Semi-Final, Part 1 Tennis: Eastbourne

Good afternoon from Eastbourne. No rain, no thunder, no lightning, a

gentle sea breeze and the most glorious sunshine. After all the

interruptions, this is how the draw looks at the moment. Rushing towards

Centre Court to see Jo Konta in action. This week, in between the

rain showers, we have had some spectacular 3-set matches. There was

the match a few months ago finishing between Dominika Cibulkova and

Agnieszka Radwanska. Cibulkova coming back to win after going a set

down. Pliskova is waiting for the winner

of the match that has literally just art it. Jo has not got off to the

best start because she has lost her serve but she is 30-0 in her second

service game. We will join Sam Smith and Antioch along.

COMMENTATOR: Devonshire Park looking picture perfect. Very different from

the monsoon conditions of yesterday evening. They were held until 7:30pm

before being told to come back tomorrow. Just what Jo needed, a

convincing service game after being broken in the first of the match.

Playing in front of a packed house here. It is the third meeting

between these two. They played here last year, Konta winning in straight

sets. They then played a wonderful match at the Australian Open on the

Margaret Court Arena, 8-6 in the decider for Jo. One of the best

performances to date that she had put in. But the pressure has changed

now, Konta rated 18 in the world, Makarova is a former champion here

and has been in the top ten. Expectation is that Konta will back

up the victory. The pressure is on Konta. Makarova can play with more

freedom these days. I don't think her expectations are too high. A

former champion here. A ninth consecutive appearance. It is the

sort of tournament that when it comes to the end of the season and

sorting out her calendar, eased Bourne is written in then

straightaway. She has had a good run here, beating the British wild card

Tara Moore in her opening match. She then beat last is US Open finalist

Roberta Vinci and then three sets needed against the former German

number one Andrea Petkovic. It has been a busy week for all of the

players here. A couple of matches per day as one of these two will.

Whoever makes the semifinal against Pliskova will be forth on Centre

Court. -- fourth. Let's tell you about it capturing

of. 28 years of age, lives and practices in Moscow. For many years

has been one of the top Russian players.

Had to grow up in the golden syrup of Russian tennis and has almost

been in the shadows. Last year she went into the top ten.

And lastly is one of the world's worst doubles players. A wonderful

partnership with Elena Vesnina. Two grand slam titles have come their

way. Konta with three chances to get the break back.

Looking so poised and the British number one is back on track.

That serve is going to be key in this match today. Has served so well

in this tournament so far. Everything about Johanna Konta is

very deliberate. Particularly the start of this serve and the way she

bounces it. It tells you everything you need to know about her.

Looked a little nervous in her opening match but came through. Was

so impressive coming from a set down against Tetra Kvitova. The two-time

Wimbledon champion, 6-0 in the decider. She said she was seeing the

ball like a football. That was way back on Wednesday afternoon. Didn't

get an court yesterday. She has the wind with her on this

end, Konta. Yes, as you look down the court, it is blowing

left-to-right, a diagonal over that left shoulder. The southern end

seems to be the easier end to play with the wind but I'm due. -- behind

you. Fantastic from the British number

one. A great drop shot to win the point but it was the forehand

crosscourt that was really impressive from Konta. The way she

is able to defend from that win these days, so much better. -- from

that side. Really good recovery from being broken in her opening game.

I am trying to get in my head, Jo Konta of 12 months ago when she was

ranked 140 in the world. How she came through all the weight get

through to the quarterfinals before losing to Belinda Bencic and beating

Garbine Muguruza, which is a result looking better with age. And last

week broke into the world top 20. It has been an extraordinary 12 months,

can you explain what has happened? No other player has been able to

rise up the rankings as rapidly as Johanna Konta in the last 12 months.

The improvement she has made, everything now, it is a totally

different experience. It has taken its toll on her. If you look at her

results over the last couple of weeks, the demand is now on and off

the court have had a bit of an effect on her. They have quadrupled.

It is not something she hasn't been used do in the past. But it is

something she will have to get used to quickly because everybody wants a

piece of her. She is playing some wonderful tennis, that match against

Kvitova was one of the best we have seen from her. Ekaterina Makarova

who has been a fine player over the last decade knows she has her work

cut out here. Great to see her back on tour, she

didn't play in the US Open last year. Struggled with an injury in

her right leg. Was forced to restart at the beginning of the season.

Always known as a dangerous opponent. A great shot maker from

the back of the court. We will try not to go on about it

too much but they are playing in a wind tunnel. They really are, it is

not easy on court. It is swirling around a lot. And bouncing off all

of the stands. It is the most windy day we have had so far here at

Devonshire Park. Konta wanted to have a look at that

but a bit late with the challenge. There was a look over to her coach

and he shrugged at her. He is on the service line behind the umpire. Not

in a good position. It was the baseline nearest our commentary box.

I must admit it did look long. But we are not infallible. Our

performance has been mixed. The call is confirmed and Makarova holds.

Her mum is here this week. Her mum, Olga. I wonder if mum had in that

challenge. Not really supposed to look to the coaching camp, are you?

It is hard not to. She will need a change of socks for

next week, at SW 19. They are not ankle supports? I think they may

need to be white next week. Luxury for Jo, she can stay with her

parents who have a place not far from here. Her dad was here

yesterday. Her likes to go back and watch it on TV. Yes, her mum gets

too nervous. Her mum, Gabriella. Her mum has been around and about to

watch practises and to hang out with Jo between matches. When it actually

comes down to the nitty-gritty, she prefers to go in and out of her

sitting room to see what is going on the TV. She gets too nervous to sit

courtside. This is also another area where

Konta has made huge improvements at defence, but also the way she uses

the slice backhand. Well Makarova... Konta is looking

very comfortable. That's been the surprise, really,

that wonderful run to the Australian Open semi-finals, up to the fourth

round at the US Open last year. It isn't just she's had a big week or

fortnight and then dropped off in form, she's continued to back up

results. She won in Asia last year and nearly beating Venus Williams,

who she beat at Melbourne Park. She has continually backed up these

results and to me looks like she belongs in the top 20 now. It is

incredible watching her play these days. This is a completely different

Johanna Konta to the Konta I remember plaque tising with a few

years ago. I mean, she doesn't, outwardly, anyway, fret as much. She

contains her emotions and manages everything better than she ever used

to. And in terms of her game, you know,

she's always had the game to play well. It just never used to come

together consistently enough. The improvements in her movement,

her defensive game, as well as her forehand have been huge. They have

been subtle little changes she's been working on with her coach. And

the most important thing, though, she believes. It is wonderful to see

after five or six years on the satellite and challenger tour, which

is a difficult initiation. You don't want to stay there too long, but she

has broken well away from that. And Makarova on serve now with the new

balls. Doing a good job battling against

the wind as she levels up. Konta is certainly the favourite

going into this match-up. It is worth remembering this is her

seventh quarter final here. She has a reputation in Eastbourne as well

as being the champion six years ago. She is such a tidy player, Makarova.

She won this tournament six years ago as a qualifier. Just looking at

some of the names she beat on her way to the title - t Peneta and

Azarenka in the final. No wonder she keeps coming back here

every year. Very good at changing play of

direction, Makarova. Using the line off both wings.

Such a flat strike too. These two are playing right to the

lines. Both are rather weary of dropping anything short. A good game

from the Russian: She has three chances to break Konta for the

second time in this opening set. Really nice.

Makarova, back on top and will zer for this opening set.

-- serve. A great recovery from Makarova in

the last few games. We are going to get a chance to

listen to Jo's coach. Let's hope Mr Director will send him

our way. I am not sure if he's actually got his microphone on at

the moment. We cannot be evaluating everything

from here. Every ball we miss, or every point that we lose. OK. Other

than that, which is the most important thing... I want you to

work on. That let's beat bigger targets to start to feel more solid.

Well t conditions are an issue. We have a lot of wind. Let's stay with

the same game plan with bigger targets. Stay to the mid-we go

there. It has been difficult for both of you. Stay tough, please.

Feel how hard you are working and beat your target.

Very impressive. He travels with her quite a few weeks of the year and

makes an awful lot of sense, but right now, it is Makarova to serve

for this first set. There is nothing you can do about

that. Hits it so flat, doesn't she? She

will always get a few off the tape. The backhand is very much Konta's

favoured shot. When she's got time to lean into it, it really is

effective. Not easy for either player to

control it in this wind. Things have changed very quickly. Konta with two

chances for the immediate break back.

I am sure we will get another look at that point because the ball was

moving right away from her and I am sure she was worried about touching

the net. It was an awkward shot but to miss it by that distance is

something else. Not one for the highlight reel. All square in the

first set. Only just over 100 mph but perfect

position with plenty of work and slice on it.

She doesn't miss mid-court backhands, Makarova.

