Day 4 Tennis: Eastbourne

This year's Aegon international at Eastbourne perfectly reflects the

current ebb and flow of the women's tour, lots of big names out with the

wash, and as we reach the semifinal stage, two established figures and

two of the new order, one of whom is taking British tennis to a new high

water mark. Very secure from Watson! Wonderful

return. Oh, that is fantastic! A wonderful performance by Madison

Keys. Watson at best. Well played! A wonderful, wonderful performance

from Heather Watson. Wozniacki, how good is that?! Oh,

that is brilliant by Kerber! That will do it. That was mighty

impressive. We had a brief storm last night as a

prayer lead to events in Brazil, but we are back to blue skies and the

unseasonably warm water of Sussex by the sea. -- a prayer viewed. Heather

Watson is going to play her first WTA Tour semifinal for two years,

the first Brit in the semifinals here 432 years, when she plays

Madison Keys this afternoon. -- for 32 years. We are going to a

fantastic match between Angelique Kerber and Caroline Wozniacki, which

is one set all at the moment. This time next week we will be at

Wimbledon, and the long-range forecast for the fortnight is very

encouraging, and the draw was made a couple of hours ago.

players have got. Sam Murray, no relation, as Maria Sharapova in the

first round of the ladies' singles. Live now to Centre Court, a

fantastic match, high-quality hitting, talking about ebb and flow.

This is going one way, then the other, this is Kerber against

Wozniacki in the third set decider in the company of Annabel Croft and

Chris Bradnam. CHRIS: It has been an hour and 50

minutes of an enthralling battle, their eighth meeting, their last

meeting was in a semifinal in Tokyo their eighth meeting, their last

meeting was in a semifinal in last year. Wozniacki won in Indian Wells

just before that last year, in the semifinals, 7-5 in the third. They

have had tight matches each time. Just a quick summary of what we have

seen: Wozniacki held three break points in the opening game of the

match and then got a break in the fourth to lead 3-1. It went with

serve, and Wozniacki won the first set 6-3 in 40 minutes. Immediately a

break in the second to lead to-0. set 6-3 in 40 minutes. Immediately a

She was broken back in the fourth game to level it at 2-2. Kerber then

saved a break point to lead 3-2 in the second set, that was pretty key

again. She had a set point at 5-4, Wozniacki serving to stay back in

the game, but she won three points in the tie-break. Here we are in the

first game of the final set, 40-30. It has been a terrific match, but we

feel that Kerber has the match on her racquet. Yes, she is slightly

more aggressive and has the ability to flatten out her groundstrokes and

create winners from any position on the court, and as we kept saying,

she is more dangerous on the run, tracking down balls slightly out of

position. She flicks the wrist and comes up with a winner.

Kerber was parading herself after this point here, saying, why did you

go back crosscourt into Wozniacki's strong side? She should have gone

down the line with that forehand. A lot of close calls, particularly

on that baseline at Wozniacki's end. Pretty angry yesterday in the

quarterfinal against Georgi about the lack of calls at times. Is that

the most angry you have been on court? A little twinkle, she said,

no. Well done, well handled in the son.

-- sun. Yeah, they are never easy, dependent on how high the lob is,

but she slightly let it drop and is slightly hunched up with her

shoulders when she died that one into play. -- guided.

Well played! That has been the pattern.

The brick wall that is Wozniacki, a player who makes you doubt yourself,

against the woman trying to break through the wall. She is doing it

more and more of late. The first match this year on Centre

Court for Kerber, she has been first up on Court One each round, Monday,

Wednesday Thursday, Taliban risque -- Riske and Cornet.

Well, it is just lethal, this forehand, isn't it? There is

something about playing left-handers on a grass court where they can

flatten the back ball. It is difficult to read which way she is

going, she is a deceptively good player, acceleration through the

ball. Wow! Ruling point for both women.

We've seen so many like that. -- gruelling. It is developing its own

pattern, this match, and so often it is her getting Wozniacki on the end

of a piece of string and running her ragged at the back of the court.

Obviously, she is pushing her further and further behind the

baseline. Difficult to impose your game when you are too far back.

Kerber, one from ten on break points in the match. Wozniacki, two from

nine. So many opportunities, that has added to the tug-of-war affect.

-- effect. So quick, Wozniacki, chases

everything down. Well, she has just done so much

running out here, two hours and one minute, and she has done most of the

running, and now whatever is doing to her as well is not just the side

to side across the baseline. -- what Kerber is doing.

Yeah, they are both taking time now between points. This is gruelling,

just over an hour longer for Wozniacki to the semifinals,

compared to Kerber. And got it! She breaks Wozniacki for

a second time in the match. And in front for the first time in

the match. Yes, it seems to have taken her a long time to really

break the back of this match, but now she seems very firmly in control

of it, to be honest, and the pattern of play has fallen more towards her

momentum, hasn't it? Very closely contested second set there. As you

can see, we talk about the first serve percentage of Caroline

Wozniacki, extremely high for the last three matches, only one double

fault, and the difference in winners, a lot more for Kerber, but

many more unforced errors. She snuck that set right at the final hurdle,

and here she is in a commanding position now.

And we have talked a lot about Kerber's second serve. Initially in

the match, she was one in three behind it, but she has got it up to

60% newly, and that has made a huge difference. -- nearly.

In terms of the returned points won behind the second serve of

Wozniacki, but on her own second serve, she is still one in three. It

is still an issue. And there is another. And to us in

the commentary box, And there is another. And to us in

commentating on Kerber for years, she says she is looking to be more

aggressive and do more with the second serve, but it is difficult to

see any change. It does not look as if it is a vastly improved second

serve in terms of where she puts it in the box, because sometimes it

seems to be inviting the hit, not much pace on it.

That is the first really loose air we have seen from Wozniacki for

quite some time. Yes, Wozniacki stretching the legs out. Kerber

could run all day and all night. isn't she? She is definitely much

more comfortable off the backhand side, and you can see, it comes up

the back, it sits there, it doesn't travel through the court, which

doesn't take time away from the opponent.

It is really a shot that cannot hurt Kerber out here, the forehand, can

it? It is more effective down the line, when she flattens it out,

Wozniacki. But Kerber played a lot to the backhand in the early part of

this match. She has switched it more, that's for sure.

Like that! The second serve predominantly was all going to the

backhand. A few worries in the Wozniacki camp.

Yes, I'm not sure he can look anymore.

Well, she needs to boss it more, Wozniacki.

The umpire just getting the scores wrong there, she corrected herself.

Caroline looking up to make sure it is her advantage.

Yeah, it was, predominantly back to the backhand on the break point.

That is what perplexed us at the start of the match. Well, it is

sometimes strange, isn't it? When you watch tennis matches from the

sidelines, armchair tennis is easy to play, but the players who beat

Wozniacki always say they broke down the forehand side and that is the

weaker side. Then you watch other players and think, why don't you go

there the majority of the time? That is the side that will give you more

opportunity to attack. She is so good at dealing with

stressful situations, Caroline, she takes it all on the chin. On and off

the court. That's true. Well, only two double faults coming

into the semifinals for Wozniacki, and that is her fourth in this

match. The second of the set already. ?

You definitely cannot look! It is becoming more and more painful for

him. He plays every shot, doesn't he?

Not out by much. We have seen a few angles in the match, not many, a

couple of drop shots from Kerber. I think she feels the call was

influenced by Kerber looking at him, because it was a very late call.

Well... I think it was right. Fiona Edwards, the British umpire, thought

it was long too. I think it is just because it was delayed, and after

Kerber looked at the line judge, he then made the call. The break point.

So good when she looks to play in that vein.

I think so too, and it never ceases to amaze me, she is very brave as a

tennis player, always looking to improve her game. It never stops are

continuing to try to do the right thing.

Miss Wozniacki has requested to see her coach. A third visit on court

for her father, this is the earliest he has been on. It is always

surprising that she often gets him on when she is in a winning

position. And quite often things change after he has been on there!

But she obviously enjoys having him on, because she is always asking for

him. They speak so positively about the teamwork, his help and guidance

over the years which has led to a phenomenally successful career, 21

titles from 34 finals, over $16 million, the final of the US Open in

2009, lost to Kim Clijsters. The semis of the Australian, the

quarters of the French. And world number one over two years, of

course, 10 and 11. Not a bad career, not a bad team. Playing Kerber,

whose highest ranking has been number five, currently playing out

of a ranking of number nine, but the last time Wozniacki beat a top five

player was in the semifinal of Brussels 2011, so that is the issue

for Wozniacki. The standards that she set herself at the end of that

second year of being number one in the world, 2011, there has been a

dip since then. She is clinging on to the top 30 this year, and so is

her father. This is huge, because she has not been in a final this

year, the last was Luxembourg, back end of last year, at a time when in

2010-11, she was making finals for fun. It is a very good point, that

she has won a title for the last six years, which is an amazing record.

Kerber, 1-2, final set. She has a super touch, with all the

power she can generate, Kerber. Well, not surprising, really, 78 mph

second serve, she is now nine points won behind 28th second service. That

is not a good start, is it? She is going to need to look at that as she

goes forward. It is because she is not able to get that ball out of the

strike zone on the second serve, she goes right down the centre.

