Final Tennis: Eastbourne

The winner, misses Chris ever Lloyd. Martina Navratilova saved the match

point tremendously well. That is it. I do not have to tell you how

popular Martina Navratilova is. Monica Seles, adding to her growing

trophies. That is it. Kim cloisters wins at Eastbourne.

Good afternoon, finally some really is served here on the south coast

after a week of thunder storms and flooding. We have a final on time

beneath mostly blue skies. The temperature is hovering around 20

degrees. Eastbourne is for young and old and it is a day for reminiscing

about champions past and champions to come with food and drink. Today's

winner will add their names to a glorious roll of honour as we have

just seen. Whoever wins today, it will be an East European tribe. It

is the Czech Republic against Slovakia. This match on Centre Court

here at Eastbourne today is a classic contrast in stature and

style, of which more in a moment. It has been a really good tournament,

but the one disappointment was that Johanna Konta, trying to become our

first British champion since 1975, fell short last night. Disappointing

for us, but even more disappointing for her. She had her chances and she

played great tennis, but towards the end she was feeling it physically.

It is the only set so far that Pliskova has dropped in this

tournament and she came through the first two rounds in very

straightforward fashion. But the match last night was a classic ding

dong encounter that had the crowd here at Eastbourne on their feet

from the word go. It is not often on tour that you have to play two

matches in one day. Johanna Konta, starting in style. Nicely done.

Pliskova showing off her strokes. There is the winner. Really good

adjustment from Johanna Konta, but Pliskova is giving her nothing. Well

done, really well done. A brilliant break from Johanna Konta, and she

takes the opening set 7-6. No, no. That is heavy striking from

Pliskova. Wow. Pliskova wraps it up in style and she takes the second

set. She is hanging in. Superb from Pliskova. That is it. It is a first

Eastbourne final with the Czech Republic, Karolina Pliskova. What

does this mean? I played again a bunch of really good matches against

really good players and I got to stay at home that much longer. So, I

think it has been a very happy and positive week. She did not leave

empty-handed. That Crystal Rose Bowl presented to her by the chairman is

also along with life membership of the courts here, and as she lives

around here she is probably allowed to play here free anyway, but it was

a nice touch from the Club. Pliskova is in a rich vein of form at the

moment and she won at Nottingham two weeks away and she is one match away

from another title here at Eastbourne. It was a tough match for

me. You must walk onto court so confident. Yes, but not always. Sam

of them I have lost to them and it is better to expect a tough match

and if it goes on my side it is better. How do you feel you play in

Johanna's match. Were you wobbling in the last set? The first set was

really close and we were both serving very well, but the game for

me on the baseline was not very good and she was more aggressive in the

first set and she deserved to win the tie break. But I still believed

I could break her once in the second set and my game improved a lot in

the second set. Even at the beginning of the third, but I got a

bit tired and she came back and in the end it was a tight match. Your

serve is your great weapon. You are lucky to have the build to love it,

but it must be a great source of confidence to know that if you are a

break point down that you can produce that. Definitely, it is good

especially on grass to have a survey like this. It can sometimes save you

from tough balls. Always my serve is a big advantage. A lot of people

might not know too much about you. Your twin sister is a very good

tennis player as well. How much rivalry has there been between you?

We are the same age, we are both twins. She is a little bit down in

the rankings now, so we do not see each other much in the tournament,

but she is getting better. We are watching all the matches when she is

playing. When I am playing a she is watching, so we support each other.

Of course there is a rivalry, we both want to win and we want to be

the best. She is left-handed and is tough to play on grass, so we do not

play very much on grass. Do you play doubles together? We have different

schedules, so to play with her is difficult and this year I will play

with somebody else. Maybe in the future. Today it is someone from the

Czech Republic against Slovakia. Does that mean anything? I see her

very often, she is a very nice girl. I have a Slovak person in my team

right now, my coach. She is an opponent and I do not think about

the fact she is from Slovakia. You are so used to play in finals. Do

you wake up on the morning of a final and think, this is it? Does it

feel different or do you treat it like any other round? It is a little

bit different, but normally I am not nervous before matches, but it is

different because it is the last match of the week and I want to do

everything and put everything I can into the last match. Good luck.