Makarova has been a wonderful player for a long time. Her mum is on the

right. As a shawl with her just in case it turns chilly later. Well

done. The perfect 1-2 four Konta. Konta making Makarova paper not

serving out this set. Some big serving from Konta to get herself

out of trouble. You use to practice with her at the National tennis

Centre in Roehampton for a number of years. What was it like trying to

return that serve? It has always been good but what makes it really

good is the disguise on it. It is a consistent old toss so you are never

quite sure what type of serve you are going to get, the slice, the

flat one or the kicker. She uses all of them and uses her height to get

up to it incredibly well. The second serve? A lot of people are starting

to really talk about this second serve and how tough it is. It is

because she can use the kicker incredibly well, particular on the

ad side. She has the ability to change it up well. She uses her

height to maximum effect. Her serve has always been a weapon

but it is much better these days. She didn't start this quarterfinal

territory well but goodness me she has picked it up. Makarova now

serving to stay in this first set. The variety in Konta's game is also

notable. Her willingness to change up the pace and the spin.

She has to aim through the centre of the court when she his pushed that

far out wide and under pressure. Both ends with different sets of

problems. Makarova with a chance now to take this into the tie-break.

Great reset from the Russian. I am not sure if a Rover has been

allergic to tie-breaks this year but has not had many. Konta has had a

very good record in them. Makarova just too tentative with

this Molly, did not stick it enough and it sat up nicely for Konta.

The favourite shot. Why is this backhand so good? She uses her left

hand so well. When she gets behind the ball and her body weight through

the shot, she stays through so well. It is just a natural swing for her.

Great hustle. The mini-breaks not out. She is playing an experienced

campaigner in Makarova. It really is an afternoon for

industrial strength hairspray. It is moving all over the place and Konta

needs to regroup here. A rather introverted character on court,

Ekaterina Makarova. A lovely personality and easy off court.

Sometimes it has held her back with her results, not always backing

herself. We will see what she can do from here.

Fantastic return from Konta. Had the depth and pace. There are light

brown patches on the court. If you hit that, the ball shoots through.

Got to keep going after it with her backhand.

Yeah. Good second serve from Konta, straight into the body of Makarova.

This is what every one has been talking about, how great this second

serve is from Konta. She looks back in the driving seat here.

APPLAUSE Clever.

Such clear thinking from the British number one. She might make the Rover

pay for not serving out this first set. She now has a chance to close

it. That will do very nicely! And it is

Konta who wins the first set breaker by seven points to five.

STUDIO Well, what a great set of tennis.

Nip and tuck, going this way and that. Eventually going to the con

to's way. If you stayed up all night to watch David Dimbleby's brilliant

tour de force, unbelievable, spellbinding television. You may be

flagging a bit. If you want more EU referendum debate, it was going to

be on BBC Two but it's now been moved to BBC One at 2pm this

afternoon, so we can stay with Jo Konta. If you want to watch Jo

Konta, stay here. For all the attention on Jo at the moment, Andy

Murray is going to be the focus of so much attention. Without getting

ahead of ourselves, if you want to know what kind of a draw he's got,

having not played a British athlete for ten years since Tim Henman in

2006 committee ended up playing Aljaz Bedene and then Kyle Edmund at

Queen's. He's got Liam Broady in the first round, then Lu of Taipei,

Benoit Paire after that, Nick Kyrgios, that is where it starts

getting serious, and then it's basically a repeat of Roland Garros.

He would have Richard Gasquet potentially in the quarterfinal,

Stan Wawrinka in the semifinal and perhaps inevitably Novak Djokovic in

the final, who is aiming to win his fifth Grand Slam title in a row.

Europe is 68 miles away from Eastbourne, but every day it gets

further. COMMENTATOR: Jo Konta will be seeded

16th at Wimbledon which means she will be in the posh bit upstairs and

she will not play a player ranked higher than herself until she gets

to the fourth round if she gets there, she would blame Monica Puig,

but right now lots of work to do, Ekaterina Makarova is a tough

campaign and the Russian will kick off this second set. -- she would

play Monica Puig. Well, Makarova not using the change

of ends very well. Konta with chances to pounce here.

Oh dear. The Russian has gone completely awry. I certainly

didn't expect that, did you? No, I thought Makarova, with her

experience, would have done a better job regrouping at the end of that

first set. She can only really blame herself. In the tie-break at 5-4.

The Demons will be wandering around in her mind somewhere. This is

someone who has been a Grand Slam finalist at the US Open and

Austrlian Open. Jo has been a Grand Slam finalist acrobatic spaced

semifinalist now, making her more than a match.

-- has been eight grand slam semifinalist. It has been a

completely different Konta to what we saw a couple of days ago when she

played her opener. When she played that Madge, she was tight as a drum

and you could see the tension in her face. -- that match.

Don't write Makarova off just yet. There will still be a view shots

across the bow, particularly if she feels she has nothing more to lose.

The Russians still with a future ex-of her own. She's a more

confident player the doubles court. A couple of chances here to get the

immediate break back. Oh dear. A couple of doubles in the

game, I'm afraid. The initiative and momentum coming out of that breaker

very swiftly dampened down. Not entirely sure what happened there.

Well, it's been like this for the majority of the match in terms of

the wind, and she just allowed it to affect her, there.

All these constant adjustments that need to be made on court in these

conditions. No. She's trying to give it a bit

more from that end, Konta. She is up against the wind. Not easy. You've

got to be comfortable being uncomfortable out here.

That's a good response from Makarova. And she moves ahead in the

second set. How much do you think it affected her, being part of this

golden age of Russian tennis when there were so many superstars around

her? I think she's benefited from it. Naturally she is a very shy

person and not someone who likes to be in the spotlight, very

introverted. But she's been surrounded by so much class and

she's been able to learn from the very best, so I think she has been

in a privileged position throughout her career. Getting some help in

recent years from former French Open champion

Anastasia Myskina. When a lot of those players retired having babies

or whatever, she made it into the top ten. "OK, It's my turn now".

She's always had the talent and the ability but I think she's lacked the

belief. It was only last year she was able to crack the world's top

ten for the very first time, and it was a long time coming. Because she

had always been capable of causing the odd upsets, someone who has in

the past beaten Venus and Serena Williams. She was always a dangerous

player to draw. And she still can be. She would love another

Eastbourne title. She has only won two titles in her career. One of

them here six years ago. That is a positive message from

Konta. She has played that pattern of play

so well in that match will stop the server out wide and the next shot

into space. I am not sure that forehand line

from that part of the chord with the wind direction is removed Leon. You

would almost half to hit the ball cross-court to get it anywhere down

that tram. Wow! How good was that? You cannot

find an angle better than that of the return. That is world-class.

It is long. Konta is going to make a move here. Great treasure from the

British number one in front of a packed house, another sell-out. This

is some tournament, right from the first rounds, the stands have been

full. For a women's tournament, pretty special. And so is Konta this

week. Well done. Makarova 's turn to go

strong into the spaces. At no stage in this match so far has she lost

her head. She can get quite emotional out there, down on

herself. Yes, she does fret. There are a few

players like that. They sit in way of stressing on a tennis court. -- a

certain way. Makarova battling hard, coming

through the longest game in the match so far. Nudges ahead in this

second set. What is happening with Russian

tennis these days, after this wonderful golden age we were talking

about? Plenty of young players coming through. There is one in

particular who has a bright future ahead of her. We should not worry

too much about Russian tennis. I think they are doing just fine. With

or without Maria Sharapova. I get the feeling though that there are

not so many training in Russia. There are those two big clubs where

those from the past all train. Whenever you speak to them these

days, they are training in Holland or Slovakia or out in the United

States. There are just so many academies around the world. You can

take your pick and to be honest, it is wherever the money is, whoever is

prepared to sponsor them, that is where they will go, that is where

they will train and use as their base and whatever works, there is no

right or wrong. And now they know that Spartak with its one indoor

court without any heating is not maybe the finest place to train.

Spain with it's all year round sun and clay courts may be a better

option and it is a better option. It is very expensive to play tennis in

Moscow now. They take other options. Coach and agent knowing that this is

a pivotal games here. There is no doubt the coaching

switch up that Konta made a couple of years ago, it is really working

well. A great job coming on for the on court coaching just before the

end of that first set, when she was down 5-4.

Konta has shown trust and loyalty. You have had a couple of chats with

him and you are impressed. I like what I have heard from him. She has

known him for a number of years. He used to work in an academy in Texas.

And that is where they first met. Coolly done by Konta. Don't forget,

12 months ago when she played Makarova, she would be swinging with

no pressure. A very different scenario today. Against someone

ranked 20 spots below her. That body serve is a smart one for

Makarova to use, especially when it goes into that right hip of Konta

's. Alternatively, serve an ace. A clean game from Makarova. She is

still going to be a threat in this second set.

