Day 1 Tennis: Eastbourne

Welcome to Eastbourne, Sussex by the sea. The whole world is out there.

But one week a year, the tennis world comes right here. The biggest

star in women's tennis is taking time out to start a family. In her

absence, a host of established names and new talent from across the globe

are vying for glory. Heading up those names, the top

three players in the game at the moment.

From Poland, Slovakia and Denmark, we have three former champions with

real crosscourt expertise. A former Grand Slam champion,

looking to recapture her best form. What a breath of fresh air. The

hottest and possibly most unexpected new property in the sport, the

French Open champion. What an achievement! And the local girl,

turned into a top ten contender. They are all here and ready to play

at Devonshire Park. And there is something about

Eastbourne that is for all times. A Stone Age settlement, a Napoleonic

fort, magnificent Victorian architecture. Once a year, a tennis

tournament that enlivens a town that revels in its Gentiletti, but also

its geographical isolation. This is a great event for the family. You

can get so close to the players. It is a chance to engage and inspire

the thousands of kids that come here. This year, more than ever, the

inspiration and attention comes in the form of the temporarily fallen

giant that is Novak Djokovic. This time last year, overrun by grand

slam titles. This year, searching for his lost Mojo permit the sand

and shingle of Eastbourne seafront. He plays for the first time

tomorrow. While he is here, sadly in the last few minutes it has been

announced that the double Wimbledon champion Patrick -- is not going to

be here because of the injury she sustained yesterday. Arguably, this

is the best field that has been assembled for many years. If you

take the Williams sisters out of it, this is effectively Wimbledon by the

sea. They have moved SW19 60 miles south, to whatever the postcode is

here. Just the big names wherever you

look. Three British players made it into

the main draw, a few fell by the wayside in the qualifying condition.

Sadly, that has been reduced to two. Naomi Broady has just been beaten,

emphatically 6-1 in the third set. And she is not the only British

player to go out so far on this first Monday. Kyle Edmund, the

British and a fraternite, has just lost to Donald Young of the USA. I

am sure you saw him in action a lot at Queen's. He lost in three sets,

as you can see. Sadly, because of contractual reasons, we are not able

to show you the action from the men's drawer. We will be overrun by

the action from the women's draw. We have Pliskova against Alison Riske,

and then Heather Watson against Cibulkova.

I mentioned Pliskova against Alison Risk, their first set ended a couple

of moments ago. I think we are in the first game of the second set.

It was going along quite nicely for both players in the first set. Then

the first break point opportunity that Pliskova outcome of the world

number three, that was it, done and dusted. That is the way she likes to

play. That is why she is one of the best players in the world, arguably

one of the favourites for the title this week, and also at Wimbledon. It

has all gone very quickly. She is the ace machine. What really

impresses me is the amount of first serves, 67%. Normally she is 10%

lower than that. She will be thrilled. She lost a handful of

points behind that, so that is really bad news for Alison Risk.

Pliskova put down more cases than Williams last year. That is

astonishing. I was out watching her practice

yesterday afternoon. It was considerably windier than it is now.

She was playing with her identical twin sister, Kristyna. The sound of

her racket, she is timing the ball so sweetly.

Could you tell the difference between the Pliskova twins, with one

of them two minutes older? Yes, because Kristyna is left-handed.

Without them holding a racket? It is quite hard!

We saw at the start of the show, the women's draw, Eastbourne. Pliskova

is one of three players that could end of the summer as the number one.

It is a different world, it really is. Talking to Martina Navratilova,

she has been picked out as a future number one by the great champions.

And she won this 11 times, I think she knows what she's talking about.

Still question marks about Pliskova. Beautiful ball striker, wonderful

servant, which is improving. The second serves are getting better as

well. It has been transformational in the last 12 months. But she

doesn't always win titles when she's supposed to.

Her Grand Slam record was pretty dreadful until last year, when she

got through to the final at the US Open. Until then, as you mentioned,

she came to the big tournaments and was not getting the results.

Favoured to win the Australian Open, got offended. Favourite for Indian

Wells, and Miami, where she made the semis. Again, playing well,

everything in place. We didn't expect so much of her through the

clay-court season. Actually, you know, it went beyond expectations of

the French. It's difficult for her to move, she has got incredibly long

limbs. It is an incredible weapon to have.

That was ace number six. The third of the second set. Keeps us on

serve, the second set. As a player, how did you feel when you first felt

the grass beneath your feet? Relieved! It is very tricky. Stiff,

as well. You use completely different muscles to the clay-court

season. You are using much more of your thighs and your calf muscles.

On the grass, you are pushing so much. It is your backside that gets

very sore. The first thing you have to get is low, that is what your

coaches will tell you. I was busy yesterday, watching the French Open

champion. It was all about getting low. That would be what the coaches

would tell you. It comes through lower, quicker and lower than it

does at Wimbledon. I think that is really good practice. The biggest

thing you have to change, from the clay to the grass, it is all about

movement. You know you will not be on the surface very long and then

you have to change courts. I think they say tennis is an easy game! It

is your movement, your foot plant, your centre of gravity and your

contact point, which goes from shoulder height and can be around

your ankles. Pliskova is very happy and comfortable with that, how the

Balkans through to her. -- how the ball comes through to

her. One small slip-up, that is all it

was in that opening set. It is pretty tough for the American number

seven, having to serve second against Pliskova.

Very aggressive game style for the American, Alison Riske, sitting at

45 in the rankings. Had a career-high 36. It is her third main

draw appearance here. She has only ever won wants here. I don't

understand that record. She is known as a very good grasp player. They

will be fighting over surfaces, because they like the same ones.

Home That expression tells you the nightmare of trying to return the

Pliskova served. It explodes off the court, the same way as Venus

Williams' does. She has hit one, she has blocked one. She has moved back,

she has moved forward. Very difficult serve to return.

Beautifully disguised as well. That his practice for next week. You

can do that at 40-0, when you are serving as well as she is.

