Day 4 Tennis: Eastbourne

You'd half expect her to make that, especially hitting up into the wind.

Go but yes, you would on other surfaces, but I do think it is a

tough shot to play our grass court. To really get under the ball and

spin it over your opponent's head. That's more like it! An emphatic way

to record her first win. That's something Radwanska won't be

allowing her to do, get hold of the Baltic topic comes that very hard.

Lucic-Baroni very quick up to this one. All over it. Too much hyped

from Radwanska. -- height. Yes, might find it a little harder

coming down the end where we believe the wind is blowing into her so she

is having to fight against it. She should be used all of that

because there are other players who can beat her when it comes to power.

That's what she's so good at, and absorbing pace from her opponents

and redirecting the play. Just a little wayward in this game,

Radwanska. It is a break for the qualifier. You

would expect nothing less of Lucic-Baroni.

Now, this isn't such a good sign. I'm just thinking about Mirjana, it

doesn't seem very good, does it? She's 56th in the world, which is a

fantastic ranking, and has won a lot of matches, but it's so strong. The

last direct at into main draws was Heather Watson at 55. In case that

sounds rather confusing, Mirjana must've just got a couple of spots

from when the entry lists were sorted out for this event, which is

usually six weeks before the start. It does get a little confusing. I

was on the tool when she was 15 or 16 and won her first tournament when

she was 16. She won her second couple of years ago at 32. Just

can't quite get over it. She's done really well to come back. Had quite

a few years out of the game. No longer lives in Croatia but she is

still their best player, still represents them.

She married a number of years ago now. I don't know what's going on

but she offers three doesn't feel too well. That's not the best sign,

is it? The doctor out. Well, she did play a match earlier

today, beat the lucky loser Denisa Allertova in straight sets. I can't

say there is anything obvious. Five games that they've played.

No medical time-out taken. That's good to do, just let Radwanska know

what's happening. Maybe she was just a little bit under the weather.

The sun's out here in Eastbourne. You've got to feel chirpy, surely!

The fans are feeling good. If she isn't feeling great, she'll

want to keep these points short and snappy, which she tries to do

anyway. There is no holding back when it comes to Lucic-Baroni. It is

all or nothing, no plan B. But unfortunately, when she was at

her very best, that was a long time ago. Too many errors these days.

Still a fine player and quite capable of worrying the top.

Offered to WTA titles, I wonder which one brings her the most joy,

the first one or the last one. -- of her two WTA titles.

Certainly the amount of time and commitment she's put in on the grass

this season has paid off. Whatever happens here, after the first round

in Holland... Much better here in Eastbourne. As she recovers from a

three-game deficit to level up in this first set.

I'd hazard a guess she's feeling a tad better and Radwanska once again

under pressure on her serve. So important for Radwanska to really

hit her shots here because Lucic-Baroni will be taking

advantage of a wise. -- otherwise. Just get the feeling over the last

12 months, that's department has been beefed up. Always accurate with

her deliveries. Very quick, Radwanska to change

things up if she thinks things are going the wrong way. Great on-board

computer that she has. That could have been awkward.

Radwanska hold serve. And pushes ahead once more in the second set.

You talked about her mindset with her serve, what does that mean?

There comes a point in the player's development that technical lead big

changes are hard to make and to add another five or ten mph behind your

server is tough to do. Particularly when you hit your 20s. But the

mindset of trying to be more aggressive, that is something you

are in control of yourself. To toss the ball up, she launches herself

into the serve, that is something that Radwanska does much better

these days. And overall, with the rest of her game. I am a big

believer, aggressive tennis -- if aggressive tennis doesn't come to

you naturally, if you're mindset can be up there on your server, it rubs

off on to the rest of your game. It can make you become more aggressive

from the back of the Court or at the front of the court and everything

else follows. You anticipated my next question! Are there any other

aspects of her game which you have seen change? She is looking to go

after second serves more and get up the court. And the other thing for

Radwanska is that this year her scheduling has been better. She is

smarter about how much he plays and if she is injured or she has a

niggle, she doesn't need to put herself on the line week in, week

out. She needs to peek at the right tournaments. And she has trained her

clay-court season. New ball skills -- new ball.

She looks very good on the ball. Particularly when she doesn't have

to run or stretch for it. When she has got the time.

Game, Mrs Lucic-Baroni. The Croatian really sticking in here. She had the

doctor out a couple of games ago. Her husband, to the left of your

picture. And coach, to the right. Husbands doesn't fancy combining the

role. Oh, that was huge! Very compact on that backhand. Uses a

very stiff bracket, Szczesny don't get the sound on the replay but it

came right of the sweet spot. Great racket head speed.

that's where Radwanska is clever. She doesn't necessarily play the

outright pass. She liked the target. Delightful, it really is, from our

top seed. Some authority here. Certainly not having it all her own

way. I wonder how long Lucic-Baroni will play for? Is she inspired by

the owners Williams or Kimiko Dante who is even older than me! I think

all the players are inspired by her. She's in her 40s now. I think she's

getting beyond that! I remember, 1520 years ago, when you are

approaching or 30s, before that was going to be when you need to start

thinking about what the earth you would do apart from tennis. In my

late 20s, people started asking, when you retiring?! Nowadays, if you

don't go on to your 30s, it is as if you are putting up yours too early.

But the tour has so much to offer. If you are playing those big events

week in, week out, it makes it so much more enjoyable. You are not

grafting at the ITF tournaments. Yes, she had to work away through

the qualifying rounds, but it was all worthwhile. Yes, and she was on

the cut of making the Olympic cut, -- on the cusp of making the cut.

But she missed many years of tennis so she is probably about 27 or 28 in

tennis years. Serving here to stay in this first set.

She is a tough cookie, Radwanska, tough on herself. The ball really

moved on her there. Not happy with that. It hit the line

right in front of our commentary box. And it has been a good set from

Lucic-Baroni, but facing set points here.