Well, the reason the seagulls are dipping and diving because so many

bring a packed lunch! It is not an apple, he has got a souvenir to

throwback. That has made me hungry, Chris!

Seagulls on the prowl! Sometimes they make so much noise, they could

be mistaken for one of the line judges, actually!

That is such a great shot for Kerber, flattening out from the

middle of the court, we have seen so many of those today.

Well, well done, Kerber, but Wozniacki did not fancy the dry

volley. Maybe the sun in our eyes, it is the trickier end, but she

allowed Kerber back into the point. Yeah, she did, because for a lot of

that last rally she had got great depth on the ball, Kerber was half

volleying it on the baseline. Kerber is very good at turning defence into

attack, one of the greatest assets on court, the ability to do that.

How many players, that forehand down the line, the penultimate shot as we

see Kerber's coach, he warmed up with her this morning, winning the

point against some new players down the line?

Oh, dear, that bounced before it reached the net! Perhaps one she

would like to forget. It gives us all hope, though, doesn't it?! I'm

not quite sure what happened there, actually. It did not get enough

height. expect this from Caroline. Some on

first -- some unforced error is. It is her 23rd in the match. Two aces

out wide at the other end. One of them on a break point. Which one

does Kerber cover? Not for the first time, Wozniacki

gets a real stroke of luck. This time getting the return to the

forehand. Second time, final set, Kerber with

the break. But you never feel it is decisive because you know Wozniacki

is going to come back strong. Also, she does not possess a big serve.

You think she would be more devastating with that serve. When it

comes to the second serve points and it is straight into the hitting

zone, she could get into more trouble. That is why she chose to

receive at the start of the match. It tells you at that moment she is

not that confident serving. So going ahead, it is never a foregone

conclusion she will hang onto the lead. This is really now and neck.

It is a long match. Kerber took three minutes longer to beat Cornet

in the final set tie-break in the second round. She will be pleased to

have beaten Ekaterina Makarova. Two hours 34 minute was Wozniacki's last

match. Lopez did not get his much played last night with the storm

that came in. He was watching Caroline's much yesterday, wasn't

he? Yes. Really used her legs well on that

last passing shot. Absorbs what is happening and stays down on the

ball. All of the Lucknow is turning to

Kerber. They say they even out. She did not even attempt to run after

that. You almost sense those legs are tiring a little bit from

Caroline. She has done an awful lot of chasing today. Six hours and

three minutes into this semifinal for the day.

Just sends Caroline is going after the ball a bit more, trying to put a

bit more on it to try and impose her game. She cannot keep this level up

of just chasing down balls. Kerber extends her lead. This is a must win

service game for Wozniacki. They have both got the same problem

on the second serve? It is almost a carbon copy. Slightly better,

Wozniacki. Point is getting bigger for

Wozniacki. That is just outstanding. The

defence from Wozniacki and the finish from Kerber all stop I think

that is a good word, the finish. She has had a better finish on the

points. It comes back to that ability to accelerate onto the ball.

Caroline can do it on the backhand but does not have the ability on the

forehand side. Well played, so strong. Alarm bells

now, another break point the Kerber. His 16th. -- her extinct.

final set. Just a third visit to Eastbourne. Make the finals two

years ago, Kerber. She played the qualifier from Austria. She is

getting very close to another tilt at the title. She has earned herself

to be in this position. Talk her a little bit of time to get going and

get settled and break the heart of this match. But as the match has

unfolded over two and a half hour period, she has had more success

with her ground strokes at the back of court. More ability to run

Caroline Raggett. And unleashing the winners from corner to corner. The

second serve does not seem to have effect it hurt too much. She did go

through periods where she broke the forehand down and then she went back

to the backhand. It has been a mix, not just a set pattern. Can you

imagine if she developed a very good second serve all stop the difference

it could make to her overall game? It would make a massive difference

because she is one of the best all strikers out there. She can defend

the way Caroline can but has the ability to turn it into a tack. The

second serve is definitely a little bit suspect. Kerber serving for a

place in the final. Does she think, a couple of years

ago, 5-3 in the final set, five championship points and did not win,

do you think I will come to her mind? I hope not, because it will

affect her. One of the break points saved. There has only been two games

in this set without a break point in it. How good is that from out wide?

Just showing she has no problem changing the direction of the ball

on the stretch and does not have to be balanced. Really uses her legs so

well. Well played! The problem continues

for Kerber behind the second serve will stop one of the breaks back for

Wozniacki. You would imagine Kerber would prefer to break to win. I

think she would. More chance of her going after the service of Caroline.

She was digging deep in that point. Trusted herself. Yet another good

finish. What a gruelling rally that was.

That was testing out the lungs of both of them. Kerber had both knees

on the ground when she played that last forehand. Just clipping the top

of the net. Longest match in the tournament now for both women.

She is turning the screw a little bit more, going a little bit closer

to the lines, taking a few more risks and it is paying off.

to the lines, taking a few more risks and it is paying off.

We have seen some fantastic tennis and so have they on this Centre

Court this week. Some wonderful matches. Fantastic women's

tournament at the French Open. Being pushed further and further

back, Wozniacki. Kerber has a point for the final. It has taken two

hours and 38 minutes to get there. That will do it! She has got a

chance to raise the memory of having five championship points and not

coming away from Devonshire Park with the title. She has beaten her

friend, Caroline Wozniacki, in a fantastic semifinal. She was more

aggressive overall and deserves her place in the final tomorrow. I

agree, it was a wonderful match, very entertaining and high quality.

But she was the more aggressive, she took the wrists, particularly

towards the end of the tie-break. -- took the risks. She held her nerve.

What a lot of running Wozniacki did. What a huge cheer for her. Champion

of 2009 and she has been under pressure of late. I think they

understand that and are very warm in their appreciation of Wozniacki's

efforts this week. Got a fabulous match. Two hours 39 in the end.

Congratulations. Through to your second final at Eastbourne? I am

very happy about my game. Caroline is a tough opponent and I think we

played a very tough match and it was very high level. I really enjoy to

play here and be in the second final, it is great. You have had a

couple of finals already this year but it seems your grass game is the

best, is that how you feel? I am feeling very good on grass. I enjoy

playing here, I am just happy about my game and let's see. You will play

the winner of the next semifinal, will you watch that much? I will

watch a little bit, but I will go out tomorrow and just play

aggressive and play my game and enjoy the final tomorrow. We will

look forward to seeing you there. Ladies and gentlemen, Angeli

Kerber. Still gives you goose bumps this

court. Wimbledon 2014 is anyone's game. Starts on the 23rd of June

across the BBC. Loads of tennis as a build-up to

Wimbledon on Monday. The final tomorrow here. And tomorrow morning,

as a warm up, a rerun of the final last year. And then on Monday at

10:35 p.m., when Andy won Wimbledon. The draw for Wimbledon this year has

been made this morning. Andy Murray will begin his defence of his title

against David got that. This is what his path to the latter stages might

look like. -- David Finn. With Rafael Nadal as the respect of

opponent in the final, we are getting ahead of ourselves. What is

your immediate thought? I think it is good. I think he would definitely

have preferred to be on the side with Djokovic. He beat him in

straight sets in the final last year. The fact people think he needs

to respond of that defeat from the French Open, I think he has a better

record against Djokovic than he does against Nadal. He is one of those

players Andy finds tough. And after one of the most heavy defeats we

have ever seen of Andy Murray at the French Open, I think he would prefer

to play Djokovic and there may be Nadal in the final. I asked to

people in the press room what they thought and they said the exact

opposite. They felt Djokovic was going to be the toughest player for

Andy Murray to place -- face. Nadal is the nominal, but not quite as

phenomenal on grass as he is on clay. Andy could beat Federer and

Stanwell Rinker is on a downward slope at the moment. So they felt

getting Djokovic is a bad draw. Nadal has only had two match wins on

grass in two years. One guy not mentioned is Kevin Anderson. I would

see him as a real threat to Andy Murray on that side of the draw. He

has a big serve and has beaten Andy in the past. If we go through the

men's draw. Dan Evans plays Kuznetsov of Russia. It could be a

potential rick scalp the James Ward. I watched them play in Dubai and

James pushed him very close. I think he could have won that match. Then

he pulled out and did not complete the tournament. Carl Edmonds, plays

the Austrian. Tara Moore plays Vera 's soiree buff. Caroline Wozniacki

and Kerber plays are Raghavan scuff. What is

and Kerber plays are Raghavan scuff. interesting is Maria Sharapova would

play Serena Williams in the quarterfinals because that is how

they have been heard. A lot of people would be disappointed but it

makes the second Tuesday, a great match if they get that far. Other

than the fact I don't think Maria Sharapova has beaten her for over

ten years. When she won Wimbledon she had a fantastic result, but it

has not been the most intense rivalry everybody builds it up to

be. We think Maria Sharapova is the closest rival to Serena Williams but

if you look at the head to head, it is not that close. Heather Watson.

All the youngsters coming through. is not that close. Heather Watson.

