Day 2 Tennis: Eastbourne

JOHN INVERDALE: Once upon a time it was Martina and Chrissie, at the

moment it is Serena. Is the women's game standing on a new cusp right

now? COMMENTARY: Well played! My

goodness, that's confidence! COMMENTARY: Wonderful return. Take

that. COMMENTARY: There is real excitement

in the crowd. They have attached themselves to Giorgi. That is

fantastic! What a game. That was extraordinary. She's won many fans,

Giorgi, on her debut here in Eastbourne.

JOHN INVERDALE: Camila Giorgi and Madison Keys are two of the new

names sweeping through the women's game. One, three, four and seven

seeds are all out before we reach the last 16. Alongside all that, we

have British involvement on this Wednesday afternoon because we are

going to show you one British player in a moment. Here is Heather Watson

playing late last night and coming through from a set down and her

match this afternoon against Flavia Pennetta is going to be the second

match on Centre Court that we will be showing you. We are looking

forward to that, after we have seen an intriguing contest between Sloane

Stephens of the USA and Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark. It is a very

chilly day here. Annabel Croft is managing to bring some Ascot

sunshine to it. Are you appropriately dressed today? I was

when I left the hotel this morning! It's got very chilly. We are

watching a fantastic match, we mentioned Heather Watson - Johanna

Konta, who we interviewed on this programme yesterday, she is playing

Camila Giorgi. And Konta got off to a flying start winning the first set

6-1. Her serve was almost unplayable, especially when she was

coming downwind. So, 6-1 was a very emphatic first blow to the British

player. In the second set, she was leading 4-3 but one of the key

factors in Giorgi's camp is her wayward and maverick father, who is

her coach. His influence, however great it was or not, had the effect

of squaring things at one set all. 4-3, as I say, to Konta and there

have been a couple of 4-3, as I say, to Konta and there

serve, but Giorgi squared it at one set all. At this moment, it is 3-3

and Konta serving with a point to take a 4-3 lead. That was going

long. Anyway, good volley to take a 4-3 lead. Konta is playing very

well? She is playing her heart out, John. The one thing you notice when

she is on court, the work rate and the intensity and the passion that

she brings out here. She is in her home country. She lives close to the

event here. She is a bit limited in what she can do technically. As you

said, she has been serving well and it does help that she is on a

smaller court today. If she had been out on one of the big show courts,

things could get the better of her and maybe Giorgi might have brought

a better level to the game. This is absolutely neck-and-neck right here.

While they are taking a break, a quick word about Heather Watson's

match this afternoon. What do you make of her prospects? Whenever I

see her on the court, she brings a real effort level out on to the

court and the match yesterday against a former semifinalist at

Wimbledon, will be a huge confidence boost, particularly as last week in

Birmingham she had three match points against Wozniacki. I feel

with Heather she is not striking the ball as well as she would like. That

was a real effort to get through that one yesterday. She is going to

have her work cut out today against a former world number ten, Pennetta

is a very experienced player and she will put a lot of balls back into

play. Heather needs to raise the bar a bit more. Talking about the new

guard, what about the American who we were watching on Court 3 down

there, who had the most fantastic victory over Daniela Hantuchova and

Lauren Davis is 5ft 2in, so that gives the lie to the fact you have

to be 6ft to make it in this game? Look at her footwork, and her

passion. It was a terrific victory and she is someone who beat Azarenka

in Indian Wells earlier this year. The women's game has an extra

injection of a bit of sparkle right now. A lot of new names are coming

through. There's a different feel about it that we are finally going

to get some great rivalries that we have been lacking and they are at

the cusp and ready to make a breakthrough. When You look at the

seedings, it is as you were because Serena Williams is top seed. Simona

Halep is up to three. Two former champions at five and six, Sharapova

and Kvitova. What is interesting is what the Wimbledon authorities have

done with the men's seedings. Andy Murray, even though he is ranked

five in the world, is given the three seeding which means that he

won't have to face a Federer and a Nadal and a Djokovic en route to a

final, maybe. What do you make of the manipulation of the draw to

benefit Andy? It is what they have done. They have done it for many

years. There is a formula in place. Whatever that formula is that has

been applied to it, clearly it does benefit Andy Murray. It doesn't

benefit Stanislas Wawrinka who is at three in the world and who is

relegated to five. My opinion, which a lot of people won't agree with, I

feel these players work their socks off all year-round to gain a

computer ranking which gives them the benefit of where they are placed

in a draw. I just don't like the fact that it is manipulated with

because it does have a huge impact on their points situation as they

leave Wimbledon, the prize money, everything has a knock-on effect.

The counter argument is that grass is a surface like no other and there

have been players in days gone by, you would have had players who could

have been world number three, and if you ranked him on grass, he would be

23? Yes, at the French Open clay is a very specialised surface and there

are certain players - Nadal - who play so much better on the

clay-courts and therefore we should look at a ranking for different

surfaces. To me, it is the only event that does mess with the

seedings. There is a reason for it. It makes it a better tournament if

you get the better names coming through, so you get better

match-ups. The ranking is there because those players put their

heart and soul into what they are doing year in and year out. Then

some of them get a bit annoyed by what happens at Wimbledon. How much

does that rearrangement of the draw benefit Andy Murray in his bid to

retain his title? Of course, it will benefit him in terms of him not

meeting the top two - it benefits who you are going to meet in the

quarters and semis. If you are going to win it again, you have to get

through everybody. If you have a certain match-up with a player that

doesn't suit you and you end up not facing them, and they might get

knocked out on the other side of the draw, that will benefit him. But you

have still got to win seven matches. When matches are tight, of course,

as we have one behind us, it deals with your mind. Johanna Konta - I

think that was a serve that was called in, much to the fact she

didn't like that, so 4-4 in the third set. It is close. That could

have quite a long way to go. We will let you leave us now and head off to

the commentary box. I will get my jumper on! And Chris is in the

commentary box already waiting for you. The commentary there is on

Sloane Stephens and Caroline Wozniacki. It is interesting, Chris,

we are watching Wozniacki here not just from a tennis perspective, but

because she's been in the news so much because of her break-up of her

relationship with Rory McIlroy. We are watching to see how it is

possible for a top sportswoman to banish what is on their mind and

play in front of them? CHRIS BRADNAM: She is such a

delightful young woman, isn't she? And the manner in which it was done,

it must be very tough. What better way than to get back to what she

loves doing. She has been doing it so well for so many years. She was

number one at the end of 2010 and 2011. Yes, her career has been on a

slide because of the very heady heights that she first laid down for

herself. I think she can absorb herself into the game admirably well

and put it all behind her. JOHN INVERDALE: We don't have full

match coverage on Court 2, otherwise we would be bringing you this.

Johanna Konta, with two massive big serves, and there's a third one. She

has a 40-0 lead at 4-4. Obviously, if she can hang on to her serve,

Giorgi will be serving to stay in this match. We will keep you in

touch with this. This is going to be our focus of attention for the next,

however long it might be. We had a brilliant first match yesterday,

which involved Giorgi, but the applause you can hear behind me is

for Konta holding serve at 5-4, four big serves there that the Italian

couldn't get back into court. That was a straightforward game. And now

the pressure is on Giorgi and her dad is getting more and more

engrossed in this affair. So, we will keep you in touch with that.

They are having the last bit of nutrition and the last couple of

drinks and they will be under way on Centre Court. Annabel Croft is

making her way across to join Chris. CHRIS BRADNAM: Wozniacki has won all

the previous four meetings, but they have all been on a hard-court. The

last in Miami this year. Sloane Stephens, a huge start at the

Australian Open last year. It is her debut in Eastbourne. Wozniacki, the

champion of 2009, will begin. Still only 23-years-old, Wozniacki,

seeded eight, ranked 16 in the world, currently. 28 in the world

this year. Sloane Stephens ranked 18, three off

her career-high of 15 in July last year. She has a new coach in her

corner, Paul Annacone, a familiar name to many of you, I'm sure.

Helped out with British tennis as well, Paul Annacone, for a few years

at the LTA. There he is, Mr Annacone. Alongside

him, a man that has been hitting initially with Sloane Stephens for a

number of years, Andrew Fitzpatrick. Beat Caroline Garcia in the first

round, Sloane Stephens. also played on Monday, third on this

court against Sam Stosur. That was the third meeting here between the

two, Wozniacki has won two of those now against the Aussie. Big-hitter,

Sloane Stephens. It is always going to be an interesting match-up

against Wozniacki, a counter-puncher by nature.

Annabel Croft has made her way to the commentary box.

ANNABEL CROFT: I'm a bit out of puff.

What do you make of this match-up? Sloane Stephens looking for her

first-ever win against Wozniacki? ANNABEL CROFT: They are very

different tennis players. Sloane Stephens has this easy, effortless

power, incredible strike capability where she can hit winners from

anywhere. But Wozniacki will get a lot of balls back into play and make

her play a lot of balls lot of balls back into play and make

I'm more interested in the body language of Sloane Stephens,

actually, you know, whether she gets too down on herself, or whether she

can contain it all. Served three double faults against

Garcia in her opening match. Doesn't normally serve many. Five aces.