Very different expectations and workload on Johanna Konta these

days. When the rain was torrential earlier this week, she had to do

part of the launch for the new ?44 million redevelopment of the

partnership between Eastbourne Borough Council and the LTA and a

commitment now for ten more years of the tournament being here and

improved facilities. She did that in the morning and then she had what

was an all access our. The press can ask anything they want, it is a

pretty relaxed setting, all on the sofas at the media centre. Did very

well, handled everything. A few tricky questions thrown in. And then

had to go along the line for all the different interviews for all the

different networks and spent four or five hours on media duties on Monday

but that is gone to be her life now if she is good to be a top 20 and

maybe even a top ten player. Still something she is learning to

manage and balance between obviously all the training she wants to do to

maintain her level and the off court commitments.

And as little as she has wanted to give away, it has taken its toll.

Understandably. It is all sort of new for her.

Huge serving from Konta. Can she make it four in the game?

Take that. Pressure right back thrown right back at Makarova. A

serving masterclass right there. Both players have tried using that

upshot whenever they can. Konta more so. It is something you do not see

enough of on the grass court. You see at a lot on the clay but it is

just as effective on the RAS. The front of the court is so much more

lush. And if you get it right, it just dies at the front of the court.

Makarova feeling rather under the cosh here at Love- 30.

For a split second, they both thought that return was gone to

drift long but bang on the line it was.

It is wide and it is a fabulous push from Konta. And she will now serve

for a place in the semifinals. Well, she was so impressive against Petra

Kvitova. When you watch top players, you think you are going OK with them

and all of a sudden, they rack up the intensity and it is game over. I

feel like we have just seen that from John Kaunda in the last couple

of games. Yes, right there. And you could just see Makarova tightening

up. She knew it was a big Jane and was not able to come up with the

goods and that is the confidence in Konta now, the belief. She trusts

her tennis, she trusts her game. And in moments like that, she is able to

rise to the challenge. It is interesting how she talks about her

career. Only 25 years of age but she talks of it as a 17 year career,

that everything has been working towards this moment, initial

training when she grew up in Sydney in Australia, and practising in

Melbourne with tennis Australia and then the move to the Academy at 14

in Spain and then parents moving to London. It is an extraordinary

journey she has been on. Summary sacrifices made by so many. -- so

many sacrifices made. Now, can she close here?

Well, she is human on that serve after all. Really does go for it

though. Well, she has battled the elements

once again here at Eastbourne, she has battled Makarova and she has two

match points. That is wide and Konta has done it

again. Well, it was another fantastic performance from Britain's

number one, Johanna Konta. Emotionally, she did not waver. She

was able to raise her level when it really mattered and she is looking

more and more like she belongs. Did so well after a slightly shaky

start, being broken in her opening service game. And it is a third win

over Ekaterina Makarova, backing up the one from last year and the

battle they had in Melbourne in January. But never one to over

celebrate. She is resetting. She will have another much later on

against one of the biggest servers in women's tennis. The exciting

young Czech, Pliskova. Our semifinal line-up will be complete. Later on,

the one that everyone will be staying for, Pliskova against

Britain's number one, Konta. What a week she is having in the warm up to

Wimbledon. Delightful performance from Konta. There were a few bumps

on the road but she dealt with everything, took it all in her

stride. She is always great to hear from and here she is courtside.

Well played. What a victory. You are in the semifinal in your hometown.

How does that feel? That is how that feels! Oh, my goodness. Had you so

much everybody for making so much noise and I am happy I get to come

back again later today to play in front of you guys and give you

another good match. Your semiformal appointment #colourcyan opponent

will be Pliskova. What is your thoughts on that Qusair Mark it will

be bloody turf. Hopefully I will be able to play the best that I can

today and compete well. Twice in one day. How tough is that question mark

it is not as bad as you think. The adrenaline keeps you going. We will

look forward to seeing you again shortly. Ladies and gentlemen,

Johanna Konta. Well, she really is a great competitor. Don't bet against

her winning another match later on today and being in our final here

tomorrow. It seems like days ago now but on that first afternoon of the

championship we said that there had only ever been one British winner of

this event. We are getting ahead of ourselves but that was Virginia Wade

in 1975. Konta is one match away from playing in a final. In that

semifinal she will play the young Czech Pliskova, who has got a huge

serve and she won in straight sets earlier today against Vesnina. And

that was a match that was held over from yesterday and was pretty

one-sided today when they were eventually able to complete that

game and the other match that took race earlier today at was held over

from yesterday was an absolutely fantastic game of tennis. It really

was. Three sets, over three hours, between Radwanska and Cibulkova. The

diminutive Slovak with the big voice and the big heart and the two

Yorkshire terriers is through to a semifinal against Monica Puig. If

Konta is an adult book competitor, so is she. -- after that match, she

was a brilliant in her interview. Congratulations. A big win for you.

How do you assess the way that you played? Today, we have played some

matches and this was the first on grass. It was really difficult with

the conditions and with everything but I was able to manage to play

better with every game, with every rest, I came back stronger and that

is why I was happy today. I was really happy the weather forecast

looked good but it was the same for yesterday. I was really happy when I

saw the blue sky today. You have got to come back later and play your

semifinal. Monica Puig is your opponent. What are your thoughts on

that one? It is good to be a game really difficult. We played a long

match yesterday and today. I will do everything to be 100% ready for

today and to manage to be on the court ready. We will let you go and

prepare. Ladies and gentlemen, Cibulkova.

And then there were four. The next match the works like this.

-- the line-up for the semifinals looks like this. There's also

another match taking place today which is a celebrity match between

the stars of yesteryear, and there is one of them who's going to be

taking part in it. Jana Novotna will be playing in the Aegon Legends

Exhibition. She reminisced about being at Eastbourne for the first

time in a long time. It's been a few years since I've been here and it

brings back a lot of good memories. Very excited to be here especially

on a day like today. What do your member, the matches, the people? I

remember everything. It was always the highlight of my year, to come

here to Eastbourne and to have the best preparation before Wimbledon.

It took me a long time to win this tournament but when I finally did I

followed it up with winning Wimbledon. It's a walk comfortable

place walking distance from the hotel. People can get close to you.

I remember when the Henman family was running this tournament, they

made it very special. What about the people who you played with, your

great rivals, the Arrantxas of this world. Do those friendships into

your? -- do those friendships endure? It is difficult to be

friends with those people who you are competing with every week for

titles and prize money and all that, but I think we were very competitive

and of course once you're finished with your career everything almost

changes and you just naturally become friends. It's nice to see the

players on events like we have here today. When you play in Legends

events, do you say, "Remember that time I beat you 6-1, 6-2?"

Absolutely, we talk about past matches and competitions and however

thing was. It's really nice, everyone is much more relaxed and

just happy to be out there. Everyone is still involved in tennis and I

enjoy that. Every generation is obviously different and when we were

at Queen's last week I was talking to write about what tennis is like

in the 50s and 60s and the players who played in the 80s were laughing

about what he was saying. The players from the 80s, when they were

talking about what tennis was like, the people who play now were

laughing at them! How different do you think the sport is now to when

you played? Everything is different. It has changed. It's more about

physical preparation and abilities more than a tactical view of tennis.

It's almost like a team sport right now. Every player travels with a

team of people taking care of them. In my time it was only a tennis

court and they were the most important person in your life and

your career. Everything has changed, not always for better. I think there

was more personalities in the 80s and 90s. But I look at it in the way

that every generation picks something new, something different.

We cannot always have everything from the past. Tennis is moving

forward, it's all about equipment, speed, power. If we're talking about

power and this generation, this has been the Serena generation. Do you

think she can still win two or three or four more grand slams to beat

Margaret Court's total? I think she can. She's very focused and as long

as she stays healthy and fit and mentally strong like she was last

year, of course she can keep on going. It's almost the trend now,

you played your best tennis after 30 because it all comes together for

you, not only for women but for men as well. If they can stay in good

shape and they can keep up with is it physically and mentally, of

course she can do it. If she doesn't win Wimbledon, who do you think

might upset her this year? I don't know, women's tennis is so

unpredictable. Every time I look at the draw at the beginning of the

tournament and you look at a few days later, so many players get

eliminated in the top grounds. That's how it's always been. I think

the top players are the most vulnerable in the first few rounds.