Thank you very much. As the week has gone by the court has got much

harder and it is a benefit to have that big serve. It got her out of

trouble yesterday against Johanna Konta. Yes, that serve is a huge

weapon. She led the tour in terms of aces last year and she does so this

year. It will be key in this match today as well. Yesterday it was

windy and today it is windy. But she is able to hit through that and it

is something Cibulkova will have to look out for. The wake of her shock

is something to look at. Yes, it is off the ground. But once they get

into the rallies anything is possible. Her opponent is very

feisty, only five feet three, but she had a similar run through to the

final in the fact she only dropped one set and that was against the

number one seed, Agnieszka Radwanska. Her reaction at the end

tells you what kind of a player she is an character she is. So ebullient

and very natural and she gives it absolutely everything. And she was

equally upbeat if a little bit tired when she spoke to us. It was

extremely tough today after yesterday and today I was able to

come back and I was playing a little bit better with every stop. With the

rain delay I was coming back stronger and today I was playing

good in the morning. We played over one and a half hours and after I had

another two hours to have some rest and go back again and I was playing

a completely different opponent. It gives me a lot of confidence that I

could play Agnieszka Radwanska and then Monica puree who was playing

very aggressively. I had to change my play and play a little bit

different. When you are in the final, what is the feeling like? It

is the best feeling ever. I would never change it for anything. That

is what gives you the power and the motivation to go and work. Sometimes

you feel like, I cannot do this any more, I feel tired. That is with the

travelling and everything. But this gives you so much power. You played

a Grand Slam final in Australia a couple of years ago, on the morning

of a final does the final feel different to any other round? When

it feels different it is never good. You have to take it as another

match. Always when I want too much to win I never win it. This year I

have already played three finals and one of them I won and I was feeling

really good. I was not enjoying it, but I was really... Chilled.

Chilled. Andy at the one I wanted it too much. Do you have any secrets to

be chilled? When I tell myself to not care so much. But it is tough. I

do care. Karolina has got a huge serve, how do you combat that? She

is really tall and she is playing really aggressively. Against her

serve it is hard to compete. I played her once and I won in two

sets, but it was a very tough match. She is trying to finish the points

in two or three points. She does not like long rallies, so that is what I

will try to do, get her in long rallies. Win or lose in preparation

for Wimbledon this has been a pretty good week. Yes, it has. I am happy I

am playing my first match on Tuesday. It is a big help when you

stay longer on the tournament. You always want to get a few days to

practice at a Grand Slam, so I am happy about it. Best of luck.

We are almost ready to go because the line judges are out and the ball

boys and the ball growth as well. We are just waiting for the players. If

there was one word that you would use to sum up Cibulkova it is

attitude. She has got a fantastic attitude. The energy she brings onto

the court is captivating to watch. I could just watch her and not the

tennis in terms of what she brings to the court. There is a feeling

these days across all sport that size isn't everything. There is a

nine inch height differential in this match, but this is the spot

where a good little one can be a big one. You see people of all sorts of

shapes and size is doing well and she makes up for it because she has

got incredible footwork. She is able to keep herself on the baseline and

she does not allow herself to be bossed by others. She likes doing

the bossing herself. The weight of serve from a big serve, taking the

ball out wide, she has not got the levers to get to that ball and

Pliskova might be able to exploit that. She might not be able to get

it, but in terms of explosiveness and have ability to get around the

court, she makes up for it. When we get into the rallies, Cibulkova can

match her in terms of pace off the forehand.

It started off as a bruise and I am not quite sure on the Richter scale

what the next one above breezes, but this is just about the strongest

when the players have had to play an all week. How will that impact on

the players? It is expected. Yesterday conditions were not easy

and both had to play two matches. Today, coming out fresh and ready

for a final, they will be buzzing. The adrenaline will be high. They

both have the ability to hit through the wind. Footwork will be even more

important, making sure your indirect possession, and not off-balance. The

players are being announced onto court. Let's bring on the players

and make them feel very welcome. First of all, representing Slovakia,

Dominika Cibulkova. And her opponent, representing the

Czech Republic, please welcome Karolina Pliskova.

Perhaps you can see from their facial expression is the difference

in characters and personalities. Cibulkova is such an ebullient

person and she is here to enjoy herself. I am sure she fancies her

chances today. They have played once before, they know each other's game

inside out. It was two years ago they last played, an hard court. All

to play for, it is a final. Another final for both players and it will

be a fascinating match. It has been a difficult week, as have the last

few weeks in British tennis, because of scheduling and weather delays. It

is draining, not in terms of the physical effort, but about, when

shall I go back to the Mattel, shall I stay at the venue? Might a who has

the most left in the time? It is a final and these two women will give

it everything. Both of them have lots left in the tank. Yesterday was

trading. They have experienced it before, earlier this year and

throughout their careers. They know each other's game inside out.

Yesterday I saw them practising with each other. I think it will be

highly competitive. It is pretty much the same as every day. You can

see the difference in the stature of the two players. They will begin the

knock up soon. Pliskova on in Nottingham a few weeks ago. Having

experienced a final and then victory, it will give her the edge

today as well? Maybe a slight edge for Cibulkova. This is her first

grass court match the season. She has had a good run. You would say

that Pliskova is maybe the slight favourite on paper. She is a little

higher in the rankings. I would not rule out Cibulkova. She has been at

this stage of the tournament many times. She is feeling confident

about her tennis. With her attitude, anything is possible. Looking at the

picture of the two them at the net, and there are lots of young people

in the crowd today, which will not surprise you, the reputation that

Eastbourne has. -- which may surprise you. It offers massive

encouragement to teenagers who are told, you're not the right size to

play tennis. You can play at the highest level, and you do not have

to be six feet tall. She is a massive role model. She is massive

encouragement to everyone and anyone. If you have got the guts and

the talent, you can make it as well. Yes, and she has got a massive

heart. We talk about her energy and spirit. Honestly, for me she is one

of my favourite players to watch. She maximises everything. And as

someone who is not particularly tall, she does not play defensively,

she attacks. She will link to get the first big strike in before her

opponent in today's match. She has absolutely no fear. She is very

vocal. She is often shouting at herself. She always strikes me as

the kind of player that could get under her opponent's skin, if you

allowed it to happen. She could do. She shouts a lot. The Slovakian

four, come on. In between points, she does not stop moving. You watch.