Just too much power from Karolina Pliskova. This is her first match on

grass. She withdrew from Birmingham with an elbow problem. This is her

grass debut for 2017. I think she will be pretty happy with how things

are going. She will. She looked very relaxed, sitting with his sister

yesterday, she went down pretty early to Eastbourne. She really

enjoys it down there. It is a huge factor. It's not easy having to play

somebody, she had a bye in the first round, it is not easy to play

somebody who really loves the grass and who has already had a match. She

has been practising on the practice courts, which are quite a lot harder

than the match courts, simply because they had been played on so

much. So, there is a transition not only from surface, but also from the

practice courts playing differently to the match courts, certainly for

the first few days. These courts were quite soft. The ball is not

coming through as much. You have to get up to it. That is quite tough

for Karolina. I am sure her coach would be very much on that her about

her footwork, getting up to the ball. We had so much sunshine last

week, it really baked it hard, and they have been played on. There was

a lot of adjustment to make. Actually, very tricky situations.

But they are handling it very well so far. You mentioned sunshine, I

didn't want to be so negative early on, but I don't think we are going

to have much of it this week. I had better have my ice cream today!

If you would like to get in touch, and there is so much to say about

tennis at the moment, there are so many stories in this week, use the

hashtag and we are looking forward to hearing from you.

A very good place to serve two, out wide, on the right court. If you

haven't watched too much tennis over the last few months, out wide, the

forehand, you can get a few freebies out there.

Second double fault from Alison Riske. Conceded the set, the first

break point on the Riske server. Double faulted. Pliskova took the

serve. Good hold for Alison Riske. When you

are facing a server of this stature, of Pliskova, you have watched her,

they have faced each other before. It is a lot of it guesswork because

of the disguise she puts on her serve? You've got to look at where

she is throwing the ball up, try to get some clues, some early clues.

These days, there is so much data out there. You certainly want to be

going with that, putting it all in with an innate sense of where it is

going. The most important thing is that she keeps trying to make

returns, get something on it. When you are returning the Pliskova

serve, the potential was very high for that set. For me, she is a great

server. But she doesn't make enough of her serves, unlike Serena

Williams. You have got a chance. The second service pretty predictable,

normally to the back end of the right-hander.

That was a really good example of what she's got to do. You've got to

get your racket on these serves. It just gets into her head that

somebody is making returns, trying hard, rather than just getting

demoralised. This is going to give her a tonne of

points. She's looking for the first ball forehand, after the serve. If

you give her that, point over. There it is. Another ace for

Karolina Pliskova, her seventh of the match. That is her ahead on

serve in the second set. In terms of rankings, Angelique Kerber, world

number one, in spite of not having the best of years. Pliskova is

currently sitting third. It could have changed hands at the French

Open, but it didn't. Ostapenko went on to take the title. It's

incredible, the permutations of the top of the women's game. To put it

into context, it is 600 points. There are 470 points for the winner

here. 2000 points if you win Wimbledon. It is not an

insignificant amount of points. I think women's tennis is in

transition at the moment. There are some very good players in the

mid-20s, who can take the top spot. Simona Halep at is only a couple of

games away from being world number one. What I find interesting, we are

used to Maria Sharapova being number one, or Serena Williams, they love

being world number one and everything that goes with it.

Pliskova becomes number one, head of court life changes, the pressure

changes completely. I'm fascinated to see who embraces it. It might be

Ostapenko. She is more of an extrovert than the other players

that are bidding to be number one. I think it is a great time in women's

tennis. She has landed a couple of

backhands. The reason why is that the centre of gravity is very low.

That is the work on the practice court, get down.

Sad pressure on Alison Riske. If she loses this point, she knows this

match is over. That was an effective match point

four Pliskova. -- for. Two titles per Karolina Pliskova this year.

Started the year really well in Brisbane. And she won in Doha.

Semifinals in Roland Garros, a tournament she laughed at the

thought she could ever win. She got very close to the final. Now one

game away from the third round here. She has really found her stride now,

Carolyn Priskin la. -- Karolina Pliskova. Remember how impressive

this is. She wouldn't have played on grass competitively since Wimbledon

last year. To pick up like this, great timing, top of the Pops. There

it is. Three match points four Pliskova. Three points for the win.

Double fault keep this alive. Taking the foot off Bigas a little bit with

the serve macro. -- Vicky Ford off the gas a little bit with serve.

UMPIRE: the ball was called in. Miss Riske has challenged the call.

UMPIRE: the call stands. Match point number four.

UMPIRE: game, set and match Miss Pliskova. Just over an hour on

court. One hour and eight minutes. 6-4, 6-3. The fifth meeting between

the two. It is a Pliskova double. Her older sister beat Naomi Broady

earlier on Court One. Karolina Pliskova, finalist from last year,

lost out in the end to Dominika Cibulkova, who is next against

Heather Watson. A good day from Pliskova. I saw her before she went

out on court and she looked relaxed. She always looks very relaxed. She

hasn't played on grass since Wimbledon last year. She withdrew

from Birmingham because of an elbow injury. She's looking good. The

serving arm is working. Seven aces. She did enough to get herself

through against Alison Riske. Still to work out who she will face in the

next round. Well played. First match on grass

against a tough grass court opponent. Your thoughts? I think I

played OK. I was expecting a little bit worse match. It was my first

one. I am just happy with how I played today and hopefully I can

improve in the next one as well. Very nice weather so I was enjoying

it. The last time we saw you was in the final last year. How did it feel

coming back here? I am coming back almost every year. It is my fourth

or 50 year. I was enjoyed to play in Eastbourne. Especially when the

weather is so nice. We know it can be really windy, as it was last year

in the final. I like coming back here. You have had a lot of success

on grass courts over the years. They win in Nottingham last year. Is this

a great surface? What do you enjoy about it? It is a good service for

my serve. I hope I can play well this year. I think this is the best

preparation for Wimbledon. We look forward macro to you in your next

match. Through to the next round. Karolina Pliskova. From the sunshine

in Eastbourne, let's hope the same is replicated next week. This time

next week, you know what will be well and truly under way.

That is eight! He has done it! She has done it!

That's it! That's it! He has done it!

That's it! That's it! That it! The dream has come true.