It's a pretty big weapon, isn't it, when she connects with it and gets

that first serve firing, as we saw right there? She has this ability to

get the ball away from the opponent and it enables her to step in on

that second ball after the serve. The weight of shot difference is

considerable between these two. It really is. It is one of the reasons

why Wozniacki's ranking has slipped out of the top ten now and she's

battling her way to try and get it back up again. She gets so many

balls back into play, but what she does lack is that real power and the

ability to sort of have shorter points and hit people off the court,

but Sloane Stephens is the exact opposite. She can hit a winner from

any position on the court, can't she?

Wozniacki says she doesn't set any goals for herself anymore, just one

match at a time. When she was at the top of the game,

at world number one, and was winning many matches, many events, you know,

but just wasn't able to win the Grand Slams. There were so many

people asking her, "When are you going to win a Grand Slam?" It

almost became unbearable. Tough. Jankovic, Safana... Yes, she

couldn't have done any more. Very languid style, Sloane Stephens,

isn't it? It is very effortless. She moves so deceptively well. She does.

Sometimes a bit too much power, losing control. The forehand is the

big weapon, that is what she will like to dance around and look to

really strike out with that big forehand. The backhand is pretty

decent as well. Again, I always look for how quick a

player moves up to the short ball like that. There you can see very

quick to get that footwork up behind the ball and then smooth as she is

transitioning through the court, staying with that ball all the way

through. That will be the real test for

Stephens, how consistent she can be against Wozniacki, but with her

aggression. JOHN INVERDALE: Here was a match

point for Johanna Konta a few moments ago which she wasn't able to

convert on Court 2 against Camila Giorgi of Italy. And just a few

moments ago, Giorgi broke the Konta serve to take a 6-5 lead in this

third set, so the Italian will walk on court to win the match 7-5 in the

third. This game has been subject to such ebb and flow and her

performance has been so up-and-down, you wouldn't put it past Konta

managing to break her and take it into a third-set tie-break. Very

tight on Court 2 as we head back to Centre.

CHRIS BRADNAM: Let's wish Johanna Konta well. Wozniacki, it's a bit of

a goldfish bowl, the tennis world and with the break-up that was so

public, she seems to be coping so well.

ANNABEL CROFT: She went on holiday with Serena Williams, they spent

time on the beach, they were at the Miami Heat game. They had a lot of

fun. She's always so lovely to deal with, Caroline Wozniacki, very

popular alongst the players, the press, and very refreshingly

natural. Always in my mind, ever since she burst on to the scene, she

always seemed to have tennis in perspective and just genuinely

enjoyed the competition but was able to put it to one side and live a

relatively normal life outside it. I have always thought she has a

terrific attitude on the court. Such a great work ethic, really puts her

heart and soul into every point. Couldn't be any fitter to play this

sport. Certainly one of THE best supporters

of the WTA, the number of tournaments she plays every year.

Keep a close eye on the tactics here. Wozniacki's backhand is so

much better than the forehand. Interesting to see the Stephens

approach never having beaten Wozniacki.

The Dane thought that ball was long. No Hawk-Eye. No help from the

umpire. I would like to see that again. It

looked in to me. Maybe she has a point there. Looks like it might be

a bit behind the line. She is always polite when she is challenging the

umpires. Like we saw yesterday, the players

making their point, no Hawk-Eye, so it is keeping everybody on their

toes. The lineswoman was very quick to call that one! It does have a

knock-on effect. That's a good-looking serve, well

produced. I like it. I think it is a really smooth action. It is very

effortless in its production and not too many things that you think can

go wrong with it. It is a nice, a very relaxed delivery, isn't it?

She can get free points off it and that is the key to get to the top of

the game, having a serve that is a weapon, that you can really rely on.

Wozniacki breaks, she has the initiative.

When you have beaten somebody four times and never lost to them, it is

the perfect start. It is. It's interesting, isn't it, every time

you watch Wozniacki on court - yes, she lacks power, she doesn't plast

opponents off the court - but what she does have is this ability to

absorb pace, send back another ball into play just to force you into

trying to go closer to the lines and invariably she just ekes out more

and more errors from opponents. She is such a great match player.

She is a good percentage player. When she was dominating at number

one in the world, she won over 60 matches in 2010 and 2011. Last year,

she went down to 39 wins. She is having another look down at

the line, actually that ball did look in. This one is very close.

Super! Really aggressive, both on the forehand and the backhand. Yeah,

the backhand is the more natural shot, isn't it? She has the ability

to flatten the backhand and get some extra pace on to that side, down the

line is such a solid shot, one of the best in the world.

Another example. Yeah, she is a genius at making the opposition

self-doubt. A brick wall, a very quick brick wall, is Wozniacki! She

just keeps on coming. And there is the star of the show,

wonderful backhand, extending the lead.

Interesting, in the press, after the win against Sam Stosur, Wozniacki

would say that she doesn't set any goals anymore. Just one match at a

time, it is that dealing with the slip in the rankings? Where does

that come from? It is interesting, isn't it? I've always thought of her

as a determined character, I remember watching her ingenious. She

went right to the top of the game so early, she was only used to her

ranking going in One Direction and winning a lot of matches, but she

struggled against power players at the very top. Even when she was

number one, she didn't have a good record against Shara Bova, Klimke

iced is, Serena. -- Shara Bova -- Sharapova. I suppose the ranking has

gone into such decline, it is about rebuilding her confidence at a

certain level and then trying to work on up. I'm sure she is

desperate to get back in the top ten, but she doesn't want to put

that out publicly. If you count the points she has won from January, she

is 28 in the world, so this is a really important period of time for

her. She could certainly pick up a lot more points at Wimbledon. She

lost in the second round last year deal Jamie Hamdan, 6-3 in the third.

Just slightly dragging off that backhand, isn't she? She doesn't

quite get in the right position for the next. Definitely, Wozniacki can

pick up some points at Wimbledon if she can get a good run and a good

draw. She makes that look so easy, awkward

ball. Yes, it is that same shot, isn't it?

She is moving onto the short ball, but she really stays down, stays

with it the whole way through the swing, and it is very smooth. Some

people find moving with the ball and keeping moving quite tricky, she

definitely makes it look easy. She possesses, Chris, a really nice

backhand, and we have not seen much of it out here. We were talking

yesterday about the slice, such a great shot on the grass, and the

sliced forehand down to Wozniacki is a great tactic. It would certainly

make it up on the ball, wouldn't it? It will be an interesting watch,

four losses against Wozniacki, can she bring any changes? Having to

generate power from a low sliced ball on the grass court is so

difficult, and it gives the opponent the chance to attack the next ball.

And particularly with Wozniacki's grip, she is quite far round on that

forehand side, isn't she? She struggles to get pace on it at the

best of times. Classic V play. Yeah, she gets good

with the here, and the trouble with going down the line on that return,

she opens up the angle, a better chance of getting back involved in

the point. -- good width. Wozniacki's coach, the father, on

for a quick chat. JOHN: Sadly, Johanna Konta of Great

Britain has gone out in three sets to Camila Giorgi, who beat Victoria

Azarenka yesterday. The British player a set and 4-3 up in the

second set, and she played outstandingly well, she really did,

but agonisingly close and yet so far. It means the Italian goes

through to the quarterfinals, as does Angelique Kerber of Germany,

who has come through against Alize Cornet France in three very tight

sets. -- of France. A tie-break in the third set, 7-3.

The pictures as they were exchanging pleasantries as the net, let's go

back to Centre Court, the match featuring Sloane Stephens and

Caroline Wozniacki. We are hoping to talk to Richard Gasquet later in the

programme, I gather he's going to pop up and have a word. He has just

beaten Bernard Tomic in the Men's Singles. That is something to look

forward to, but now back to Chris and Annabel. Mine wall to wall chart

from Father for Wozniacki. Interesting that he would come on

when his daughter is 5-2 up and handling everything very well. New

balls in play, Sloane Stephens serving to stay in the opening set,

2-5. I am a little bit surprised she has

gone so much to the backhand side of Wozniacki. It seems like a

tactic... The obvious one is to go to the forehand, isn't it?

Your point illustrated right there, the difference between the two

shots. Because Wozniacki comes up the back here, she puts more lift on

it. That ball is not travelling, you get a lot more time to impose

yourself on the next shot. It was the backhand up the line here

that did the damage. You can see how she pushes her opponent onto the

defensive, then quick to take the ball right at the top of the bands.

-- bounce. The hitting partner there with the

blue tag around his neck, Joe Fitzpatrick. Very handy player,

plays challenges and so on. He was asked to hit with Sloane Stephens

for a while, it became permanent. Wozniacki will have to serve out the

opening set. Yes, Andrew

hold back when he comes on court and does his coaching bid, he really

gives it to her with both barrels if that is what he thinks! In a very

nice way, though, not in a nasty way. If he does not think the body

language is positive, he tells her. Obviously, the gutsy young man. I

think he is refreshingly straight, actually, the way he talks to her -

he just says it as it is, he says what everyone is thinking. Some

people might tiptoe around and not say it to the player, but he does.

There is a big difference, isn't there? Huge. It is a pretty high

number, too. She is getting good length of that

forehand, though, especially on the crosscourt ball. That was a shot

that was getting her into so much trouble. It was around the service

line, crosscourt. That was a great serve, wasn't it?

We do not think of her as having a big serve, but it is so well-placed,

it is accurate. Again, now and then getting a free point like that.

Three set points. So the first love game of the set,

Wozniacki takes it 6-3. I am angry now! -- hungry. Fancy a

Barbie? It does not look like barbie weather, with those clouds. Typical

English and Barbie whether! Don't you normally put your raincoat on

and go out to do it in the rain sometimes? I do!

So Sloane Stephens, where do she go from here, Annabel? Four times she

has lost to Wozniacki, lost the first set. Well, like I said, I

would like to see her use the sliced backhand and mix things up a bit

more, maybe switch. You can't hit every single shot to the forehand,

sometimes you need the strength to get to the forehand side, but the

balance isn't quite right, too many unforced errors, it is what

Wozniacki does to most players. Obviously, she is a player that

likes to attack, so she needs to use her strength, but I would like to

see her mix it up a bit, down to the forehand side, then use that

strength. She could hit winners from either direction. Yeah, it is a good

point, an interesting point here, while we are checking out the

weather, I think her trainer has been called. No, towels arriving.

There was quite a pause at the end of that opening set. You need to

wrap up at the end of the set, Wozniacki was covered in towels. It

is chilly, the son was shining yesterday. Still not windy, that is

good news for the players here in Eastbourne. She needs to started

well, Sloane Stephens. -- start it. It is almost like she is not quite

sure how to go about this, there is uncertainty there. It does look like

that, doesn't it? Nemesis players and all that.

Clearly, the match-up has not suited to in the past, too many unforced

errors, but she has definitely got the power to be able to hit through

Wozniacki, hasn't she? It is just stringing them together.

Again, that same thing, she pulls off at the end of the stroke, like

her body is still travelling to recover for the next shot before

finishing the backhand. May be her coach is going to come on for a

chat. -- maybe. Just a couple away from Piotr.

Well, that was brave hitting, wasn't it? Those volleys from the mid-court

area are a bit more straightforward, and playing from

the baseline, like she did there, was not easy. Another break point.

Yeah, too much help from Wozniacki here. Again, that looked a little

lost. I agree with you, it is almost as if the beliefs suddenly

evaporated at the end of that first set. You know, it is interesting how

suddenly that mindset can change with a player, and all of a sudden

everything will start to unravel from that belief moment, and when

you watch tennis matches, there are so many times when you see momentum

shift in a different direction and be carried away from an opponent

just because they suddenly stopped believing. 20 unforced errors to

three, those numbers have got to change and quickly.

Not much will change from Wozniacki's side of the court, she

will keep on putting balls back into play and asking questions.

She has always been a strong physique, Wozniacki, and

unbelievably fit, as we said, someone who trained with Andre

Agassi's former fitness trainer, going into the desert for all that

training. But her physique has become finer, she has trimmed down.

I would not say she needed to, but she is lighter than before.

She has even played tournaments in a time when she has been slightly

injured, she just loves competing, loves getting out there. I think

rehearsal is a bit uninspiring almost.

Just catching on that, the backhand down the line is such a great shot,

a lot more weight attached to it, and it is difficult to read it. She

has caught Sloane Stephens out a couple of times with that one.

That is almost the kind of rash, unforced error we have seen from

Wozniacki. Just a fourth and falls are. -- unforced error.

It is routine at the moment. After 42 minutes.

Only a couple of years older than Stephens, 34 finals, Wozniacki, she

has won 21 of those. Steven Nzonzi gets to make a final, 21 years old.

-- Stephen is yet to make a final. She had a match point against Lee

not in the semis, the Americans expected much.

I think, to be fair, her life changed dramatically, and she

struggled to cope with that initially. Yeah, she definitely did,

there was no secret made of that, all the attention around,

particularly as she had beaten the American number one, Serena

Williams, creating so many headlines.

A fine crop of young American women, 11 Americans in the top 100

these days. They have got some very big shoes to

fill, that is for sure. A must-win game, and Stephens comes

through it. Now, this will be interesting, we will listen into the

chat with Paul. You are just missing a few balls, but you are doing good,

creating plenty of chances. What I like is that you are sticking to

your play, missing a few balls, but keep pushing to get into position.

Try to do more damage on the first strike when you can, really simple.

I feel like you are colliding into your serve a little bit.

I don't think you have to worry about missing the first serve, you

need to get more easy points on your first serve. Because on the second

serve, you are good, you're going to stay in the point anyway. But

honours, you do a good job dictating. You are missing a couple

of balls, but don't get down on yourself, you are right in there,

creating chances to break. Just be positive, keep your foot going, try

to cut the court off. Be proud of yourself, kiddo, you are right

there. Remember, had up the middle and go from there. OK. Interesting,

very Serena like, up the middle, soften the point. Your thoughts?

Well, he was saying very much, don't get down on yourself, that is one of

her biggest weaknesses, she gets very down on his self, the body

language can be very negative. In fact, today it is not too bad, but

it can be really bad, so he was trying to lift his spirits, saying,

yes, the important thing is you are dictating a lot of the play, just

missing a few, but don't let it get to you. He still wants her to

continue to be aggressive and look to play a game. She does have the

weaponry and firepower to do some damage out here.

It was interesting hearing him say he thought she was guiding her

serve, rather than hitting it and going after it. It will be

interesting to see what she does on the next service game.

Yeah, the same question being as - how many of those can you make

against me? I am going to run them all dying, that is Wozniacki's

mindset. -- run them all down. Wozniacki was way back with the line

judges, Sloane Stephens up on the baseline in a commanding position,

but she ended up with the error. ANNABEL CROFT: She is a graceful

mover, Sloane Stephens. She glides around the court. You don't notice

how quick she's moving and tracking down balls.

That's such a good serve. CHRIS BRADNAM: It's improved. She is

thinking all the time, the fact that that one was swinging into the body

of Sloane Stephens to tuck her up on that double-handed backhand. A

clever serve at an important moment. Right now, she would be one of my

favourites to win this title, to be honest, along with Petra Kvitova.

Amazing to think she first won it five years ago. A teenager. Yeah.

command of that mid-court area more in this match.

First love game for Stephens. I had the pleasure of calling the Girls'

Singles Final in 2006 when Wozniacki beat a Slovakian in the final. She

was 15 turning 16 in that tournament, Wozniacki. It is amazing

how quickly she has moved from the Juniors into the Seniors winning

titles? Amazing. It was amazing. I remember watching her in the finals

at the Aussie Open, maybe it wasn't the final, I watched her in one of

the lead-up matches and she did make her way up the rankings. She was

good at grinding down opponents, working hard, she was a great match

player and knew how to win from difficult positions. You always felt

that she didn't often lose matches that she shouldn't win. She

struggled, as we said, to beat the real power players, but she rarely

lost matches where it was quite closely-matched, she would often

come through those matches. This year, the difference in her match

wins, which is why her ranking has dropped, she has lost a lot more of

those types of matches to players you would think that was

touch-and-go. It has never stopped her attitude and her positivity out

there and application. And still continues to be one of the hardest

workers out there. Loves playing and competing and playing a lot of

matches. She is certainly in the driving seat

in this second round. A set and a break, 3-2 lead.

That really was wow! An extra injection again. So easy, it comes

from nowhere. Great timing. Flick of the wrist there. Great angle.

I wasn't sure about that. Nor was Sloane Stephens. Hawk-Eye would have

been busy this week. I think I'd make any player playing Wozniacki go

and hit against a brick wall for 30 minutes on the day of the match, to

get the mindset right. I agree. Comfortable hold. And don't get fed

up when the ball keeps coming back. A couple of times we have seen

Sloane Stephens, when she has made an error and dictated the point, her

shoulders slump. Wozniacki loves that! She does. She will be feeding

off that. It's a mindset, isn't it, that you have to be prepared to dig

in deep for some painful moments? Same thing there, dictated the

point, ended up losing it. I think the longer the rallies draw

out, the more Wozniacki loves it. It is playing into her rhythm.