Women's tennis is so unpredictable. People ask me, Jana, who is going to

win it, who is going to be in the semifinals? And being at the

tournaments myself, I have such a hard time predicting it. I guess

that makes it interesting but at the same time it's tough for spectators

to really get to know players because they are in and out all the

time. It's certainly nothing like it used to be where the same eight

players always got to the quarterfinals and then you could

kind of pick and choose who was better on the day. Nowadays tennis

is very unpredictable. But I expect Serena to do well again. Grass is

her favourite surface, Wimbledon as well. Talking about someone who was

very rarely opened his prizes, Martina Navratilova. We have a big

BBC documentary about her and her upbringing. Hers is an extraordinary

story. Do you think she is probably, possibly, the greatest woman player

of all-time? Absolutely, absolutely every time we say there is someone

else who is coming up and can do even better and even better... But

Martina was come for me, the most powerful and the most memorable

person of all time, really. She was a pioneer in many things in tennis.

The way she brought the physical fitness into women's tennis, I think

she was the first one and after that, from then on, it kind of

became all about fitness and getting fit and taking women's tennis to

another level. So she is really an icon and the most recognisable

person in women's tennis and she always will be. Great to have you

back here at Eastbourne. You're welcome every year. Thank you.

Everyone who comes in here today is getting free strawberries and cream

when they come in, did you not get yours? I didn't but I'm sure it's

waiting for me after my match! For all the sense of fun, this was a

childhood spent in post-2nd a Czechoslovakia. Europe behind the

Iron Curtain. Growing up in a communist country, you just kind of

did whatever it took. You told a bad political joke and he would go to

jail. At my childhood, up until I left, 18, I had a fantastic life

here. In the summer we swam in the river and in the winter we skated on

it, climbed peoples fences and stole that cherries and walnuts! They were

very expensive, they were more expensive per pound and kilo than

the best meat. She was just a very bouncy, happy child with exceptional

physical capabilities. We went to the river and this little girl took

a pebble and she threw it as far as we could! We said wow, this is quite

amazing! My uncle was quite a tennis player and she said -- he said she

quite amazing, we've not seen anything like that. He said she's

going to win Wimbledon before she's 20! He relieved on her. My mum was a

great athlete, she could have done anything she wanted to. She played

volleyball, she ran track. She was a great tennis player. But she

believed in me and it was like, OK, here I come, I was like ten!

Great story. Martina is part of our all-star cast at Wimbledon, starting

on Monday, which includes our new signings, Lleyton Hewitt and Jim

Courier. There are players out on court at the moment for the first of

the semifinals. This will be Dominika Cibulkova against Monica

Puig. He spoke to us a couple of days ago. I'm trying to work out

what the time zone is. It's nine o'clock in the morning, it's

breakfast in Puerto Rico. They will be watching her in action.

When I started playing tennis, a lot of people were asking me, where is

Puerto Rico? Where is it on the map? A lot of people used to confuse the

name with Portugal or Paraguay. But it's nice now when I go around the

tennis world, people know where Puerto Rico is. I'm really proud

that I've given a name for my island on this level of sport. When you go

back there, do they claim you as one of theirs? Yeah, they take a lot of

pride in their athletes. They are also very proud of all our

accomplishments, whether they are small or large. I always feel quite

at home when I go back and I have a huge amount of respect for all other

people in Puerto Rico. You spend most of your life in America. Do you

almost have dual nationality now or not? Puerto Rico is actually a US

territory, so we have the same currency and a US passport, but I

consider myself 100% Puerto Rico on. I'm really proud of where I come

from. My coach is from Argentina and my

fitness trainer is also from Argentina, but my physio is actually

French, but he does speak Spanish. A lot of Spanish going on there which

also helps me keep my roots with the Spanish up. I really like it and

sometimes I get a little bit tired of speaking English! There's also a

great debate about whether coaches should be allowed on court. Are you

in favour of that? I think it helps in a way. Tennis is a very

individual sport but it makes the match is a little more interesting.

It helps, having your coach there to help guide you a bit when you need

it the most. I usually try and call my coach out when I need some

positive reinforcement or if I really don't know what's going on. I

just really like the communication I have with my coach. Final point,

you're playing really well at the moment and you must be feeling

really good. You win qualifying and you win or the firing again, you

just keep on going. Do you feel you're on a real role at the moment?

Yeah, I feel this year has gone uphill in general. Irony proud of

myself for having come out of a pretty sloppy year last year and

being able to come into my own and find myself physically and mentally,

how there. I'm just enjoying myself at the moment and really happy with

everything I've accomplished so far. I think it's definitely helping me

win more matches and just having fun.

STUDIO , there she is going through her

warm up. We've had a lot of really high 3-set matches here at this

championship this week. Now that the weather has completely relented and

Eastbourne is looking absolutely magnificent this afternoon, let's

hope we have some matches that are in keeping with the weather. This

promises to be a really good in counter. Worth reminding you that Jo

Konta's semifinal will follow this match. We're expected to be with you

here on BBC Two until 6pm, but obviously we will make sure we're

with Jo Konta all the way through to the end of that match. Anyway, for

the moment this is the first of the semifinals of the Aegon

International for 2016. Back to Anne Keothavong and Sam Smith.

COMMENTATOR: There is almost a lull here, some fans having a time-out

after the Jo Konta match but I'm sure they will be back in very

shortly to watch two of the most likeable performers on the tour in

this semifinal. Is it really does feel very strange

sitting here, having already seen Dominika this morning, coming back

from a set and 3-1 down, 3-2 on the restart, against the top seed and

former champion Agnieszka Radwanska. Making her second appearance here at

Devonshire Park. Puig had a very different Thursday. Played first up

and played very well against Kristina Mladenovic on her debut

here. You can put your feet up for the rest of the day and watch

everyone else pays around, waiting to play.

Yes, she worked her way through the qualifying rounds. She is 22, full

of beans and having a great week here.

What is Cibulkova facing here? A player who is similar to herself in

many ways. Someone who has very big strikes from the back of the court.

It will be a battle between these two as to who gets the first big

strike in. Both women out here have fantastic

attitudes towards their tennis, they really backed themselves. Highly

competitive. You give Cibulkova the edge when it

comes to energy, she is just a bundle of energy. She won't be fazed

about the fact that she played a match earlier today. I don't think

it would have taken too much out of her physically coming into this

match. Fitness never really an issue for the Slovak.

Had a draining day yesterday, didn't she, on and off against Radwanska.

They didn't cancel the match until 7pm yesterday evening. She was out

here yesterday evening but now the wind has really got up and I just

wonder how she will handle it. APPLAUSE

So, Cibulkova safely through that opening service game. I should

mention it's a first meeting between these two. Even though Puig is a

qualifier, she's not exactly a slouch in terms of the ranking, it's

just a very strong draw here. Ranked 43 in the world and 20 on the

ranking list compiled from tournaments this year. Cibulkova

down at 21, a former top ten player, making her way very much back up the

rankings after an injury break. Puig, top junior in her time. Very

dangerous in this semifinal. APPLAUSE

Well, she has certainly picked up where she left off. She's just got a

naturally aggressive mindset on the tennis court. Always looking to

pounce on everything, take the ball on the rise, constantly take time

away from her opponent. And I think Cibulkova will enjoy

this match a lot more than she did against Radwanska stop she won't

have too generic as much pace herself, because Puig hits a really

heavy shot. There are some match-ups you like and some you would rather

steer well clear of. Puig in a spot, here.

Is a lot of grass court tennis over the last few weeks, semifinalists is

up in Nottingham and then flew over to Mallorca for a match there.

Plenty of tennis this week, having started Eastbourne well over a week

ago. Pretty feisty character, wears a

very determined look under that headband.

Well, I wonder where the Monica Puig has looked ahead to Wimbledon or

whether someone has told her about the draw. Her coach, in the middle

of your picture. Used to work for the USTA.

APPLAUSE If you haven't seen the Wimbledon

draw, Monica Puig takes on Britain's Johanna Konta in the first round, at

Wimbledon, in a couple of days, and they might meet in the final here.

It's not unheard of. Just the second time Dominika has

made it down to the south coast. Lost last year in the third round to

Svetlana prolong Nice opening to this sunny final, no

brakes so far. -- this semifinal. Whenever we talk about Cibulkova, us

in the media... Bus in the media sometimes I think

make too much of her what we would say is a lack of stature. She is

five foot three. I've lost my metric equivalent, I'm sure you have it

somewhere there... But it doesn't seem to faze her at all. One metre

61. It doesn't seem to faze her at all. Why is she able to compete

against Sony players who are almost 6-foot Amazons? Despite her height

and her power, it's not something she lacks... She has a credible for

work moves so well around the court, reads the play well and she makes up

for it in so many other ways in terms of her lack of height. She's

got fantastic spirit. She backs herself. But it's her footwork, her

willingness to take the ball on the rise, which you don't associate a

lot with smaller players. Her timing off both wings is superb. That's

plenty, isn't it! She just never stops moving!