And at last he does it. There is a new man at the helm in

men's tennis, Rafael Nadal. Ten great moments but there are

hundreds. There is a tremendous programme on radio five Live on

Wednesday evening at eight, expanding on those, and getting you

involved in your great Wimbledon moments. Sam Smith is here. If you

had to pick one, what would it be? It is hard. There are so many. I

would say 1977, Virginia Wade winning Wimbledon. Even though I

only saw it retrospectively. That is my great moment, too. Is it? We

actually agree on something! I couldn't believe the gladiatorial

nature of it. I wasn't a Bjorn Borg fan. I liked John McEnroe. And the

disk error lighters have this extraordinary image about him. He

was two sets up. I was mortified. There are certain things you do

remember. I remember that moment because I was not allowed to go and

watch it. I got sent to a summer picnic. I was really upset because I

wanted to see the final or listen on the radio. I had to watch it

retrospectively. That is one of my various memories of not being

allowed to watch the final. Max Robertson's great radio commentary,

where on the final point he says, and Virginia will take tea with the

Queen. Those were the days. Moving on to the women's game, we have an

amazing draw. Three British players. Naomi Broady has gone out. We only

have Heather Watson and Johanna Konta. A lot of the British women

lost in the qualifiers as well. Are you a bit down? We will talk about

Johanna Konta a lot this week. You a bit downbeat at the moment? Yes,

because I think we felt this time. Johanna Konta is more of a surprise.

She was in the quarterfinals struggling are few years ago. The

stars were going to be Heather and Laura Robson. Laura has had many

injuries. She is not where we would like to be. Heather has not

progressed, when you think she was playing on the Centre Court nearly

beating Serena Williams a couple of years ago. I thought she was heading

for the world top 20. Never listen to me, I was get it wrong! I was

very pleased to see she won yesterday. I know what it is like to

be on a really awful run. She drowned out a very big win yesterday

on court. That can do wonders for her. I thought Naomi Broady would be

firmly fixed in the world top hundred. There is so much strength

in depth. You cannot rest on your laurels in tennis. You are on the

diving board otherwise with your ranking. Weaver having the same

conversation in France, saying that going into a Grand Slam tournament,

you could almost have picked one of 30 names. That may be slightly

exaggerated. We ended up with a shock winner. Really looking forward

to seeing her play. A week away from Wimbledon. You are none the wiser,

are you? Many more women grow up on clay and feel more comfortable on

clay. There is a large part of the jaw that does not feel comfortable

on grass. -- draw. It is plain not quite like the old days where the

ball used to skip through and really sort people out, and really

absolutely defy the clay court. It is middling now. I think there is a

much smaller bands that can win. This match for Heather Watson, it is

a wonderful opportunity, isn't it? She is playing the defending

champion, a lot of pressure. She is like the energise a woman of women's

tennis. She is struggling with expectation having won the WTA final

last year. Talk about Angelique Kerber struggling with world number

one. She is struggling. She has had a pretty nasty wrist injury. There

is a big advantage for the lower ranked players like Heather, having

won a round and playing somebody who has had a bye. I don't think that

helps many of the top players. If they are lacking confidence. And out

of form. Cibulkova is out of form. You could see last week at Queen's

Court -- Queen's Club how people in a rich vein of form on grass were

upsetting the apple cart. I don't see why Eastbourne should be any

different to other tournaments we have seen, were so many of the big

names have not delivered when you expect them to. A few years ago you

could must pencil in six of the top eight and project through. I think a

number of the big names will go in the early couple of rounds. That has

become the new norm in women's tennis. Talking about Heather

Watson, she is about to walk out on course to play her second match.

Right on cue. The Channel Islands finalist. As Sam said, perhaps

reaching a crossroads in her career. Maybe the next couple of months may

define her career. Here is the defending champion.

APPLAUSE. And actually, we are talking about wrist injuries, arm

injuries, let's talk about Petra Kvitova. She pulled out this morning

having won in Birmingham at the weekend. That was a phenomenal

performance. It would have been great to see her here. You do kind

of wonder, and I'm not suggesting that she doesn't have an abdominal

injury, but she must be thinking, I can do really well at Wimbledon. She

must be thinking she can get to the last four. We have her now as a

contender. When you haven't competed for a good seven months, and she

hadn't even practised for most of that time either, your body, however

fit you are, I don't think she is as conditioned as she could be, but

even if you are a superfit, your body is not hardened to playing

matches. You do things in matches you wouldn't do in practice. It

doesn't surprise me that she has a little Paul or a twinge because she

has done so far beyond what he has done in the last seven or eight

months. You have one body and it needs to be coaxed. She must did

better than she needed to last week although it is a great story. It was

interesting speaking tour in France our enthusiasm for the game has been

massively rekindled, because she realised when she was out of the

game how much she missed it. She has returned renewed and with an

extraordinary desire to actually achieve even more and enjoy it

whilst she is doing it. What happened was so unexpected and

completely life changing. And also, to go through what she did, it seems

as if she has really thought about things very deeply, as anybody

would. And to have time out of the bubble as well. You spent enough

time around tennis to know what a bubble is and how divorced it is

from the real world. I was feel she is underachieving. I

feel she should have seven or eight Grand Slams. Her motivation in the

last few years... She is a lovely young woman. Very honest. She has

been struggling, saying, do I really want to play?

The toss taking place. Cibulkova, diminutive but full of energy. Last

year she had a fantastic moment in the sun when she won the title. It

was a great occasion. She played some fantastic tennis. I remember

doing an interview on court with her afterwards. She was about to get

married as well at a few weeks later. This was the summer of 2016.

An amazing few months for her. She does come here, as Sam says, with

some injury concerns and with an element of a loss of form. She will

look at the jaw. Her overriding emotion will be, goodness me, this

will be tough. The four quarters of the draw feature all of the best

players in the world apart from... There is a cliche. And Eastbourne

deckchair. Angelique Kerber is top seed. In

that section, Ostapenko, the French Open champion, and Johanna Konta.

She could play Ostapenko in two arounds. What a match that could be.

In the next section, Pliskova. Mladenovic. And Kuznetsova. Seventh

seed here. Agnes Kirkbride Zak -- Agnieszka Radwanska. Mother routes.