And all counter-punchers hate that, when they look to do a lot more with

the ball and miss. She had done all the hard work. She was absorbing the

pace, using those legs to stay down with the ball and then missed the

one that was the open court. She will be cross with herself for

missing that because she got there in plenty of time. Very quick off

the mark to get underneath that ball. Amazing to think she

the mark to get underneath that only 23. She's been on our screens

for many years. You forget that, don't you? The same with Sharapova,

to be honest. Keeps it to the single break

deficit, Stephens. The trainer coming on again for

Wozniacki. There's a bug, a wasp, or something.

No more! tweeted in about #bbctennis - how

are the women allowed to have coaches coming on and the men don't?

I don't know the answer to that. The off-court coaching was so out of

control, it was very - it was impossible to police it so the WTA

then decided let's bring them on for a couple of times in a match. A

comfort break, if your opponent takes one, an injury-time-out. It

still goes on off the court. It is an interesting one. You are not

allowed to do it in the majors. Roger Federer, when he observes it,

he's made the comment, "It looks a bit amateur" because you have to be

out there on your own working it out. Are you strong enough mentally

to go and win a major when you are reliant on this sort of information

being passed on to you? I agree, if you are going to have it, you have

to open it up and have it on Grand Slams. What is the difference,

really? Otherwise, you will get reliant on it and you want be able

to handle it in a situation where you can't bring your coach on. I

enjoy it. I enjoy listening to what the coaches say and whether the

player can put that knowledge into the match situation. To me, it is

quite similar to boxing, tennis, they always have their coaches at

every sit-down. I would like to see it opened up to

be honest. Wozniacki, a set and 4-3. Thanks for

your thoughts. Keep them coming. Head start this game for Sloane

Stephens. I think that might be the best forehand we have seen from her

for the entire match. Great power, right out of the centre of the

strings. Very close to the lines. Look at that, open stance as well.

Starting to look a bit more dangerous right now.

A little, "Come on" from Wozniacki. The forehand is looking very

impressive. She is getting more depth on it, more body weight behind

it. It is always something that she's working on. She is always

looking to become more aggressive on that side.

That's another free point, isn't it? One of the criticisms thrown at

Sloane Stephens has always been she lacks intensity. It is a bit like

that. It is in-and-out, and it is something she will only get better

at as she gets older and more experienced.

Three errors from 30-0 up. Too many. Stephens was the first to have the

break-point. From a fourth quarterfinal here,

sixth visit. Camila Giorgi camp doing a bit of spying. She plays the

winner of this. That is not how she wanted to start this service game.

That one ballooned over the baseline, didn't it? Really needs to

regroup right here because she is running out of time fast.

That was a confident smash. Didn't doubt herself for a second on this

one. Gets the footwork right underneath it and really accelerates

into that ball. Nice! A switch-up, too, tactically.

Why not? I think that's how she should be looking to construct her

points on a grass-court. She makes it look so easy and the way she

volleys, traditionally as well as the drive volleys, it is a sound

technique. UMPIRE: Fault.

No complaint. Familiar pattern continues.

Another unforced error from Sloane Stephens. Sets up match point.

Just the one will do! APPLAUSE

66 minutes. It's a fifth win in a row against Sloane Stephens. Still

no joy for the American in this particular match-up. For Wozniacki,

a fourth quarterfinal here to look forward to. I thought that was a

very, very impressive victory to be honest. It shows why she has a

winning record over her opponent, gets too many balls back into play

and too many unforced errors from her opponent, Sloane Stephens. She

will be a bit disappointed, I think, that she was not able to come up

with more. She has the capability, she has the power. Just wasn't able

to string it together today. What a fascinating match-up to look forward

to against Camila Giorgi in the quarterfinals. It will be a packed

house for that one. Yes, really looking forward to that. Giorgi will

have her work cut out in a similar way that we saw her yesterday when

she beat Victoria Azarenka, but she blasts the ball, doesn't hold back

on anything. She will not be allowed to make too many unforced errors

tomorrow. That unforced error count from her will have to be cut down.

Wozniacki will make her play a lot of balls.

Well played. Two efficient performances. You must be feeling

pretty good? Yes, I feel great. It is amazing to be playing out here.

Sloane is a tough opponent. Really pleased with the way the match went.

I'm through to the next round and hopefully I can get one more match

out here. What do you think improved today for you compared to the match

against Sam? Well, I didn't get broken in the first game, which

helped. Other than that, I felt like I played very consistent and I ran

pretty well and I tried to just take the balls as early as possible. Next

up, you will be playing Camila Giorgi of Italy, who defeated

Johanna Konta. What do you know about her? I have played her before.

She hits every ball as hard as she can. She obviously likes it on

grass. For me, it is all about being ready from the first point and get

her moving. She had a big match yesterday against Victoria Azarenka.

Did you watch any of that? A little bit. I got to watch a few games. OK.

Well done. Well played today. We look forward to seeing you in the

next round. Ladies and gentlemen, Caroline Wozniacki.

JOHN INVERDALE: Next on court will be Heather Watson against Flavia

Pennetta and it is one of those enduring qualities of Eastbourne

that some things never change. It is as enduring as the grass here that

like any junior tournament you have heard, they have just announced over

the tannoy, "Flavia Pennetta and Heather Watson, report to Centre

Court, please." After that, Feliciano Lopez goes on court

against Tobias Kamke. He has a message for Spanish football fans.

We have to win against Chile otherwise we will be out of the

World Cup. Tonight, all Spanish nightmares might come true. So watch

Spain against Chile live on BBC One at 7.30pm. As if we didn't have

enough sport this summer... Lee Trevino to win the Open. Arnold

Palmer in the middle. 284. The old Ernie. Luck of the Irish! Greg

Norman, the champion for 1986. He's got it! Gary Player. Those cold

black eyes are burning. Jack Nicklaus again. Thomson puts the

finishing touch to the play-off. Would you believe that? He's done

it. Oh brother! The Open Championship from Hoylake

the second week of July. Back here, interesting match involving Richard

Gasquet, who is the top seed here, against Bernard Tomic from

Australia. It's just finished. The top seed came through safely enough

in the end. After that match, Gasquet, one of the most elegant of

players, came up into our perch here to have a chat about the game and

his game in particular. I started by asking him, given the fact that so

many of the world eats -- world's top players take the week off before

Wimbledon, why did he decide to play here? I need matches, I need to work

on my physical condition and I need to win some matches to take the

confidence back because when you don't play for two months, it is

very difficult. Two times I won in Nottingham, the week before

Wimbledon. It is a week I like to play. The main reason for me playing

here, I need matches. You won against Bernard Tomic today. What

did you make of your own performance? Last year, I lost

against Bernard at Wimbledon on Centre Court. I know he is a great

player on a grass-court. It's a good victory for me. How is the backhand?

It is still a thing of beauty? Thank you very much. Today, I played well

with my backhand. It is my best stroke. I'm happy if people like it.

You are seeded 13 at Wimbledon. That is probably what you would have

expected. What do you think about Andy Murray being seeded three when

his ranking is five? Yeah, it is always difficult to talk about it.

Sometimes it is good, sometimes it's not. Andy won last year, so, for me,

Sometimes it is good, sometimes it's not. Andy won last year, so, for it

is not an incredible surprise if he is number three in Wimbledon, so

sometimes it is good, sometimes it is not. For Andy, it is a good

thing. Tell me, you have had semifinals in France, at the US

Open, at Wimbledon, you have had so many moments when you have been so

near. How much does that rankle with you, how much do you still think

about that? Do you think you can still go one stage further? I think

I can play well at Wimbledon. I remember I lost to Andy in five sets

and I lost close matches, but it is a good tournament. I like to play on

grass-court. We always talk about the pressure that Andy is under at

Wimbledon. He overcame that last year. For you, Roland Garros is a

similar situation. There's such expectation for you and for Jo? Yes,

it is not because of the pressure. The other one is better than us,

like Djokovic. We are trying to do the best we can. It is not because

of the pressure. Andy played incredible Olympic Games and

Wimbledon. He won twice. I will love to win in France, the biggest

competition on Earth. It is not because of the pressure we are

losing there. You will have been brought up thinking about Roland

Garros and hoping one day to win it. What do you think about Nadal

winning it nine times? It is incredible. He just lost one time

against Soderling. It's just incredible. Nothing else to say. He

is the best player I know of. He is already a legend. He is only 28. I

was in Paris when France won the World Cup in '98. What about France

in Brazil in 2014? Yeah, it was incredible. Good start? Yes, it's a

good start for us. Incredible in France when we won the World Cup.

Everybody remember when we saw the final, where we were. France could

win the World Cup again. Many teams can win. France has a good team. You

are playing Switzerland next. Will you be texting Stan or Roger? I will

see them at Wimbledon. We will see what will happen. France is

favourite. Many congratulations on today. And good luck with the rest

of the tournament? Thank you. Richard Gasquet, safely through to

the next round of the Men's Singles. Here are the people who are

in-and-out of the Women's Singles. Lauren Davis is 5ft 2in tall and her

dogged determination, and her talent, means she saw off Daniela

Hantuchova. A disappointing result for Johanna Konta of Great Britain.