Just wonder if there will be any variety in this match? There was

plenty of that for Cibulkova when she was up against Radwanska, all

sorts of different spins and changes of pace from Radwanska for her to

deal with. Nicely done, Puig in contrast is a

lot more one-dimensional but when it all comes together it is explosive

tennis. Yes it might be up to Cibulkova to provide the variety out

here. Don't mess with Monica. Named after

Monica Seles but her idol growing up was Jennifer Capriati and you can

see a few similarities with the ball striking.

It's so breezy on court, not much margin for Monica Puig. Yes, she is

just going to ignore the wind and get through it.

You know what you're going to get from Monica Puig, she is going to

stand up on that baseline or as close to it as possible, stand and

strike into the spaces. See ball, hit ball. Yeah, it's not rocket

science. Cibulkova just about maintaining her

dominance on the baseline. No brakes so far in these opening five games.

Once again, my single word of Slovakian which means all key would

be quite insignificant with that little chat. -- which means OK. One

of the longer coach, player partnerships on tour. Played a

significant role in her win over Radwanska earlier on Centre Court.

First time that these two have played, so the coach has had 20

minutes to look at Puig, what would your check list beaver Cibulkova? I

don't think she deviates from what she did earlier against Radwanska.

Game plans don't change drastically from match to match, you play to

your strengths as a player. Yes it's a different type of opponents,

different game style to adjust to. But ultimately you play to your

strengths and whenever the coach does come on for on court coaching

what a player is looking for is positive reinforcement.

That is a lovely change-up from Cibulkova. She uses that drop shot

well, did it against Radwanska and it's a smart move against Puig who

is less comfortable moving forward than she is side to side on that

baseline. We thought she might be the one to provide the variety and

she is rewarded here with a couple of break points.

Cibulkova has got to make sure she just stands strong when she is

pushed out into the corners or pushed back behind the baseline. It

is a heavy strike from Puig but Cibulkova has just got to make sure

she doesn't stand up on the strikes. Stays low to the ground. Use her leg

strength. That's good enough! More than good.

Cibulkova is the first to break. Little look over at her team,

everyone has a team these days, I can imagine what it costs to run

these teams. $35,000 already earned this week but that will double up to

70,000 for making the final. That will help cover the food and hotel

bill for the team. I think we might have to put some

stones in her pockets just to stop blowing away! She's got quite a high

ball toss, Cibulkova and in these conditions it can prove troublesome.

Little look over towards her team from Puig after the error. She's got

to keep going for it, that's what got her to this stage in the

tournament. If it is there to be hit, go for it. If yourself a bit

more margin but don't back off. Since there is a rather luscious

competitor lying beneath Monica Puig. Behind that sunny exterior --

a rather for raw chefs competitor -- ferocious competitor.

The Slovak with the upper hand out here. A lot of experience in her

favour. She takes a 5-2 lead in the opening set. Unsurprisingly the

coach for Puig is now on. Fast language for Monica is Spanish,

the other is Argentinian. -- first language. Much more comfortable

speaking in her native tongue. Bake pep talk from the coach. Hasn't

played badly in the opening half an hour against for opponents but

finding herself struggling to stay in this first set.

What happens on that second serve? She doesn't get any kick on it.

Never that much margin. The second serve is a slower version of the

first. It's an area she could definitely improve on.

On her second serve she doesn't quite, she doesn't have the ability

to get under the ball, to wrap the racket head around it to produce

kick. It's either a flat or a sliced serve.

Oh dear. Just overcooked it. Maybe caught the site of Cibulkova just

out of the corner of her eye. All of a sudden this game has turned rather

nasty on her and Cibulkova has set point. It's all gone wrong for the

youngster. Cibulkova takes the opening set to 6-2.

What a great reaction. You simply cannot give more. That's it! The

waiting is over! That is way too good. That's it! That bit, she has

done it! The Queen on Centre Court. How lucky we are in this sport to

have so many great champions. All eyes will be on Serena Williams in a

couple of days' time, just to see if she can equal the 22 Grand Slams of

Steffi Graf and put her name even higher up, if possible, even more

prominently in the history books. So much to look forward to. Cibulkova

to start the second. What do you want to see from Puig in

the second set? It would be easy to say that it would be nice to see

Monica Puig mix it up a little bit more but that's not something which

comes naturally to her. But I mean, some of these messes

from Puig are not even close. Go back to basics, middle of the court

with depth is just as effective. I guess when you all have one or two

dimensions and they are going wrong you don't have anywhere else to go

and that is where she is at the moment. Cibulkova running a tight

ship at the moment. See? There you go, straight through

the middle, hard, with depth. You are hired! It's such an effective

shot. If in doubt... Important point here for Puig, good start to this

second set. Cibulkova looking very comfortable

in this first semifinal. You have to give credit to Cibulkova because she

has just been relentless. She has applied the pressure throughout,

right from the start. And Puig just feels she has to do more than is

necessary out here. I just don't think Puig believe she

can find a way through Cibulkova. The conditions, sadly, fever

Cibulkova who is the more experienced of the two. Yes, it's

starting to sure isn't it? Puig very much looking the junior partner out

here. Hasn't been on tour that long. Apparently at the end of last season

she gave herself a really good talking to after what she called a

sloppy year. Had a bit of a bit camp of a pre-season, going into 2016 and

her best tennis came out early, qualified and made the final down in

Sydney down in January. Cibulkova doing her best to get into

Puig's head on the return. Her feet just don't stop moving, Cibulkova.

Puig doing a good job here. Fabulous. She's in really good touch

this week, Cibulkova. Looking here for yet another break. A third

consecutive break of the Puig served.

UMPIRE: Miss Cibulkova is challenging the call... What did you

say? Is challenging the serve on the right side. The ball was called in.

CHUCKLES That's all very strange! Back at

deuce. She has come out here in such good

touch, you just wonder if that set and a half she had here against

Radwanska was the perfect June up. -- tune pup.

Puig looking rather lost here. This has all gone rather quickly.

I'm just trying to imagine last year when she had that surgery,

Cibulkova, on her left Achilles, and was out of four months... As soon as

she had shaken off the anaesthetic, she must have driven everyone who

was looking after her completely mad! You're supposed to rest and

take it easy, I can't imagine... She's not trigger that resting! They

might have pinned her to the sofa with a box set. -- she's not very

good at resting. An forced errors really just racking

up for Puig. Cibulkova doing such a good job here of managing her own

game, just keeping this match taking over. -- ticking over.

Of the APPLAUSE

Clean finishing, and the intensity never drops. How much she would love

to be back in the top ten as she was a couple of years ago. Being back in

the top ten at a premiere event would do her the world of good.

Just one title this year for Cibulkova. It came in Katowice,

Poland. She's not a prolific winner of titles but must felt she was on

the comeback trail. Seven games in a row now for the

Slovak. Looks as if she is hurtling towards her first Eastbourne final.

Critical times here for Monica Puig, who has had such a tough week,

coming through the qualifier but needed a lot of positive

reinforcement there. She looks a rather lost figure on this

Devonshire Park Centre Court. Magnificent court, future -- huge

width. Yes, she made it!

APPLAUSE Somewhat of a swipe. Lovely move

forward. She needs something here, doesn't she come to stop this run of

games against her. When her coach came on at the change

of ends, she had quite a go at her and told her off for not using her

feet and going up the court, all the things she supposed to be doing and

hasn't been doing. Her route to the semifinals here,'

Monica Puig has not faced anyone with the weight of shot that

Cibulkova has. She's being rushed a lot more. Also you have to take into

account the windy conditions. You have to exaggerate your footwork

even more so to be in the right position.

Yes, this has been the windiest day we've had this week so far. I'm not

sure what it was like in qualifying but I know it was pretty overcast

and calm but wetter conditions. That's what it's all about, playing

at Eastbourne. APPLAUSE

Too good, too much experience. Cibulkova continues her race towards

the final. It will be a good day's work for her, won't it? All done

before tea-time! Yes, she should be quite pleased with herself. She's

performed to a very high level today. You would expect nothing less

when it comes to intensity and energy that she brings onto the

tennis court. When it comes to attitude, she's up there in my top

five of all the female players. Talk about someone who makes the most of

her abilities. When she does eventually hang up her racket, you

can guarantee she won't have left any stone unturned and she will have

no regrets, because she really has maximised everything that she's got.

Who is number one for you, in tens of attitude? Good question. Or

anyone in your top five. Well... Venus Williams is up there. Do

everything, she's going strong. Cibulkova, I could even put her as

my number one because I just, I love her energy, I really do. It's

something that fans picked up on around the world. When she made the

final of the Austrlian Open a couple of years ago down in Melbourne, they

absolutely fell in love with her. An amazing effort.

It's a real shame for Puig. Not comfortable in this matchup. Even

her base game which has been so good this week just falling apart here in

front of our eyes. Oh dear. All going horribly wrong.

It's often the way, when you feel like you're not quite seeing the

ball is big, you feel like you're being rushed, you try to do

something extra special. It's not a good feeling for Monica Puig.

-- the Puerto Rican getting a lot of support out there. I think the fans

out on Centre Court would love to give her a helping hand.

Oh! You can hear the effort! It's just one blow after another, isn't

it? Come on, she says. She has been

magnificent out here. And Monica Puig, who earlier this week had a

win over Caroline Wozniacki, the former world number one, just

looking outclassed in this company. Cibulkova serving for a place in

tomorrow's final. Today, her game has been in tiptop

order. You never doubt that energy, commitment or attitude. Everything

coming right here in this semifinal. OK, there has been the odd clip here

and there! We will let her off. -- the odd blip.

Puig just has been able to capitalise on any of her

opportunities. That was her first break point opportunity in the

match, would you believe? There is a lot that Puig can learn from this

match. UMPIRE: Miss Puig is challenging the

call. The call -- the ball was called out. Why not? You're kind of

bullying for her here, aren't you? But the expression says it all, it's

been a tennis lesson. -- you're kind of pulling for her. Match point.

It's a Cibulkova special. Another fantastic performance from Dominika

Cibulkova. Outplayed and outsmarted her younger opponent. Really showed

her who is boss, out there. And after an amazing week when she

came through qualifying to reach the semifinals, please show your

appreciation for Monica Puig! I think Monica will be back better and

stronger next year. Popular the world over, she is a special

character, a special player. It was a pretty relaxing afternoon for the

team, not so much this morning when she had to resume a set and a

breakdown against beef top seed and former champion Agnieszka Radwanska,

but Cibulkova doing such a professional job out here against a

player she had never met before. Cibulkova, after all the dramas of

last year with the operation, the time-out, a ranking fell down and

she nearly fell out of the world's top 50. She has had to work her way

back and she has done it in style, in just her second visit to

Eastbourne. Not really known as a grass court player but you certainly

wouldn't know it out here today. Tremendous performance from

Dominika. We're going to hear from her now. She's with Chilton.

Dominika, many congratulations. Have you ever had a better day on a grass

court? No, I would say this is my best they on a grass court.

Extremely happy. I was just playing so well, I was really confident

after this morning's win. She was really tough to play against. I was

able to compete with her today and I was better, so I'm really, really

happy. It's not long since we spoke to you following your victory over

Radwanska. How did you spend the time in between? I didn't have much

time, you know? I went to the ice asked for a while and then I had

lunch and then I had to go to warm up! It was a really, really quick

one. The final tomorrow, it will be discovered or -- it will be Pliskova

or Konta. We will see. I don't like the choose opponents. But it was my

best performance on grass court, so I'm really happy.

Dancing, skipping, or the couch to 5k. We will help you set realistic

personal goals. Let's hope Jo Konta can make a move

into the final. If she needs any confidence it can come from her

performance against a double Wimbledon champion. All eyes on

Konta. Oh yes, Konta is the first to break.

She takes the opening set 7-5. Come on, you can do it. Kvitova maintains

control of this matchup. What I competitor she is, Konta

levels to take this match into a deciding set.

Can you believe it? Konta 3-0, double break. Pressure piling up.

Konta heading towards the quarterfinals.

What a way to finish! Konta is back in the quarters at Devonshire Park.

It almost seems like ancient history now, she won her quarterfinal and

her semifinal is coming up very soon. The draw has been made for

Wimbledon. Jo Konta energised by being the first British seed for 32

years, she will be seeded 16 and I think the energy might have seeped

out of our when she saw the draw because her first-round opponent is

Monica Puig who we've just seen an action.

Actually, as I draw for your first Wimbledon seeding, you might think

you would be better being unseeded or wildcard. It is tough. I am not

sure if she has looked into it as much depth as we have because

knowing heart she is just focused on today's match. Right here, right now

and the rest will take care of itself. We have some live pictures

of Jo Konta who is about to walk onto court. First of all it's far

opponent from the Czech Republic. You might not have seen too much of

Pliskova but she has got a big serve. It's going to be a battle of

the serving game. Please welcome Johanna Konta! APPLAUSE

CHEERING We will talk plenty about Jo in just

a second but for the rest of the Wimbledon draw which was made from

the British women's point of view, they haven't actually had the best

of luck with the names coming out of the hat, Heather Watson playing

Annika Beck of Germany. That is a game she can win.

As far as the men are concerned Andy Murray plays Liam Brodie, it is

extraordinary at Queen's last week we were talking about him playing

high as bed Marcus Willis is Dell playing

qualifying today so we might have another British man in that line-up.

-- is still playing. That's the potential writ for and they should

things go according to the seedings. When you look at our line-up like

that, already you are salivating because it truly exciting? It's so

exciting and I believe you'll Andy Murray can do it again this year. As

in win it? Why not? Great clay-court season, played well at Queen's,

well-prepared, why not? What is almost the most interesting thing in

the draw is the quarter that Raonic has been drawn in, in Novak

Djokovic's quarterfinal section, is there anybody for you outside of

Djokovic and Andy Murray who could win? You can't write off somebody

like Roger Federer, he is still a classy performer. It depends on his

injury, how his body is feeling but on the grass at Wimbledon you have

to use a Roger Federer is in the mix regardless of how much tennis he has

played recently. Plenty of chat about that from Monday onwards but

let's go to this match coming up with Jo Konta. We can look at the Jo

Konta Makarova match from earlier. What did you make of her

performance? I thought it was a rock solid performance in tricky

conditions. Our defence was great, the variety in her game has improved

so much in the past 12 months. She is using the sliced backhand so much

more effectively, particularly on the grass and she is not overplaying

anything. And the backhand which has always been a strength of hers has

just opened up the court, created plenty of opportunities. As well as

the forehand, which is rock-solid these days. I just think the fact

that she believes in her game, trusts herself, is able to go for

the shots and raise her level at tight stages in the match is

something of significance. I know it's the same for both players but

yesterday was a frustrating day for everybody with the thunderstorms

which meant nobody was ever sure if this match would get on court and Jo

got off to a pretty wretched start but the way she composed herself and

was absolutely calm throughout, that is one of her great strengths. She

says it time and again, she doesn't allow herself to get too high or too

low about anything, if she can keep her temperament and level, she knows

she has the game to heart these players. She has beaten Makarova

before this match, in their two previous meetings they were tight

but she knows she has the ability to her these players. It's her second

Match of the Day because that match took place only a couple of hours

ago but it wasn't our 3-set gruelling match physically and

mentally which will have taken too much out of her you would think? No,

fitness, I don't doubt her at all. She's in peak condition so I don't

think physically it will have had too much effect. Actually I think it

will have helped her going into this next match. You could say the same

thing about Cibulkova, she had a really tough match but she was on

it. When she was playing against Puig who had not played for ages it

benefited her having been on the court saw recently as opposed to

having a day off. Think of it as an extended warm up. These players are

well prepared these days but Pliskova also had to finish her

match earlier today am a different court and conditions than what we

saw earlier. One or two people did take time out to have an ice cream

or whatever else it might be because it's fantastic weather here but they

are back in force for a packed house to see Jo Konta play in the

semifinal and hopefully get through to a final tomorrow. It's worth

repeating these things because Andy Murray is rewriting the history

books all the time but only one British woman has ever won

Eastbourne, that was virgin you weighed 41 years ago. The history

books are against Jo but they are there to be rewritten. How do you

assess this kind of game? It will be tough, Pliskova has plenty of

confidence. She has a big game and will be unpredictable so Konta will

have to be sharp with her footwork and serve well. Here we go, second

semifinal for the right to play Dominika Cibulkova in the semifinal.

Back to Sam Smith. -- in the final. COMMENTATOR: Not often onto you how

play two matches in one day. But to contact as lean and conditioned as

anyone out there. -- but contact she has already seen off one big

hitting big serving Czech, and now there is another in the form of

Karolina Pliskova. Ranked just one spot above horror on the WTA

rankings, former top ten player. -- above

Karolina one of the twin sisters who play on tour. She is the

right-hander. If you were not with us earlier,

conditions out on Centre Court are treacherous. It is a wind tunnel at

the moment, may be dropped slightly from when Joel was last out here.

Konta starting in style. Sure she has felt a lot of pressure here this

week as the 11 seed coming in for the first time as a top 20 player.

But just maybe she can swing a little more freely in this matchup

because she has some history with Pliskova which goes back five years.

They have played each other on four occasions and Pliskova has come

through victorious on all of them. But three of the four of those

matchups going the distance. They played earlier this year in India --

Indian Wells. 6-3 in favour of Pliskova in the decider.

So much is expected of Pliskova back home, she has had a pretty

comfortable week so far. Her match against Vesnina finished

over on Court One just a few hours ago.

Nicely done. Pliskova showing off a few of her skills. Pretty handy on

the double scored as well, plays with her twin sister, they are both

over six foot tall, a formidable pairing.

No sign of nerves. Both women safely on the board in this second

semifinal. Grew up about an hours drive north west of Prague. Her and

her sister originally wanted to play basketball but they were too small

so were not allowed. So their dad got them on the tennis court.

So important for Konta to hold comfortably, a break could be very

expensive against one of the biggest servers in women's tennis.

Really composed start from Jo. She's got a massive hit here in Pliskova.

Didn't realise actually it's the third time a have played on grass,

Pliskova has won all the previous meetings so what does Jo have to get

right today that she hasn't in the past? She has to be able to hold her

nerve when it really matters. You won't get too many opportunities on

the Pliskova serve so that's why it is so keen to make her play as many

balls as possible. Put as many returns back into play as possible.

She can get sloppy with her footwork and she can give you more than a few

loose shots. It's recognising those moments and capitalising on them.

She is a rather tall and willowy young women, 24 years of age. Her

movement and footwork has been suspect in the past and it will be

fascinating to see if Konta can exploit it in what has turned into

the loveliest afternoon at Devonshire Park. This is what you

imagine on the drive down, what you hope you will get. The fans here

getting a real treat, big screens in other areas of the park so if they

only have grown and pass the can still keep their eye on this match.

-- they may have grown and oh no! She had all the time in the

world. Great example right there, when the

distribution is good from the other side she can look a step slower.

It is up there with Serena Williams, serve. Such simple motion. You don't

have to worry too much about moving when you have a delivery that she

has. Konta this week matching the

performance of Heather Watson here two years ago by making the last

four. And as good a year she has had,

making lots of fourth rounds and quarterfinals on tour, this is her

first semifinal saw her best week on tour, if you take out the Australian

Open run. That is how well she has played this week in Eastbourne. I

suspect in the years to come this will be a place that Jo Konta will

always perform well, in her hometown of Eastbourne. Quarterfinalist here

last year. Falling to the eventual champion. Konta very comfortable

behind her service games. Pliskova very quick to go to the on court

coaching. A lot of information. Former player

himself, has worked for a long time with Karolina. Took her from a very

promising player on tour and the Czech's really started to take

notice of her when she started working with him. Made a massive

improvement couple of years ago. Her coach just telling her to stay

positive, keep going for your service. Play your game and get her

moving. Your Czech has come on! My sister-in-law is Slovakian.

Slovakian and Czech, very similar. Normally we are counting the ACs for

Pliskova, she is just one shy of hundred for this season, a couple

beers ago she had over 500. And that is 300, well done. Such an

easy delivery isn't it? Smooth motion, no kinks in the server.

There never has been for as long as I have known her. -- in the serve.

Fairly eventful opening six games so far.

She has got the advantage of playing earlier today on this court. She

will have a good feel for the wind, which is pretty much behind her, but

blowing from left to right as you look down the court, over her left

shoulder. Pretty much in the direction that

serve just went. Pliskova was on Court 1 beating

former champion, Elena Vesnina - very different conditions the other

side of the West Stand. Konta doing a good job taking the

pace off Pliskova's strikes. Familiar sight at Eastbourne and,

apparently, modelled on Virginia Wade's serve. And accurate? I think

so. This is top notch from Konta. Has

barely dropped a point behind her serve in this set.

UMPIRE: New balls, please. Her Spanish coach is a top man.

There is nothing to change. When the ball is coming, most of the time

when she is in trouble, but give her different looks. Other than that,

when you are in not in great positions, go to the middle and the

ball is moving because of the wind, it is coming at you a bit too fast,

go to the middle and start all over again. So those two things to keep

in mind, OK? OK in there? That's all. Give her different looks, in

the middle. He is not based in Barcelona where so many of the

academies are. His place in north-western Spain which is a

gorgeous venue to train in the mountains, wonderful for fitness,

and he built much of his coaching career working with Roberto Bautista

Agut, one of the top Spanish players. He is a credential coach,

as they like to say. UMPIRE: New balls.

New balls, Pliskova 3-4 on serve. UMPIRE: Miss Konta is challenging

the ball on the right baseline. The ball was called out.

Call stands. 15-0. Miss Konta has two challenges remaining. Oops!

Makes it look rather easy, doesn't she? She answers a love service game

with one of her own. Really is impressive. Karolina Pliskova has

five titles on Tour so far. Burst into the top ten mid-way through

last year. Back at 17 now. Not sure why that is. Has a great game.

Couldn't hold it at the top table. UMPIRE: Miss Pliskova is challenging

the call on the left baseline. The ball was called out.

The call stands. 15-0. Miss Pliskova has two challenges remaining.

UMPIRE: Miss Konta is challenging the call on the right centre service

line. The ball was called out. It was an immediate challenge from

Konta so it must have felt good to her. It wasn't. The call stands.

Second serve. Another massive second serve.

UMPIRE: Game, Miss Konta. Konta ahead 5-4. Miss Konta leads

5-4, first set. Miss Konta has one challenge remaining.

Karolina Pliskova comes from an extraordinary family. She won the

juniors down in Australia six years ago and a year later, her sister won

the Wimbledon title. That is pretty special. Her father very much the

driving force behind their careers, and they started at four. There was

a tennis club nearby and they had four one-hour lessons a week - that

is a lot at four. That is a lot. I think I was allowed to play for half

an hour, or once per week. That was mini tennis. At ten, he moved them

to Germany where there was a really good Czech coach and they stayed

there for a couple of years before moving back to the Republic, so it

has been pretty much a lifelong career choice. When both of them

came on to the scene, everyone expected her twin sister to be the

better of the two. She is the lefty. Yes. She's equally talented, but

it's been Karolina who has pushed through. She works that bit harder

than her twin. Playing for the right to meet Dominika Cibulkova. We do

have summer in England these days! Pliskova serving to stay in this

first set. You start to question whether

Pliskova has got the consistency of the ground to match Konta.

Pliskova was let off the hook there. A levelling up. Never a terribly

demonstrative character, is she? When she does flip out, the racket

gets a bit of a beating! I have seen her work her way through a number of

rackets. Intensity isn't something Pliskova

possesses, when you think of her style of play and her footwork in

the points. Really good adjustment steps from

Konta because Pliskova was giving her nothing. Sometimes those balls

with no pace can be quite awkward to play against.

Just dropped five points behind her serve in this entire set.

Impressive. A very disciplined service game from

Konta. I sense she is the one in control out here.

We have been talking about her improvement, not just in terms of

the ranking, she was 146 in the world last year, now she is 18. She

will probably go up a few spots on Monday's rankings. She is the 16th

seed at Wimbledon next week. Where do you think Jo's game - we talked

about how well she's done over the last 12 months - what more can she

get out of herself? She is on the right path working towards the

world's top ten here. She's got the game. She's got the weapons. She

just needs to produce everything on a more consistent basis. I mean, you

said it earlier this, is her first semifinal since the Australian Open.

Particularly in the last few weeks, there haven't been a lot of wins. I

put that down to some of the demands that have come off court... Because

of the success? Because of the success. It is still something she

needs to get used to, something she needs to manage very carefully.

UMPIRE: Time. The pressure is right back on the

Czech. Pliskova serving to stay in this opening set.

The one thing Konta could do on the returns is just threaten the

Pliskova second serve a bit more. I mean, her first serve is big, but

the second serve is in the 80s and Konta can get herself further up the

court on the baseline, if not inside the baseline, to take it on.

She is not threatening it from where she is standing at the moment.

A lot of the players on Tour that have taken on Pliskova talk about

the first serve and how it explodes off the court. She is so call and it

comes down at a steep angle, like Venus Williams.

If in doubt, go straight through the middle!

UMPIRE: Game, Miss Pliskova. 6-6, first set. Tie-break. Each player is

now receiving one additional challenge.

A sense of deja vu here. A few hours ago she was in an opening-set

tie-break against Ekaterina Makarova. This is the third she has

played this week. She has a very good record in breakers, unlike

Pliskova this year. Konta did a great job of closing the

net down. Good court positioning. Good change-ups there from Konta

once again. Using the slice effectively. When she can, she steps

in and really drives that backhand through the court.

Fantastic defence from Konta, but Pliskova paying the price for bit

too tentative on the drive volley. She wants to stay in that bubble and

almost block things out, but surely this crowd is driving her on here.

A sloppy moment from Pliskova. I don't think you can afford that

against someone as disciplined and meticulous as Johanna Konta. Too

many breaks now. Are we taking it all back about her

footwork and defensive skills? She was using those long limbs to great

effect there. A double mini break advantage very

quickly snuffed out. There hasn't been a single

break-point or break of serve in this opening set. It's been so

tight. Konta, though, with a chance to close it out now.

A brilliant breaker from Konta! She takes the opening set 7-6.

What an exceptional finish to that first set tie-break. Everything

coming thick and fast for Jo now. Wimbledon in a few days' time and

then in the heart of the summer, she will be heading down to Rio.

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

history! That is a huge jump. Laura Trott - World Champion. Mo Farah,

streaking away! I don't know about you that I will

be camped out in front of my TV for those three weeks. I get goose bumps

watching those trailers. For me the Olympics was definitely a career

highlight, being part of the British team and it will be for Jo Konta as

well, part of the Olympic team for the first time. She had residency,

her parents and herself came over from Australia when she was 14 years

of age, it was a long haul with all the visas and lawyers and form

filling. Had a lot of support from the LTA for all those years. Yes,

they backed her before she received her British passport. She was able

to still access funding towards her coaching. She will be heading down

there along with Heather Watson, the Murray brothers as well. But first

she has an Eastbourne semifinal to deal with and Pliskova to start the

second set. Whatever works. Doesn't always have

to be at the middle of the racket. Secure opening service game, just

what the Czech needed. You did say things would get kicked about. Told

you. She may have won the first game of the second set but she is still

fuming about that tie-break. Going back to it, how well did Konta use

the drop shot? Brilliantly. The front proposition in the second set,

serving second so playing catch up. That's never easy. Been on court for

just under an hour. Contour just on her guard, aware

that she cannot afford a scruffy service game, still celebrating that

first set. Pliskova has a very dangerous weapon she brings to the

court for every mac should -- Konta just on her guard.

When I watched Jo Konta play now I just find it quite incredible that

she comes up with points like that. The way she uses the drop shot, the

feel she has on court now. A couple of years ago it wasn't part of a

game. -- part of her game. If you asked her to play drop shots

and lobs of the volley, she was always, there was always too much

tension in her body to play shots like that. Now she is able to

control it better. She can play tennis like that.

Routine isn't it. Just one point lost behind serve in the second set.

No brakes so far in the match. Pliskova does rather like to play up

the court. There is a lot going on. She's not too keen on being pulled

out wide, at the end of her range. Hardly winning any points when she

is dragged out to the extremities of the court and that is something you

are talking about earlier, that if you push into the corners and play

with width she can look a little cumbersome. She goes for a quick

fix, something which isn't quite born, when you're able to get her on

the move, it's not percentage tennis when you describe her game. Even at

24 still a long way from her physical peak. I don't think she has

any more growing to do but still think she can fill out in that

frame. Doesn't like to hang around. Always

first out of the chair. Amazing to see this week, how tough

she has been in all the tricky situations. She lost early in

Nottingham and up at Birmingham last week. And the first round of the

French Open as well, so is a little low on confidence coming in here.

Has to be careful not to overplay the drop shots. It's taken just over

the hour for the first break points of the match and they go to

Pliskova. There is the break. Big push from

Pliskova early on in the second set. Maybe after all the investment

earlier today on court for Konta and in that opening set break, maybe a

little dip in concentration and intensity. It's understandable. It

had to come somewhere didn't it? Right into the hitting zone of

Konta. And immediate response from the

British number one. Oh no. This she OK? As long as she's

weight-bearing she's all right but the first thing is it just jars you.

It's the shock of going down but I think she's all right. Nothing

turned. Or if it did it came back straightaway. She's all right.

CHEERING APPLAUSE

Utterly ruthless. Eight aces now for the Czech.

Oh, that is good, that is really good from Pliskova. Made that look a

lot easier than it was because the ball is moving away from her.

Five points in a row for Pliskova, she extends her lead. 4-1 in the

second set for the world number 17. Do you want me to call the physio?

INAUDIBLE the main thing, INAUDIBLE

I think someone has been taken ill in the crowd on the West stand.

You are almost there. Can you just stay there for a while?

Understandably the players are just going to be held. If you have just

joined us, someone has been taken rather ill in the crowd on the West

stand. Distressing for the players and a lot of the fans here on Centre

Court as well. You have to be patient. You are working well,

you're playing well. Keep trying. OK? Otherwise you put too much

pressure on yourself. It's not fully in your control. Other than that...

These are the scenes down from the commentary box, pleased to say that

help has arrived. I need to step in and actually lean on it. I don't

think there is one thing in particular. The more confidence you

gain, the more things... Maybe it is the way I am hitting it, my

intention? I think your intention is right. We have to give some credit

to her, she serves well. OK? You are doing a good job.

A pretty extensive change of ends, pleased to say that the woman was

taken out, couldn't quite see but has gotten help and hopefully will

be feeling a lot better shortly. It's been taken care of. Back to the

match, Konta one break down in the second set having taken the first.

Both players settling down. Full focus very much back on this match,

Konta with the job to do. Had amassed a fall in the previous game,

didn't need the trainer on but was very emotional at the change of ends

when her coach came on. I think he has calmed her down. Each to hold

here. -- needs to hold here. It's quite bizarre, that last change

of ends, full-blown tears from Konta. She looked really distressed.

He asked if she needed the physio and she said she didn't and she

appears to be moving well. Good resected from the British

number one. Very important hold of serve midway through the second set.

How do you go about breaking Pliskova? Her coach mentioned at the

first time he came on. Midway through the first set. You have got

to give your opponent a different work on the returns. -- different

work. Well played. Even more so when you are up against the big server.

Just a way to get into their head. You can do that by just where you

stand on the court, will you stand to receive serve.

Just caught a line. This is very much favoured shot, the backhand

crosscourt. The last 20 minutes so have been

really impressive run Pliskova, cleaning up some of those on forced

errors in her baseline game. Looks really set now in the second.

The 10th seed extends her lead and Konta will have two serve to stay in

this second set. Not quite sure what's come over this

match in the last ten minutes so, it's gone very flat. The crowd gone

quiet. The crowd have gone quiet because of the scorer lying. There

was a slight dip in intensity from Konta. That you have to remember

that first set was played at such a high level from her, she was right

on it, we could hear her back in herself, shouting out come on. It

doesn't take much, a slight dip in concentration at this level, two or

three points go against you and suddenly you have been broken. The

momentum shifts. Especially against this type of opponent, doesn't

exactly expend a lot of energy in the way that she plays. Konta a much

more physical player, in wonderful shape. I just wonder if all be

hanging around from last night and the week generally might have caught

up with her? Certainly needs a rebooked. -- reboot.

Konta serving to stay in this second set.

UMPIRE: Miss Pliskova is challenging the call on the right service line.

The ball was called in. The call stands.

Not the most convincing challenge when you move over to the other side

of the court after making it. That is heavy striking from

Pliskova. She produces a lot of easy power.

She is enjoying the quick court now. Conditions have hardened up through

the course of this week. It is just the one break in this

second set. But Pliskova looks good for it. Maybe Konta getting some

investment in ready for the third. Just dragged it. There is a little

dip here from Pliskova. I wonder if Konta can take full advantage.

Remember, just the one break in this second set. And the only one of the

match. I make that her first double of the

second set. A set that looks far from over now. Konta had three

break-points a couple of games ago. She's got two more here on the

Pliskova serve. Sometimes you have to say too good.

Yeah. When she is on song, no-one will want to play her in the

Wimbledon draw over the next fortnight.

These break-point opportunities Konta has had in this set, you can't

say she's done an awful lot wrong. Pliskova has been able to rise to

the challenge and has come up with the goods when it's mattered.

Very cool. You have to admire her, turning around the disappointment of

losing that opening set breaker. She made quite a few silly mistakes, and

she has the chance now to take this into a final set. Pliskova wraps it

up in style and she takes the second set 6-3.

STUDIO: It is very easy from off the court and watching matches, but how

much did that fall, not just disrupt her rhythm, but disrupt her

mentality as well? The fact that she was very emotional at the change of

ends, sitting there at 5-2 - the fall came after she had been broken,

and she had three break-points back. It really did upset her whole

mentality out there. Here is where she slipped. It happens. I don't

think she hurt herself too badly and the next two points, Pliskova served

two aces, so what can you do about that? Yes. This fall I think shook

her up a little bit. If she did feel any tweak or anything, she would

have called the physio on immediately. I don't think since

then it's affected her movement. She is still moving around the court

very well. But Konta, yes, definitely shaken and disappointed

more than anything not to capitalise on those break-point opportunities.

You made the point, Sam, that it's been a long week for her on and off

court, with lots of media requirements in the build-up to

Wimbledon because she's going to be seeded 16, the first British woman

to be seeded in three decades. Pliskova has just turned up, played,

won, gone home. And so has not had any of the extra things to deal

with? There is something in that. It is all new for Jo. She's got

Wimbledon on Monday. She's got the media day on Sunday, whatever

happens here. And maybe sometimes these emotions just have to come

out. Maybe it was a good thing that she lost a bit of that emotional