Caroline Wozniacki down at the bottom. The extra entry here that we

were not expecting perhaps was Simona Halep, runner-up in France.

The number two seed. That is an embodiment... People get injured

sometimes. Let's say Venus Williams was injured, and obviously Serena is

absent for other reasons, this basically is Wimbledon? It is. I

came to watch as a ten-year-old. Played in the tournament. I was

allowed to come to that! I remember the days when it was just packed.

There was tennis going on everywhere. Navratilova, Tracy

Austin. Everybody was here. They all came here. That was what he did

before Wimbledon. Then over the years it didn't become so

fashionable. Serena didn't like to play. Steffi Graf didn't like to

play. The draw shrunk. Now you have to win a lot of matches. This is

what you should do the week before Wimbledon. The penny has finally

dropped for everyone. There is a match on court to at the moment and

it is absolutely packed. This is great. It really doesn't live in the

whole of Devonshire Park when you have got matches of this quality

taking place on the outside courts. I have got friends who will come

down for the day. They want to see tennis. There are a lot of fans.

They would stay in a Hotel all week and they don't want to see the

courts thinning out. It is wonderful down here. They want to see

high-level tennis all over the park. That is what you will get from

Monday to Sunday. You can get so close to the action. Not to diminish

Wimbledon in any away, but sometimes, especially the big names,

there is inevitably a distance between you and them. But here you

can almost literally hand them the towel between points. I don't know

who's in these days, but I would bus juniors down here for the day and

get them to watch how these players play and train. That is far better

than another day's training. Then you get an idea of what you have to

do to be a great tennis player. It had a huge impact on me when I was

very young. That is the best way if you want to have a dream. There is

Cibulkova. Talk about Heather. If we had been sitting here five years

ago, we would have thought the world was that her feet. It hasn't quite

turned out that way. Is it too simple to say that the lack of a

really big shot has cost her at the high-level? It has made it harder.

But I think with Heather, her when -- or unwillingness... If you speak

to her, she is very careful about everything she does. She is just too

careful on its tennis court. She has wonderful attributes. Brilliant

anticipation. She is beautifully balanced. An incredible mover. That

is why she plays so well on the grass. I think Heather has been a

little scared to develop a game, to make some big changes. I think she

got to around 40 in the world are doing what he did. Then she needed

to move on. It wasn't going to sustain that ranking. I see her and

we don't really chat about tennis. That is the feeling I get. When you

see someone like Ostapenko, it is not just hit ball, receive ball, hit

ball. She has an aggression and a dynamism in her game that perhaps

Heather didn't have. I don't think that should stop her. I think it is

about how she cuts the cake with what she has got. I would like to

see her play much more on the baseline. She has an all court game.

To take what he has got with use it differently and be prepared to

evolve and make mistakes. Firmly, she has been so safe in what she has

wanted to do. It has really helped her back. Maybe now she has hit rock

bottom. So -- what should her tactics be? She has to make

Cibulkova play a lot of balls. She has two run her socks off. She can

match athletically. That gives her a fighting chance. She has two start

well. When you are not confident, as Cibulkova can't be, you don't want

to go down in the score early. This is a big chance for Heather to get a

notable scalp. We will let Sam go to the commentary box. GG salmon is

there. You must have a great view? It is fantastic. I have been keeping

an eye Macron the wind, looking at the flagpoles. It is not too bad

today. It can get very windy. It is not too bad today. It is 21 degrees

on court. I checked the weather forecast for the rest of the week. I

think we will just leave it at that. Today is a data weather-wise. -- a

day to savour. There is only a little bit of

previous history between these two. 2014 they met twice. They each won

one. They haven't faced each other for a while.

A good start for Heather Watson. She holds the first service game.

Difficult to come into these tournaments when the player you're

playing has had a bite. Cibulkova lost in the first round on grass

this year recently. Heather Watson has one win and one defeat under her

belt. She won in three sets yesterday. That will give her some

confidence. She is here on a wildcard against the world number

six, the fourth seed and the defending champion, Dominika

Cibulkova. Welcome back, Sam. I thought I

covered the ground quite well. I will tell you what is so

difficult... The stairs? They are fine. There are so many fans sitting

on the grass. It's lovely to see, like a summer picnic. It is way past

lunchtime, they had all of these fantastic things going on. It was

quite hard picking my way through there. I had to be very good on my

toes. The good thing is that they will not be there for the rest of

the week or they will get wet! You are like the prophet of doom!

OK, job for Heather. She has to play upon her baseline, she doesn't want

to get pushed back. That is Colin Beecher, former Davis Cup player.

Looking after Heather at the moment. She is playing out of Chiswick. She

has to stay on her baseline, that is number one.

If she stays on her baseline and serves well, it will give her

opportunities to move forward. She has wonderful volleys. She has to

take out the forehand of Cibulkova from the centre and left of centre.

Just to explain that a little bit more, she doesn't want to allow

Sybil Covert to get onto her forehand in the centre of the court.

-- Cibulkova. Watson just a point on serve, 2-1 on

serve. Sam, it must be nice to have a bye. But it can be a disadvantage,

particularly on the grass court, when it is so short. Heather Watson

was out there, yesterday, three sets. Cibulkova is out there, and

then you are suddenly up against somebody who has just had a tough

3-set match on these courts. It's not ideal.

I have never been over there, it is a difficult name to say, but

regardless, the courts will play difficulty. British players don't

play as much grass as they would have done in my generation.

Everybody thinks you are British, you play on grass. We don't any

more. This is a great habitat for Heather. She loves the big stage,

she loves playing on this surface. She would prefer to be competing

than on the practice court. She is a fan of practice. We mustn't forget

she is a reigning Wimbledon champion, taking the mixed doubles

champion. I followed their route through. This is tricky. I think she

is one of the seas that is vulnerable. All of the pressure is

on her as the defending champion. A couple of semifinals for Cibulkova.

She has got past the second round in her last four tournaments.

If you are a Watson fan, this is a point you don't want to see replayed

too often. There, Cibulkova had four forehands from the centre of the

court, and was able to set things up. She set up a much improved

backhand. That is one of the reasons she played so well last year.