Is exhausting. She never stops moving. If you have not seen her

play before and you are wondering what Anne was alluding to, it you

will notice during the course of the game... She is announced to the

crowd. That is the applause for her. She smells the balls before she

serves. She was telling us in an interview that she has such

sensitive nostrils she can differentiate between all the balls

at the different grand slam events. She can tell on me cold ball from

another. She is a woman of many skills. -- one ball. Watching at

home or her two Yorkshire terriers, they are called Woody Allen and Mia

Farrow. Because of quarantine regulations, they are not allowed

into this country to watch her play. She has taken them around the world,

to Central America and Africa to watch her play. This is the only

tournament, and Wimbledon next week, that they do not attend. I do not

think they come to court side. It is one of the reasons why she does not

start her grass court season too early. She just comes over for

Eastbourne and Wimbledon. Her Wimbledon first-round match is not

until Tuesday. She will have 72 hours to recover. The enormous

mental involvement required in this, to go through the week, you do not

want immediately beyond court at 11 o'clock on Monday morning, in

perhaps the biggest tournament in the world. No, but her opponent

could be, because Pliskova is in the bottom half of the draw, which

starts on Monday. It is not easy to recover. It is a short space of

time. Both players will be high on adrenaline going into Wimbledon,

full of confidence knowing they have lots of matches under their belt and

lots of victories. We can bring in Sam Smith, who will be commentating

on the match. How are you? Good afternoon. You have a great view. We

have become ancestral histories and is this summer, and you have a great

view of the clouds coming in from the sea. Do they worry you? No. The

wind has gone off the Beaufort scale. I do not know if you could

see them warming up, but they were trying to give each other some

blogs, smashes, and they were not able to do it because the ball was

moving so much in the air. Hopefully the wind will move the clothes back

towards the Downs and we will be right. This is the world number 21

against the number 17. Who do you think is favourite? The bookmakers

make Pliskova the strong favourite, possibly because of the way that she

finished against Johanna Konta yesterday. Her service is something

else. And sums categories and statistics, it is better than Serena

Williams'. That is where she is. We call her the Czech ace machine.

Playing on grass, it is a massive advantage. It plays into her hands.

She looked fabulous in the semifinal. This is the final chapter

being written on Eastbourne 2016. It has been a good tournament, with

lots of competitive 3-set encounters. It has shown women's

tennis and a good light. Yes, we had six former champions in the draw.

The big names did not come through, but it did not matter. Women's

tennis has far more strength in depth and the crowds have had a

treat. This is one of the best tournaments in women's tennis on the

tour. The women do not played to packed houses like this week in and

week out. That is what they have done a Devonshire Park. I am not

sure if all the women realise that, but it is a point worth making. Anne

Keothavong has left me at courtside to join Sam. Here we go with the

final of Eastbourne, 2016. The 42nd final and we have a Slovak against

the Czech. Dominika did not want to take a

backward step. She won the toss and elected to serve. Seeing someone 25

centimetres tall than her at the other end is like a red rag to a

bill. She always feels like the underdog.

Both women a little down on their highest ever rankings. Pliskova was

in the top ten last summer. She peaked at number seven. Cibulkova

broke into the top ten a couple of years ago but has slipped back since

then. The fourth final of the year for

Dominika. It has helped push ranking up from just inside the world's top

40. She had lots of problems last year.

Sometimes she gets a little too pumped up. Very difficult serving

conditions. The wind is right behind her, blowing over her left shoulder,

from left to right. Image problems for the Slovak. -- problem

straightaway. The ball moving all over the place.

It is Pliskova with the good start in this final. There has never been

a Slovak winner. There have been numerous Czech winners over the

years. The last one was almost 20 years ago, Jana Novotna beating

Arantxa Sanchez the carrier. There are the 11 victories of Martina

Navratilova. There is a real honour roll of

fantastic Czech players. They have always produced so many from this

part of the world. She has had very few double faults

this week. She does not make many doubles anyway. Anne, you were down

at courtside a few minutes ago. There is her coach. It is a

difficult day. It is blowing a gale. it looks like this might end up

being the more difficult end. You are at courtside, is it difficult

and there? Yes, it is, windier than yesterday.

My goodness, you can see the way the ball kept moving away from

Cibulkova. My goodness, three doubles in the

game. I think that tells you all we need to know about the conditions

out here from one of the best servers in the women's game. If her

serve is taken out of the equation, we have a very different match. Yes,

we do. The wind is a great leveller. It should even things out just a

bit. Well played. It Pliskova continues

to struggle on her own service games, you have got to fancy

Cibulkova for the title. Once again in the rallies she is the one with

the better footwork and she can make the adjustment steps in these

conditions and get herself in the right position.