Game and first set, Miss Radwanska. Radwanska slightly cross that she

let a three - zero lead slip, but in the end, get the job done. Wins by

six games to four. Just in case you have forgotten from last year, you

can have your coach on pretty much once per set.

As you can see, it is a lovely sunny afternoon at Eastbourne and if you

want to follow any tennis news, you needed BBC sport at. Once we are

done here, then I am sure you are in complete football don't -- dose, and

this is what Radwanska wants to get off the court in time to see. On the

red button today. And then highlights of everything and

discussions at 10:55pm. And 35 minutes later in Northern Ireland

because you will still be recovering from the enormity of the victory

over Germany! If you like your cricket, this is

what is taking place today. You can follow that now on the BBC app where

you can get the clips as well as followed the BBC Test match special.

That's on BBC five live sports extra.

I don't think she was talking about where can we go see the football!

Thomas is a good man, he has been in her corner for a good long time now.

Since she was a junior. She seemed quite disgruntled at that change of

ends, Radwanska. It's interesting that Radwanska even

called him on to court, because it's not something you see often. She is

not really one for on court chatting. Yes, she's a wonderful

tactician, she works it out herself. I just wonder if she is being a

little more insecure than normal eco-she lost in her opening match in

Birmingham last week Ek -- to Coco Vandeweghe and base doesn't feel

completely settled with the type of play she is facing. -- perhaps

doesn't feel completely settled. She isn't getting rid getting stuck into

this match despite winning this first set. That is kind of the issue

whenever you up against somebody like she doesn't give you any

rhythm, as you have to go with the flow and put those balls back into

play. Won't want Lucic-Baroni is to get

away here. It's the age-old problem, how do you

hit through or past Radwanska? Good movement there from

Lucic-Baroni. The control, too. -- good control,

too. And maybe that is why she was so

worried at the end of that first set. Really feels the threat from

Lucic-Baroni. Can you follow her, please? She has just run off court.

Mrs Lucic-Baroni just went to the bathroom. That is not a good sign.

I'm surprised she didn't go at the end of the first set. Unscheduled

bathroom break. I'm not sure about the stats, five unforced errors from

Lucic-Baroni? It felt like she was in double figures in the opening

set. And Radwanska doing a decent job on serve. Not venturing to the

net too often. Hasn't had too many opportunities because it has been a

winner or an error for the most part from Lucic-Baroni.

Radwanska rather hopefully walking out to receive serve, no sign of

Lucic-Baroni as yet. I hope she is all right, actually. Had the doctor

out midway through that first set. But Radwanska doing the right thing.

It is so easy to sit in your chair and not do a lot. You've got to keep

moving. She is back. She seems all right, I she is.

And she might want to remember after a terrible start to the first set,

she is up a break early on in the second.

Well, if you look at what has been happening in the last 20 minutes or

so, since Radwanska pinched that opening set, it has been

Lucic-Baroni dominating the points. sometimes she can look a little

untidy with her footwork. Almost 6-foot. Not too many players

confessed to being 6-foot, they are always five foot 11. Oh, but great

levers. Advantage Mrs Lucic-Baroni. That was sloppy footwork, right

there. Planted far too early, waited for the ball to come onto her

racket. Square on. You can't do that in the grass court season because

the ball takes so many last-minute dives.

And all of a sudden, the former champion and finalist here last year

has a chance to wrestle back some control in this match.

And that is a real shame. The early break. She looks really despondent.

She is clearly not feeling her best out there, having had the doctor on.

But actually, playing pretty well. Despite everything. Just in a body

language, not quite there. She took all the pace of this folly.

Great feel. She has all the shots, and she has had quite enough of

being pummelled from the back of the court by Lucic-Baroni.

Just a little too heavy. More mistakes from the southern end with

the wind behind her. You are right, despite the fact she is playing

well, just the fact that she is not feeling great is getting in the way.

Yes, come on says Agnes guff. Shaking her head, Lucic-Baroni. --

ladies and gentlemen, Mrs Lucic-Baroni had to retire. We don't

often see that. That is a real shame for her. She came up from a

qualifying match and is clearly playing well but she must be feeling

absolutely terrible. She is a fighter. To retire, clearly she is

not feeling great, but it is a shame because she was not playing back

tennis. You called it, you just said, and you don't often see it,

players often take their bathroom breaks at the end of a set, so we

can only speculate at what might have happened as she dashed off. Oh,

dear. Well, she has had a few grass court matches going into Wimbledon.

She will be dangerous, capable of beating the big names. And Radwanska

might be heading for the practice courts. Our next match on Centre

Court features Johanna Konta. We can have a look at the numbers, and

reappear curiously at them, I think they are coming along, any second

now... Well, there you can see Radwanska rock-solid on serve. I

first serve percentage. Second serve, as well. Neither player

venturing forward to much. But Radwanska capitalising on all those

break point opportunities. Never too many errors but never too many

winners from Radwanska, ever. She did enough but strange way to go

through. Let's hear from her. Not the way you want to go through, but

how do you assess the way you are playing. It was a tough match. She

was playing really good tennis even when something happened to her

today. I am very happy that I could play some good games but hopefully

she will get better soon and she will play some good tennis at one.

Grass has always been a good service for you. You have done well at

Wimbledon and won the title here. How do you feel on these calls? I

always feel great, I am happy to be for the 10th time so thank you for

coming and see you tomorrow! Ladies and gentlemen, Agnieszka Radwanska!

Obviously hugely disappointing for Lucic-Baroni, but bigger fish to fry

for her and she will want to be in optimum form for women. Radwanska

safely through and somebody else safely through is, well she was

going to be the next big thing a couple of years ago. But the shard

of Canada has had all sorts of issues of course, coloured Eugenie

Bouchard, came through against Irina Kennelly and they do of Romania. --

Irina Camellia bedroom, and this pair of us as a London was beaten by

Kristina Mladenovic of France. So that's a browser that we so

accustomed to on the clay of the Paris open is making a successful

reappearance here on the grass of Eastbourne. The zebra is not extinct

in Sussex. Other results to give you...

Tsurenko will be the next opponent for a British player.

Some second-round scores to give you...

The next match we are going to see will feature the British number one,

Joe Konta, who this time last year was sitting alongside us here in our

little presentation booth and she was ranked 100 something in the

world and money people had heard of her and suddenly her world is turned

upside down and she is now going to be seeded at Wimbledon next week,

the first woman to be seeded at Wimbledon for three decades and she

really is someone who the other players on the tour are having to

look out for. Yesterday, when it was pouring with rain, she spoke to Sam

Smith. Jo, welcome back to Eastbourne. What

was it like walking through the gates with a huge poster in front of

you and coming back as a seed and a top 20 player? I did a double-take.

I was like, "Oh, is that me?" . It was quite an imposing poster. I'm

happy to be here. I get to go home and spent time with my family. And I

get support in the lead at so that's the main thing. A lot has changed

for you in a year, particularly with that wonderful run to the Australian

open semifinals in January. Do you feel life has changed in terms of

status, fame? Not really. On paper, it definitely does look different,

my ranking, this year, compared to last year. How is it coping with the

change in status, the workload? Has it come from yourself or compromise

outside advice and help from people around you? The biggest thing is

that I don't judge myself on my ranking all my results. My

self-respect towards myself very much comes from my work ethic, how I

approach the work every single day, so as long as that stays very clear

and clean, I think I'm better equipped to really handle whatever

happens. You that's only great results on hard courts. How well do

you feel your game fits to grass? Obviously, what happened after the

grass season here last year, my best results were at these events up

until that point, so I think it's all relative and we'll see how it

goes. I definitely don't think that last year's result is any reflection

on how I will do this year. It is a New Year, new tournament, but I'm

just really happy to be a part of it.

Jo Konta and here is this huge poster of her that she was talking

about it what a difference a year makes and her year will end with the

US open but before the US open, she has a date in South America because

Jo is going to be heading out to the Olympic Games.

Jessica Ennis-Hill is back on top of the world. Nicola Adams has just

made history. That's a huge jump! Laura Trott, world champion!

40-something days and counting. Anne Keothavong has popped back from the

commentary box. Whatley or collections of the picks? My best

moment. -- what are your recollection of the Olympics? It was

huge for me to be part of the Olympics for London 2012. My first

and only the picks and it was on home soil. Did you stay in the

Olympic village? We did for a few nights before the tournament started

but all of us British players who won the team have a place in

south-west London, so I actually stayed in my own flat. In hindsight,

do you wish you hadn't stayed at home? Do you wish you'd just totally

embraced it and be on the other big village for the whole time? -- been

in the Olympic Village. Stratford is where I grew up. But you didn't grow

up surrounded by 20,000 Kenyan athletes. There is a part of me that

feels like I missed out on the Olympic experience at the other part

of me knows that it wouldn't have made sense to stay in Stratford and

be competing in Wimbledon, knowing the commute and knowing what it was

like at that time of the year. The Central line is a killer! Do you

think for someone like Serena, where do you think an Olympic gold bundle

sits for her in her list of triumphs? -- gold medal. I think it

is right up there. She puts herself on the line at the Olympics every

time. What is this going to be, her fifth Olympic Games? And with Venus

as well, teaming up to win gold in the doubles, it's a big thing for

the Williams sisters. I know her big thing, though, the grand slam

titles, but I'm pretty sure she would put the Olympic gold medal at

there. Gulf is the Olympics for the first time this year and there are a

lot of people who think that is a bit of nonsense, and there are still

some people who aren't convinced about tennis's place against. What

is a attitude to that? I sit in the middle here. I don't think tennis

should be part of the Olympics. I don't think it's really an Olympic

sport. It is a professional sport that's played right from the start

of the year until October, November. It's not like the other track and

field, swimming, where you get your moment in the spotlight once every

four years. As a tennis player, you get to experience those type of

feelings we can, week out and at the grand slams four times a year. I

think the Olympics is very special but already you can see a number of

top players, more on the men's side, have opted out on the Olympics and

have chosen not to go to Rio. It is interesting. Kyrgios and tonic

amongst others, who are now being accused of betraying the Australian

Olympic ethic by not wanting to go to the games so it depends on which

side of the fence you sit. You don't see... Our English footballers would

be out there, the top guys will be competing at the Olympics. We don't

see our rugby team at the Olympics. I don't think Gulf should be at the

Olympics in the same way that tennis shouldn't. Each to their own but at

the same time, I'm glad to have experienced that and I can still say

I'm an Olympian. You can say that for evermore! Just going back to Jo

Konta, who has a first-round match against a player who has played a

match already today. How difficult will not be for her opponent? Well,

it was based great sets victory for Lucy Tsurenko so she will be feeling

good about herself. It wasn't physically too taxing for her and I

think it is going to be a tricky one for Joe, to be cleverly honest. Jo

is a completely different player to what she was back then. The thing

about Jo is that 12 months ago, the border said Jo Konta? She might get

through around, and now it is Jo Konta, she's going to be in the

quarters at the least. And she doesn't get the quarters, it will

seem that she has failed, which is ridiculous because she hasn't. Still

got a lot to go. Tsurenko will be a tough opponent. I bumped into Jo's

parents on the way here, who were a bit apprehensive, given their

head-to-head record. Do they walk in? They live just down the road.

I'm sure they would have walked it. It would have been far too lazy to

have driven! We are at Queens on Sunday. We had 4 million people

watching tennis on a Sunday afternoon on BBC One, which is a

fantastic audience, given everything else. The weather was quite nice and

all the football. Huge audience, a testament to a great event and a

fantastic match but also annexed Audrey performance from Andy Murray

who, having lost the first set to Milos Raonic, blades are extremely

tennis. It wasn't just that he'd won the match, it was the manner in

which he won it. You are seeing now almost a complete player. To come

back from a set down against Raonic, Lendl back in his box... Everyone

seems to be going on about him. Andy Murray I think is our greatest ever

athlete. I'm with you on that. Of all the people that we have playing

on the international sporting stayed at the moment, whatever sport it

might be, he, I think has to be the number one because of who he is

competing against and we can, week out, he... We will miss him. When he

got his racket down, we will think, why didn't we get behind him of it

more? The British public have embraced a more so than they did in

previous years but they could do even more to see is the best we've

had in a long time. What is your first memory of beating Andy? I

couldn't tell you. Probably when he was a young teenager, I would like

to say he was a brat but I don't think he was! Was he cracking jokes

every five and its? Actually, Judy took me away when I was 13 on an

international trip so my memories of the Murray boys were whatever she

spoke to us about and I think it was probably the issues she had

controlling his temper and his behaviour on the court, which was

notorious, even when he was a kid. And very different to Jamie, who I

assume was happy-go-lucky. They are completely different personalities,

more so now, but Andy, away from the tennis court, that persona he puts

out on the court, he couldn't be any more different. He's lovely, very

down-to-earth, very friendly, very easy to get along with. When he was

that age, where people saying, when he was 15, 16, "Watching, he's going

to go a long way"? I believe so. He was one of the top juniors in the

world and have achieved so much already. Nobody would have expected

what he would go on to achieve and to lift a Wimbledon trophy, it's

something special and something I'm not sure we'll see again in our

lifetime, a British player lifting that Wimbledon trophy, someone other

than Andy Murray. I don't know. Talking about being a junior, and he

was a top junior, Petra Kvitova was up here a few moments ago and I'm on

to ask her and I forgot, she was nowhere as a junior, barely got into

the world's top 30, and is now double grand slam winner, and if you

look at her contemporaries as juniors, most of them, I of the

names and I thought, I'd almost never heard of those people, they

just disappeared off the face of the. Why does that happen? One of

the reasons for Petra Kvitova not being outstanding as a junior was

she was in the Czech Republic but she did not play a lot of junior

international events. I remember when she played one of her first ITF

events because it was in the Czech Republic and it was a tournament I

was in and I remember seeing this 16-year-old wild card smacking the

ball so hard. She went out in the first round to my doubles partner

that week but you just thought, "Oh, my goodness, this girl hits the ball

so hard, she is going to go a long way". It was so long ago but curb

was in the draw that week as well. Only people beginning with Kerry

were allowed to be in it! It was a limited draw. Seeing her play as a

16-year-old, having those huge weapons, was incredible, but nobody

would have predicted she would go on to win two grand slam titles at

Wimbledon and she could still win plenty more. She's a left-hander tit

up there is an interesting article in the official programme about the

advantages. It is a column, an opinion piece, about how almost

unfair it is in tennis to be left-handed because of the advantage

it gives you because less than 10% of the players who play tennis are

left-handed so if you are a right-hander, you get so little

practice against them, pro rata, against right-handed players, but

sometimes when you are playing right-handed, you are sometimes

taken aback and as a consequence of that, if you want to really make it

in sport and you are left-handed, tennis is the sport you ought to go

into because you've got an unfair advantage before you even start. Now

you tell me! That's obviously where I went wrong! People always talk

about, especially from the vantage court, that left-handed serve, the

angle that it gets. The right hand does not have the same going the

other way. No, for some reason a right-hander heading on the due

score doesn't have the same effect. It's just not as good and as lethal

as a left-handed player serving from the other court. I don't know why it

shouldn't be. I've always felt left-handed players also have more

natural feel on their shots than right-handed players but that could

just be meted We are chatting away here but we are going to have some

live tennis in just a moment or so because Jo Konta and her opponent

from Ukraine will be on court very shortly. It is a lovely afternoon

now for playing tennis and also for actually watching it, especially on

Centre Court. Last year, my recollection of Eastbourne was that

it was a bit mix and match as far as the weather was concerned and there

were sometimes when you wanted a fleece and a woolly jumper out there

to watch it. Today it is really nice and they've been playing Chris of a

cross's Ride Like The Wind to get people feeling like it really is a

summer over the tannoy. This is how this section of the draw looks at

the moment. Radwanska against Bouchard is a good game for tomorrow

and a good game for Bouchard after the last couple of years under the

microscope, her ranking falling and people asking what happened to this

great new star that was going today the game by storm. It didn't really

happen but a really good run again at Eastbourne might get people

thinking that she might be on the way back.

We could have a good all Italian affair. Here comes Jo Konta's

opponent for the afternoon and she had a very good winter day in

straight sets against Shuai Zhang of China, Lesia Tsurenko. She is 27

years old so she has been around for a while. And here is someone else

who has been around for a while but never quite to a reception like this

at Eastbourne. And the key thing, of course, is to embrace it, to enjoy

it. Enjoyed it, yeah, and I think that's the hardest thing to do when

you're desperate to do so well, desperate to perform in front of

your home crowd. I suppose the key thing... Oh, she's walked on court

and she's forgotten something. I knew I should have brought a rocket

with meted top but in days gone by, if you are banished to... If you are

at Wimbledon, you're playing on court 13. It is a very different

experience to being on Centre Court but you can almost guarantee,

providing it is an opponent of some stature, Jo Konta's first match next

week is going to be on Centre Court at Wimbledon and suddenly it is

like, show us what you've got. You'd hope so. Last year she played a

first-round match out on Centre Court and was up against Maria

Sharapova. She's been there, done it, knows what it feels like, but

this time round, it will be, I guess, roles reversed, everyone

expecting Konta to win the match as opposed to her opponent. This is

interesting. What has she walked on court without? Have you ever walked

on court without something? Like, why have I only got one shoe on?

I've walked on court in my running shoes and of my tennis shoes before.

As the umpire toss the coin, I thought I ought to change my shoes!

I'm not too sure what's going on here but you see these huge tennis

bags the players carry around, which weigh an absolute tonne. They seen

to have everything in those tennis bags so I'm not quite sure what she

seems to have forgotten, unless you just need the loo, last-minute

nerves. -- she just needs. She might have some instructions that she

keeps surreptitiously hidden in her bag but she doesn't need to hide

them because on the women's tour, you can actually get the coaches

down to talk to you at various points in the game if things aren't

going well. Anyway, are very summery outfit on a summer's afternoon,

albeit a little bit patchy. When you walked across from the commentary

box to hear, how much of an impact is that having on the game, the

wind? Roll huge. Here in Eastbourne, the wind swirls around Centre Court

It is expected. You expect wind. You come to Eastbourne and don't expect

perfect conditions. It will be something Jo is used to. Presumably

when she lives here, does she come and practice here or is there an

indoor centre down the road which she uses? Jo, when she's in the UK,

practices at national tennis centre most of the time. That is where she

will do most of her heading. -- hitting. She must come here

occasionally. Her parents lived nearby and are huge supporters of

her tennis. When you think about the peripatetic life that she's had,

being born in Australia, Hungary and parents, coming to this country, in

that kind of environment, it would be very easy to not actually end up

focusing on something because your life just takes you here, there and

everywhere but all the while, there has been an immense support base for

the. ... Yes, and her parents follow her tennis very closely. I remember

practising with Jo over the years and her mum or dad or whoever are at

the back of the court, chipping in, trying to advise her here and there,

getting involved with her tennis. That could be good and bad. Good and

bad, and she knows how to manage it herself, better than anyone else,

but I know she has a very close relationship with her mum and dad

and each to their own. Be honest here, because I remember when it

happened with Aljaz Bedene in the last couple of years, when I saw on

the BBC website, another player from whatever background, Wenzhou

appeared, were there some members of the British tennis set to thought,

what is all this about? -- when Jo appeared. But she, as a teenager,

based herself in the UK with her parents. The LTA bagged her before

she got her British passport so she was always around. I remember

practising with Jo for years and even before she got her British

passport... You just get on with it. There will have been a few people...

Especially people who have their noses put out of joint, who go from

being number four and five to number five and six. It makes a difference

but she's showing what she can do and I think everyone supports her

now. It's going to be very exciting next week. Lets hope she has a good

run here because if she can go into Wimbledon in a good run of form, it

adds an extra dimensional to Wimbledon next week. It doesn't just

become the Murray show, it becomes Jo getting through to the second

week and who knows what happens after that. Who knows what can

happen? We saw it at the Australian Open and I think a result there

together on by surprise. The French Open didn't go her way but we've got

a female player who is capable of beating those top players, capable

of being involved in the second week of a slam, and it's something to get

excited about and hopefully Jo will embrace it, Jo will enjoy it and

live up to expectations. Absolutely. The knock up this taking place so

we'll let Anne Keothavong had up to the commentary box. You are working

overtime today! I'm getting my work-out! Let's have a chat with Sam

Smith, who is up in our commentary box. Sam, two years ago, if we'd

said Jo Konta was going to be a Grand Slam semifinalist and a top 20

player in the world, would you have said, you've got to be joking? I

don't the guy would've been quite bad as respectful but I think most

people would have said, we are not seeing that, because just because of

her results. Throughout her early 20s she was a good junior, not

outstanding, and she was a player that could win a match or two in

slams, having come through the qualifying, but she seemed to be in

this awful place in the rankings, veering between 140 and 90, which is

impossible to schedule, and she looked stuck there, and when I

watched her play at the US Open a few years ago, she nearly made it

through to the third round, played fabulously well. I thought her

format was always going to hold her back and the fact that she just

seemed to get very uptight and nervous. And over the last 12

months, she's conquered that. Forehand is unrecognisable from what

it was. Her fitness has improved dramatically. I've always thought

she is a really good and strong athlete and mentally, she's put in

so much work, so I think we're seeing a totally different player.

Unless you had a crystal ball, I don't think you would've thought she

would be in the position she is now. And I wonder how she processes it

because it is a big change in status. For that don't have

happened, did that require a big jump in mindset for her? Maybe I've

got to work a bit harder certain aspects of my game? I don't the

gritters mindset at all because I ball was felt that she has carried

herself like a top player, super disciplined, so meticulous and when

you are struggling, because it is a struggle around that ranking,

sometimes you are in the main draw, you are in satellites, it is not the

most grammar is like. -- glamorous life. You think, is it really all

worth it, being this disciplined, this particular is about everything?

Jo has carried on as if it was always going to be, she was always

going to have a different tennis life, and I think that has been one

of the most important thing is, along with training in Spain. I

think that's been great for her. Her application has been of someone that

has top-10 potential. She is back disciplined, that hard-working.

Hywel Key to this rise up the rankings was last year? When you

beat Ekaterina Makarova and another player, which is a victory that

improves with age, you build a lot of confidence and it is great with

hindsight top Bob she went on and won a couple of challenges in

Canada, had a great run at the US Open, so it looks like it was very

important. Only she will know what it meant to her but I can't think it

was insignificant because it seems to be a real marker in the career of

Jo Konta. We can pontificate until we are blue in the face and

sometimes we have to, about what is significant and what isn't but as a

player, you can offer platitudes the whole time about, I genuinely

believe I can do this, but until you can actually do it, you don't know

if you can do it on beating Muguruza last year was a moment when you

thought, I've heard of her and she's beaten her well and suddenly things

just change of interview to talk Things happen very quickly. She's

got a tough match here. I watched Tsurenko in her first round this

morning, hitting the ball fabulously well. Well, Sam is on her own for a

moment but Anne Keothavong will get there shortly. The British number

one in action today. COMMENTATOR: Lesia Tsurenko ranked

at 42 in the world, beat Shannon Schweiger of China a few hours ago

now. She hasn't had the best of years.

She went upfront just outside the world's top 100 to just inside the

world's top 30 and has struggled for victories on tour this year.

Tsurenko is a player that has improved her fitness quite

dramatically over the last few seasons but whenever we commented on

her matches, the one thing you have to always mention, and it really

stands out, if she only really took tennis seriously at age 17. Started

to play mainly for fun, between 14 and 17, but only really applied

herself in her late teens. This is extraordinary.

Well-known for having a fabulous backhand. Sometimes struggles to

generate her own pace and can sit deep behind the baseline but has a

fine game overall. And that is the side that Konta

should be targeting. That is her forehand that on her bad days can be

erratic. Konta would love to break here.

Altec smack correction. -- out. Correction. A correction and it did

look good at first look. An ideal opening game on this first

game for Lesia Tsurenko. And any, you should go back on the court, you

are covering the ground with such grace and swiftness! You sound so

impressed. Totally. I would take double the time. But Tsurenko, we

will watching her this morning at 11am and she looked to be striking

the ball really well. She was. She got herself into a good position and

struggled to close it out in the second set. She was 6-1, 5-2 up. But

she managed to close out the second set in a tie-break. She can get a

little tight. these two have met on one previous

occasion, three years ago. But at the start of that year, Tsurenko

winning 7-5 in the deciding set and went on to have a really great run

that week. They did play against each other last year in Fed cup as

well. In Budapest. Tsurenko the winner there in straight sets. So

this is a tricky matchup for Konta even though she is ranked 18 in the

world. And the 11th seed here in Eastbourne.

One of two Spanish coaches employed by Jo.

An important game for Konta. Both women safely aboard in the second

round match. The winner will play Petra Kvitova who won first up on

Centre Court today. A very tough draw, wherever you look.

Oh, beautifully done. She made that look a lot easier than it was. When

I watch her play, maybe it is the backhand, she reminds me, maybe

looks like her as well, but reminds me of Elena Vesnina, champion here a

few years ago. You're not seeing it, are you, Annie?

There are similarities in the way they look but she hit the ball very

flat. As he you mean. Help me out here, Annie. Vesnina without the

grant. Yes, she is very quiet, Lesia.

What has Jo got to watch out for? The Tsurenko backhand? Also,

Tsurenko moves well around the court.

And her first serve should not be underestimated.

Good shot from Konta. Stay down low. It threw the ball. -- stayed through

the ball. A good hold from the Ukrainian. And

looking comfortable. Her debut here at Eastbourne and on the Centre

Court. She had a great year last year, almost ranked outside the top

30 after being ranked just inside the top 100 at the start of the

year. What has made the difference with her? 'S belief. For some

delight to rank, she has been on tour for a number of years. I like

the way she is tucking her racket up, like she's putting them to bed!

Very odd, I've never seen a player do that. But you don't want too much

sun on your racket. I thought they were also a statically sealed right

now or am I thinking there is more technology than there really is? Oh,

it's being touted by the umpire, being put to bed! Looks comfortable

there, doesn't it? I guess that is one way to look after your rackets.

A bit extreme. But what was the improvement all about last year,

because she's 27 now? I think it is belief, more than anything. For any

player. She has been out on tour for a number of years. I think she was

just able to back herself. The tennis has always been there. She is

in better shape than she used to be these days. She is much fitter and

quicker around the court. That has been a big improvement. She backs

herself. I think that is key. You know, when you put yourself on

the line and compete week in, week out, get used to players around you,

you feel like you belong and you start playing like you belong.

Konta had such a good year last year, with big wins before losing to

Belinda Bencic, the eventual champion, in the quarterfinals,

having taken the first set. Yes, right on the line! This is

going to be a difficult encounter and I wonder where Jo's confidence

is? It has not been a particularly good grass court season for her.

Second round exit in Nottingham and in Birmingham and also first round

at Roland Garros, where she left to a player to you we were surprised

she lost. Just needs to get back to winning ways. -- to whom we were

surprised. Quite a clever shot there from

Tsurenko, took all the pace of it. Got the ball to dip low. Tsurenko

looking rather at home here, this is posing a few problems and Konta

having to face break point. These two had very different days

yesterday. Tsurenko very much watching the rain, hoping to get on

court. Konta, a lot of media commitments.

Come on! The fitness trainer to the left of your picture, Konta's coach.

She used to do a lot of work with you. Yes.

Really tense opening four games. Konta doing very well to hold there.

Well, it's an afternoon that is lovely and sunny at Eastbourne but

it is time for the industrial strength hairspray, they are playing

enabling the tunnel at the moment! Not easy at all. -- they are playing

in a wind tunnel. Got to give yourself bigger margins

in these conditions, big targets. You aim for the central channel of

the court! Yes! And then allow the wind to take it wherever.

I don't know about you, Annie, I don't completely trust the swing

path on that forehand. It is by far the weakest shot. And when it does

get a little close and tense, you see her looking to take her backhand

from the middle of the court as much as possible. A side she is much more

comfortable on. It's a more reliable win, as well. -- wing as well.

Yes, didn't really adjust her feet, there. And she has played her way

into some trouble and now it is Konta with a chance to get the early

break. Konta is not sure, but a look at her

camp and elected not to challenge. It looks like Tsurenko won the

coach, but going along pretty well here. She wants her racket, we are

just seeing. A late we string. So, if you work on two, -- if you were

Konta, how would you take on Tsurenko in the city conditions? She

still has to give herself big targets. She knows what to expect

from Tsurenko and she will be aware the forehand wing is the weaker wing

and where she will have more opportunities to play more

aggressively. If she attacked that side she is more likely to get a

shorter ball. But I think for Jo out here, it is all about her. If she

does what is in her control very well, it big first serve, she makes

herself tough to break and then on the return games, have a go. She was

able to create opportunities in that last game. Understandably, as you

know her really well, you have practised with her quite a lot, she

looks quite tense. But that is Jo for you. In terms of how she

prepares, she is one of the most meticulous tennis players I know.

She is, she is very OCD about a lot of things. She would take that as a

compliment, wouldn't she? I don't doubt she would have prepared very

well. But it is all about controlling the nerves, which is the

toughest thing for her to do. When she can, she produces fabulous

tennis. We on serve here. The second round match winner to play Petra

Kvitova. Give her time on that forehand and

she will give it a good crack. She is also the better at the southern

end, where the wind is behind you and if you get the wind behind you,

very difficult to defend against. Well, she talked about staying in

her own bubble and not letting crowd support getting into her zone. She

could do with it here. Once again, break point on serve.

come on! UMPIRE: Deuce! It's not like in

Germany or in France when the home crowd sensed their play a struggling

a little and they do race slow handclap and let their player know

what's going on. Here, it's not more polite. Oh, that might need a little

look at. A challenge for the call, it was called out.

A long way from our commentary box, the far end. Two challenges

remaining. The wind really has picked up this

afternoon. It's horrid wind, because suddenly it will drop for half a

minute and then it will gust up. It just bounces off the stands and

swirls around. You never know what you are going to get. Confusing

wind. That is a gritty holder from the

British number one. Konta just doing enough in that last

game to draw the errors from Tsurenko.

Cap next -- great control from Konta. Not the easiest control to

find from that part of the court, she managed it.

Still with serve in the second set, Tsurenko. We were chatting about how

she didn't take tennis seriously until she was 17. A lot of players

take it seriously from the age of seven! She is still very young in

tennis years. How can you do that these days? Well, she is showing the

rest of us that it is possible and you don't have to be on a full-time

schedule by the age of ten to succeed as a tennis player. There is

no right or wrong way to come through and up the tennis ranks.

What works for one player will not work for another. You know, there is

a lot of pressure on young kids these days, who do show an interest

in becoming a professional tennis player to give up full-time

education and training for five hours a day from such a young age,

which I don't think is actually the right thing to do. I think if you

can, you should stay at school until the age of 16, at least, try and,

you know, base yourself at home for as long as possible, if it is

possible, to have the right coaches and the right practice partners

around to develop your game. I just think that provides you with much

better stability. Some of these players now have online schooling or

travelling tutors. It is easier to read and have that sort of life.

Contact with the new ball certainly has her work cut out here. -- Konta.

One of her favourite shots to play, that backhand up the line.

Not the most fluent match, it is rather hit and miss, understandable

in these conditions. A lot of nerves out there as well.

Dropped, I'm afraid. Where is that steward today? He caught a beauty at

Samantha Stosur's... APPLAUSE

Well, they have been out here in this second round match for just

over half an hour. Maybe Joe and just starting to

loosen off and burn off some of those nerves. -- maybe Jo.

Oh! That was the obvious short for Tsurenko to play. Konta very quick

up to the short one. Very close to crushing forwards into the net. Had

to steady herself there. Just a bit too much for the British number one.

Frustrating for Konta, she has only had one in the fifth game of this

opening set, had to face quite a few on her serve.

And Tsurenko managing rather well here. Polite applause from the

stands. It is funny when you come to Eastbourne and you're playing and

coming down here for commentary, you see a lot of the same faces. They

are very loyal, they know their players. Ticket sales, yesterday was

terrible with the weather but as soon as the sun comes out, Centre

Court is almost full now, apart from the odd little corner in the shade.

As a tournament, it is well supported by the locals. They like

their tennis here but they are probably the most polite crowd you

will ever find. You might get the odd come on, Jo at some point. What

do you think about her saying she was not going to allow the fact her

parents live a couple of miles from here and she is very much, has spent

a lot of her teenage years in Eastbourne, she is seen as a local

girl despite being brought up on the northern beaches of Sydney, until

she was 14, and her family moved everyone here, but she said she will

stay in the bubble, she will not let lost support the PSF? Should she

embrace it a little more? I don't think it would do any harm but

leading thinkers that with -- that is really her personality. She is

learning to just give people a bit more of her personality more. But it

is not something that comes naturally to her. She is quirky, I

can vouch for that. We are all quirky! You, more than just a bit!

So, Konta here serving to stay in this opening set.

Usually has a very reliable second serve, one of the best on the

women's tour, was in fine form down in Australia at Melbourne Park. That

was a huge part of her run to the semifinals.

She has done an enormous amount of work over the last couple of years

with a sports psychologist and you can almost see her going through her

process, because she is nervous. Yes, relief to get through that

game. They have gotten very handy players,

they always produce a few... Bondarenko... They could have had

Elena Vesnina, because she was born in that part of the world. Has

chosen to represent Russia. Sochi is her home town these days. I think

she moved there when she was quite young, when it was still part of the

Soviet Union. The perfect shot from Konta to play,

hard and deep into the Tsurenko forehand. That is exactly what

you're talking about, when it gets tight, that forehand looks fragile.

Good pressure from Tsurenko. The court looks very soft for her and

the ball isn't coming through at all. But there are places where it

is still a bit lush. Very much so. It will harden up as we go through

this week. Again, that forehand... Right on

power line. -- on our line. The wind looks as if it is blowing from left

to right of your picture. The ball would have just drifted over. On

another day, it would have been a couple of inches inside. But a great

opportunity here for Konta. Second serve return. A careless

error therefore Konta. There it is again. Deep into the

Tsurenko forehand. There is an irony in that, because for many years, it

would be players going into Jo's forehand hard and fast and getting

the error. The Konta forehand is something that has improved, out of

sight. It is not the same shot. Johanna Konta is not the tennis

player I remember! Tsurenko rather labouring through

this game, and she is at what we feel is the good end, with the wind

behind her. When you're feeling nervous and a

little uptight, the first thing that goes is your footwork, and Konta

just not getting up to that ball in that last point.

Oh! My goodness. I just wonder if she caught Konta moving... And also,

the previous point where she missed a forehand, by some distance. That

would have also had an effect. Big support there from the fans. They

sense this is important. Whoever is doing the school graphic

has got a little carried away. It is actually 5-5 at the moment. Another

break point. That forehand really breaking down from Tsurenko.

Better margin, better control that time of the forehand from Tsurenko.

But it was the server setup that short ball, very smart serve into

Konta's body. Must be coming up to, what, and eight of nine minute game.

Once again, second serve return. Break point.

Oh! Well, they are living and breathing every shot that Jo please.

She has done a great job of building pressure in this game. -- Jo plays.

Still hasn't got the breakthrough after so many chances.

That was a much better return from Konta, that was what she needed when

she had break point opportunities. That is what it is easy to think,

why didn't I do that before? But Jo was ever dog-eared, sticking in,

back to deuce. -- dogged. Very decisive and matter of fact on

that forehand from Tsurenko. Surprising, given some of the

mistakes he has made in this game. She has.

Does incredibly well, Lesia Tsurenko. Hold on despite all those

break points. They have been on court for just

under an hour. I can't translate what he's telling

her... It has been a topsy-turvy affair, both players have other

opportunities. The conditions haven't been easy as well. The wind

has been making it awkward for both women held there. You have to admire

their discipline as well. You cannot expect of a perfect tennis out here.

But for Konta, she has had her opportunity, and number of break

point opportunities, the number of second serve returns she has missed,

and she still looks fairly tentative out there, to me. She doesn't look

like she is able to relax just yet. And just play with a bit more

freedom, which she needs to, if she is to make a real impact in this

match. Up against a player she hasn't beaten before. It would be

great to see if Jo can release herself and once again, she finds

herself trying to serve to stay in this very long opening set.

Both women struggling with their ball tosses, normally so secure

behind a second serve, gets a lot of sheep and work on it. -- shape.

That was a great response from Konta.

So, 12 games played, not a single break in them but lots of break

points. Konta with a very good record this

season. Oh, superb! But has she made it? I

have to say poor guy has had a rest on the Centre Court today. --

Hawk-Eye. On most of the matches, this is the fourth of the day. This

is a good one from Tsurenko. Beautifully done. Superb from Konta!

And maybe now, just starting to relax out here. Konta's tie-break

record this year won five, lost two. You take that, wouldn't you? Yes.

Very smart return, taking the pace off, forcing Tsurenko to come up

with something herself. A clever shot to play to the Tsurenko

forehand. Give her no pace. She doesn't like generating her own. And

it is a tough thing to do on the grass, the ball staying down very

low. Yes, take advantage of the soft courts. They will not be like that

for much longer. What you can say about Jo Konta is

that she has been persistent out here. She hasn't got too

disappointed when she hasn't converted on so many break point

opportunities. She might be rewarded here. She has had to play catch up

the whole set, serving second. She can drive this tie-break now.

And contour has just been -- and Konta has just been rock solid in

the tie-break. She has had such a great record this season in

tie-breaks. It has been a real labour of love, 67 minutes, four

break points. The ball is taking a long time to

get down to the other end. -- the balls.

It's OK. Still got a couple of set points in her pocket.

Oh, relief for everyone and Britain's number one as Konta take

the opening set by 7-5 on the tie-breaker.

STUDIO: That's great, a full house as the

British number one take the set. It big upset with seeded Roberta Vinci

going out to Ekaterina Makarova of Russia. That will make our British

Tara Moore feel better because she lost two very yesterday. They have

been mixed fortunes for two of our guys at Nottingham. A good win for

Dan Evans. We are back tomorrow at ten past

one. Let's hope that if Jo Konta can win

this, she will be playing Petra Kvitova. And we should mention that

Northern Ireland versus Germany is on BBC One at the moment. When this

match leaves us here on BBC Two, you can still follow it on the Internet

and also on connected TV. Which we know you have.

COMMENTATOR: Whether you like or disapprove of

this on court coaching, it's a huge relief for Jo to get her coaching.

Let's listen in. I mean, I know there are some balls bouncing a bit

shorter but it is pushing it back. Yes, if you find yourself in a

vision like that, don't be afraid of missing because you have to hit a

passing shot. Also you did a good job trying to bring her into the net

with short balls or top shots. Stay with that.

COMMENTATOR: Well, Jo is the last lead to

complain about everything but bearing out what you have been

saying tactically. Always very impressed with her coach when he has

come on court. -- Jo is the last player to complain. Let's see how

she goes now. Second set. Her coach, whenever he comes on for

a pep talk, he's always very clear and precise.

For Konta, in these conditions, she has to be decisive and make up our

mind what she wants to do and go with it. You can't doubt yourself

out there. A huge weight will have been lifted

off her shoulders, having got that first set under her belt. Yes, just

has to be careful she doesn't have a let down here. 15-30.

A shot you see Konta play more often these days. There is definitely more

variety in her game. That is one of the reasons why we have seen her

improved so much and shoot up the rankings.

If you are going to approach against Tsurenko, you have got to go into

her forehand. Going into her strength... Tsurenko with the chance

to begin the fight back here. Well that call has been challenged

straightaway. Sorrento seems convinced it was either long or wide

of the tramlines. -- Tsurenko. And it has caught the line, it's in!

Just feels like such an important game for Konta, to keep the momentum

of that opening set up. STUDIO:

That may have been a big moment, but that is where we will have to leave

things on BBC Two. But you can say with this match online and on

connected TVs. Let's hope that Jo can carry on with her form. And the

programme tomorrow starts at 1:10pm. From a