That is the second time Cibulkova has attempted the drop shot. I'm

really surprised she would do that. I think it shows a lot of anxiety

that she has added to her game. But I don't think it is a shop that you

play early on, when you are not feeling very confident.

So far, Heather is getting is absolutely right, for me, making a

lot of returns. Generally keeping the ball away from the centre of the

court, with that forehand. Just making Cibulkova play a lot of

balls. You can still see this court is a

little soft. The ball, a little bit of backspin and it just kind of died

on the surface. That was a mixture of the spin, the backspin, but also

just clumping on the court. That brings up the first break point

of the match. It is for Heather Watson.

Incredible from Heather Watson, forced the error from Cibulkova.

Heather Watson, 3-1, first set. Heather has done everything right so

far. You've always got a chance to break it. Neither of them has an

overwhelming serve. Athletically, she is one of the few players that

can match Cibulkova. Doing a great job of making balls.

Heather Watson a wildcard into the event. She started the year at 81,

she is sitting at 126. This is a very strong field in Eastbourne.

That is the side Cibulkova who want to play on. One of the reasons I

feel Heather has struggled in her career, particularly in recent

years, is that the forehand is not a solid shot, technically. I don't

know if she has refused to address it all just can't change it. It is

where everybody will go. There it is. Cibulkova, targeting

the forehand, forcing the error and gets the point.

Heather slows down the rocket had. There is husband, Mr Cibulkova come

on the right. -- slows down the racket head. Her mum and dad are

here as well, her dad is quite a character.

She also travels with two Yorkshire terriers. Spiky and Woody. It is a

good dog for her to have. She's never going to have a golden

labrador. I don't see her with a great Dane.

They are two little Yorkshire terriers, exactly the same she is.

The canine version. They say that dogs and owners resemble one

another. There it is, and immediate break

back. The defending champion, Dominika Cibulkova. Heather Watson,

3-2. Sam, when USB key about the forehand, you said maybe she doesn't

want to address it, or couldn't. Why would you not be able to adjust?

Because you have been doing something for too long? Possibly. Or

maybe just not... The way you take in the information. I mean she has

had quite a few different coaches over the last 18 months. It has been

very unsettling for her. There was a coach she had her best years worth,

the Argentinian, they had a great working relationship. He has a young

family and want to go back to Argentina and have a different life,

not travelling so much. She has had a lot of different coaches. The

forehand, for me, even the game that you saw, in these big matches she

gets very passive and doesn't trust it. It's technical, more than

anything, which gets into your head. But it is changeable. Johanna Konta,

her forehand was very ordinary. It was a liability. But she has

transformed it. How much of that is just making technical adjustments? I

think it is all about Heather not been prepared to let go.

Maybe accept the fact you will make mistakes at first when it is

adjusting. I think that has been the problem.

UMPIRE: Challenging the call, the call was out. The call stands. Miss

Cibulkova has two challenges remaining.

You're going to see that pattern a lot from Cibulkova. She will go

towards the backhand, then switched to the forehand. Heather, I am not

going to say it too much, but she decelerates and gets locked, she is

trying to steer the ball back rather than letting the racket head go

through. A couple more break point

opportunities for Heather Watson. Back-to-back breaks. Another chance

to edge ahead with the brakes. I think the Cibulkova camp will be

quite worried about what they are seeing in the opening 25 minutes.

Cibulkova's feet stuck to the ground and that is very unusual.

That is the third opportunity in this section game for Heather Watson

to regain the break and the advantage.

A little bit of luck, a racket in the air. Heather Watson with her

third break point opportunity, taking the sixth game, regaining the

advantage. That was a game, for me, that Heather had to take. She came

in here lacking confidence, and she will have got a huge confidence

surge from winning the match yesterday. When you haven't been

winning and you get a big win on a major court. But it is not deep

confidence that she has. I would like to see her now be very

aggressive in this game. In what seems like they blink of an

eye. She got on so much trouble with the first serve, she put it right to

wear Cibulkova wanted it, middle of the box, forehand. If Cibulkova is

backing off, she will be super aggressive, whatever the scoreline.

Heather Watson has broken, we have had four games, four breaks of

serve. We are now back on serve. A missed opportunity, after taking the

opportunity she needed to take on the Cibulkova service.

For me, I do feel, psychologically, when I watch these, it could not be

more different in terms of their personalities. Cibulkova is not

feeling the ball very well, and hasn't for a while. Injuries, not

getting the results she wanted. When she is under pressure, she steps

forward. Heather, when she is struggling, she steps back. It is

how she overrides it. I have seen Heather do that. But more when she

is confident. Heather doesn't have any pressure out here at all. The

first pressure is not to look ridiculous on the court against a

top player. That is gone. But that is a huge pressure, when you walk

out against the best in the world, that is the pressure you feel, as

the lower ranked player. You can be humiliated. That is not going to

happen. She is matching her physically, tactically she is doing

the right things. She has to be more careful about where she serves,

because with Cibulkova you want to serve as close to the lines as

possible. She hasn't got the reach. You need to make a stretch on every

single return. She hasn't done that as much as I would like. I think she

can come out here and have a swing. .

Cibulkova won the finals at the end of last year, one of the best

players in the women's game, when were fighting it out for the current

trophy. With new balls, it is 3- on serve.

Caught just inside the baseline. It is already starting to harden up.

That is nice. The son-in-law giving mum a cuddle. Hopefully they get on.

After four breaks in a row, the defending champion holes. -- holds.

Serving patter ands out here are so important for Heather. --

Pattersons. She is serving down the capital tee. For me it is a mistake.

She has got to make Cibulkova stretch. Go down that center line.

From 40-0, Heather Watson serves it out to 30. 5-4. I read an interview

with Heather Watson in which she talked about her ultimate goal. It

was to become a tennis commentator. You were kidding me, aren't you? I'm

not making it up. I don't know if that is our ultimate goal away from

tennis. But it is to be a Tom and -- tennis commentator. But this is

easy! What she's doing out is difficult. It is not a goal. What is

she doing at 25 even thinking about after tennis? I find that very

worrying. You do? Yes, I do. I think this may worry you even more. But

she also said she is more competitive when she plays Scrabble

with her family than when she plays tennis. How are you feeling now? I'm

feeling really worried! I believe she has top 20 potential. At

Scrabble or tennis? I don't really care about Scrabble or designs to be

a player. What she has movement wise, balance, anticipation, a

wonderful backhand, she has got so much out there. For now it is

tennis. Cibulkova serving to stay in the first set. Are you sure you were

reading this interview correctly? I want to see it. I will show you

afterwards. OK. This is a side he don't want to see

if your Heather Watson. -- site. She hardly misses those kind of shots.

Very dangerous when you have the advantage on multiple occasions in a

set against a top player and you don't press it home. They then

believe that you don't believe. Here is the athleticism of Heather

Watson. A beautifully balanced. Read this. This is when the forehand is

good. She lets the racket head girl. She didn't have a choice. And look

at the result. The first ace of the match for

Cibulkova. Perfect timing. Serving isn't easy for Cibulkova at

that height. That is one area which is a challenge for her. She is

always having to hit up on the ball. She stands at five. But having said

that, Rosie to cells, a great American player of the 1970s, she

was a similar height. And apparently she had the most fantastic serve. I

would love to know how she did it. That was the last place Heather

wanted to hit that ball. She had the advantage. That was the aggressive

play. She didn't want to take that. This is when she is great, when she

is looking to come forward. She has got such good volleys. It is a waste

not to see her in the forecourt. On par Mrs Cibulkova challenging the

ball. -- call. You cold when she hit the ball. Is

it right? De Leeuw hit the ball? Didn't he called out? On par and no,

I did call it. He didn't call out. It was a few seconds after. Why? I

would have to be Superman to be in the same time. It is not the same.

You are not calling out. You are just overruling.

Cibulkova believes she should have won the point and should not be

replay in the point. I wish the umpires could have a replay on the

screen. This is really about her. It is a judgment call. It is really

tricky for the umpire. On par I understand that you think

that way. I can didn't call it late. I called it at the time.

It is not going to be this conversation.

It is going to be this conversation because you just talk my point.

-- talk. I think she is right. But it is

fractions. And it wouldn't have changed

anything because the decision was made. I couldn't remember without

seeing the replay. Generally umpires tend to error on the side of

caution. This will fire her up. Five games apiece. They fired up

Cibulkova. You think the umpire should have a little screen? Yes, I

do. It will solve all the problems. It would take five or six seconds.

Her long-time coach, also the Slovak captain. They were exceptionally

well together. -- work. That was a good spot from Cibulkova.

She saw Heather Watson was back on her heels at the baseline.

There was a lot more pace on that serve. That is the spot she needs to

hit it. Every time. There we go. A lovely to wait to finish off the

game for Heather Watson. -- a lovely way. It is sometimes dangerous to

fire up a player. Especially Cibulkova. The Slovak pot was

boiling. Watson did a very good job of putting the lid on. I am

impressed by what Heather is doing. I think she realises, and I think

she has been told, were to serve against Cibulkova. It has got more

pop and pace on that serve, and it is very accurate. When she serves

accurately, it sets up the next ball. She once first ball back and

after the serve and she can get on top of the point. The more she is on

top of the point, everything comes together and she looks great. You

talk about Cibulkova's height. She stands at five foot three. What

would be the advantages of being that height? Sometimes you can be

too tall, like Bambi on ice. As a shorter player, what advantages do

they have? You said it, a lower centre of gravity. Cibulkova is an

exceptional tennis player at her height. Her energy, her personality,

her footwork and work rate. She is special. Serving to stay in the

first set. We have been caught for just shy of an hour. Still blue

skies. A slight breeze. As well as Heather is doing in this

game, I would love to see her move up the court, really have a swing,

and put pressure right here. See what she does? She is back

behind the baseline. Hodd and there it is. At the first

time of asking. A pump of the fist. A wildcard into this event. She is a

set to the good with 56 minutes on the clock against Cibulkova, taking

it by 7-5. She will be absolutely delighted with how she turned it

around. How is your Slovakian? ! I'm not even going to enter that! There

will be quite a few will understand. Well, I got position and block. She

is still not going properly. Get in touch if you understood that and you

can speak Slovakian. Tel us what they discussed, apart from position

and block. And OK! And aggression. Starting the second set as she

finished the first, Heather Watson, confidently and in style. More fist

pumping from the Brit. That is an extraordinary passage of play from

Heather Watson. Ten points in a row against one of the best players in

the world. She had the cushion of the first set, feeling more

confident, she lets the forehand go, plays more aggressively. She is

making it look really rather easy. Cibulkova is doing a lot better

behind her second serve. It is incredible the difference a

little bit of confidence can make. Dominika knows how important this

game is. She's going to step forward and be very dangerous. I am sure,

despite not understanding a word of it, that he was saying to use her

forehand more. Raise the intensity. That is the ball I was talking about

earlier in the match, that you don't want to see Cibulkova hitting, if

you are a big fan of Heather, or if you are Heather, you want to see her

running along the backcourt. Ace number five for Heather Watson

in the match. Court position is everything for

Heather. She is right on the baseline and she has a world-class

backhand. There is no argument about that. It allows her to take the ball

on. It is most important take away from Cibulkova. -- take time away

from Cibulkova. That has been a problem for Heather against a lot of

players, sometime she is to careful. I like to see Heather with her toes

on the baseline, taking the ball on the fly. She's got the hands to do

that. Yet to drop a point on serve in the

second set. 2-1 on serve in the second set. Took that into the first

set just under an hour. When we got to this grass court season, an oasis

in the tennis Kamal -- calendar, how nice is it playing in front of a

home crowd? They talk about sleeping in their own beds, how much of a

difference to the crowd make? It is not a lot of fun if you are not

playing well, because you hear the groans. There is a lot of

expectation. They are willing you to do well. I think Heather enjoys the

big stage and I think she has used this ground extremely well,

certainly Cibulkova will feel that is very much the case. If you are

playing well, there was nothing like it. That weather vane is meant to be

Virginia Wade serving. A magpie is sat on her head! Disrespectful! I

was shocked when I saw that. Get off the 1997 women's champion's head!

But I am sure it was modelled on that. She has a comfortable head for

birds to sit on. It doesn't look that comfortable. But there is

something special about playing in front of the home crowd, when you

are playing well. It does lift you. Heather needed a boost. She needed

the grass court season because this year has not gone particularly well

for her. She also has a wildcard into Wimbledon. A draw later this

week. I always forget, is it Wednesday or Thursday? Thursday.

That shot says to me that Monica is slightly running out of ideas

against Heather Watson. She's not finding the gaps on the court,

because Heather is such a fantastic number.

Doing everything right at the moment, Heather Watson.

There is some wind today, Heather at the southern end, from time to time

it seems like the wind is behind her, blowing down the court into the

face of Cibulkova. She could do with a few more mph on her ground

strokes. I think that is with a challenge.

Maybe she is saving them for later? She's got three left, you get three

per set. Cibulkova, targeting the forehand

side. Now we have a challenge. If she had challenged the last point,

she would have lost it. UMPIRE: Call stands. Miss Watson has

two challenges remaining. A look over to her camp from the

defending champion. Saved a couple of break points. 2-2 in the second

set. One hour and 11 minutes on court. Still lovely temperatures.

Are you sure it is about to rain any second now? You seem to be doom and

gloom. I am a positive person. I am doubting that. Just not with the

British weather! That is the first point Heather

Watson has dropped on serve in the second set.

I thought the last few games were a big opportunity for Wharton. It was

the last few with the old balls. She doesn't like the new balls because

she feels she can't control them as well.

Have and son-in-law fallen out? -- Mum son-in-law. He is such a great

supporter of hers. He has been on the tour a long time. They are a

very happy band of travellers, usually, her husband and coach. And

the parents have come along as well. The first serve has been working

really well for Heather Watson. Has been good, because it has protected

her weaker second serve, which can be a problem sometimes.

This is why she's good on grass. She played the backhand, where she is

more confident. She really happy and provides. She saw the space, lovely

soft hands on the bully and she is so confident that the net. Good to

see. -- on the volley. Says the break point, hold serve.

3-2, Heather Watson, in the second set. Talking about hand, the feel,

the touch around the net, we know how good she is on the doubles

court, but is this something also on the singles court, the more

confident she gets, the more she will come forward? Yes, the service

will allow you to do that. It is far more difficult now, because the

racket technology has changed so much. The strings, it allows

opponents, when you come in, to dip the ball in a way that you couldn't

do 20 years ago. When I was in the studio, John was asking me about

Heather. She lacks a big shot. Yes, she does. She is not a Cibulkova,

she is not an Ostapenko. Does that hold her back? No, but it would be

nice if she had a big shot. But she has so much else. Heather can make

yourself more of an awkward opponent. I would like to see her

mix the pace, the flight, more. She had the same ball back so much it

makes a wonderful practice partner, but it gives opponents rhythm. I

would like to see her on the baseline, taking risks. She has the

soft hands to do it. It is like getting a pack of cards and

shuffling them in a different way. It's not all about making her hit

the ball harder, and more power, because she doesn't have that. Look

at Radwanska, look at how she uses what she's got. I think Heather can

be more like Radwanska. That is the way I would like to see her tennis

go. Whole court game. All court game. Still plenty of time. She has

to see it, though. It is easy from a peer. We have a great view. -- easy

from up here. Cibulkova survived a couple of

points in the first game of the second set. She has a couple more to

defend here. There is the break. Heather Watson

now a set and a break to the good, 4-2 in the second.

Her distribution has been excellent. Watching Cibulkova, I see her year

in, year out, I think she's a fraction slower than normal. That is

a lack of match play. Now is the time for Heather, best foot forward.

Very aggressive in this game. You are right about that groaning

from the home crowd. You can hear it? When you are down on that court

and you are for- two down, taking a beating, you just want to get out of

there. She is being watched out here by the

cup captain, and we have done a lot of commentary on her matches. This

is what drives us crazy. She freezes on these occasions, it is like she

can't get her arm through the ball. Really intelligent serving now from

Watson. I really like the sweatshop in the -- switch up in the pattern.

From here, you've got such a good view of how dare to the court is,

the front part of it. This time of year, this time of the week, you can

put as many balls there as you want and it is always going to be

difficult. One game away now, Heather Watson.

5-2 she lived in the second set. She took the third set against the

defending champion. Cibulkova cannot get her coach on, but we have had

some viewers get in touch with a translation of the Slovakian team

talk. Thank you to both of you. Susannah said he was telling her to

play closer to the net and that she needs to calm down, because she

plays to aggressively. I heard the word aggressively. But not the

context? I am going to be picky! I didn't have a clue. But I did get a

few of the words right. Another the USA's he was saying for her to get

harder with the serve and get into the court. I agree with getting into

the court, taking time away from Watson. The problem for Dominika is

that she is lacking confidence. She has felt a lot of pressure coming in

here as defending champion. When you're not feeling the ball terribly

well, it is very hard. She's got the sort of game where when she is on,

she is devastating, one of the best in the world. Is not a B+ game, a

game to pull back off when she's not playing terribly well. With Heather,

it is the opposite. There is a lot of B+ game. But she has had a

sprinkling of A game. Heather Watson is a game away from game three, a

game away from knocking off the defending champion, world number

six, fourth seed, Dominika Cibulkova.

As dominant as Watson looks in the scoring, it's a lot easier to break

than serve out, and still be aggressive. Dominika has played

below her best, and Watson has had a part in that. At the top players

don't give it to you. Excellent from Heather Watson,

bringing up the first match point. The top players don't give it to do.

This young woman, she has one of the best attitudes in women's tennis.

You're going to have to rip this match away from her. It doesn't

matter about the scoreline, she doesn't care.

Well played under pressure, Cibulkova. She has held serve. She

was serving to stay in the tournament. Now the pressure

switches to Heather Watson. 5-2, one break. It looks a lot, 5-2.

But one break is not a lot, not against one of the best players in

the world. We shouldn't forget that for one moment.

Two points away, Watson. It'll be interesting to see what she does. I

would like to see her go down T. -- the T.

Heather Watson had a match point in the previous service game. Now she

has two match points on her serve. It is very hard to close out a match

anyway. It is very hard when you have not been winning a lot of

matches over the year. It is even harder when you have got a top

player at the other end. Right now, Heather is pushing the ball. She

once said the cover to give it to. It is not going to happen. -- she

wants Cibulkova to give it to her. A total of three match point of come

and gone. There is a break back opportunity for the defending

champion. And we play on. Three match points

have come and gone. Cibulkova has broken back. She is on serve. 5-4.

You were down in Australia. Remember the match Heather played in the

second round. She -- it was an epic. She had a lot of match points in

that match. It was a boiling hot day. She had maybe 67 match points.

There have been a couple of other matches this year where she has had

other match points and lost. It has become something of an issue for

Heather. I really feel for her. You can see what happens. She gets to

match point and the arm is freezing. It is a horrible place to be. I'm

not sure how you get over it. There is a lot of psychological scar

tissue, particularly from the Brady match. That was to go into the third

round of the Australian Open. That would have helped its to stay inside

the world top 100. Matches like that can really knock you. I think it has

knocked her. It has had an effect. She has lost other matches with

match point is again this year. She parted ways with her coach as well.

It is turbulent. I am not saying she is going to lose but it is not

looking a done deal. No. But she knows how to break the Cibulkova

server. The pressure back on the defending champion.

Cibulkova has been very smart the last ten minutes. She does not have

too much of a B plus game. She has pulled in her margins ever so

slightly. Not aiming for the lines as she normally does.

What Defence from Heather Watson on that point.

Defending out here is not a long-term solution against

Cibulkova. That might just give her a hope in this game.

Match point number four for Heather Watson. We can feel the stance

shaking beneath us. -- stands. There it is. What a win for a

Heather Watson. On a wildcard. Lost in the first round last year. Note

defeats the defending champion, Dominika Cibulkova. -- note defeats.

Great, great victory. It is a long time since we have seen that smile.

Personally I am delighted for her. Having had those match points and

just getting over the line. That sets her up for Wimbledon and the

rest of the season. I thought she was the better player. She took

advantage of Cibulkova being off her best. You still have to do it. The

best match I have seen from this year. You still have to beat a

player who is the world number six, defending champion. Not the

Cibulkova she was at the end of last year. She is a tough competitor.

Watson, low on confidence, had to come out here, had to get through

it. And she did. Straight sets. Tactically excellent from the start.

Per serving got over the line. Outstanding. Great movement. Enjoy

this one. Absolutely. The winner will face Mertens are appropriate...

Well, many congratulations. That was such an inspiring performance. Your

second win over a top ten opponent. Some up your emotions? Firstly, I'm

so grateful again for everybody who came out and supported today. The

atmosphere again was just incredible. I was getting goose

bumps at the end. It is no secret I got a little nervous. But I'm very

pleased that I got through in the last game. I mean, obviously, she is

an amazing player. She won this tournament last year. A hard worker

and a fighter. I knew it was never going to be easy. It definitely

wasn't. But I thought I played really well. It wasn't as Wendy, so

I got the serve going. You certainly did that. It felt as though

everything you touched turned golden. What was the game plan that

was so effective? I just ran! I just ran. She is a very aggressive

player, so I knew I wouldn't always be on the front foot. I'm OK with

that. I have got some wheels and I have to use them. You used them

today. It was a terrific serving day. Where does that rank in terms

of serving free you? I really like my serve. I feel like I hit some

aces. My second serve maybe can improve but I'm happy with my serve

and especially how it is going right now on the grass. Finally, you had

an amazing crowd support here today. How much did they help to lift

queue, and particularly as things were getting tired towards the end?

So much, honestly, so much. I love it. This is my favourite part about

tennis, is competing in front of audiences and crowds like this that

get so involved. It is fun and exciting for me as a player. I think

it was fun and exciting for them, too.

Well done Heather Watson. CHEERING. Heather saying Cibulkova

is a gritty competitor but she was very gritty, Heather. It was

nerve-racking watching. After weeks and months where her ranking has

dropped to the point where she has been looking for a wildcards to get

into events, including here, that is a fantastic victory to back up one

yesterday. It will give a huge confidence going into next week.

Talking about Wimbledon, if you have been multi-skilling at home, maybe

watching this on your TV with your watch, your phone, whatever it might

be on your lap, you will know when leading qualifiers have been taking

place. Here is match point for Marcus Willis, one of the poster

boys of Wimbledon last year. We got familiar last year with that

celebration as he got through to play Roger Federer last year. Here

he is playing Andre Martin of Slovakia. Willis is a winner.

He talked to Selena Hinchcliffe. This is a special place for you. A

fairy tale last year. What emotions were you going through stepping back

on court at Roehampton? You have to forget it. As soon as emotions get

involved, you can easily crumble. It is easy to choke under the pressure.

I have been doing quite well at taking it a point at a time and

trying to win a tennis match. The support helped as well. But

ultimately I'm taking it a point at a time and trying to play well. It

has been quite a year for you. You got married, your wife was watching.

His baby Martha here? Yes, she is over there. My lucky mascot. She

hasn't got a clue what is going on but as long as she has got her milk

she is fine. She hasn't a clue. At least she is smiling. And

nonorthodox style on the court. -- and nonorthodox. Is it your comfort

on grass that makes a difference? Yeah, I'm confident. I haven't

played as many tournaments as I would have liked due to injury and

having a baby and getting married. But I'm back full time now. I would

like to get my ranking up and compete with these guys on every

surface. I have a lot of work to do. Grass suits me very well. It is

probably not his favourite surface but I think he did pretty well.

Congratulations. What price him being in the main draw next week? He

will outdo come through another couple of rounds. He has to play

Liam Broady in the next round. Broady gracious enough to say he

expects the crowd to be on Willis' side in the next match.

Alex Ward was the final British winner today. Qualifying continues

live from Roehampton. That is online. Access it however you wish

until Thursday. