behind that line. Too good. Good crowd in. Second day

of the main draw. Wonderful cast at Eastbourne yet again. Five of the

top ten. You need a hat here to watch, don't

you? Yes. That is the first sign of

frustration from Giorgi, just smacked a ball into the backstop.

That is 12 double faults. Fourth break-point of this game,

another game that's had a minimum of three double faults in from Giorgi.

be very significant, this one. In a way already it is the perfect start

for Azarenka on her comeback. Lots of many battles, a long game. --

mini battles. And to come back just one week before a major tournament,

too. A big decision but a good idea to play a lead of the event rather

than going straight into a Grand Slam. -- lead up event.

Everybody is expecting that now! 13th double faults. She is letting

the ball drop and there is not enough acceleration and spent going

up into the ball so it is flat going into the court. The way he reacts, I

am amazed he has that much hair left!

She really has got the jitters at the moment.

Fabulous! And no negative reaction from a double fault and look at what

it is doing to Azarenka. She is catching her out with the

wrong footing. Not going into the open space but back behind Azarenka,

and paying dividends. What a difference it would make if she

could get her first serve into play. 50% first serve in.

She does have the most wonderful timing. Doesn't think too much about

it. Swings freely at the ball. What a hold that is! Four double

faults and break points. From 5-0, second set. Amazing. A hugely

significant game. She have to close down on this second set now and look

to go into a final set here. If she had not come through that game, you

would think, actually, with what she is capable of, Azarenka could get

back in. What is it with the second serve? We saw controlling spin and a

kick on the second serve, which surely has to be worked on?

Definitely. That is the one thing you would underline after watching

these first two sets. The second serve needs attention. All these

things, it does not matter how much you practice on the practice court,

they will present themselves in tense situations. A show called,

Centre Court, -- a show court. And of course it is also breezy, and

adjusting all the time with the wind. Not the first time we have

seen it in women's tennis. Sharapova has had all sorts of problems with

her task, particularly playing in the wind, but she also manages to

put it behind her and plays her best tennis. -- toss. We have young,

female players throwing the ball over on as much as possible every

day at least growing up. That is so important. Get some takes of Serena

Williams serving as well! Apologies if you have had a loss of

vision. She is not trusting the line calls.

She keeps looking at her coach at one end of the court. She wants

confirmation from him. It keeps everybody on their toes.

Alison Hughes had clocked that Azarenka once the point as well. --

wants the point. She might have a point, actually, but that is tricky.

In rugby we would be playing back the tapes, deciding.

Goodness! That was confident. She did not hesitate at all. Normally

when you have a problem with serving, these balls are difficult

to play but she did not even think about that.

I am not sure she has played one single return of serve in this match

where she has thought, I will just get this ball back into play. She

has gone for the blasting winner every time. And probably not played

one from behind the baseline. It was fine until the mouse

appeared! Before she missed that volley, it was the first time we had

seen evidence of why she got to world number one. It was a sort of

point we will used to from Azarenka. Just rust creeping in at the end.

That evens out the luck. Shortened backswing on the return from Giorgi.

Azarenka lost two sets 6-0 backswing on the return from Giorgi.

the injury to her left foot, forcing her time away. She lost to Agnieszka

Radwanska in the quarterfinal of the Australian Open and Lauren Davies

took the first set against her 6-0. Giorgi could be a third at

Eastbourne. Wonderful return. A very short serve.

Hard and down the middle, same pattern.

UMPIRE: Game, Miss Azarenka. New balls, please.

Is this the start of something special? 5-1 to Giorgi. As you

picked up, the first serve percentage points for Giorgi, when

she gets the first serve into play, she's winning 84%, which is very

high. Not helped by the 13 double faults. We will find out how

confident she is 20 tries to serve out the set. Especially with the new

balls, they can be tricky. Right on cue! New balls are so much

livelier and you need extra control. It tends to fall off to the

left when that toss is in position. She is not going up into the ball

and using that body she falls away from it. -- using that body weight

going forward. He can't watch! Who would be a

tennis parent? Her backhand is one of the best on

tour, no doubt. So damaging. Usually it is unplayable. 20 times like

that, you can't see it coming. Much pace.

That was interesting because she took a little bit off at serve,

spinning the first serve into play, which was probably positive, but it

enabled more on the return and then she was late on the next ball. In

trouble. It is not often a woman serves nine

double faults in a set against Azarenka and is still leaving 5-2.

It is a quandary for Azarenka, I am sure. Looking at it as a positive

for Giorgi, it takes rhythm and timing away from Azarenka. She must

be so unsettled, especially waiting for the second serve. Yes, it is

difficult playing someone who is up and down, in and out, double

faults, big serves, blasting winners. It is difficult to get a

rhythm and I think for Azarenka this is a difficult surface. She did not

really have a choice. The wind is gone and he is now ready to play but

she is on grass, and you don't get much rhythm on grass at the best of

times. Martina Hingis even, Andre Agassi, they did not claim any warm

up tournaments because they did not want to lose their rhythm on the

court. -- they did not play many. The ball does do different things.

It is the nature of grass court tennis, the speed of the ball, and

it is different. Your movement is different, you can't push off from

the surface. You have to adjust everything that is going on and the

construction of points is so short. You don't have the opportunity to

grind out a court like you do on hard surfaces. Not the easiest

surface to come back from I think her dad was muttering no.

And Alison Hughes has just asked Giorgi's father to quieten down. He

signalled to her that he thought it was in. He made that very clear. I

don't think there will be much left of his fingernails! Just by stopping

and staring and questioning, it puts all the lying judges on -- line

judges on full alert. Azarenka did the right thing earlier on. I would

be a terrible judge. I would be jittery, I think. Especially when

they hit it so hard. This set is becoming very

interesting The whole of Devonshire Park were

expecting a double fault there, weren't they?

return of serve and absorb it. Using her legs there. Didn't quite make

it. She goes so close to the tape, doesn't she?

He is going to be exhausted at the end of this.

Again, you have to applaud her attitude, and she still goes after

that second serve. There is never any negative body language

whatsoever. It is extraordinary. Fabulous! The point of the match so

far. I agree with you. That was the most

extended rally we have had for the whole match. A bit of cat-and-mouse

around the net area, but great movement and versatility from Giorgi

here. Controlling that racket head. Two more set points.

Well done. Held her nerve and the serve. One set all against the

former world number one on her return back to competitive tennis.

After an hour and 41 minutes, it is a bit of a rollercoaster watching

Miss Giorgi. She is going to take a comfort break here. I am never in

full agreement of the comfort breaks. But also, I think, from the

point of having just won that second set, you have the momentum in your

favour, it is normally the one that had just lost the set that wants to

go and wipe the slate clean. I'm not that sure about it. It was never

allowed, was it, back in the day? No. In a way, do you feel Giorgi has

dictated this match from start to this point? Azarenka has been

competing well, but it is all about Giorgi? I totally agree. It feels as

if the match is being played on her terms and it is about what she is

doing out there. She has dictated. She has been on the front foot more

than Azarenka. I mean, it's been a little bit hold your breath when she

goes up to serve, but it doesn't seem to affect the rest of the

tennis behind her. It is intriguing. Azarenka should be pretty pleased

with what she is putting out here considering it is her first match in

a long, long time since back in March and she's kept a lid on her

emotions. At 5-2 in the second set, we saw her stretching quite a lot,

the leg she was stretching at the sit-down. You never know how your

body is going to respond back to competitive play. Your adrenaline is

flowing around, she is bound to be a little nervous here and how the body

responds overnight. That will be interesting tomorrow as well for

Azarenka. Yes, definitely. All the players say when they play their

matches on the grass courts, the first few matches after coming off

the clay in Paris, it does affect the body in a different way and

also, they use different muscles because they are having to bend

their legs and knees a lot more. It uses different muscles. Interesting

seeing her dad, he left the court at the same time. I thought that no-one

was allowed near them in case anything was said, but he - I don't

know whether he had much contact with her, whether he was able to

shout some encouragement. Interesting.

So, final set, Azarenka, serving first.

A crowd-pleasing point. Beautiful, wasn't it? Fabulous volley to finish

things off. Kept the racket head up. We have not seen much volleys in

this match. Good recovery. A much better, well

directed serve. I always feel with Azarenka, if she can get the server

way from the opponent and into the edges of the box, or into the body,

it is a different server and gives her the opportunity to be on the

front foot for the next ball. So self assured and positive. Clear

game plan. Such a clean strike. Really creating something out here.

Good wit, really going for the line. -- width. Another, free from ten so

far. You feel Giorgi's presents. It is the ability to make sure she is

not on balance at return of serve, and getting it close to the line

that is always a possibility. Fantastic! The control when she got

there. Fabulous, and great moving. A terrific backhand up the line. She

was running on to this ball, it is away from her body, she is not

balanced 20 hits it but she guides it down the line and uses the wrist.

-- when she hates. she's done all the hard work to get

herself the break point opportunity, and not getting the return back into

play. Oh dear, that might have damaged the

court a bit. First Oh dear, that might have damaged the

frustration shown by Giorgi. Three break points saved, Azarenka

is really having to dig deep on her first match back. Giorgi, furious.

She's in a bit of a stew and you feel like she needs to calm down,

but you can understand it because she played terrific tennis to get

herself a break point opportunity. It swung quickly away from her.

There's the stats from the second set. Quite low in the first served

appointment, force, but 22 winners. This is a big service game coming

up. There are described at the end of that game, Giorgi. - very

disgruntled. All about getting the first serve in.

- around the ball. It's the light footwork, like a boxer dancing

around the ring. Happy feet! They really are! So light.

It remains all about Giorgi. Real presence.

She hasn't been able to get Giorgi on the back foot too much out here.

Normally you think of Azarenka is such a great ball striker, somebody

who likes to dictate the points and goes close to the lines, but she's

played a lot of this match slightly trying to defend, actually, and

being wrong-footed out here. Comfortable game. Channelling all

that emotion very well. When you play an opponent like Giorgi, who is

dictating so much of what's going on and the match being played at her

pace, you definitely need to absorb what's going on and pressure the

scoreline all the time until suddenly the wheels come off. But it

takes some doing. Her dad is happy now, looking far

more relaxed. Great strike again, giving Azarenka no time. A lot has

been happening while Azarenka has been away. Yeah.

That's amazing! Never seems out of breath. Fit as a fiddle. It's almost

like some more pace Azarenka sends down that end of the court, she just

laps it up and sends it up with extra injection on it. She probably

doesn't like the slower ball is, actually. - alls.

Definitely this pace is suiting her right now.

Unlucky, read it so well. That's one of the few times we've seen Azarenka

be able to put her off balance. We haven't seen that too much in this

match and even then she very nearly recovered.

Her serve has gone up a couple of notches in the last ten to 15

minutes, she's getting the ball closer to the line, she's getting

her off balance, the ball is travelling away from Giorgi, and

she's getting a few more free points on it as well.

She keeps nudging the school board, Azarenka. They very nearly nudged

each other on the change of ends because neither was going to give

way. I thought one of them would stop and they almost barged

shoulders. Very interesting moment. A little match going on when that

happens. About to cross each other. Players like Nadal, he's such a

gent, he waits almost every time for the opponent to go through. A super

day. It's turned into a beautiful day, hasn't it? Not much wind.

Supposed to be dry all week. Perfect. The wettest winter on

record and within a week we are into a drought! Hosepipe ban! The court

surface will play very differently. Kvitova talked about that. When it's

cold and overcast and a little bit damp, the court won't play as

quickly and she would like it to play a little bit quicker so she can

get that big swinging left-handed serve into play and her forehand.

Conditions plays such a huge part in what a player can do out there on

the court. And the balls changed dramatically depending on the

weather. Azarenka's first match back and they will go into a third hour.

It's a tough one. Third set on serve, Giorgi, 1-2.

Again, no reaction. It's all for dad to do. He would be easy to play

poker against, his daughter would be a nightmare!

Doubles are back, her 15th. That was almost as big as the first serve, no

differential between the first and second serve. Needs to hang in here

on the scoreboard, keep up the scoreboard pressure.

This is where Azarenka's reputation goes before her. Yes, she's had

along absence, since March, but with everything she achieved that is

always in the bank at times like this.

That was just great movement, changing defence into attack and

being able to get great depth on the ball as well.

This is where the pressure really builds, on the second serve when

there's a delay between the first and delivery.

What a great point this is. Quite inventive out here. The high

forehand volley, so tricky. That's a fabulous hold from laugh 30

macro. Four points in a row. A great message to Azarenka. It really is

and it doesn't surprise me because she's so positive. Sometimes you can

turn up at a tennis match and look at the players and know roughly what

the scoreline was by the body language and with Camila Giorgi you

would really have no idea. She is always going to be bouncing around

and making her presence felt, bringing a real energy. This match

is right in balance. - in the balance.

A serve at the body is so effective, we've seen more and more of that on

the men's tour, tucking up the opponent so they can't get in a

position to be aggressive of the return. - off.

She definitely missed too many returns of serve, given way way too

many free points on it. Put that on top of the double faults, but then

you look at the scoreboard. That's the nature of her matches, it's a

pattern for her. A shriek as if disable I'm the boss.

3-2, Azarenka, final set. It's quite fierce, those come ons from Azarenka

and it puts a silencer on the crowd. They are busy clapping a good game

and then they go quiet, almost like they are intimidated by her. We've

talked about this many times, but we all remember that time when she was

very young, quite new to the tennis scene at the French Open, and the

crowds there are a very different audience, they make their presence

felt, it's honest like a pantomime. They will boo opponents and if

anybody questions a line call, they round on them. I remember Azarenka

putting her hands together around her mouth and booing the crowd!

Nobody had seen that before. It gave you a sense of the character of the

woman, she is fearless, she doesn't mind what anybody thinks about her,

win at all costs and lay it all on the line. She is a really strong

character. There's an intensity about her that is overwhelming at

times. She's been in - he's been in and out, jumping up and down from

his seat. He will need a lie down at the end of this match! A really nice

bath to calm himself down. I bet Azarenka hasn't missed those. She

will need one after this, two hours and seven minutes already. The

advantage of serving first, with all the double faults's we've seen, that

could be a huge boost in the final set. Giorgi, 2-3.

Her 16th. That is an extraordinary amount of double faults 4-1, isn't

it? Her 13th service game so more than one per game. A freebie every

service game. Well played. A wonderful reaction

from it. If you said to Giorgi before the match, you're going to

start every service Game zero -15 down against Azarenka, she would

probably be horrified, but that's what it is. Often it is 0-30!

Imagine how much better she would do if she could cut them out. She looks

like she reversed her swing on that one, hit the wrong side of the ball

on that last serve. Too good. Such belief in what she

has off the ground. Great timing again, great preparation, getting

the ball out in front of her. Really using the forward momentum into the

court when she hits it and you don't really doubt on the forehand,

particularly into the backhand corner.

Nice. Happy feet again to the rescue. I always have to hold my

breath because it was a slightly late decision to come in and play

that drive volley. It looks like she might have let the ball drop too

much, but just snuck it over the net and created the angle.

Four points in a row from the double-faulted. - double-faulted.

Probably pleased she is not serving with new balls. This really is the

heart of the match. By winning that last service game, despite more

double faults, she has piled the pressure right on to Azarenka's

shoulders. Serving with new balls, 3-3, final set.

Superb from both women, great defence from Azarenka.

You could see some movement as the wind picked up and she had to take

care with her footwork, get underneath the ball and use the

hands to guide the ball into the open space.

That's a fabulous serve! Caught by her father and he then shows the

ball down to her daughter. She wasn't even remotely looking! - his

daughter. He's a character! He is certainly part the match. - part of

the match. UMPIRE: out. Points getting bigger. I think this

point right here might have the biggest value of the entire match so

far. Look at that, total points won, exactly 93 each. That is

extraordinary! A real test on Azarenka's comeback,

straightaway. Eighth double. A few doubles

creeping in - a few doubts creeping in as well. Suddenly it's all gone

very silent around the court. You could cut the air with a knife.

Surprisingly Azarenka would pepper Giorgi's backhand, that's been

rock-solid most of the match. A break point. She saved three in her

opening service game of this set, Azarenka. This is the first break

since. - break point. Ouch! Lost control of the ball toss

and this final set. First break and it goes to the Italian number four.

Amazing how resilient she is, 22 years old, first time against

Azarenka, debut at Eastbourne, one of the most famous courts in the

world of tennis and she's taking everything in her stride. I think

she likes to be on a big show court, she seems to rise to the

occasion and she brings out her best tennis and she's utterly fearless.

Great attitude. The crowds tend to love watching her because she brings

such a unique brand of exciting, firecracker tennis. She seems like a

really tough cookie, too. It's so tough making your way in the sport,

financially it's a huge burden for so many early on if they don't have

a lot of help with sponsorship or funding from their relative

federations. She's had to do it the hard way. She's not made $1 million

yet. Huge value from Wimbledon 2012, she made virtually ?100,000 there.

When you've had to do it the hard work, her father has had to get his

wallet out, it makes a difference, it gives you that steel. I couldn't

agree more. Attitude for her is almost 90% of what she puts out

there on the court. She can smell victory might not be too far away.

Can she handled the pressure herself? Serving with the break,

4-3, final set. Nine wins against top 20 players.

She's beaten Wozniacki, Sharapova at Indian Wells this year.

So she's not afraid of the big win, Giorgi.

many times have we said that in this match? There was no margin for

error. She had to get the timing perfectly. She got the tennis racket

back early and she had her knees bent, absorbing the pace. It was

literally within one inch of the line.

She made that, but Azarenka thought it was wide. There is no Hawk-eye,

no challenge, no overall. My instinct was it might have been...

If it had been called White, I would not have been surprised. It was very

close. -- wide. As solid as a rock. There is excitement in the crowd.

They have attached themselves to Giorgi. She is one game away from a

big-name wind. She has earned herself to be in the position by the

tennis she has produced. It is a little bit patchy, but when it is

on, it is fun to watch. She would love to break a, and not have to

serve it out. -- break here. Another dent in the court. The

racket might have gone, as well. She will wait one point if it has, so

that she does not incur a fine. He almost called that too early. It

had a flight that looked as if it would go out and it dropped at the

last minute. That is a shame for Giorgi because it could not have

been a better return. The racket is OK, she has not changed it.

There was a tiny hesitation. She thought about it. I think she was

going to let it bounced a happy "to hit into. She moved forward a little

bit late. She let the ball dropped a little too low and it became a

difficult volley. The second love game of the set for

Azarenka. She asks the serve it out question. Fascinating, this time,

the sit down. You stand up again, in the case of Giorgi, serving for a

huge win on her debut at Eastbourne. When it was 5-0 in the second set

and Azarenka closed in, it was crucial she got off to a good start

at the service game at 5-3, which she was able to do. You do not know

with her. She is a go-getter. Azarenka is a great fighter. It is

harder to close out the match from a leading position, rather than coming

from behind. Azarenka loves the return of serve. It is one of her

strengths. Azarenka, it is her first match back since March, it has been

a terrific effort. The game is not where she wants it to be at. She

will want the levels going up significantly before Wimbledon. I

think the serve has improved throughout the course of the match,

the intensity has gone up and she has gone closer to the line. I guess

the hurt it is about the ability to put her opponent on the defence.

Neither was willing to give position on the return, as if Giorgi wanted

to get out there first. Serving for the match.

I was going to say it was more measured hitting from Giorgi and

smart play to go back to the forehand side but it was the error

that came out from the backhand. It is not her game to hold back. She

has got herself into a winning position by Gavin after the balls.

You think that is how she has two play. -- to play.

Three break back points for Azarenka. There is almost a stunned

silence that has come over the crowd.

Well done. She hung on to the backhand so well, Azarenka, and is

hanging into the final set. He is almost willing his daughter on from

the sidelines. He is out of his chair, clapping, almost trying to

get eye contact. She is not looking at him. Giorgi has lost the last

eight points. The crowd are really for her, there

is no doubt. This was a bit short, the second serve. It sat up into the

hitting zone, inviting to be hit. You have lost eight points in a row,

broke the love serve of the match and this sort of response. This is

what makes her a tough opponent. You have no idea what will come from the

racket next. Very unpredictable. It feels to me as if Azarenka has

tightened up on her serve. She is not getting the ball away from

Giorgi now, she is getting a much better strike on the return,

spinning it a touch more, taking the pace off the ball.

It could not be any closer. The scoreline,.

Choosing the balls carefully. Everything to give that extra

something. Just looking across at dad for

confirmation. Azarenka is drawing on every ounce

of her experience at the moment. Also, two service back to back at

the body of Giorgi, who coped with it well. And what a target that

was. She has not played that kind of rally, taking the mid-court ball and

asking questions with the passing shot, but they got answered. That

was well played. The wide serve is starting to hurt. What a welcome

back to competitive tennis. Like you said, this is the type of match she

would like will stop if she can get over the finishing line, it will

bring her level right up. She is almost more dangerous when

she is down in the scoreline, Giorgi. She is more likely to get

the return of serve back into play. She shortens the back swing. It

makes a big difference. She still generates power. She almost blocked

that. Not much backward swing, it was forward momentum.

That was clever serving. So often wide in this game, into the body,

also, but right on the T. Cobwebs have long gone.

That is two good service down the T. It is a smooth delivery and she is

getting the direction on the serve so much better.

It is the easy balls she has been missing. She has gone racket on the

mid-court balls when she has not held the ball on the strings for a

long time. Suddenly, she looks tight. A big

deep breath. Almost ten minutes, this game.

I heard that but I am surprised Azarenka did not hear that,

actually. It was definitely a let. There is a lot of tension on both

sides of the net. There has been from the side of the court from the

start of the match. Beforehand would have felt horrible. Looking across

at her dad for reassurance after that. -- that forehand.

It will be about who holds the nerve in this one.

That was too good, beautiful timing. There is a match in the game, here.

Neither is willing to give up the baseline. They are trying to stay as

close to the baseline as they can, trying to get on the front foot.

There is nothing to choose between them at the moment. The battle of

two 's strong minds. -- two. I have nicknamed Azarenka Miss

Relentless. She has a twin here. That was the longest game in the

match. Giorgi has a second chance to serve out the match. What a game.

That was extraordinary. It was a real battle between the two, who was

going to give first. Surprisingly it was the more experienced player,

Azarenka, the double fault proving costly. Giorgi seems to play her

better tennis a game point down. Maybe the rustiness is coming

through for Azarenka, in the last game, as the pressure built. She has

not been in this situation to three months when you have to maintain

focus and intensity for a long period. No first draws will be easy

for anybody with the cast here. Agnieszka Radwanska, she was beaten.

Sam Stosur against Caroline Wozniacki. Every single round is

tough. For Azarenka, up against someone who can almost hit the ball

harder and flatter than her. She has worked so hard on movement, and has

definitely improved, but because she has been off the tour for three

months, that is something that has to get back to those levels. Broken

to laugh in the first time of asking, -- love.

The difference between the two as they walk around the court is a

marked contrast. And almost depressed looking Azarenka and at

the other end, a lot of energy and bouncing around.

That is a strange reaction, to kick the racket. You do not want to send

messages to Azarenka at this stage. The 17 double, but just the third in

this set. That helps. Big-time. Azarenka wants

the same ball back again. I am not sure why there was that

reaction. APPLAUSE he can hardly contain

himself. The crowd rose with him. Azarenka

having to take extra time. That will do. A standing ovation.

They smile at last the Camila Giorgi. What a homecoming for

Azarenka. Her first match back since Indian Wells in March. It took two

hours and 47 minutes. She has won many fans, Giorgi, on her debut in

Eastbourne. That was quite a win and quite a celebration. And from her

dad, who is beside himself. Azarenka should not be disappointed with what

she put out on the court today. Considering she has been offers such

a long time, it was a high level from her. But at the end, at the

crucial stages, she became ragged. But what a way to finish the match.

The crowd are absolutely thrilled. Hopefully we will have a chat with

Camila Giorgi. What an extraordinary match, your

first appearance on Centre Court at Eastbourne, how are you feeling? It

was a great match. I really enjoyed it. Your father seem to live and

breathe every moment with you. It was a great atmosphere, and

adrenaline. You seem to work out Azarenka and how to play her. Was

that something you worked on in preparation? Today, I was focused on

my game as always. I was trying to play aggressive, and I was thinking

about my game. I think you have made several thousand new admirers.

Ladies and gentlemen, Camila Giorgi. STUDIO: That was a fabulous match to

kick the coverage. Taking up where we left off from Queen's Club on

Sunday and the brilliant final. We hope to speak to Feliciano Lopez

later. But it means that Giorgi goes through to the next round, tomorrow,

when she faces Johanna Konta. She had a victory in straight sets

today, a tremendous victory for the British number three. And several

match points during the course of that match. One by one, they were

frittered away and in the end she came through strongly. It was an

impressive performance. And there is confirmation.

Sara Errani, is in big trouble in her match. Some interesting scores

being posted on the second day of this Aegon International. Mentioning

Joanna contact, she came into the studio a while ago and you may not

know a lot about her, so the first question I asked her was, is her

name Johanna or Joanna? I'm very much used to Joe. I don't correct

people lets they ask. Give are supported history of where you're

from, how you're now representing Bristol. I was born in Brisbane, my

parents are hound area. I moved to the UK when I was 14, in 2005, and

I've been here since. I've spent my formative years here and I started

representing Great Britain in 2012 and I'm very happy to do so. This is

my home and I enjoy representing Great Britain. If England end up

playing Australia in the World Cup, where will you be? England,

obviously! Stupid question! What a good win. You played some

outstanding tennis. Thank you, I'm very happy with my performance. I

knew it would be tough. Belinda has had great year, she's cracked the

100. I was looking to stay competitive in every point and took

it point by Hotpoint and I was happy to close it out. You are almost a

local. Your folks live just down the road. Exactly, I live just the other

side of Eastbourne. This is the only tournament of the year where I can

sleep in my own bed, which is a treat. I'm very happy to have won my

match which means I can sleep at home once more! I think Martina

Navratilova's autobiography said that carrying your bags around the

world was important, but she took the same pillow with her. Every week

of the year you are in a different place, but when she put her head on

the pillow, it was the security of knowing she was in the same bed,

even though she was in Shanghai one moment and Sydney the next. Sleeping

is important. We do live out of a suitcase, we live in hotel rooms.

But I can sleep wherever I am, I have no issue falling asleep. Having

home comforts this week definitely makes it special. What are the best

home comforts? Mum's cooking? What is her best? She makes the best

roast potatoes. You're an athlete! There's nothing wrong with potatoes.

Everything in moderation. You haven't gone gluten-free? Not yet!

It is very in. Everybody talks about it. For those athletes that are

gluten intolerant, it's the way to go, but I have very good nutrition

at the LTA. Lots of room for improvement! At the start of each

year, do you sit down and say that by December I want to be here in the

world rankings? If you do, what are your immediate targets? There are

some outcome cabbages, but what's really important to remember is to

not have that is my only focus. - outcome goals. That will bring the

results. Looking to stay healthy and continue competing. In the main draw

at Wimbledon next week, which is a big carrot. I'm very happy. When I

saw the list come out, that was a huge bonus for me. I'm very happy

with that. It's a small milestone. Without being silly, first round,

second round at Wimbledon pays a lot of bills. Yes! It's not a bad

paycheque. It's an important factor. You travel around the world

and if you are in or near the top 100 and you have coaching bills and

travel expenses, it adds up, you need some big paycheques.

Definitely, it's an expensive sport to play. If you're at the top of the

game, it pays off. Just looking to keep working on that and hopefully

I'll be able to get as high as possible. We are doing this

interview when your next opponent is still being decided. How do you

view, when you're playing the next match, how much research will you

have done on your next opponent? Do you walk on court saying I know

enough about her, it's my game that counts. It's a mixture of both.

There are things you need to control on your side, but you need to know

certain things about your opponent that will help you during the match.

certain things about your opponent I'll be looking to watch a bit of

the match and my coaches are watching the match. Looking to be

prepared for tomorrow and just enjoy it. One final thing about your game.

We are all used to individual sports people having their own

idiosyncrasies. Jonny Wilkinson and his hands and that sort of thing.

Your serve is a very elongated way of your hand going up as you bounce

the ball. Is that like the golfer lining up the putt and doorways

having the same mechanism? I'm not sure! Every athlete have is their

own habits. That must be one of mine. I've never really analysed it.

I know I have the way I bounce the ball, but I've never thought of it

as being elongated! Doesn't matter what it looks like, as long as it's

effective. Yes. Many congratulations and good luck in the next round.

Isn't she great? These are the other players through to the Wimbledon

main draw next week. Wimbledon is next Monday, that is a

sporting eternity away. There is so much to happen between now and then.

Getting more interesting with every passing day.

Back at the tennis, here we have our two adversaries for our second match

on this first day of our coverage at Eastbourne. It's the second day of

competition. We have Lucie Safarova against Petra Kvitova, former

Wimbledon champion. Announced onto court by the tournament announcer,

Max Chilton. The blue sky is very much to the fore, the most beautiful

afternoon. Although don't be deceived thinking it's very hot down

here on the south coast, because actually the breeze is quite

substantial. It's not as warm as you might think. Anyway, what about

Kvitova? She's had an up and down last couple of years. She didn't

have the best of times at Roland Garros so she's glad to have swapped

red for greed. Every time I play on the grass it's very special for me.

Unfortunately it's a very short period of the great, but every time

I enjoy it. When I'm practising on grass at the beginning, it's not

very easy. I'm just trying to get used to it.

Stunning end! Petra Kvitova is the Wimbledon champion! You've had

success here and at Wimbledon so it must suit you. Why do you think your

game adapts so well to grass? I'm trying to play aggressively, trying

to go for the volleys. I think my left hand is helping me as well with

the serve and everything. I think it's great for the grass. How would

you sum up this season? You had an illness at the start, are you back

on course? I feel well. The beginning of the year wasn't the

best. I was expecting more from myself, but it didn't happen. I'm

looking forward to the matches. I'm feeling well, healthy, which is

important. When you come to a tournament like Eastbourne, which is

a big event in its own right, it's also a stepping stone to Wimbledon,

what would you expect from yourself this week, what would be a strong

week? It's very tough to answer. Everyone wants to play many matches

before Wimbledon. It's a very tough draw. My first round is really tough

against Lucy. I can't say what I'm expecting from myself, I would just

like to play the game I should play on grass and then we'll see. And

here we are, going through the last of the preamble before the match

starts. Let's have a quick chat with Annabel and Chris. What do you make

of Kvitova? She always promises a great deal, which certainly over the

last year or so hasn't really come to fruition. She is honestly one of

the most exciting players when she is on song. Grass has to be her

favourite surface. It's the event she's had most success on, at

Wimbledon. She's a very, very dangerous opponent for anyone, but

her results also up and down and most of the matches, when you watch

her play, they often go to three sets and you can get wild scoreline

differences where she'll win one set 6-1 and then lose 6-1. She's just so

unpredictable. But when she plays her best tennis, she is absolutely

phenomenal and a really exciting player. Today she is absolutely

phenomenal and a really exciting player. Today she's been in Fed cup

teams together, they practice a lot together and this is the third time

they've met in 2014. Kvitova has almost -- always had the edge. Two

left-handers against each other, that's quite unusual. When you look

at her Grand Slam record, there's loads of quarterfinals and

semifinals of grand slam events, but just a solitary victory at Wimbledon

three years ago. Should she have more? I think so. When she first won

Wimbledon, I thought this is so exciting, she will go on and

challenge the very best and challenge more for Grand Slams, but

she took a long time to adjust to being a Wimbledon champion. Her life

changed dramatically after that and there was a lot more attention on

her. It's what we say about that brink now, he's having to make

adjustments to being a grand slam champion. - Stanislas Wawrinka.

She's very popular, very charming, people really like her. I think she

will get there in the end. She's a lot fitter these days and she still

has the weapons to be extremely dangerous for any player. If Serena

doesn't dominate at the top of the game, there's a lot of gaps for

anyone else to come through. Here we go. If this match is half as good at

is the first one, it will be well worth watching.

Absolutely, and they've had a long wait to take to the court with that

marathon. Who will settle the quickest. Runner-up here three years

ago, Kvitova, Marion Bartoli, the year she went on to win Wimbledon.

Give it of will serve first, number two seed at Eastbourne.

There's the evidence of one of her best shots on a grass court, that

left-handed swinging serve that really takes off once it hits grass.

How's that for an opening game? Two aces, great touch, a love game in a

minute. Her coach is courtside, very happy with that opening game. I

don't think it could have been any better. All the skills were on

display and she's such a wonderful mix of power, timing, real firepower

from the back of the court and then these lovely little drop shots and

touch shots around the net. I've always enjoyed watching her volley.

One of the best technical volley is in the game, actually. Twice a

quarterfinalist here, the last two years here, Safarova.

Lost to barter league two years ago, the year after Kvitova lost to

her. Then lost to the qualified to Jamie Hampton last year, 6-4 in the

third. Currently ranked 23 in the world, the number two from the Czech

Republic. Got away with it! I thought the

approach slice shot from Kvitova was so effective, a Fishers slice into

the corner, but didn't really do much with the volley. - vicious.

That is quite a strapping on her left leg. Lost in the third round of

the French to Charleston. Her best tournament is the quarterfinal, as

it was in Sydney for Safarova. Plays a lot of tennis over the year.

Kvitova doesn't agree with that. The umpire is from China. I think all

these players are so used to be able to call upon umpire - Hawk-eye if

they don't agree with the umpire. You have to swallow your pride when

you have to do accept what the umpire has said. - have two accept.

A head start for Kvitova. She's another one, isn't she, who is

incredibly unpredictable, but likes to take control and base the points

and plays matches on her terms. It's often about what she's doing. It's

either unbelievable serving and big strikes into the corners,

particularly on her forehand side, or sometimes it can be extremely

erratic and wild. She is altered her service motion. - she has. I've

always been fascinated by the start of service motions. Milos Raonic has

one of the biggest serve in the men's game, and she likes to start

her serve with an open face on the racket, like him. But now she just

closes it. That's something new, I'm not sure why she has altered that.

Perhaps her coach has got her to turn the racket face in a more

horizontal fashion. It's new. That is huge, isn't it? Unplayable

on her day, as we saw at Wimbledon in 2011. The way she served out for

the title against Sharapova, a love service game as nonchalantly as

that, really. She never bats an eyelid! Good or bad. And it's very

good at the moment. Two love service game is for Kvitova. Races to a 3-0

lead. Part of the problem playing against her is the ability to slow

the momentum down because she plays at such a pace and she's often on

the front foot, she has unbelievable natural talent, natural pace on the

ball and it's really difficult to unsettle her. Especially being a

left-hander, I don't know what it is about left-handers on a grass court,

but they are a bit of a nightmare to play against. It's unusual to see

two against each other. They are very, very good friends, they know

each other so well and from their head-to-head record with Kvitova

having won all four of their previous match-ups, and three in

2014, she obviously has the mental edge over Safarova, I think.

Terrific times they've shared, lifting the Fed cup for the Czech

Republic. The men are two times defending Davis Cup champions.

Extraordinary how they churn out the players, the checks. - the Czech

Republic. Safarova lives in Monte Carlo, as so many players do. She's

trying to get on the scoreboard. A taste of her own medicine. Like a

mirror image, the game plans. Kvitova is a heavy hitter, but

similar mindsets. Another one whose expression hardly

ever changes when she plays, Safarova.

I've always enjoyed watching her play. I remember her beating Amelie

Mauresmo when she first burst onto the scene in the Australian Open. A

huge win for her at the time and then she did the same thing at the

French Open. She just had the edge over Amelie Mauresmo. One of those

players that you sometimes have an opponent who you don't match up well

against and an Meli never matched up well against Lucie Safarova.

Super body serve to get on the scoreboard. She used that serve

very, very effectively against Ana Ivanovic. She beat her at the French

Open to reach the fourth round and that was a serve she used time and

time again to take away the great strength on the forehand side of

Ivanovic. Short points. You could see how the

ball skidded through the surface and it's so difficult to react when it

takes off from the grass, you have to get the racket back early and

sometimes there's just not enough time.

There is still room for a really good sliced backhand. On grass. It's

gone away from the game quite a bit, hasn't it? A few players are trying

to introduce it back into the sport, but no one compares to the

Steffi Graf sliced backhand from years ago. One game in the last

match went on for over 13 minutes. Five games here so far have taken

just 12. It's the nature in which both of these women ply their trade,

particularly Kvitova. In 2011, Xi won six titles from seven finals,

including Wimbledon. - Xi one. For many, it looks like a fitter vote

was going to start to dominate women's tennis. I thought she would

go right to the top of the game and become the new world number one.

Challenging for Grand Slam titles. She got to number two in the world

in October, but then couldn't quite sustain the level of intensity and

and then some injuries kicked in. I thought with her attitude she

remained incredibly calm, though. Even when things were not going

higher way, she's had a refreshingly natural attitude, doesn't get too

down on herself. Sometimes the frustration watching her was you

wanted her to get more frustrated and rein it in a little bit. I do

enjoy watching her play when she's playing well, it's a joy to watch.