If Cibulkova directs everything to Central and the middle of the court,

she has got the strokes to really make life difficult for her.

Caerphilly does it from Pliskova. -- carefully.

Nicely done, had a little bit of help from the net. But she is at the

right end of the court to play this drop shot. Yes, it has been a nice

add on to her baseline game. Cibulkova becomes the first player

to hold here. Always a lot to talk about this time

of the year. You can get in touch with us and we would love to hear

what you think about all things across this grass court season.

Wimbledon starts on Monday morning. How quickly it has come around. In

that last game I was concerned that Cibulkova would blow away. I wanted

to put some stones in her pockets to keep at ground level. I noticed a

few seagulls have taken to Wapping as well, that is always a sign that

it is not completely ridiculous out there. Although they have decided it

is safe to become airborne again! They both know what it is like. This

is only their second major appearance here at Eastbourne and

they know the situation. What are the golden rules for playing in

these conditions? In windy conditions do not stop moving your

feet. You always have to make adjustment steps on grass, but even

more so when the conditions are like they are today. The wind is keeping

those clouds away, blowing them over to the South Downs to the top left

of your picture. And uncomfortable style I would say to this final.

You will see a lot of the fist pumps from Cibulkova. There is always

interaction between her and her team as well.

Well, I am not sure about being chilled out here. She was telling us

yesterday after her semifinal that she did not want to care too much. I

think she is super pumped. If she ever not super pumped? I have never

known her not to be. Head coach has got his head in his hands. He has

been with her long-time, a fellow Slovak. Also there is her trainer

and her fiance. A very happy camper. Well, the woman who has been barely

broken this week is not yet able to hold in this final. I cannot see her

being perturbed. There is something so laid back about Karolina

Pliskova, you feel that she is almost ready to wander off and lie

down. When she explodes she really goes for it and it is the racket

that takes a bit of a hammering. I think she managed to crack one after

the first set against Johanna Konta yesterday.

He was also the Slovak Fed cup captain.

A very smart shot from Cibulkova. She uses the slice backhand so much

better now, whether she is defending or using it for a drop shot. Just to

change up the pace, something that was not part of her game when she

first came on tour. Making the most of her long levers

right there. A really smart move to coming fairly centrally. That is

where she ended. It drifted over to Cibulkova's backhand side. Both

players having to adapt. -- where she aimed it.

Just wide. Four breaks of serve in the opening five games of this

final. She did this yesterday. She went

very early. This man has taken her from a very good junior, one of the

best in the world, into the world's top ten.

UMPIRE: Time. Something we have had on the tour for a number of years

now. You are allowed your coach on pretty much once every set. You can

have them on again if your opponent has an injury time-out or goes for a

bathroom break. It is about once each side. These two use it very

well. -- each set. Maybe they are both now resorting to plan B.

Interesting seeing the coach coming on. He is an extrovert,

superintendent, in great contrast to Karolina. She is very relaxed and

chilled out about sings, -- about things, maybe too composed. He

provides that intensity and tells her to get going. Yes, and often she

responds well. They have had a successful partnership. Pliskova

broke into the world's top ten for the very first time last summer. Why

do you think she has slipped back? She is currently at number 17. Last

year was a real breakthrough year for Pliskova. So much has been

expected of her for so long, she was a successful junior, she did not

make a massive impact when she first came on tour. I think it is just

getting used to playing at that high level every week. It is all good and

well doing it for a year or a couple of months, but you have got to back

it up the following year against. When you think of all those points

to defend, it comes around quickly, and that adds pressure. Smart play

from the Slovak, and can you believe this? The chance to break for the

third service game in a row. Against one of the best servers in women's

tennis. Pliskova was only broken once in her

match yesterday against Konta. -- let, first service. Under

pressure, that is her go to serve on the flat side. Out wide.

My goodness. The main thing is, is she OK? She took an ASCII slip in

the early part of that point. She did turn her ankle. She was OK.

Immediately weight-bearing. That can rattle you. It happened to Johanna

Konta in the semifinals yesterday. We are back at deuce.

It was the right shot to play. You have got to take conditions into

consideration and give yourself that more margin than usual.

That is a great response to being broken in the opening two service

game. And the Czech levels it. At the moment, it is a rather

strange affair. Neither is playing Phil out. Both are being rather

circumspect. They are taking the conditions into consideration.

She really launched herself into that forehand, didn't she? Both feet

off the ground. Everything into that shot.

She gets a little extra help by using a slightly longer than regular

racket. She tells me it is five millimetres longer than the standard

frame. She tried on seven millimetres longer but that was not

quite right. She knows her tennis frames.

I think I could do with an extra long racket these days. Tudur? Just

to help me get my racket to the ball. I cannot really move so much.

That is a really good response from Karolina Pliskova.

An interesting personality, Karolina Pliskova. The most animated you will

see how is when she's talking about her twin sister, who was born just a

couple of minutes before she was. They are very close, they are

constantly in contact. These days, it is wonderful with the phones,

Skype, and they are super close. They have confessed in their younger

days to switching boyfriends. I do not think they are the only set of

identical twins to have done that. They are fun. Tennis has pretty much

been 84 those two since four years of age. They grew up about one

strive north of pride. It is a pretty handy spot to play tennis,

pride. There they are, I am not sure who is which. I think that is the

sister and rewrite. I cannot tell the difference. When they are next

to each other, I am never quite sure, but apparently you can see a

difference in their noses, or their tatties. Or the tennis rackets.

Carolyn is right-handed, bought her sister is left-handed. When the play

doubles together, they are both six foot plus tall. They are pretty

formidable. After a shaky start, she seems to have found her way.

Not quite getting the balance right, Cibulkova, keeping those unforced

errors down. His attempt of a drop shot from

Pliskova was not exactly the best. Too much air time on it.

Big strikes of both wings for Cibulkova, but that forehand is

deadly and pretty astute tactically as well, publishing away to the

forehand of the check. It is another break point.

'S breaks in the opening eight games. I am not sure that was in the

script. We should not be too surprised given the conditions. I do

not want to keep banging on about it, but it is so tough to control

down there on the court and the wind is swirling as well. I wonder how

mentally Pliskova will cope with that because she is not used to her

serve being broken. Certainly three times in a match, but not three

times in a set. UMPIRE: Miss Pliskova has challenged

the call. The call stands. Miss Pliskova has two challenges

remaining. On full stretch on the backhand. She

loves those lines. All or nothing. She likes to take some risks and

catches a lot of opponents out with those down the line balls.

She makes some mistakes, but you never see her get down on herself.

Well, she has got the firepower, but has she got the control? Those

leggings are proving very useful actually as a substitute for a ball

pocket. Really well worked by Cibulkova. And

she hits the front once more in this opening set.

I feel like it has been a momentum this set. Nobody has really grabbed

hold of it in this opening 40 plus minutes. What do you feel might make

the difference out here? With both players you know what you are going

to get, they are not going to deviate too much from the game plan

or their style of play. You will not see either player charged forward

any time soon, but I think this first set is huge in terms of

confidence and momentum. It is a final. Neither have particularly

good records in finals. Cibulkova has won five titles from 14

attempts. And for Pliskova it is five from 13 finals. I wonder if

that will get in the way for both of them. You feel Cibulkova should a

prolific winner. It is the second meeting between these two. Cibulkova

won a couple of years ago in different conditions on hard in

Kuala Lumpur, but it took her three sets to do it, having won the

opener. You feel the scripts are being ripped up every couple of

minutes in this Eastbourne final. Pliskova broken three times find

herself serving to stay in this first set.

So many of the players who have faced Pliskova have talked about how

her first serve explodes off the court, in a similar fashion to that

of Venus Williams. In terms of speed it might not be

the fastest on tour, but it is generally pretty accurate. Also she

makes the most of her height because of the way it bounces up, it really

gets up. And that is the most convincing

service game we have seen from either player so far. Pliskova

levelling up in style. She seems to keep the ball on the

racket strings for such a long time. That is something you cannot teach,

good timing. Everything about her game looks very effortless.

We have seen better drop shots this week from Cibulkova. Pliskova might

not be the pastors, but she got to that won with ease.

That is a better one. Much better. More backspin on this drop shot from

Cibulkova. It just dives at the front of the court. This Court has

hardened up beautifully over the course of the week, but it is still

quite soft. Great battling staff from Cibulkova.

She answers a lot of service game with a strong one of her own. This

final will have nothing to do with forehands or backhands, it will be

all about great, and being rugged and tough, dealing with whatever

comes your way. It is a big test for these two, right on the eve of

Wimbledon. I wonder how difficult it is for her, being tall, having such

a beginning, like Petra Kvitova, she is only a year or two younger. She

is like the next one in the production line. In some ways, there

are games are quite similar, although one is left handed and one

is right-handed. In terms of what they're trying to achieve, big

serves, big strikes from both wings, all-out attacking game, she is

someone who very much legs up to Petra Kvitova. As do lots of young

Czech players. She has been a good friend, Fed Cup team-mates. They

produce lots of tennis players in that part of the world. Not quite so

many in the Slovak Republic. They have three in the world's top 100.

They usually have more than that. Cibulkova is by far of the best of

them. For many years we had a top five player in the world. So,

Pliskova is serving to stay in this opening set.

That was never going in and a month of Sundays. I do not think it was a

shot she wanted to play. The ball kept moving away from her, and she

struggled to control it on her racket.

I think Pliskova should have been running as soon as she hit the

slice. That was the obvious short for Cibulkova. Two said points for

the Slovak. -- set points. Pliskova is broken

for a fourth time, and Cibulkova wraps up the opening set, 7-5.

What an extraordinary first set of their band floor. Also, ebb and flow

above was in the skies. The blue sky has been usurped by Gray. We are

told there may be rain on the way, which is rather dispiriting, in

about half an hour. Let's hope they are wrong and we get on and

corrupted played to the close of the final. It is engrossing, so far. On

Monday, Wimbledon and this is where the British players will be in

action over the first two days. On Monday and Schuster, the bottom half

on top hearts will play. Heather Watson and her opponent are very

close in the rankings. Broady will play the 17 seed. Laura Robson has

had terrible injury troubles over the last couple of years. She will

play the champion from Australia earlier this year. And now the men.

Andy Murray, another match against a British player. That is after a

decade without playing any. James Ward is playing someone!

Marcus Willis has come through qualifying. He came through

prequalifying. He is ranked in the 760s in the world. The lowest ranked

player to play at Wimbledon in 60 years. It all starts on Monday.

We thought the conditions might have an impact. There is no doubt they

have affected Karolina Pliskova, one of the great servers in women's

tennis. Really struggling in that apartment in the first set. It is

advantage to the busy and bustling Dominika Cibulkova, looking for her

second title of the year. And her first on grass. The Slovak. This

second set. -- Slovak will start this second

set. This has been a really good pattern

of play for Cibulkova, Pilling Pliskova over to the backhand and

going straight down the line. It has worked a treat so far.

If the result was being decided by how much these two are not moving

their feet, you would hand the trophy to Cibulkova. You said

earlier, that is the number-1 thing you have got to do in these. Yes.

She has just put it wide. When it comes to footwork and intensity,

this woman has it all. Another loose one from Pliskova.

Cibulkova does not waste much time seeing, thank you very much. She

puts in a really good hold at the start of the second set. I

understand you have played both the Pliskova sisters in the first round

and the second round. You kept that quiet. It was a few years ago in

Nottingham. I had to play Karolina first. I managed to beat her on a

grass court and then I had to play her twin. That match was moved

indoors, so I managed to win that one as well, would you believe? I

have had to play Karolina and beat her a few times, but she is a much

better player these days. Very modest.

The Pliskova sisters both came on as teenagers. People did not expect so

much from Karolina as her sister. Karolina's Twain is a pretty

dangerous player herself, but when it comes to work ethic, I would give

Karolina the edge. That is usually what it comes down to.

That is what she does so well. It is the perfect 1-2. I am amazed she has

not used that pattern of play more in this match.

It is great to see the way that she has embraced the grass court season.

The champion in Nottingham a few weeks ago. She actually won the

doubles at Edgbaston last week. She went out early in the singles. She

has been playing for five weeks on grass, potentially. That is a big

chunk of the season. That is where a few little

adjustment steps could really help Pliskova. You can see her running

just straight into that ball. So all rather peaceful in this

second set compared to how the match open. You have got the Wimbledon

draw and it starts on Monday. Cibulkova, seeded 19, plays somebody

in the top half and that will be on Tuesday. That looks pretty stiff.

Lucic Baroni was not well this week, but I hope she is OK. I am sure not

all of those names will come through. She is in the bottom half,

Pliskova, and she will play on Monday against the Belgian. That

section is packed with big names. Simona Halep has not been in the

greatest form recently. Then there is the French Open champion and then

looming large is the defending champion Serena Williams. She is

currently enjoying her 298 week as the world number one. She is still

the boss. Now, who will be the boss of this one?

Not much time for these women to recover before Wimbledon. But it is

a good thing, though. Immediately after this match, after they have

fulfilled their media commitments, they will be in a car on their way

to Wimbledon. Yes, they will have already rented apartments and houses

close to the cause. Christina has probably got the milk and the pasta

in and how is that all organised. You would hope so!

I would imagine tomorrow would not be a complete rest day for either of

these two players. They do not get to plan the match courts, which

players do today. You cannot do it on Sunday. You only get half an hour

on Saturday, but it is pretty important. The grass is kept longer

on the match cause and has not had all the play like the practice

courts. This could be a vital moment here.

Oh, well done. And it gets Cibulkova who makes the first move in this

second set. We have never had a Slovak winner

here at Devonshire Park. There is a way to go yet, plenty of tennis

still in this second set, but the force is with Cibulkova. She could

be super popular. This is the 42nd year of this event and there have

been so many great campaigns like Navratilova, Virginia Wade. Chris

Evert, the first champion in the inaugural year of this event. It is

fascinating that there are posters of all the great champions in the

players area and they realise this is a very good tournament to have on

your CV and they understand the history of it.

One of the longest rallies of the match, but you can see how bonne

rubble Pliskova is when she is pulled out wide to her forehand

side. Not explosive enough with her footwork to get behind the ball.

What is worrying is we were talking about that stretch and attempted

squash shot two or three years ago and she still has not found a way to

be explosive out of that corner. That is why she possibly could not

hold in that top ten position. A bit of weakness there.

I think she knows. I do not think this is going to be a very

successful challenge for Cibulkova. I almost feel the two square metre

area in that corner. Why play there? That is your no-go zone in these

conditions from the end of the court that she is and when the wind is

going that way. It is probably about a two metre drift, so if you aim

your ball at the centre it will end up halfway to the line. You almost

need to aim in the middle of that service box and then it is still

dicey. Temptations! Now, what she has done in this match

is she has kept the loose once to a minimum, but there is a slight

stuttering here. A second chance to break in this game for Pliskova.

Well done. Great depth from Cibulkova on those strikes. She is

really keeping Pliskova pinned back behind the baseline here.

That is how you take the ball on the rise as well.

You do not need to know how Cibulkova is failing. She is

potentially within two games of her first title. She extends her lead in

some fashion. Gutsy, feisty, determined.

That was some talking to. He brings plenty of intensity. We would love

to translate it for you. Apparently he has told her to just

keep playing your game, but two breaks of serve, you can break her.

Believe in yourself. She came back from the shots. It was rather remiss

of her to go out when we need her. On the telly. It is one break of

serve, and every chance to come back into this match.

She definitely needed a pep talk. That is what her coach brings.

There is always a positive response when she has had her coach on. The

pressure thrown right back on Cibulkova. She could probably do

with someone courtside at every change of ends. It is the missing

ingredient with her. A really slick service game there, though. Now we

will see if the Slovak can hold her nerve.

This is a great effort and hustle from Cibulkova. Just that bit too

much. You have got to admire her effort to chase every single ball

down. Wow. Virtually on her knees for the

first backhand. That was the first twitchy shot we

have seen from Cibulkova. Pliskova with two chances to get back on

serve in the second set. She saved two break points in her

last service game, two more there. Time is running out for Pliskova if

she cannot convert. The second serve return. It was

there for her to go after. Again, footwork and intensity cost.

You can here the effort from Cibulkova. Quite often when players

start really grunting, that is a sign of stress. Do not forget, she

has only won five titles in her career, from 14 finals. You would

have thought she would have been more prolific winner. The resulting

in there. -- there is something psychological in there.

Break points stone, but Cibulkova does not back off.

There was no call. Maybe the lens man was having a goal was. It was a

long way out. You can understand Cibulkova having a look. It does not

happen very often, when there is no call. I think the line judge a have

nodded off. She really does stay down so low,

keeps her racket through the shot. Just as you would expect, as

resilient as ever. She has already fended off four break points in this

vital game. It is turning into an almost ten minute game.

On we go, it is the sixth deuce. The heart of the match right here.

Yes, that might be enough for Cibulkova. She knows it as well. She

may not have to shout much more before the end of this match. The

great thing about Dominika, she has her own clothing line in Slovakia,

she does what she says and the ten. Every time she comes out on court,

she gives the maximum, 100% energy, commitment, focus. Lots of players

can talk about that, but trying to do it year in, year out, it is

incredible. It is. She is 27 years of age. She has been on tour for a

long time. She absolutely loves it. She loves life on tour. She has a

tight-knit team. Her coach and fiance are they that pretty much all

the tournaments. They never seem to uptight, that band. They are pretty

chilled. Yes, I saw them together before this match and they were

chilling out on the sofas, laughing at whatever was on their iPad or

phones. They all seem to get on so well. The are all good guys. -- they

are all good. They support her and by corrupt. Why wouldn't you? She

must be a dream to coach. She had a big operation on her Achilles last

year. She was out for four months. She came back for her first

tournament in Eastbourne. I do not think she could have dreamt of this.

Pliskova has got to be right with this challenge. If she is not, she

loses the point. It is very close. She is right! Good challenge. It

gives her a cushion in this game. Surely she has to make Cibulkova

serve it out. Cibulkova would love to break here

instead of trying to serve this match out. I am looking at the flags

at the northern end of the court were Pliskova is serving now. The

wind has dropped. One of the problems for her has been the

condition. It has really hurt her serving. If she can just hold, you

never know. It is one break. Good control from Cibulkova, did not

rush anything. You may be right, Annie, a big

investment in this game so she does not have to go through the trauma of

trying to serve it out. I do not think she is going to

challenge. She has only got one left.

Just as well she did not. The serve is back and now the wind has dropped

they are playing in completely different conditions now. Can

Cibulkova serve it out? One of the few times today she has

put it together. It is a case of what might have been for Karolina

Pliskova. UMPIRE: Miss Cibulkova has

challenged the ball. Long. I am with you. No challenges left. But one

championship point remains. That is it! There is no one quite

like her. Dominika Cibulkova is the Eastbourne champion. What a

wonderful reaction. You can see how much it means to her. She absolutely

deserved the title of this week. She has brought so much energy on to the

court. Her biggest title this year. It has been a fantastic week. Her

first grass court title of her career.

Well, they have had a treat this week. Whatever session they have had

on Centre Court the women have played to packed houses. Dominika

Cibulkova joined a very special honour roll here. The first Slovak

champion, she will get her picture in the gallery at the back of this

court. And it really is a team effort these days. Her second title

from her fourth final this season. Pliskova could not pick up after the

win she had in Nottingham, but she goes into the Wimbledon

Championships in fine form and she is one of the danger women from the

second tier of players. That is only a couple of days away.

I would like to bring the presentation party onto court. The

director of customer value management. A board member of the

world tennis Association. Annie, a few words from you to sum

up. She has just brought so much onto court. If every single match

this week she has invested so much. After such a tough day yesterday

with two matches which she had to play and win, she thoroughly

deserves this moment. Of course the rain is going to stay away. Tough

conditions for both to play in. Very windy. Please, show your

appreciation for Karolina Pliskova. She beat Britain was at number one

Johanna Konta in the semis. She has had a wonderful week. We will

present some champagne to the losing finalist and she will now have her

champagne moment. The runners-up trophy will be presented, along with

the prize money of $70,550. One of the directors.

Aegon is such an important sponsor for this grass court series. Now it

is time to celebrate our champion. Please welcome dominate the Siebel

Clover. A special week for her. She is so popular on the tour. That win

over Agnieszka Radwanska in the quarterfinals was something special.

And now dominate car has her champagne moment. The prize fund is

$132,550. Mark will step forward and present the 2016 Aegon International

Trophy to Dominika Cibulkova. The first grass court title for Dominika

Cibulkova. And who knows what awaits her over the next fortnight. Now

John Nvidia will conduct the interviews. Dominica, many

congratulations. Just how happy are you? It is very hard to describe.

This is my best week on grass and they feel it has just happened and I

was playing really well today and the conditions were really hard for

me and for my opponent. It was a great week for me and you guys are

awesome and I love playing here. This is my second time here and I am

going to come here for many years. We saw on the final point your

reaction and the reaction of your coaching team. How much do you owe

them? My team is to me everything. I would not be standing here without

them. Tennis is not a team game, but you need to have your team around

you to be 100% ready and they made me ready and our work has paid off,

so that is the best thing. It takes two people to make a great final and

if we could ask Karolina to come in for a couple of moments. A round of

applause, please. Congratulations, hard luck today, but you won at

Nottingham and have been runner-up at Eastbourne, so you must have had

a good grass court season so far. I am happy with the way I played this

year on grass and there is Wimbledon coming and I want to do better even

there. I have got one title, so it is not that bad. How excited are you

about Wimbledon next week? You must go there with a lot of confidence.

Definitely, I wanted to play as many matches as I could be for Wimbledon

and I will rest a little bit and I am ready for Wimbledon. Thank you

very much for your contribution to the Eastbourne week. To finish off,

tennis fans have been used to Rafael Nadal shouting something over the

time and you shout something which is Slovakian, does that mean come

on! Yes, we say it from where I come from. It reminds me. One last thing,

it is sometimes difficult in international sport, it is a very

serious business, but it seems as if you are having fun and you give so

much fun to ask and you bring so much extra to the women's tour and

you are very much yourself and everybody has warmed to you this

week because of that. How proud I you of that? Thank you, guys. That

is something you have inside and that is how I am and this is how I

am and I am glad that people like it. That trophy has got Navratilova,

Chris Evert and now it has got you. They told me that Navratilova won 11

times. I thought it would be good to win it once and here it is, so I am

happy. She is very happy and we are very happy today and it was a great

match to round off this week's tennis. Thank you to Karolina

Pliskova and our winner this year, Dominika Cibulkova.

A special champion. It means so much to her. She really has entertained

the fans this week, as she does all over the world. Everyone falls in

love with her. A good week for Pliskova as well.

Both will be dangerous at Wimbledon next week, both will be seeded.

Maybe not the best final that we have ever had that Devonshire Park,

but I really strong one. Difficult conditions for both of them, but it

was Cibulkova who manage them far better.

The sun stayed with us all afternoon. It is glorious now. That

is a beaming smile tour on Ofwat has been a really good week's tennis at

Eastbourne. Paying that kind of tennis, Anne, no one is going to

fancy meeting her at Wimbledon. No, she will be a dangerous player.

Unfortunately for Johanna Konta, she is in the same section. There is a

potential third-round meeting. She will be full of confidence and high

on adrenaline. Some made the point that wherever she plays in the

world, because of the way that she engages with the crowd, the crowd on

tour. She is a massive asset to the women's tour. Yes, she has such an

infectious personality, how can you not want to? She is like that on and

off the Eastbourne, a brilliant goal to be around. You have mentioned Jo

Konta once already. She has had a great run at Eastbourne, her

hometown. There will be so much publicity over the next 48 hours

about her being the first British seed at Wimbledon in the women's

draw more than 30 years. How do you think she will approach Wimbledon of

the back of this week? Is she on an upward curve? For sure. She has had

good results this week. She will take confidence from that. The next

few weeks will be a whole new experience for her in terms of being

in the limelight, having to fulfil media obligations, talking to people

that perhaps were never interested in her. She is learning, she will be

going through her process and trying to manage the situation as best she

can. She has a great team around her and they will help her. Trina

Shearer, thank you for being with us all week. It feels like the height

of summer. Their Israel warmth coming from the orb in the sky. Here

are details of programmes coming up. -- there is real warmth. You can

follow it on so many platforms, it is not true. There is no skip from

Wimbledon once it starts on Monday morning. We have had a fantastic

couple of weeks, with Andy Murray winning at Queen's last week. This

final has set us in just the right frame of mind with Wimbledon

starting on Monday morning. From all of us here, with the sun beating

down, thanks for watching over the last couple of days. With all the

thunderstorms, we got there in the end.