The Belgian has been injured. She worked at the Chris Abbott Academy

and had a fantastic run. I think that is a tricky draw. In Serena

Williams's draw... Let's hear the announcement. From the United States

of America, let's hear it for Madison Keys. She played so

emphatically yesterday in her fit three over her fellow American,

Lauren Davies. Representing Great Britain, please welcome Heather

Watson. Here comes the first British semifinalist at Eastbourne the 32

years. A big moment for her. Going back to yesterday talking about

Lauren Davies being 5'2". I had a lot of e-mails talking about little

Maureen Connelly, who was one of the great all-time champions who

actually wasn't that small. She was only five. So it is not that small.

There is small and small. The name I was going to mention is before she

plays Maria Sharapova she would play Eugenie Bouchard. That could be the

match of the championship. Everybody will be coming out, the locker room

will be keeping a close eye on that. Because Eugene Bouchard wants to be

number one, and has made no secret about that. She is only young and

had her first semifinal in a Grand Slam at the French Open. Has it all.

Looks the part, trains well and is the full package. It is always

fastening when the draw comes out, you have mentioned Kevin Anderson as

a potential tricky opponent in the men's draw. Is there somebody in the

women's draw you would look at and not rule out? Kevin Anderson, he is

six foot eight inches, South African. He does hammer the ball

down. He is in the section of the draw with all of those players so

nobody will want to come up against him in the early stages. She is in

the same section, interesting. him in the early stages. She is in

the same There is Lisicki, last year's finalist, we haven't been

talking about her, one of the biggest serves in the women's game,

she hasn't had a great year. biggest serves in the women's game,

feel you hope once she gets her feet back on the grass at Wimbledon she

might start to find some form. She could go very far, as good Ana

Ivanovic. As we are back here on the grass,

there has been some high-quality games this week, that first

semifinal was outstanding. It was. When you see tennis live and

you watch how hard they hit it and how well they cover the court, how

much they get to trackballs down, you need to be a great athlete to

chase these balls down, the point construction, some of the

hard-fought Balis, it has been phenomenal. We have seen some

fabulous matches. A real sense there is a sparkle back in the women's

game. He was like watching two hours 40

minutes bleep test. Try doing that the two and half

hours. Two and a half minutes! Let's hear from Heather and what she makes

from this huge opportunity. I am pleased to be in the

semifinals, that was my goal anyway, at the beginning of today. I

am very pleased about that. I look forward to playing tomorrow, whoever

it is against, Madison Keys or Lauren Davies. I look forward to

playing well. This must be a lovely feeling for

you. After all you went through last year, to be in the thick of the

tournament at this stage, and doing it on home soil.

Absolutely. I am so pleased to be getting to the later rounds here.

Not just in such a tough tournament but also here at home. I think every

player wants to do the best in their country, and make their country

proud. I am pleased to be here. Good time to be making your country

proud when the World Cup is going on, there is a real sporting fervour

about the whole place. There is so much sport going on, I'm

not sure about the golf, there was hockey, rugby, allsorts. Definitely

at the end of the day everybody is playing for their country.

When you have gone through what you did last year, the defeats, the

ill-health, all of that, when you reach a point I guess, doesn't make

you appreciate it more? Absolutely. I don't take any victory

for granted, I am pleased with myself, after every single one, no

matter who it is against. Even when I lose I don't beat myself up too

much, I learned from it and move on. I just really enjoyed playing a

lot more. I feel with my career I am treating it a lot more

professionally. And just taking it seriously, but enjoying it. A little

bit of compensation from a sporting perspective grid but this afternoon.

I have seen a serve a lot of first serves into play, obviously she hit

her ground strokes very well for so everything was working very well,

her timing was spot on. She has talked about trying to be a more

aggressive tennis player. She is up against a big serve today in the

likes of Madison Keys, somebody who has big weapons, the kick zone. She

will kick that serve out the high. She is taller than Lauren Davies,

but she is still small by most players' standards. She needs to

take the ball on the right and do something with it, not just get it

back into play, she has to be aggressive, get something on the

ball so she is not dictated you afterwards.

ball so she is not dictated you While Madison Keys, because she is

likely head of Heather in terms of rankings and everything else, she

might say the semifinal I was expected to be here. For Heather,

this is as far as she might have reasonably expected to get so she

might just go out and play. If you had said to her she would be

in the semifinals on Friday, she would have bitten her arm off, she

has got a great personality, bubbly, excited. The crowd behind her. I

think she will really swing at the ball and enjoy herself. Have a

chance. Up against somebody younger than her. I think this is a great

opportunity for top they met at Wimbledon last year, a fairly tight

match, Heather was disappointed she couldn't win it but they have both

moved on in different directions since then. It will be fascinating.

One or two people have headed off for a quick break after that lengthy

first semifinal. I am sure they will be back to cheer Heather on over the

next couple of hours. The second semifinal. You can hear the sharing.

For the right to face Angelique Kerber in the final tomorrow on the

40th anniversary of this great championship.

The American number five, just 19 years young, Madison Keys, to get

the second semifinal underway. Her debut here at Eastbourne, for

the American. She has practised her return of

serve in the warm up, she got onto that quickly. Real intent

straightaway from Watson. That is a good sign. The aggression she wants

to bring to the game. That is what she is up against, wonderful

kick-serve, only served one double fault in the tournament. So much

margin built into the kicker. Then the sledgehammer blows after dealing

with the kicker. Her 23rd ace of the tournament, she

has weapons everywhere. A strong start for the American. Fourth tour

semifinal in all, looking for a first final. That could get in the

way a little. Wildcard for Heather Watson, the second career semifinal,

looking for a second final. Winning at Osaka in 2012.

She needs to hold serve at the tricky end.

There are few people murmuring. Doesn't she hit it hard? !

As Annabel was saying, Watson has served really well this week. Five

foot seven, one metre 70. Just moved so well, Watson. Balance,

poise. Can be hot and cold, Keys. They go

all over the place, but when they go in they are unplayable.

He then I knows. When your second serve is likely to get thumped it

will make you want to go for it more. -- keep an eye on those.

It has a great start for Keys, it silences the crowd and put Heather

Watson on the back foot with her coach. She talked about wanting to

be more aggressive as I welcome Annabel into the commentary box. I

think with this sunny weather we are happening, oh, my goodness, that

nearly took out the ball girl. Wow. She is feisty, Heather Watson, we

know that. She is so softly spoken, delightful, but when she gets on a

match court she wants to win tennis matches. She is not happy with the

start. Nice. Great channelling of emotion

as well. That is what she did so well in a previous match, on that

forehand side. Sometimes she really connects with the timing on the

forehand. This is effortless power coming out

of Madison Keys' racket. This is where she has the ability to throw

in a big high kicker to the backhand of Heather. Or the power one as we

just saw there. Watson is right up on the baseline.

That is good, really good, such a great thinker, Watson.

I think she knows she cannot afford to be passive in this match, she has

two go after the ball. If she allows Madison Keys to dictate all the play

she will get overwhelmed and get hit of the court. You cannot argue with

that serve. I thought that was in, actually.

As we have seen a lot, it is worth keeping everybody on their toes with

a bit of a quiz. That is what she means by I can

spray them. That is a heavy blow, isn't it? And not a flicker. She has

got a very lovely to me not on the court, Madison Keys, very calm, very

composed, she doesn't give away any emotion to her opponent. Two break

points saved. She said after she came of that match court last night

somebody said well played, hope you lose tomorrow.

She managed to see the funny side of it, didn't she? She said I know I

will not have too many people cheering for me tomorrow, but that

is OK, when you play in circumstances like that. She will

just take it on the chin, take it in her stride. She is silencing the

crowd here at the moment. That very nearly was an outright

winner. It is quite intimidating, raw power. We saw her a year ago at

18, a little bit more erratic. She has really tightened up again since

then. 47 in the world, has been as high as

36. Back in October, 2013. Movement, she is working on that. If

Watson can get her on the move. Well played, Heather. She is seeing this

ball really clearly, picking the response of the return.

She is getting ready for the kicker. It will be interesting if Keys

switches it and goes with a slice. That is a deadly combination, huge

power and depth. Just incredible. The forehand crosscourt is an even

deadlier weapon. That is not easy to generate that kind of pace, of not

much of ball, and if she gets such a weight behind that shot.

That serve had a lot of swing on it. Above head height, or approaching

it, for Watson. Second serve. Almost better off getting a first serve to

return, as big as it is. Three break points saved, Keys

extends the lead. You can really understand the hype

back home for this young woman. At 14 she was the youngest ever to

compete in team tennis in the States, she beat Serena Williams

5-1. At 40 jihadists senior world ranking of 621. -- she had a senior

world ranking. She finished last year at 37. You

can understand the hype, it has been a Non-Stop rise up the rankings. I

agree. It really exciting prospect for the future. It is this war power

she brings out onto the court. It is not often you see players burst out

onto the scene at this young with such a big serve. The willingness to

create an all court game out here, not afraid to move up the court and

folly. As a nice attitude as well. The youngest inside the top 50

already. Going about her business the right way, you have to build

your levels from the bottom up. Create a solid platform of that

pyramid to build on. That is exactly what she has been doing over the

last couple of years. If you haven't seen us before, you went with this

yesterday, her father introduced her to tennis at four years old and she

asked for a tennis dress. Heather Watson has got a real job on her

hands here, containing Madison Keys. Looking to get on the scoreboard.