She succumbed 7-5 in the third. Angelique Kerber, the fifth seed,

beating Alize Cornet of France. An excellent match on Court 1 here. The

German won that one. There is Heather Watson, waiting in

the tunnel, just by Centre Court, before going on for her match

against the number six seed Flavia Pennetta. Let's hear from Heather,

who just loves being at this tournament. I love this tournament.

I enjoy coming here, especially because it is at home.

It is a really, kind of, homely, tournament, a nice feel about it. I

was saying to Johanna Konta, a lot of sportsmen and women don't get a

home tournament and you are blessed with quite a few. It's a busy time

for you? Absolutely. I was thinking about that the other day, that it's

so nice to have tournaments at home because the rest of the year, you

are away from home. So, it is tough and some players get none at all.

But, yeah, like you said, it is very busy. Lots going on and I think just

wanting to do well is just an added pressure. You arrive here as British

ladies number one. How does that is it on your shoulders?

focused on the WTA rankings. It has been an incredible month for you

when you look back, especially Roland Garros, what was that like

when you get time to consider it and look back on it? The clay-court

season was brilliant, I missed the first few tournaments because I had

a rib injury, and I came into the clay-court season with, you know,

loads of matches under my belt. I had won a title, qualified for the

French Open, then won a match, so I'm really pleased with how that has

gone, and I'm using that confidence for the grass court season. You had

a tough year last year with illness and things not going your way, how

different a person, as well as a player, do you think you are? I

think last year has changed me a lot - for the better. During that time,

I wouldn't say so probably! But now I am feeling very good, just

positive about life. I don't let a little things get to me, like for

example last week's loss. It is gone now. I am learning all the time and

just, you know, every single day I have played or practised, I have

given everything, and I think, before that, I probably, you know,

would feel a bit lazy on one day, use it as an excuse. But now I am

more positive. Well, here they are, walking on

court, and I think it is fair to say Heather was fairly understating what

she achieved at Roland Garros, because with the exception of Maria

Sharapova, who obviously won the match, she gave the Romanian just

about the biggest battle of the entire championships. Annabel

Croft, as we see her coming on, you were out there in France, that

second round match, who knows what might have happened after that? She

has given her problems in the past, and I think she can look at her

opponent to see something clicking in her game, the confidence and

belief in her game, a Grand Slam finalists, and I would say that

Simona Halep is so similar to what ever does, but just a little bit

better at it and has belief. There is a renewed enthusiasm about on

court, earlier last year she was ranked at 106 D1, now she is 70, she

has won 24 matches already. -- 161. There is a spring back in her step.

When you say that Halep does things in a similar way to you Watson but

slightly better, what are the areas that Heather needs to address to be

able to play at the level of the Romanian? Well, it is consistency,

and she came of that court, she pushed Halep very close in the

second set, had opportunities to level things up, she got a little

bit tense, but the very top players will not give you those unforced

errors, they will believe in themselves, but they will enable

themselves to be aggressive without the errors, and that is something

which she has worked so hard that over the last year, because she is

effectively a counterpuncher, but she's trying to be an aggressive

player, and she is a very similar visit to Halep, actually. Heather

has worked on her forehand, which was slightly weaker, but she is a

good absorbing of pace, a great athlete, and she has worked hard on

improving her serve. It is little, tiny degrees, and these things come

with experience in a match situation, where you are faced with

pressurised moments, being able to come up with the goods when you need

to. It is easy to sit on the sidelines if you have not played,

and you are a parent or something wondering why your child has not hit

that they do in practice, but when they are confronted with it in a

match situation, it is a whole different ball game. A slightly

psychedelic look at the sky brings us to Heather Watson in the picture,

from your perspective, Chris, having watched the game for a number of

years, how good in the context of British tennis players over the last

three, four decades is Heather? I think she is getting there,

following the likes of Sue Barker, Virginia Wade, all major winners,

there is quite a way to go, and this sort of match today is huge for

Heather Watson. She was a junior major winner at the US Open, but she

has never beaten a player I ever and 25 in the world, in terms of

flicking the beliefs which, she is playing a net today, who was ranked

12th in the world. -- Pennetta. Who knows where her career might go? It

is still stepping stones, and I expect her to get back to the top

40, where she was before, but to get a win, which would be her biggest in

world rankings to date, is a must. She is out of the juniors for four

years, and that magic word, belief and confidence, comes with matches

like this today. Everybody who looks at her thinks of her in terms of

this happy, smiling, happy-go-lucky individual. Is there a steal in

there as well? Is there enough steel in there? I always thought she had

enough, she is a really gritty fighter who will battle away, and

you definitely have to earn your points against her. She does get a

lot of balls back into play, and she makes you work hard for everything.

As I said, you need to be a great athlete these days, you can't get

away with not being able to move around a court. You have to be able

to track balls down and not only get it back into play but do something

with the ball when you have got there. I think she does have a lot

of steel, actually, and you know, you were talking about size

earlier, Lauren Davis is only five foot two. Heather is quite a small

frame compared to some of these towering figures, the likes of

Sharapova and what have you, but she more than makes up for it with

attitude and application. Well, the blue sky is now almost all

pervading, so you were right, Annabel. I may be well dressed for

the occasion! And you are not! I am overdressed now. So here we go, an

interesting match. With apologies to residents of the Channel Islands, if

we can say that the Channel Islands is England, this is England against

Italy, four days from the match on Saturday night. Let's the outcome is

somewhat different. It is all yours. CHRIS: Thank you, John, yes, a first

meeting between these two, Flavia Pennetta beat the qualifier of

Chinese Taipei, who was number one in doubles at the moment, just a

couple of weeks ago. She lost to Marion Bartoli on a previous visit.

Heather Watson is bidding to make her first third-round here. Three

times having got through to the second round, beaten by Azarenka,

Safarova and Vesnina. The point I was making, Annabel, this is a

pretty big match for Heather Watson. She finished late last

night, did not finish press until 9:30, but she has to forget that,

the sun is joining, really give this a go. I completely agree with you,

and it was such a good point you made, having come out of the

juniors, being successful as a junior, going out on tour, we think

she plays a lot of grinding out 3-set matches. She does not have

this big physique, and a big serve and huge weapons. It is interesting,

when you look at those results, that she hasn't beaten top 20 players in

the past. So this is a big step up for her, and it is how much she can

delve into herself and believe today. She could not be up against a

more experienced player in Flavia Pennetta, who has been in the top

ten in the past, she has got ten career titles, a great doubles

player, former world number one with 15 doubles titles to her name as

well, and a good grass court player. She is one who developed later in

life herself. That was after coming back from right wrist surgery in

2012. She is up against a very tough opponent, who is not going to give

an inch. The British number one, remember, we wish you well.

She has actually had to put the sunrise on, we didn't think we'd get

that today. No. -- sun visor. Yeah, we will keep an eye on that

forehand. We went out to watch Heather Watson last evening, her

forehand is an area that needs attention.

So important to get a good start, she is bound to be nervous. Just to

get on the scoreboard against a very highly ranked opponent.

We have so often seen players shadow swinging like that in between a

point to correct their mind before going into the next ball, using that

time in between effectively. Just a glance up at the umpire from

Heather, checking a couple of calls in that last rally. Break point.

Matthew Kellett is the umpire. Heather Watson has spent so many

years at the academy. The Battle of the baseline, this

one, isn't it? Great ball striking from both of them, free hitting, a

pace match as well. That is a shame, Pennetta off to a

break start. A tough cookie, Flavia Pennetta, ten in the world in August

2009. As I mentioned, that injury plagued year of 2012, she ended up

45, her lowest ranking end of year since 2003. She first had a back

problem that year, then the right wrist we talked about, which she had

surgery on in August that year. But the way she has come back, putting

her life in perspective, a career threatening injury, you maximise

every day thereafter. I think that is right, she did a lot of

soul-searching and was contemplating retirement, wasn't she? She suddenly

got a lift, and the results went from strength to strength.

She won Indian Wells this year. Yes, Radwanska in the final, that is the

size of the task for Watson today. And a first meeting, that helps

Heather a little bit, doesn't it? I would think so, because Flavia

Pennetta will be trying to suss out what the ball feels like, how heavy

it is, how much spin it as God. All these things you have to try and

find out in the warm up. -- has got. They are both trying to suss each

other out here. She will treat this like a Fed Cup match, because she is

not getting much applause when she wins points, Pennetta,

understandably with the predominantly British crowd. Yes, it

is almost important for predominantly British crowd. Yes, it

to be like she has to overplay points as well. There is a feeling,

It is about playing within you have to overplay.

It is about playing within yourself, but at a higher level!

Well, those of the sort of balls that, normally, against most

players, you would make those ten out of ten, but when you are playing

somebody ranked 12, looking for your best career win, the court suddenly

feels a lot smaller. You suddenly feel you have to do more than, as

you say, you would against another player. It is the reputation of the

person walking out onto court. I say Fed Cup atmosphere - it is not

going to be raucous here at Eastbourne! No! Very polite, aren't

they? Knowledgeable but polite. Flavia would have been in some

pretty hostile situations, I would have thought, in Fed Cup action, and

been able to take it. A love game for Watson to get on the

scoreboard with. So that will help her settle. But

you know, it has been a phenomenally well supported this tournament,

this, over the 40 years of its women's history, and she will get an

awful lot of support. She endears people, the interview we saw just

prior to this match, she is very honest, as you say, and you cannot

help but like and get behind. No, I agree, she is very natural when

she's interviewed. Some players do not want to give anything away, they

don't want to give away any weaknesses or secrets, and they have

a bit of a brick wall around them. Heather is always very open, bubbly,

honest, just says it as it is, and it is refreshing, but also, if you

watch some of the very top players, Federer, Nadal, Djokovic, they are

very open and honest. If they are having a bad day, they are not

afraid to say it. But you know, she is very well liked, and the media

love Heather, she is easy to interview. And it doesn't mean to

say that she's not feisty. She can really put it out there, she can, no

doubt. She is very serious about where she is going with her career.

Time. It is a beautiful day now, it really is. Yes, it is, and

fortunately for everybody it is not too windy, because that is one of

the nightmares here at Eastbourne, the wind can really pick up and the

conditions become extremely dusty and difficult. -- gusty. First ace

for Pennetta, she served five on Tuesday, the second match on Court

two that day. Just the one double fault, but again

how often double faults and aces as side by side, we see it so often.

Oh, that is a fantastic return of serve!

Straight out of the centre of the racquet, that would have felt

wonderful. Interesting stance to return with, isn't it, Watson? I am

intrigued by it, because she stands of centre, favouring the forehand

side, even though the backhand is a better shot. Yes, right elbow

behind. Well played! Growing into this match

now, Watson, two break points. Well, this is the renewed sort

of... Or new, I should say, aggressive Heather Watson out here,

forcing herself on the front foot. How tough is it to go from a

counterpuncher to say, well, I have to do more with the ball more often?

I think it is tough, it is taking you out of your comfort zone and

forcing you to be not your natural player. All the matches as a

junior, she would have been Plainmoor safe and stepping up a

commanding position. -- playing more safe. So it is sort of taking her

out that comfort level and also able to do it, as I keep saying, in the

pressurised moments, and that is the hardest, isn't it?

She is forcing some of these errors through her positive play, good

first serves, and that first strike, doing something with it.

Taking the bull by the horns out here.

That is exactly the return of serve that Paul Annacone wanted Sloane

Stephens to do, hard, flat, up the court, safety, not going for the

lines, but producing the error from Heather.

A mini mental battle there, forehand to forehand. Pennetta's forehand a

little bit more solid. Well, Pennetta already peppering the

Watson forehand. Coaches tend to have these little books, don't they?

Alphabetically, little notes, tactics. Definitely, weaknesses,

idiosyncrasies, things they would like to do. Where they like to serve

on break points or big points. Lovely timing on that backhand, just

gave it a little bit more height but into the open space there. Nice

technique. First many battle to Watson, saves

the break point. -- mini. Three games in a row, so she will be

mighty pleased with that, and we are very pleased to hear from you,

#bbctennis, any thoughts you may have, and still answer some of the

questions coming in. No, this has not always been a men's event, it

used to be in Nottingham, where Richard Gasquet has won this title

twice. But it has moved here, so the women's history is far deeper here

at Eastbourne. This is a terrific response from Heather Watson,

winning the last three games, Annabel. Yes, she has really settled

down well, feeding off the crowd as well, who are right behind her,

willing to echo on, and she is playing some inspired tennis. She is

much more on the front foot, looking to be aggressive and impose her

game, and actually just eating out a few unforced errors from Flavia

Pennetta. -- eking. She seems like she is timing the ball better than

last night. The level has already come up quite significantly since

that match, when you play a tough three setter late in the evening, it

would have done her confidence a world of good, particularly after

those three match points in Birmingham last week. Those are

painful losses to get over, when you have had a match point but not able

to get over the finish line. She has responded well here any spawn. Just

to finish that about the men, they will not be here next year, there is

an extra grass court week after the French Open, 's-Hertogenbosch and

Stuttgart. Then Nottingham is reinstated for the following year

after that. She did the in a commanding

position. She was travelling back all of the way and they are never

easy. It seems as if the ball is leaving

the strings quickly. Not enough spin on the ball. It is flying a little

bit. A super, compact serve, Pennetta's.

A couple of aces and back on track. Her game is compact. It is neat and

tidy. No-frills attached. Businesslike, gets on with it,

smooth. She is really serving well out here.

She worked on keeping the elbow higher on the service motion. The

right elbow, trying to keep it up higher.

She has only had to hit seven second serve so far, Watson, and she has

only lost one point behind it. Pennetta is not dealing with the

second serve very well, at the moment.

He must be pleased with how she is serving. Getting a lot of free

points, mixing it up, keeping Pennetta guessing.

That is a lovely feeling, serve ace. There has been a lot of talk

about Ivan Lendl and Andy Murray together, he said what a lot of

coaches working with him has said, but not like when he won the

semifinal at Wimbledon. Ivan Lendl went into the locker room and the

first thing he said to Andy was, when are we hitting tomorrow? She

did so well Halep at the French Open. Why not think she can do what

Simona Halep has been doing. She said to the press she did not feel

her level was that different hers. She was so disappointed with

herself. She really felt that she actually could have pushed Simona

Halep more than she could have done. -- more than she had done. Sometimes

you come away thinking, I am so far away from it. But it was encouraging

she did not feel she was that far away. It is about putting out a

performance like that and coming out every time you come on the match

court and putting out the performance, not having the highs

and lows. New balls are in play. Because her ranking is 70, most of

the matches she is playing are not challenging. It is putting yourself

in a position to challenge the best in the world more regularly.

This last rally, both of them like to blast the ball, but a couple of

times in the last rally, more variety. The ball so much higher.

That same shot. There is a kink in the forehand every now and again.

The backhand is the start of the show. The forehand is the support

cast. -- the star. Most of the damage has been done by

her serve. A really good first serve. That one getting the short

reply. At that point, she slightly came off

the accelerator. She was a little more passive and she paid the price.

The minute you slightly come up the back of the ball, a little bit of

spin but not so much pace, Pennetta can stand in and maybe open up the

Angles and then you have to travel more to get the ball. Tiny degrees

like that make the difference. Well played. She steered the

forehand a little bit. Another break point.

Pennetta breaks again and will serve for the opening set. Flavia

Pennetta, as we listened to Diego Veronelli with Heather Watson.

Stay aggressive. She played all right. A good return. She played

another good point, a winner over there. That makes the difference,

one small point can change the game. Make a play a lot with her forehand.

Stay focused. All your energy on the next point. Stay there, be convinced

and aggressive. Attack the second. Mixing it up. Your service fine.

Come on, let's do this. He wants to make a play more of the forehand.

Not going for big shots, perhaps and knowing your role for each shot,

which is so important. perfect position to put the volley

away and almost did not commit to it.

Her coach wanted her to hit to the Pennetta forehand because that is

the side that will break down more easily than the backhand side.

That was too good. The fifth ace already. They come from nowhere. You

cannot read them. It is the same ball toss. It is deceptively good.

Five and three quarters. A couple of centimetres taller than Heather

Watson. That is a shame. This is set for

Pennetta. She is playing in the doubles with

Martina Hingis here. That is interesting. I feel as if

she rushed it. She is tightening up a little bit towards the end of this

first set. Watson has got Pennetta's respect.

I did not expect that, I have to say. Both getting edgy out here.

That second serve only just crept over the net. It was almost another

double faults. But Heather Watson not able to capitalise on it.

A little bit more hyped over the net, enabling Heather to step in and

get the body weight behind the backhand. -- a little bit more

height. She looks to be solid with the

forehand. It is good enough at times.

She went for it. It could have been another backhand.

Pennetta cannot get the first serve in at the moment.

The crowds need to get behind Watson here.

Well done. CHEERING everybody was holding their breath for a second.

Watson breaks back. Well played, Heather. Everybody

holding their breath on the last point. Pennetta would get more

height on that lob. So nervy and edgy in the last game.

Watson at her best. She is pummelling away at the forehand side

and creating more doubt in Pennetta's mind.

You can hear the groaning of crowd when she misses a ball. That

is not easy to deal with, either. She sometimes turns the racket face

over early in the swing. It is the tension of the scoreline.

That was wild. They are similar game plans. They are both trying to break

each other's forehand down at the moment.

Three breaks of serve in a row. Pennetta's turn to talk to her

coach, Salvador Navarro. It is a tight match, it really is. It is an

example of how close Heather is, against some of the best in the

world. A former top-10 player, in the semifinals of the Grand Slam,

and she is only just outside her best ranking at number 12 and there

is not a lot to choose between them, so it is encouraging. It really is.

Interesting in the last game how Pennetta has suddenly started to

change things up. She could sense the balance and rhythm of the match

was going into the forehand battles. Towards the end of the game,

changing it up a few times. Moving Heather to the backhand side. She

got the errors and got the initiative again. She was drawing on

all her experience. Is she complaining that he has just

put something into her hand? Both wrists are strapped. She had surgery

on the right wrist, but she looks as strong as an ox today, so far. She

has a very determined walk around the court. She gives off a lot of

signals with that. That is unusual. You get the short

reply off a decent serve, she looked like she was trying to move in

behind it and looked in control. She did not get hold of the ball.

Well done. She trusted herself. also took extra care off the sliced

ball. The ball was slightly jagged when it bounced and she had to give

it more spin and more control. She took care of it. -- on it.

She hit right through those. As you called for.

The first to seven points. A margin of two, the tie-break.

That is the first time we have seen the shorter angle from Pennetta.

Heather Watson has hit a couple of those in the last couple of games

and won the point every time. It is quite effective out here on the

grass. They both like the baseline side to side movement.

There is a lot of tension out here, not just in the racket. You can

sense of frustration, banking the strings, getting so cross with

herself. -- banging. Heather keeps on picking at it, really going after

the forehand. the last five minutes. She trusted

it enough to go for it again. Not many run around the forehand to hit

backhands. I wonder how costly that error might

become. Time will tell. again on experience. Changing the

tempo, there. Pennetta is digging herself so much

margin for error out here. She is not going anywhere close to those

lines. -- giving herself. Fairly passive play from Pennetta,

just waiting for the error from Watson. It didn't come.

So good. Almost anger in that point. Frustration and irritation went into

that backhand, which literally hit the corner.

Really good play from Pennetta, showing why she is number 12 in the

world. Second set point. Still just the net between them. 53

minutes. This is huge, the outcome of this opening set.

For whoever doesn't come away with a set is going to be disappointed,

because Pennetta had that set point earlier and then it has been Heather

that has had the initiative in the tie-break before being pegged back

again. Another set point just now. Her arms got heavy. It all got

lighter all of a sudden. Very tight opening set comes to its

end. The sixth seed comes away with 8-6 in the breaker. The mountain has

just got a little tool for Heather Watson. -- a little taller. What a

first set. It could not have been any closer. On a knife edge right

until the last point. I felt as if Pennetta just found another gear.

She raised the level, almost very defiant on some of those ground

strokes, swatting some balls much closer to the lines whereas before

that she had been very passive, very nervy, not going to close to the

lines, giving herself massive margins for error and then as soon

as she needed it, suddenly went up a gear. Higher ranked players normally

look to do that, although she was tent and tight herself, Pennetta. In

the next -- the next ten or 15 minutes are important for Watson.

You have a bit of a let down and you have to come back really firing at

the start of the next set. She did it last night against the former

Wimbledon finalist Tsvetana Pironkova. But it is a real test now

for the British and the one. It really is because when you have lost

a tie-break like that you have to wipe the slate clean and you are

looking at a mountain because you know to have to go the distance to

come through. She will have learned some things about Pennetta out here

but the pressure changes now. Pennetta is in the driving seat, set

up. I am sure she will open up the shoulders and start to feel a little

bit more free, spending on the ball, which was definitely not the case

through much of that set. Interesting to have a penny for her

thoughts right now, Heather Watson. Back to the mindset, what mindset is

it she setting herself, sitting there?

It separates all levels, the process of what you feed yourself. It really

does and I suppose the most disappointing point that I think she

might be thinking of is that 6-6 point. The backhand that just sailed

long for no reason at all. So Pennetta to get the second set under

way. The ball toss is very much right to

left, right shoulder tips. -- left shoulder dips.

She already looks frustrated with herself.

Super. Suddenly shots become an awful lot easier.

Three break points immediately for Watson at the start of the second

set. That is a game she would like

forget. The Lowell has come from Pennetta.

The feeling that you have to win the next set and the next set never goes

away but that is as tight as set as you are ever likely to find.

50% first serves from Pennetta. She will want that to go up now. It is

pretty low. Well anticipated. Steve D'Arcy, the

Belgian who had that Well anticipated. Steve D'Arcy, the

first round at Wimbledon last year against Rafael Nadal and then got

injured, he talked about talking delivered taking on the challenge

mentally on the grass. When he won the first set, he said, at least I

have got set. This is a really positive start to

this second set for Heather Watson. Free as a bird all of a sudden,

Watson. All the tension is gone, the

pressure is off. The reverse of what I thought would happen. I thought

Pennetta would start to play more freely.

It reminds me, when I watch her serve, Pennetta, Victoria as a

vendor does the same. If you watch the left arm, it is straight up.

Post caves in. Sometimes it just folds back in towards your head and

you feel as if that pulls you could rather than going up into the serve.

The left arm is pretty crucial in terms of the serve, because it is a

counterbalance. Trying to get that full extension. If you're on caves

are pitted camp all the shoulders -- if you're an caves in a bit it can

pull the shoulders down. She's sort of now back on track, so

Watson needs to be careful here. Do you think, for Flavia Pennetta,

ranked 12th, back into the top ten, do you think she will go deep into

majors again? I do not see any reason why not but she is one of the

older players out there on the tour, along with Serena Williams,

actually, who is at the top of the game, and we have seen that so much

in the last decade, where players have developed late into their 20s

and that experience seems to count for so much more. The net is a prime

example. She has been out there a long time, known so many different

situations and pressure moments in matches and how to handle it and get

through them. She has played those Fed cup ties as well. For her to

make her first Grand Slam semifinal last year at the US Open is quite

something and full marks for trying and effort. Keep on grinding away on

that tour and coming up with better results year in and year out. As you

have said, Chris, the fact that she had that career threatening wrist

injury, and being at rock bottom, thinking about retirement, it made

her appreciate what she was doing and how much more she wanted to give

to the sport. Summer has arrived. Not agree cloud in sight. Where have

they all gone? They were completely shadowing the court earlier.

This is where she has got to become. -- got to be careful.

A timely third ace. She served two against her opponent last night.

Only missed 11 first serves in this match, Watson. That is 12.

The Centre Court here is virtually full. British number one, that must

sound good for Heather Watson. Obviously, Laura Robson with her

injury problems. That almost 106. Heather's last ace

was 104. Overruled from the chair, there. A

dismissive look from Pennetta. They have both freed up from the

tension of that first set. That was a bit of a mishit from

Heather. They all count. I think a little bit of frame involved in that

one, as well. We have seen that same tactic all

day today from a lot of the players out here. We turn hard flat, but the

centre of the court. Very difficult to create the angle off that ball.

-- return hard flat, off the centre of the court.

Problem in that right shoulder? She certainly grimaced and her hand went

straight to it. 69 minutes. Her coach just through

her something. Look s like a painkiller or something. It has just

gone down the hatch with some water. Definitely on that final shot there

of that last game. Maybe a muscle has just popped. She certainly hit

the ball hard. That is where she tried to catch it.

Mustard but yes, and the attention to detail is so important. The

stretching, the mass large. Everything has to be meticulous

because you never know when an injury is just around the corner.

Yes, there is so much more that goes into their recovery after the

matches in preparation for the match the next day, and they have all said

that coming off those clay courts in Paris, the different muscles they

have used, they are having to do a lot more work to get ready for the

next match the next day. Did you ever have an ice bath? They did not

exist. Still with the second break, Watson

3-2. So much murmuring from the crowd,

too. The umpire didn't see a clear mistake. I was hoping we might see a

replay, but she's very disappointed. Judging by the

crowd's reaction... That is very difficult to see. Her

right knee is in the way. It looks like it could be behind the line.

Oh, well played. Brilliantly disguised.

Yes, just opened up that racket face, felt the ball on the strings

and gave it enough height over the net but then it died as soon as it

hit the grass. UMPIRE: Out. She has got it out of

her system but this is a too thick response from the lack of a call.

Hasn't let it get to her. If anything, it has helped her.

Impressive. Yes, showing great strength of character. She is

feisty. Serve and return has so much more

relevance on this surface. Amazing, when you think back to the

end of the tie-break. They were both creaking a little. Not any more.

Another love game on serve for Pennetta.

It does not allow Watson some breathing space, it is just the

single break. The potential is bound to come back. The scoreboard comes

into play. Pennetta must be looking back at that opening service game in

the second set where she just disappeared from the match across

three or four points, effectively. But you are right, it does feel as

though the tension is about to start ramping up. In this second set it

has all been about the serve. Both of them have gone up a couple of

notches, but will they continue to come up with those first serves

closer to the line or will they take a bit more off it, take it a bit

closer into play? And I think Andy Murray, somehow managing to drag

himself through that last service game at Wimbledon in the final last

year, just highlighted to everybody, all competitors, everybody watching,

how tough it is to keep calm and play under the severest of pressure.

That is what makes sports are fascinating, but for Andy Murray to

say at the end of that game he still does not know how he got through it,

or did he win it? He had to see a tape back to prove that he did. No

one will forget that service game. How he managed to just go into

autopilot and come up with the goods when he

autopilot and come up with the goods imagine any other situation with a

player with more pressure imagine any other situation with a

than that moment. Trying to win Wimbledon for the first time in 77

years. It was not the best drop shot but it

is changing the rhythm. She has thrown these in a couple of times

and sometimes even if it wasn't a good one it might be worth some

value a little later on. It puts you on the back foot for little bit.

That is two mis-hits of return of serve. Big points.

Again, the anger. That emotion trying to be employed by the

Italian, to make the forehand work. Wow. Very secure from Watson. A game

away from levelling the match. I think of Pennetta as having one of

the best backhands down the line and we have not really seen it today. I

expected more of that. It is probably because Heather has not

allowed her to play it. Even the power -- even the umpires

sounded surprised. She has already served two love

service games. That is in this set. Broken to love at the start of it,

though. But another keeps it to the single

break and the serve it out question of Watson. These are key moments.

The sit down, replaying the points. Surely, Heather Watson, from the

last service game, first service going wide to the forehand? I think

so. That is the side that has been vulnerable today, more so than I

expected. If you were playing, would you still hit the serve, even though

you would think Pennetta is waiting for it? Do you keep going until the

forehand gets better? I would go to the forehand side because I know she

has not been hitting it cleanly and you are more than likely to get a

ball you can attack. On any surface, the first ball after serve

is so crucial. How aggressive can you be? How confident into the

corners? How can you take the initiative from that moment? If I

were Heather I would serve to the forehand. If you think how close the

match has been, her tactics have not been that far off. It has been an

encouraging performance. One hour been that far off. It has been an

and 24 minutes. It was against Simona Halep at the French. The

elusive w, a win against a player in the top 20.

Heather Watson servings of the second set. -- serving for the

second set. She did the opposite. She is not

listening to ask! How clever. Pennetta was obviously thinking the

same thing. And she only needs the one. A

crescendo of noise from 8000 here. They see Heather Watson level the

match against the number 12 player in the world. After one hour and 28

minutes, it is one set all. Well played, Heather Watson. It does not

surprise me, she has played the better tennis throughout that set

and if not the match, to be honest. Very positive and solid. Excellent

serving. She is moving well. She is hammering away at the forehand side.

It is breaking down and paying dividends. Surprising at the start

of the second set, Pennetta, getting broken to love. Perhaps that is part

of the discussions here, regroup. She seems stressed. She is a feisty

competitor, very determined. She has been in situations where she has had

to dig deep. I am surprised how she has been brittle out here. Calm and

positive, the coach, Pennetta is negative. You have to develop the

evil twin, as I say, in every player that comes out. That is what he is

trying to do, to get her back into a good frame of mind. Technically

trying to give advice on the forehand. It is clear this is what

the matches in June on, for her, how well she will come out and hit that.

Like he was trying to give her more shape on the ball. Make the ball

disappeared quickly off the strings. He got her smiling at the end.

Perhaps something like, this happens in tennis. A terrific effort by

Heather Watson. It was appreciated by everybody.

That will not make her feel good. The only break, in the second set,

at the start of it. She does not look like she wants to

hit the forehand at the moment. No confidence in it. She has lost her

shape on the ball, the rhythm. Now year -- now she is using the arm

through it, rather than hitting through it.

So good, so well measured. Three more break points. She is not

getting enough power on the forehand because she does not want to hit

through the ball. It is not coming through the court. Got it! Exactly

the same as the start in the second set. Watson breaks to love.

Interesting to see Pennetta, who is so cross with herself. She walked

straight round to the other side of the court, no break, as often the

players do, get a little bit of water. Heather choosing to stop. The

second set summary, a higher percentage on service for both of

them. It is leaking errors all over the

place. Another very good first serve. 77%

of the first serves have gone in for Watson in this match. That is high.

She has got all the answers right now.

I am not sure what Pennetta is doing. She was shaking out her hand

after the last point, as if she had damaged the hand. She had surgery on

the right wrist in August 2012. When you have just lost the first eight

points off a final set, I should think you are aching everywhere.

What a start by Watson. This has become a huge test for Pennetta. I

am not sure I have seen Heather serve any better in this match. She

has the taping on the wrist, but it is the fingers and the knuckles she

has been squeezing. Something is hurting with that hand.

That was her ninth ace. She has new balls, as well. They will have an

extra something on them. Well, it is magical out here at the

moment. Everything she is touching is turning to gold. That wonderful

feeling when the ball feels like the size of a football coming out of

your racket. Somehow, she is flicking the beliefs

which. Simona Halep did it in Rome last year and look what happened to

her. -- belief switch. The racket has gone. And a double

break. It is amazing how so often one match can transform a career, or

put you on a downward spiral. Pennetta is doing her best to

demolish the racket. I think she did a good job. That has definitely

gone. Her job is to hide it from the umpire and take out a new racket, so

that she does not get a warning. It changes the Watson. The chance to

get her best ever win, her first top 20 win. She has kept her cool so

well. She must keep producing much of the same. She has earned herself

into this position. She did not get down on herself after losing the

tie-break. She found another gear. Now, she is singing out here. It is

wonderful. Striking from the back of the court. Everything is middling.

She feels confident, she has her tactics clear. At the other end,

like steam coming out of the ears of Pennetta at the moment, she is so

wound up. Pennetta could be dangerous now. It is a question of

keeping up intensity. Heather Watson certainly has the crowd behind her.

The line judge corrected that pretty quickly. It is the first serve

again. It seems ages ago we saw a loose

shots coming out of her racket. There has not been an unforced error

for a while. She seems to be within herself,

these free-flowing winners. Playing with such confidence right now. Like

she has done this so many times. It is a commanding lead. She is

going to take some beating in this form today. She is on a roll.

Absolutely on fire. My goodness, that is wild. She is

having a really off day out here, Pennetta. Heather is part of the

reason. Some of the tactics she has employed.

Maybe she will loosen up and start free swinging herself. This far

behind in the scoreline, back up against the wall.

On the scoreboard again, Pennetta. It is like when you are playing the

all Blacks at Rugby, you look at the scoreboard occasionally and then

look at the clock and think, is that enough of a lead? I have been

thinking that. She needs to keep on pressurising the scoreboard and give

out signals that she is still playing intense tennis and she has a

big ears to go to. The last thing she wants to do is she gives out

signals that she starts to doubt herself as she approaches the

finishing line because Pennetta will see that. Pennetta looks decidedly

uncomfortable. You have to give Watson a pat on the back. The tight

first set, she refused to go away from this big match. If anything,

she cemented herself into it further. I agree. You only play as

well as you are allowed to play and Heather's tactics have been. Very

contained, as you say, but a bit of fire power and aggression. And she

has served beautifully, it has been the key. She has won 13 of 16 second

serve points, Heather Watson. But there is still a lot of work to be

done. The lead seems huge, but so is the task still.

Pennetta moved early. Maybe Watson took her eye off the ball for a

second. Not a good move by Pennetta. -- but, a good move by Pennetta.

A little bit of doubt. Yes, a big deep breath. 30-0, maybe flashes

through the mind it should be 40-0. -- 30-30.

Wow. At least it was a deep second serve. It was travelling. She sliced

around the outside of it, but Pennetta could not control that.

bit of murmuring in the crowd. I am not sure they agree with the

overall. That was a bit of a steered forehand by Pennetta.

It makes a difference. Very sensible serving by Heather Watson,

tactically. She is a game away from the biggest win in her career.

If you did not have a seat on Centre Court and you were outside, you

would know the score. Pennetta. Asking that question of

Watson. She has got the double break cushion. Thoughts, Annabel? It is

the biggest moment of her career, coming out for her first ever top 20

win, against such a vastly more experienced player than herself. She

could not have played any better to put herself in this position. This

is the moment of truth but I see no reason why she should doubt herself

at this juncture of the match, because she has played such a great

tennis to get here. The serve could not have been any better. The

forehand, which we thought would be problematic, has been free-flowing.

Coming out to serve for the second set, we talked about whether she

should have used the slide. What do you think she is going through on

this first attempt to serve the match out now? I am sure she is

thinking exactly that, where do I serve? So I really could not tell

you what she's going to come out and do. I said earlier I would have gone

wide and she moved down the tee and came up with the ace. I am sure...

-- she moved down the T. That must have felt like a very long set down

-- sit down. My reaction was that I thought it

was in. Ditto. I thought it jumped off the line. I've must admit, when