And I love watching her move forward and volley. She is one of the

exciting players around the net area.

Such a straightforward combination that, serving out wide, getting a

Short replied, into the open space and the ball not coming back. --

reply. Beaten for pace. It was dead

straight. Safarova nowhere near it. She is showing she has equal amounts

of power from the backhand side even though she likes to look for the

forehand and will dance around the backhand as much as she can.

She is being rushed. She is bullying Safarova.

It is almost dismissive. When she is in this mood, form. No one can live

with her. It pings off the racket. It is effortless power. Sometimes

she does not think too much about it, which is the best way to beat.

It is a natural reaction. I like the outfit, it suits her. It does.

That classic play, wide serve, return back down the middle of the

court. Playing the other angle into the space. It is only 19 minutes and

it is already set point. Safarova has never been Kvitova. She

has never lost a set 6-1 before in the previous head-to-head.

And has now. 6-1, in 20 minutes. That is a very impressive. I

wonder. Coach requested by Safarova, Rob Steckley, to the rescue. She was

totally outplayed. In every department. It is about dictating as

much of the play as you can and put her on the back foot, which is

difficult to do. Just try a couple of things you would normally not

try. STUDIO: Annabel Croft said that Kvitova has the potential to do that

and play outstanding tennis when she is in form. If you have just joined

us, this is what has happened on the second day.

Victoria Azarenka, her first game back after three months off through

injury. If you have never heard of Lauren

Davis, you will hear a lot more of her. When you read her profile,

Hirst Idol is Rafa Nadal because she never -- her idol is Rafa Nadal

because he never gives up. We are back tomorrow at 1pm. We will stay

with this game here on BBC television and if this match does

not... Looks like it is going to a third set, we will head off to the

red button to ensure you get the culmination of it. But who is to say

what this second set will bring? Safarova had a long chat with her

coach. She needs to hold this opening game.

What do you think you might have said? What I picked up on was he

said I want you to try a few things you would normally not try, to

unsettle the rhythm. I could not hear the rest of the conversation.

At the moment she is comfortable, with plenty of time, playing her

game, dictating. People want her to get out of her comfort zone. Kvitova

is just about to change her racket, I think. She has had enough of that

one after seven games. It has done its job. Maybe so busy chatting, she

forgot to change the racket for the new balls.

It was interesting talking to the string is about how many brackets

some players have. Gulbes, he only had about seven left the semifinal.

They keep an array of rackets with different string tension in their

bag, to cope with the different conditions. Well played. The coach

will feel happy. Ranked 23, Safarova, has been as

high as 17, in 2012. She has won five titles from 12 finals. Do you

think she has maximised? Many feel she has underachieved. It is because

we think she is so incredibly talented. There is not a lot of

difference to how she plays tennis to her opponent, who is a Wimbledon

champion. She beat Amelie Mauresmo twice, when she was at the top of

her game, so you think this is a talent to be reckoned with. It feels

like she has not maximised. But she applies herself, keeps herself

incredibly fit, she works hard. Other than 1/4-final in a Grand

Slam, I am surprised she has not done more than that.

She has beaten players like Henin, Caroline Wozniacki. Sam Stosur.

I think it is the consistency level. It is the ability to maintain a

level throughout the course of the year. It is tough to do and it makes

you appreciate why the very best are so good. Another love Gainford

Kvitova. She started the match with two in a row. -- love

Kvitova. She started the match with two in a row. -- love

With that ball you could see how she opened up the court, creating

incredible width and the ability to get the ball to hit the court and

keep travelling away from the opponent. Difficult for them to

track it down and get body weight behind it.

She is never frightened to move forward. The women are showing the

way to the men, they have been drive volleying the years. The men are

beginning to. -- the years. That was a stunning first to serve.

-- first serve. That proves you cannot afford to put

a serve without much on it into the service box. It cannot afford to be

short and you have to make her move say she is out of position to return

the serve. The crowd have taken refreshment.

There are a lot of matches going on outside. There was a fabulous

atmosphere for the last match. Kvitova is very calm on court, she

does not give much away with her body language. She never gets too

upset. Her movement has improved a lot, but

if you can get her on the run, which Safarova is trying to

if you can get her on the run, which unsettle her. It is not easy to do.

That is another example of being rushed again. The return coming back

with more on it than was put down from the serve.

That was a good serve, really mixing it up well now. It is so important

she gets the first serve in. She is winning one in three behind the

second. Just going back to the question

about Safarova and underachieved ant, we are talking about belief and

confidence. Simona Halep, going into Rome last year, she had not done

anything. She suddenly qualified and made the semifinal and then she wins

six tournaments and the quarterfinal of the Australian Open this year.

She said a switch flipped. -- flicked. It was her confidence. The

result against Agnieszka Radwanska, it gave her the believe she can

challenge the best in the world and motivated everything from thereon

in. Winning can produce a momentum, belief and confidence. It makes you

work harder because you enjoy the winning, and you feel the results

are flowing from the hard work you put in. She was 56 in the world and

suddenly up to number three. And so very nearly a Grand Slam champion.

In the women's game, there are opportunities for different players.

There are so many youngsters coming through, as well. There is a renewed

excitement about the women's game. That ball seem to have a bit of

movement as she put the serve into play. Safarova getting caught up on

the return. There are not too many rallies in

this match. They are short, sharp points. Just 34 minutes so far.