How proud Guernsey must be of Heather Watson. Population capped at

63,000. They have produced this little pocket dynamo.

Those are so behind those let courts. When it travels over that it

literally dies. Not much chance. There was an argument they need to

regulate the nets. They are all slightly different. Different

tensions, depending on the surface. Sometimes it can be very springy.

Other times it is really tight and nothing happens.

Just wide, is it? Alvarez of Portugal in the chair. Very close,

wasn't it? Wrong footing is going to be useful

against Keys, keeper of balance. I think everybody in the crowd must

have lost count of how money times they said, and England. Now they are

saying, and, Watson. -- they said come on, England. Now they are

saying come on, Watson. She is actually playing at a high level out

here. She has had not much joy on the scoreboard. She has been forced

to react to what is happening. Madison is coming at her thick and

fast. It is pretty pacey, this match. Not having much time to think

out here, to react. The atmosphere for Andy Murray at

Wimbledon every year, but particularly last year, was

phenomenal. Union Jacks being waved in the crowd here, they are ready to

really launch behind Heather Watson. They have taken her into their

hearts. The wrong foot, isn't it? Well

played. The key in that point was that return of serve, she took it on

the rise, both feet off the ground. She really had to take that one out

of the air and then was able to stop her opponent dictating the play.

She doesn't not nervous at all, Watson. No, she is up for this.

Does anybody hit the ball harder than Keys? It is incredible, it look

so effortless. Looks like she is just swinging at the ball then this

power shot comes out of the centre of the strings.

sheep rack dissed returning a serve climbing a stepladder? It is a round

head height or above. Got a lot of swing on it. Moving around.

Also, you are not given too many opportunities to attack her service

games. A couple of points come and go quickly. You have to try and get

yourself back involved again in the game. Three points in a row the

Madison Keys. Obviously, with Heather Watson, we were talking

about the fact she had not beaten a top 20 player in her senior career.

That changed on Wednesday when she beat Flavia Pennetta will stop the

highest ranked player she had beaten before this week was ranked 30. This

really is against a child prodigy, in Madison Keys. It is a big step

up. Although she is ranked 47, it is a huge task? Madison Keys is a child

prodigy but she has had some big scalps herself. She herself has had

some very, very big wins. Reached the third round, beating Heather

last year at Wimbledon and went on to reach the third round herself.

She is a dangerous opponent but someone who will go much higher in

the women's game, you feel. She beat Li Na in Madrid last year when she

was ranked number five. She is her own worst critic. As we seek, her

reservoir by comparison of tolerance of herself not performing. She says

she has to try to grab hold of it, she can be her own worst enemy at

times. But after 25 minutes, she is playing formidable tennis. She

really is. You can add to that, which Elaine

Janke Vit scalp. were planted a little bit too early

on that return. Then she Good serving. Cheered on by the East

lawn faithful. Extraordinary, when you talk of child prodigy, Tracy

Austin winning the US Open in 1979 aged 16. Won it again two years

later. One here in 1980 aged 17 and the following year. Amazing. That is

such a lethal combination. Not much Heather Watson could do about that.

Big serve out wide and then a booming forehand into the open

space. Too much ground to cover. It is quite Anne Dunham fluid

motion, effective. But it has a slight hitch in there is a delay

before she goes up after the serve. Unfortunately the speed gun does not

seem to be working. Cannot tell you how quick it is, but it is quick and

heavy. It is a very clear game plan. Diego

very nearly having a chat with his charge.

The only thing I would do difference when you have a chance, make her run

fast on the forehand. Start the point the other way. Everything

else, stay the same. You are playing good. She is something else, you

know that. The three games you lost, you were winning. The ball is going

to come flat and fast. You just had to stay sharp. Go more to the back

and if you get a chance. You have had chances in other games. Calmly

delivered. Powerful messages. He was right, he said you have enclosed in

all of The Games, not much in it. Keep doing what you're doing. Bit

more to the backhand. New balls. Sometimes does not get her feet in

the right position, Madison Keys, on that return. Gets herself set up to

early. That is the other thing about grass, the ball sometimes does not

do what you wanted to do so you have be versatile. Good length.

Eight straight points on serve, for Heather Watson.

Two love service games in a row. Everyone getting into the Wimbledon

spirit. From all angles and positions. That is a good view! Go

and make yourself a cup of tea. Sit on the balcony. She is applying so

much pressure with this serve. You don't have much reaction time

against it. It's swings and rides, kicks up to the backhand and it goes

out to the body. We have had three love service games

in a row. Chance for a fourth and three set points. She was walking.

She thought she had clinched the set.

She has now. Another love game and a very impressive set of tennis from

Madison Keys. 34 minutes, the American takes it 6-3.

Hungry again, all of the sudden. What a beautiful day. Warmest day of

the tournament is predicted for the final tomorrow. It will be difficult

for Heather Watson to make it with this performance from Madison Keys.

If you have any views, we would love to hear from you. Can she come back

into this semifinal? I think she can. I've think the scoreline did

not reflect how well Heather Watson played. Just the one break of serve

started the set. Madison Keys is difficult to break. That is one

major weapon she is bringing onto the court. It is imperative for

Heather she gets off to a good start and does not allow the scoreline to

go away from her quickly. Madison Keys is pretty confidence, ground

strokes are being struck with authority and there is much more

weight of shot coming out of her racket than Heather Watson. But

Heather has lived with it quite well so far. It can be done. She needs to

start his second set well. Serving from the tricky end. Just to get her

nose in front. Is that a plan to go down the middle

more, stop the angles. It is not a bad plan. As long as you get it

deep. A great reaction. She definitely has

a sense of humour. A few people were calling out in the middle of that

rally. Yes, she did not make any comment about it.

Sometimes it seems as though Madison Keys has too much power. Difficult

to control it. That is a very common shot on the

tour these days. The return of serve up the centre of the court hit hard

and flat to defeat of the server. Heather on her knees trying to get

that one back will stop --. Great length. Please thought it was long.

-- Madison Keys. Heather Watson does get the lead in the second set. We

can analyse Madison Keys' attitude. She is only 19. What is your

19-year-old doing today? Finishing A-levels, getting ready for

university? Getting ready for a final in a tour event, Madison Keys.

You forget they are so young and yet they have lived the life of someone

so much more mature. Quite a low first-served percentage considering

she won it with such an authority. 45% first serves. Imagine if that

creeps up. That is another example of how difficult it is for Heather

if she gets that first-served into play.

It is quite the moralising when you think you are making inroads and

then these aces come in there. You keep walking side to side. She has

good touch, good hands. The women's game is in such a good place right

now. Well played. I thought she had hip

the winner. It is what she has to do. She has to take risks on that

return. As to take it high on the bounce and inject pace and power

into that shot. It is a real dilemma, getting hold

of this serve. It is going to be interesting. After the match at the

French Open for Heather Watson, Madison Keys, if she marked herself

out of ten right now would be a pretty high score. And Heather

Watson is in this match. Beat Panetta for her best ever win a

couple of days ago. Barely dropping points on serve,

Heather Watson. In the last four service games.

If she can maintain that, it puts pressure on Keys. If she does not

feel she is getting close to getting a break, she could rake down just a

little. -- break down. First-served again. I don't think

Madison Keys agreed with that. I don't think she would argue in front

of this crowd. Head coach is down the other end of

the court but he is making his presence felt.

Interesting he is on the opposite side sewer where Madison Keys' camp

is. It is weird to have your clothes -- your coach so close to the other

coach, so they have decided not to do that in this match. We have seen

them jumping out of their chairs and arguing with the umpires. We have

seen it all this week. This is big this game. I feel like she is

backing away from that forehand and not meeting the ball out in front.

Easier said than done with a ball coming at you thick and fast.

Toogood. I shamed by Heather Watson. -- to good. Heather Watson is not

happy with the way things turned out. Head coach came on and said hit

more to the backhand side and then when you do that on your opponent

hits a clean winner down the line, it doesn't seem fair. What is a kick

up serve? When we see Madison Keys Sir Bob, we can examine it. It is

when there is acceleration from the back scratch position. Some players

have a natural ability to be able to kick the ball with the racket head

speed. Sam Stosur, you beating Serena Williams in the final, using

that. Stepping in and crunching the next forehand into the open space.

John Isner, one of the biggest servers in the men's game, has the

ability on a clay score to get the kick up high. It is a right to left

ball toss, behind just shoulder. You tend to throw the ball slightly to

the left and over and behind you so you have two arch your back to get

to it. Stefan Dirk had a fabulous kick-serve. Let's have a look at it

here. Look for the ball toss. It is watching what the ball does

after it ounces. You can see the movements on the ball. The way it

swerves and moves into the body and how you have to adapt to it. You try

to meet the ball at the top of the bounce but you are cutting across

the line of it sometimes, it is quite tricky.

That was a brilliant kick-serve demonstration, and a brilliant way

of dealing it by Heather Watson. Having to jump up to get it managed

in control on the racket face to get ahead of the racket through. If you

catch it late it will dictate to the strings.

Interesting slice, no pace. That was into the bottom of the net from

Keys. When you see them slicing up the forehand side, it is very

unusual. broke Heather Watson in the last

game. Pretty demoralising. 123 mph. The

fastest recorded was Venus Williams, 130. It is getting close.

Five points in a row. How damaging is that?

That is going to hurt. You only get so many opportunities in a match. If

you aren't able to capitalise. Not much you can do because Madison

served so well. Going through how tough it is to hit a ball above head

height. Does she take it earlier? Does she

back off? It's a real problem. Heather has served really well in

this match, hasn't she? It's much more pace on her first serve

actually. Just not as heavy as Madison's.

That's a good return. Right deep to that baseline. She's pressured all

the way in this match. Played with such a calm disposition, hasn't she?

Very mature for her 19years of age. This is a must win game, after what

we have just seen in the last two played for Watson, to have any

chance. Needs to dig like she's never dug

before. This is a fantastic display of power

hitting. Serena Williams at her best would be proud. Two more break

points. 4-1. Further dampens the crowd. Have

you to to admire this performance so far? Extraordinary. Quite

outstanding in every single department. The whole compose sure,

how she dealt with this situation. Looking for her first final in a

major event. Knowing that the crowd are going to be very partisan.

Despite that, I do think we agree they are a polite crowd. They are

not too much on her back, are they? They are able to take the crowd out

of it by her play. It's not just Heather Watson who has a problem

with this kick serve. One of my favourite jokes from the late, great

Tommy Cooper who said to the doctor, "it hurts when I lift my arm up."

The doctor said, "don't do it then." It hurts to hit it at head height.

So don't do it then. Lauren Davis is much smaller than Heather Watson,

how do you do that? It's hard in quick conditions taking it early. If

you back off, three meters behind the baseline, you are totally out of

the position? That isn't the answer, to back off. If she does back off,

let's the ball drop, more difficult to really get something on that ball

and then, you know, the next ball you are chasing down so much more

ground because she really hits with authority from the back of the

court. That is, for me, the biggest improvement in her game. She seemed

quite raw last year, when you saw her at Wimbledon. She contained her

ground stroke so much more behind that serve. Everything is built from

a big platform now. I think she is a real, real star of the Has the

future. Set 4-1 lead in this semi-final.

-- real star of the future. She has the set 4-1 in this semi-final.

No double faults. Only served one in the tournament.

There is the feeling of panicking a bit. Have you to do something and

make it happen. You over play and suddenly lose control of what the

tactics are. That same shot, isn't it? Catch it

late, it flies. Madison Keys, a game away from the final.

That was an excellent first serve, wasn't it? So nice to get a nice

straight-forward point like that. She just got a bit flat? A little

bit, slightly reached for that backhand. Didn't quite get the foot

work for behind the ball. Getting balanced on it.

Well, she won all the mini battles, Madison Keys, the six break points,

the two 40-0 games she turned around. A wonderful tournament for

Heather Watson. This rising star, Madison Keys, has got her first Tour

final to look for. It's the Final of Eastbourne. What a wonderful smile.

What an incredible performance. Incredibly mature. The power

hitting. An array of serves. Using the big kicker that we know she has.

I don't think Heather should be disappointed because that first set

was a lot closer than perhaps that scoreline showed. Was beaten by a

better player today. She must be thrilled. It's her fourth Tour

semi-final. Just 19years. She is ticking all the boxes, isn't she,

Madison Keys? Made quarter-final on the grass in Birmingham last year.

That gave her some good grass-court confidence. She will take some

beating tomorrow, that is for sure, against Angelique Kerber. Just over

an hour. 61 minutes it took. Disappointment for the crowd, as it

was last night, for England in the World Cup. Heather Watson, it has

been another step forwards. First ever top 20 win. She musn't go away

too down hearted. Your first WTA Final? I'm really excited. Tell me

about how things went for you against Heather this afternoon. It

seems to me your game is built for grass? Yeah. I definitely like

grass. I think I was serving really well. I returned a couple of good

games. That was kind of the Looking ahead match. To tomorrow. Big final,

Angelique Kerber of Germany, how do you assess your prospects? She is a

great player. We played before. Obviously she is great and is always

fighting. It will be a good match. We look forwarded to seeing you on

the grass tomorrow, ladies and gentlemen, the Aegon International

Final for 2014, Keys Keys. The final tomorrow, to mark the 40th year of

this Championship is... Trying to work out what that picture was. Le

it is the seafront -- Madison Keys. Who will be the special K here at

Eastbourne? 12.45pm tomorrow on BBC Two. From the Women's Singles to the

Women's Doubles. Featuring in this surprisingly Martina Hingis. A Grand

Slam winner at the age of 16, many moons ago. After several years of

deciding what to do with her life, playing again with Flavia Pennetta

here in the Ladies Doubles. She has been playing in quite a few other

tournaments. She has another final to look forward to tomorrow. The

obvious question was - why have you made a comeback? Well, I decided

last year, when I was coaching, for two months I was helping her. I knew

her from the Academy in France. It was a great time. When I was

watching those matches, when they won the doubles in Madrid. It was,

um, that made me think of coming back and playing some doubles

matches. After team tennis you are always in great shape. It helps you

to play singles - doubles mix. Is it the fact it's a drug? The

competitive gene inside you never goes away? It's always there. No

matter what you do, since I was a little girl, no matter what I did,

if I played cards or board game or anything I wanted to win. I don't

think there is a single person out there who wants to lose, that is the

bottom line. The adrenaline pumping, the butterflies and all that. It's

not that the I miss, when I'm 5-2 down, I'm - OK! It's great to be out

there It is again. Interesting to say you don't miss losing. I

interviewed jack nick lis, the obvious question was - what will you

miss the most? He said I know you think I will say winning he said I

will miss losing. I hated losing so much it made me determined than ever

to win. That is true. Sometimes it, works that way. The moment you lose,

you are like, there is somebody better than you out there in this

moment. You just want to bounce back stronger sometimes. It really does

help, yes. You train harder. You want it more. You are more hungry.

As you span two decades effectively of this game now -- Wow! 20 years

since I have been coming back to How has Wimbledon. The game changed?

That first year, I remember watching you play in the juniors when you

were 13? 93-94. How is the way the game is played, is it still pretty

much the same or has it changed, do you think? The material has changed,

the rackets are faster, the girls are taller, stronger, physically in

better shape. I wouldn't say it's got more clever. We had players in

the past, you had Martina Navratilova, Chrissie Everitt. You

had Capriati who had very good knowledge and Davenport about the

game. So many commentate right now I think the knowledge doesn't ever go

away. As a player. You feel the game. You feel the momentum going

one or the other way. They can bring it really over to the spectators.

The that knowledge, you can either use it as a television commentator,

or use it as a coach, of course. How much do you enjoy coaching, how

frustrating is it sometimes as well? Well, it goes both ways. When your

player is winning and it works well, you are there, laid back. It works

the strategy you prepared for the player is working. When it gets

tight, the moments that you wish, you want to help the player. Go out

there and play yourself because now when I decided to play on the

doubles I felt, OK, I want to take it on my own hands and not rely on

somebody else. Is there even 1% of you that thinks - I might go back on

the singles tour? No. 1%. It's the recovery. You play five, six matches

in the week. That is really tough. The recovery. I'm not 17 any more.

On the subject of coaching. When you hearded that Andy had taken on

Mauresmo, with a was your thought? When I first saw the photo I

thought, what is that. She is going to coach him. I thought, that is

very surprising, the choice is definitely... She helped another

player that year. Who did better that year. She has the knowledge.

Very surprising. Fancy coaching Rafael Nadal, you? ? No. They are

doing very well with the teams they have. Tony has done a tremendous

job. A quick word about Queen's on Sunday. A great occasion. You must

have enjoyed the entertainment factor, if nothing else? It's really

important to bring the future and the kids, all the work she has done,

the dedication to the game, what she has done for British tennis. I never

played her. The she peaked after my time. I think she is a great

personality. What she had to go through and fight through all

throughout her career was tremendous will power. It's very admirable. I

was very fortunate to be part of that. A final thought about doubles

here, doubles at Wimbledon, obviously. If you find yourself

nowadays at, I don't know, one set all, 4-4. Yeah. Are you getting

pumped? Nervous? Are you able to smile? Whereas 15 years ago you

would have been snarling, are you more chilled now or not? No. It gets

worse with the age! Actually we were in that situation when we were - I

was done almost match point in that first title. We had to finish on

Monday 4-1 up in the third. We thought, we want to win the games,

bring the title home and that trophy. Keep winning, thank you for

joining us. Thank you for having me. Martina Hingis a finalist once again

here at Eastbourne in the company of Flavia Pennetta and their opponents

in the ladies final will be determined in the next hour or so.

Nice shot of Eastbourne, the main street heading up towards Beachy

Head at the top. One more match we will bring you, Richard Gasquet,

number one seed, playing Denis Istomin. The other semi-final,

Feliciano Lopez against Sam Querrey. Talking of Americans with big serves

brings us on to Madison Keys. A force to be reckoned with, not just

is here, before going forwards? For someone who is 19years of age, the

compose sure she brought outon onto the Centre Court. Bearing in mind

she is up gets a Brit. Crowd would be very partisan. She completely out

powered Heather from the back of the court. When things were tense early

on in that first set she found a way to get through it. There wasn't

really a lot that Heather could do. You made the point yesterday, and

again today, about when she is playing somebody who is do you

minutetive that kick serve is almost unplayable? It really is. There is

only a few people on the Tour to produce a kick serve like this. The

other player won the US Open. You have to have the acceleration behind

the head and use that racquet head speed. Some girls can never get hold

of it. Some girls have it naturally. I asked Sam - how do you do it? She

said, I had it as a young kid and I have always been able to do it.

Madison Keys has that. It is such a She is weapon. 5 foot 10. That make

as difference. If you are hitting from there the kick you will get is

bigger than if you are hitting from there, isn't it? It is coming from a

great height. She has a variety of serves. Not just the kick serve. She

can flatten it out. Booming down big serves. She was down 0-40. Two games

in a row? Comes back with huge serves to close out the game. That

is demoralising as an opponent. It shows great strength of character

from Keys a great compose sure about how to handle that situation. Almost

hitting herself out of trouble? Yeah. She wasn't thinking - I'm 0-40

down I will play a few canny shots. She thumps the ball. She has

wonderful timing. Timing is a lot of what goes on out there on the court.

Laura Robson has incredible natural power off the ground. Which is

something you can't teach somebody. They either have the it or they

don't. Madison Keys has a loose relaxed way of hitting the ball.

What is coming out of the strings has such weight attached to it. We

often talk about players, in terms of the weight of shot, that is

everything. People who played Pete Sampras orring a gill or Federer the

weight of shot coming at you pushes you backwards. Madison Keys has the

ability to push the opponent back behind that baseline with the weight

of shot she carries. There is the ability of youth to just say - what

the hell! Caroline Wozniacki was talking yesterday, when she came up

here, about how, as the years go by, she is hardly a veteran at 23, she

has so much experience behind her that she say - I'm often in danger

of thinking about the game too much. If Madison Keys, 19, almost having

her first year of really playing on the Tour week in and week out, can

adapt a more cavalier approach almost? Her character is a very

relaxed character, isn't it? The Tour life is incredibly stressful.

To keep reproducing performances week in and week out - Maybe she is

still excited about it? I think so she is. Will take it on the stride

and take the losses on the chin. As a junior, when you are breaking

through, if you are used to winning a lot as a junior you hit the senior

Tour you will have setbacks. It's how you carry yourself forward. She

strikes me as someone who will take it in her stride. The fact she said

when someone con congratulated you on her quarter-final win, they said,

well done on your win, but hope you lose tomorrow. She just laughed it

off. Both her parents are lawyers, how relevant is that? Very relevant.

Heather will be disappointed she would have felt she was on an upward

curve. She was beaten by a better player? She was. Someone who outis

powered her. That will be a problem for Heather. She does lack the sort

of power that we saw in the difference in that weight of shot

with Madison Keys today. There is so much to admire of what Heather has

put out here this week will project her into Wimbledon with a lot of

confidence. First win over a top 20 player in Pennetta. Her serve has

improved. The forehand doesn't break down as much as it used to with

Heather. Moving well. Enjoyed herself and had a terrific week. At

the start of the year she dropped to 160 in the world. She is making her

way back up in the rankings. She is in the 70s. She will go higher than

that. It will be a positive week. What about Keys against Kerber, the

Kerber Wozniacki match was nip and tuck and Kerber played fantastic

tennis? She really did. She won it over the long-haul. She, she ground

out almost like a marathon-style. She came through towards the end of

the match. Two-and-a-half hour absolute slog fest. She doesn't

possess a big serve. The second serve was a little bit suspect.

Madison Keys might beat her in the final. I will put myself out on a

limb there. Kerber has beaten her on both occasions. One including this

year. Something tells me, if she can produce the tennis she produced

today against Heather Watson on a grass-court. They haven't met on

grass before, that will make a significant difference. She has this

ability to out power people. The Kerber, great ball striker and a

very, very good defender. It will be interesting. You will have

experience up against youth. Her tenacity and core strength, it is

one of the buzz phrases about sport, the core strength that Angelique

Kerber has, the rallies in that match. One side of the court, to the

other, to the other, to the other, 1 o 0 meter sprint for 20 shots. It

was, exhausting to watch. 200 meters in 20, 10 meter sprints. It really

was like that. Yet, her strength, her core strength to keep getting

the ball back on court, it's extraordinary? She has a strong

physique and strong legs. You need to have strong legs to play tennis.

She took a decision about three years ago, they showed each other

how they trained. They went away and put in the work. Kerber who had lost

to Laura Robson in the first round at Wimbledon. Since that time she

went up into the top of the game. Up to the Top 10. Fitness and movement

is a massive part of what Kerber can do on the court. She doesn't have a

serve. Her weaponry is the chucking down of the balls. Dangerous

on-the-run. Flick the wrist, defence into attack. It Fascinating

combination. She doesn't give much away with her body language. She is

quite calm out there. To mark your card. Heather Watson next match of

consequence is... Andy Murray will play his opponent from Belgium. He

is in the same half of the draw as Novak Djokovic. That potentially

means Murray against Djokovic semi-final. The anyway, an awful lot

of tennis to be played between Monday and Friday week. Two weeks

today will be the Men's Singles semi-finals at women Wimbledon?

Exciting. Who will be in the semi-finals? Murray, for sure. For

sure? I think so. I think he will get there. I think his tennis needs

to be going into Wimbledon. Djokovic, Nadal is the one we are

not sure about. I need to study the draw to see who is in his path way.

I'm concerned for him, he has won two matches going into Wimbledon,

two matches on a grass-court in two years. Not a lot of match wins. Lost

first round in Halla. He will not feel that confident. He would almost

expect to win them. We will see gas in a second. Nadal, if he can get

through the first couple of of rounds he will become much more

dangerous. Once he finds his footing and rhythm and gets everything going

on the grass courts. If he comes up against someone who is effective,

slice balls, put variety in. A huge serve. We will let you go and wander

up to the commentary match. Who are you putting in the semi-finals? I am

asking the questions. I need to look at the draw. Is Federer a contender

Of course. To win it? You can't rule him out. It's less likely than it

was a year ago. I will put it like that. He has had a better start to

2014 than he did last year. You can never rule out Federer, of course

you can't. I will stick Federer in the semis. Nadal I'm not so sure

about. Our coverage begins on Monday morning, obviously. The Men's Final

from last year, Djokovic against Murray, you can't see it live. I

will let you into a secret, Murray wins! 10.45am tomorrow on BBC Two

and How Andy Won Wimbledon is on Monday.

Now we have Feliciano Lopez and Sam Querrey, they are the second

semi-finals later on. Gasquet's backhand, if nothing else, is always

a source of joy. Annabel is off to enjoy that and the rest of the

match. . the number one from Uzbekistan, with

one of the most attractive single-handed backhand is ever seen,

Richard Gasquet. Istomin, he has beaten Gasquet before in their last

meeting. It was a couple of years ago, the quarterfinals of Sydney, on

a hard court. Gasquet won their first two meetings, starting at the

Australian Open five years ago, the second round in straight sets. Twice

a champion on grass. This event, when it used to be held in

Nottingham, in 2005-2006, he reigned supreme. It is moving back to

Nottingham next year, with the extra grass court week before Wimbledon.

The third semifinal of the year to look forward to for Gasquet.

Celebrated his 28th birthday last Wednesday. He has won the spin of

the coin and elected to serve, in the first of the men's semifinals

here in Eastbourne. Out, but not by much. Top seed here,

Gasquet, this week. Ranked 14, seven of his career high from July 2007.

Istomin has played some very good tennis this year. Came into this

tournament winning four matches in the year. Gasquet has been

struggling with a back problem. That is fabulous touch. And not at

full pelt, Gasquet. That is lovely touch, too. If you

have a great single-handed That is lovely touch, too. If you

you normally volley well. He does. He always wants to have the winning

ball back, like Murray. A good opening game for the top

seed. Denis Istomin will be looking to do the same. His route through,

it tight match in the first round. And then he beat the fourth seed,

TMO Garcia Lopez. -- DMO. I mentioned his consistent year,

Istomin. Approaching his career high, 33 in August a couple of years

ago. He has a good all-round game, very

solid. He is a good move, good thinker. Men #1 not many play in

these shades, but he normally does, Istomin.

If you haven't seen him play before, it is incredible, his career,

because in 2001 he had a car accident, injuring his leg, that

required surgery and 80 stitches. He spent three months in hospital. Let

alone the recuperation. He did not touch a racquet for two years. He

came back to the sport in April 2003, training. So all that hard

work, a long time ago now, but that is a pretty major recovery. And now

looking for a final on the grass at Eastbourne, which would be his third

tour final. An equally impressive opening service game, too.

Tricky. Everybody is looking for the position of the sun. A nice problem

to deal with, though. Eight out of ten points on serve for

Gasquet. Seven minutes, the first sit down. Just going back to

Istomin, Annabel, as you have hotfooted it from the studio, it is

an amazing story. It was a long time ago now, but tennis players are

pretty hardy, aren't they? They are always carrying something every

week, putting up with pain. Their power of recovery surprises many.

That is a good point. Most players play with some kind of niggling

injury, constantly in and out of treatment rooms, having trainers and

tape put on their bodies to hold them together. But they are

incredibly resilient. It is something they have to deal with on

a day-to-day basis. Gasquet is having to nurture his back for the

last few weeks. It is such a shame because he is such a beautiful

tennis player. So many of us admire what he does on the court, that

beautiful single-handed backhand, such a creative tennis player. He

had that great run through the US Open in September last year when he

reached the semifinals for the first time. You felt he was really making

headway back up the rankings, and suddenly you get halted by injury.

It is the much the same thing with Del P, one of the most exciting

players on the tour. It took him about three years to recover from

wrist surgery. Just as he was getting back into form, he has been

knocked back with another wrist injury. So disappointing. We wish

him well, that is the shore. The game misses him.

Well, he had choices, Gasquet. The one he chose was executed

magnificently. He got himself very set, didn't he?

Perhaps Istomin was guilty of not doing enough with the volley.

Great variety already from Gasquet. The net clearance, the spins. Two

break points. 120 form isles per hour. -- 124 four

miles per hour. That was a good save from 15-40.

There is one of the great clay-court players, Gasquet's coach for quite a

while now. Great to see the old stars back inside the coaching

boxes, isn't it? Yes, and they have enjoyed meeting up with old rivals

on the tour. He is a very busy person at the back

of the court. He is at the change of ends, too,

Gasquet. If you want to know how to re-grip a racquet, just watch him.

Every single sit town. -- sit down. It is almost like a superstition.

You are not telling me tennis players are superstitious!

His coaches sitting in the stand behind Gasquet's serving. -- his

coach is sitting. Now, is he going to do a re-grip?

Drink first? He usually starts straightaway, so maybe not this

time. Maybe he does not do it on grass. The points are shorter, the

rallies are not as long, so the grip is not wearing out as much. Maybe it

is different for him on grass. We have talked it up a lot, I can't

believe he is not doing it. I will be very disappointed if we don't see

one now. It does not look like it is happening. He looks relaxed. He has

played so well on the grass. He has performed well at Wimbledon, too,

some Epic games against Andy Murray. His game seems to adapt to whatever

surface he is playing. I always enjoy watching him play because he

is a very beautiful tennis player, very artistic. There is the half

grip that you were talking about. He has an accentuated but on the bottom

of the racquet handle. He has had it built to his own specification and

feel, basically. But no one plays with a racquet looked up like that

right at the end of the grip. It is bulging, isn't it?

Pristine clean for Istomin, everything getting ready for

Wimbledon. That is a clean strike with that

serve, isn't it? You can hear it coming out of the strings.

We are seeing all the skills so far. This was a beautiful drop shot.

Quite an exaggerated take back on the backhand, holding the racquet

face out in front of his body. That was an overrule. I don't think

Gasquet is terribly impressed with that.

Super. That is the trademark, isn't it? Beautiful stroke, even off the

back foot. He has so much feel. He definitely wanted that ball back

again. Another one of his habits. He does play very deep at times,

Gasquet, particularly on clay. I suppose he uses so much top-spin, he

feels comfortable back there. On a grass court, it is tough. He is

trying to play closer to the baseline this week. Now he is really

cross. He is asking Istomin. I don't know what Istomin said.

It is difficult. When you ask your opponent, what are they going to

say? That happened at the French this year. Murray gave up a point,

didn't he? Well, that was a good hold from

0-30. They are pretty even on that score. Number one from France,

Richard Gasquet. They have had so many, since the last to win a home

major in 1983, knocking on the door. They have such flair, flamboyance,

the French. It is just going the extra mile. Yes, taking it up a

notch to challenge at the highest level. Mentally, everyone has aways

felt that he perhaps did not quite believe in himself against the very

best players. Like those matches you were talking about, against Murray

at Wimbledon. He led two sets to zero in that set. He had the match

point. And Murray ended up in the crowd, virtually. Istomin is flying

his flag with pride, number one from that part of the world. He is

approaching his career high of 33 in August couple of years ago. He is a

really good, tough, seasoned pros now at 27. You have to play very

well to beat him. I remember his match against Andy Murray at the

U.S. Open last year on the hard courts, a night feature match. He

pushed Murray all the way. It was four sets, but very tight. Have you

been up on the PA yet? A long time ago, but not this year yet. It is a

super spot. New balls in play on serve in this opening set.

I don't think Richard can believe it because on a couple of balls, he

felt his serve was almost identical to that.

She is standing at quite an angle, isn't she, moving almost across to

the tram line to then call the line inside on the service line. It is to

get a better view because Gasquet stands right on the line, as does

Istomin. He is totally white, isn't he? Not

predominantly white, for Wimbledon. I don't think he has any colour in

his shoes. White glasses, bandanna, but his racquet spoils it a bit.

There is good disguise on the serve. They have played each other three

times but Gasquet did not move then, did not have any clue where that was

going. In all its glory, in the sunshine,

one of the best single-handed backhand is of all time.

On the back foot when he played that one as well, going backwards.

Istomin played at Queen's lost in the second round. His sixth visit in

this event. Second semi-final beaten by Lopez. Who of course he beat

second round here, Istomin. He always looks a little bit

troubled on court, doesn't he, Gasquet? More stressed, the opposite

of what we were talking about with Madison Keys and Caroline Wozniacki.

The with Gasquet I always think he looks uptight and worried, actually.

There's that take back and just that incredible acceleration through the

ball. Gasquet to five first. Gasquet

seeded 13 at Wimbledon. Plays the Aussie in the first round. Bottom

half of the draw. Nadal is the danger man. Istomin plays the 32nd

seed from Russia. Business to be done here first on the south coast.

Yeah, Istomin in that same section of the draw as Wawrinka. He is

getting his form back after a little When he dip. Arrived in Paris he

thought the pressure was too much. Having strived so hard and upset all

the odds to win a Major, he struggled to cope with it. When you

dream of it, you want to do it, you want to achieve it. Like they want

to make the final here in Eastbourne. So often you are used to

losing because only one player ends up winning each week. What John was

asking at the start about the semi-final line-up potentially for

Wimbledon. Without looking at the draw it's impossible to say. When

you look at Federer's draw he has a decent draw, I would say. Istomin

4-5, first set. If you keep your eye on Gasquet when

Istomin serves his hit. He is having trouble reading it. He is sort of

reacting to the serve. Better that time. Backed off a bit

too to get a bit more time to get a read. Do you look for ball toss or

points where they go? Most of the players look for the ball toss

little things they get used to wish opponent as to what they think

they're going to do. One opponent's tongue hung out one side or the

other and they knew which way they were going to serve. That is how the

opponent read which way they were going to serve. It's quite

interesting. Little tight on that forehand,

Istomin. Now, this is an opportunity on the

second serve here. Mixing it up. Gasquet throwing in

the slice. Off the forehand and the backhand. Rewarded with a set point.

He has a habit of just touching the baseline with his racquet, doesn't

he, before he gets into position. It's wide! He's got his eyes on the

title here, Gasquet. No doubt about that. 35 minutes, takes the opening

set. It with come down to one or two

points, like it did just there. You can apply scoreboard pressure, get

to yourself 30-30 in a service game. Send the jitters up that happened

player. They miss their first serve, get an opportunity on the second

serve and suddenly the set is gone. Didn't get a breaker's service

Istomin in that set or break point. That is the first port of call for

him. The first serve percentage of Gasquet was low, but won all the

points behind it. Only lost the one, 13 from 14. Impressive.

Now, plenty of other sport this year. Commonwealth Games in Glasgow

on the menu. It's Commonwealth Gold medallists.

He gets it! Inn Thorpe is getting a standing ovation from this crowd.

That was magnificent. Commonwealth Gold. The here comes the challenge.

Oh, it was so close. Plenty more besides, of course,ing

can the Open golf and Wimbledon starting Monday. It's a feast of

sport. He is playing a pretty tasty match

here, Gasquet. Set up, about to serve first serve, second set.

I was going to say, that is so disappointing, isn't it, when you

have just thrown in a good kick serve. This is where men are

interesting on the Tour, how they vary their kick serve, in terms of

being a first serve. Throw their opponent off balance.

Istomin probably expecting a bigger, flatter first serve. He throws in

the kicker. It unsettles your rhythm at the back there.

No wonder Istomin had a look down the court. The shape of that swing,

the flick of the wrist, it goes for a clean winner. It's almost a look

of - how on earth do you do that? He's that sort of player, Gasquet.

Yeah, he is. That is another late. Late, wasn't

it? You have to keep relying on the

umpire that is going to overrule. It it gets everybody on edge out here.

Took this volley very casually. Must have been confident he was going to

make it. Dropped the racquet face almost as he played that. It worked.

Can't believe it, Gasquet. He just cannot believe it. He is talking to

Istomin again. Who say it is was out. Furthest line away from him.

Tough one to overrule on. That was well out, wasn't it? My instinct was

that it was out. It was because it was a high bouncing. When they come

down almost vertically near that line. It sometimes is a little bit

difficult to see. That's a great serve. You can use

that frustration, irritation, and draw upon it to put in your best

serve. He's another one that's very

dangerous on-the-run, isn't he, when he is in a defensive position. Very

much we say that about Andy Murray, when he is pushed on-the-run, on the

defensive, flick of the wrist, and he can come up with some of his best

shots. He's just finding a few things to

get a bit irritated about at the moment, Gasquet.

Oh, what a return! That will frustrate him further. Istomin's

first break point. UMPIRE: Advantage, Gasquet. He goes

for a bit of a walk, doesn't he, Gasquet. Like I said before, he is

busy before he gets this ball into play.

That's good hold. Tightening the rins, Gasquet. UMPIRE: First game,

second set. Good proportion of the crowd have stayed too, enjoying the

tennis in the sunshine. 40 years the women. Not as long as that the men.

They have been in Nottingham before going back here. Going back to

Nottingham next year with the extra week on the grass at Wimbledon

before the French. UMPIRE: Seats please. Everybody is pleased there

is this extra week. When you have the Australia Open in January, there

is quite a long delay it between the next Grand Slam at the French Open

in May. Suddenly, back-to-back, a couple of weeks in between. It just

doesn't seem long enough. You need just that extra bit of time to

adjust from clay to grass. More time to prepare for such a big event.

Extraordinary that Borg managed to win Wimbledon and the French Open

the same year, three times, with no warm-up, grass-court tournament.

Really is a remarkable achievement. Really is.

Grass played a lot differently back then too. Yeah, the markings on the

court were so different, weren't they? You wouldn't get the markings

we see today, all the markings around the baseline and the net

area. It's almost fresh around there, isn't it? Hard to believe.

Before it was like a definite If you T. Laid over the court of the '70s

and 80s on a grass-court now, it would be phenomenonal the difference

in change. The baseline's must get so much more

chewed up now, musn't they? When you think Wimbledon courts have to take

a hammering for two weeks. Let alone what we see here for one week.

So 1-1. We have seen Dirk courtside a couple of times. Maybe he is

looking at Istomin. He has coached many players.

He has been predominantly coached by his mother, Istomin. Claudia.

Such a fascinating debate that, isn't it? Yeah.

Always wants that winning ball back. The boy and girls team get used to

it. They get it to him pretty quickly too.

Dropped five points on the first serve so far, Gasquet. Another love

game. UMPIRE: Gasquet leads, 2-1. You had

time now, Annabel, since the news broke of Murray's new appointment,

mauls mauls, what do you make of it all? I'm instreegd by it. Andy has

thought outside the box, hasn't he. Intrigued. -- mauls mauls. -- d.

Added to that this unbelievable combination with Lendl. He hadn't

been seen around the tennis world for 20 years. He could identify with

what Lendl had been through. The rest is history. This is thinking

outside. I'm more intrigued as to what he hopes he will give her. He

is one of the greatest tacticians out there. I can't imagine it would

be tactics. I think it's something else.

Set down, Istomin. Talked about sensitivity and more the emotional

side of things, hasn't he. I wonder whether he feels that, I don't know,

he said it himself, his mum was a good listenering. She understands

him better than anybody. -- listener. Maybe Julie Murray feels

it's easier for her to speak to another woman, in relation to

talking about her son. Yeah, maybe. She's very well-respected. She will

teach him a thing or two about wine. She has a fantastic cellar, that's

for sure. He doesn't drink! He will still learn about it, the different

labels. She likes her red wine. Regularly around the 120mph, 124mph

mark the serve, but so well placed. That is a switch up that's been

brilliantly dealt with by Istomin. A real attack to the net, wasn't it.

Not easy with a single hander to jump into that ball and generate

enough pace off that return of serve. As you say, Istomin dealt

with that one. Very good at pulling you out of

position, Gasquet. Great use of the angles there. Making you feel

awkward and uncomfortable. Again, such quick hands from

Gasquet. A little flick of the wrist, for the half-volley.

UMPIRE: Game, Gasquet. COMMENTATOR: Remains unbroken, the

Frenchman. UMPIRE: Gasquet leads, 3-2.

COMMENTATOR: Grass, I imagine, would have a special place in Gasquet's

heart. He won ten titles, but his first was on grass 200 a 5 in

Nottingham which he backed up the following year. So many players find

it hard to back up a defending title. He did it successfully on

this surface. Why don't the French have a grass-court tournament in

France? They do so well on the surface. Mauresmo Wimbledon Champion

and so on. You think of the French players as being attacking players.

A lot of them serve volleying. Some of them have great volleys and

skills around the net area. As you said, they are very, very creative

tennis players. Very flamboyant as well. Yeah, interesting they don't

have a grass-court event. Perhaps they will add It would one. Be

logical if they had bid for it, you would have one in France straight

after the French. Very good point. They seem to be technically very

sound the French as well. They always have beautiful slice

backhands. They have the variety and ability to change up the pace. That

is what Gasquet is able to do on a grass-court as well. He has the mix

of the topspin, backhand, flick of the wrist. Le beautiful slice back

as well. You need the skills on a grass-court to Jong Un settle the

rhythm of an opponent. Istomin a set down, 2-3 down. -- just unsettle.

I never tire of watching that backhand. Is it the best for you?

There are a view to choose from. I cannot say one is better than the

other because they are different. The latest one to look out for is

the exciting Austrian. He reminds me a bit of Boris Becker.

There it is again. He was just waiting for the right shot unleash

it, wasn't he? Istomin keeps asking the question and gets a very firm

answer. Super defence. The amount of

top-spin on that last shot, amazing. He did so well with that very high

lob, didn't he, made a difficult smash from the baseline for Istomin

and got himself back involved in the point.

He got there, too. It was a painful run at the start. He has been

stretching his back a little at times in this match, and this will

have really stretched it. He is almost toying with Istomin,

isn't he? Slowly, effortlessly chipping the ball back with no pace

on it to try to nullify the power coming at him.

Well, that was ambitious. Tempted by the success earlier, I guess. But he

hands Gasquet the break. Just the one required for the first set. I

did feel it was a matter of time before he was going to get it. It

felt he was getting a hold on the match, didn't it? Most players find

it much more difficult to play drop shots off the forehand compared to

the backhand. Oh, a slip! Oh, my word! Oh, my

goodness me! That is some recovery! He didn't know much about that shot.

I am surprised Gasquet wasn't laughing after that one.

Only just. It was actually coming back in. If he had been given a bit

more time, it might have made it. Too good. Very short take back on

the return of serve. Look at the footwork to get the ball out in

front of his body. Oh, no! He will be frustrated with

himself. He does not miss that too often. Third break point for

Istomin, who has not broken yet. Second ace. He has an interesting

way of bouncing the ball before serving, almost like a basketball

technique. He is on a hat-trick. So was someone

else last night. Another good hold. Another break

point saved. And looking for his third grass court final. He is one

game away. They keep plenty of rackets in their bags these days,

all different tensions. All different styles of tension, too,

and strings. It has transformed the sport, the string technique, more

than anything. There have been so many changes in strings, haven't

there? And in terms of the pattern of strings in racquets as well. I

know that Andy Murray has changed it significantly, recently, actually.

It is to do with the down strings, cross strings, how many, whether you

have natural gut or a mixture with synthetic. And attention, obviously.

They need an array of tensions. You constantly see players sending off

racquets in the middle of matches because of the changing conditions

out there. Well, he has sparkled off his back

and, Gasquet. Nothing wrong with the forehand, setting up two match

points. That will do it. Absolute delight

for Richard Gasquet. It is his third grass court final. 22nd career final

to look forward to. He has won his previous two. He looked pretty

impressive today. He went from strength to strength and the

backhand really starting to fire by the end. Even when he was down break

points, his serve seemed to go up a couple of notches. He really enjoyed

himself and certainly the crowd enjoyed watching him out there. And

a good hand for Denis Istomin as well. Winning in one hour and 11

minutes. That will help his back. And in the heat. It is going rather

nicely for Richard Gasquet, his preparation for Wimbledon. Always a

dangerous opponent. He is such a talent, has so much choice at his

disposal. Of course, in the final, he will play either the defending

champion, Lopez, or Sam Querrey, the American. Neither of those will be

easy. And Matt Chilton will be asking him the questions. That is a

dangerous bondage point! It is, isn't it? Maybe he

dangerous bondage point! It is, repair work and caught a bit of

tennis at the same time. Richard, congratulations, through to

the Aegon International final. You must be happy with the way you

played. I played well. It was a good match for me. The first set was

important and I took confidence. He is a good player, so I am happy to

be in the final. How will you prepare for the final? What is your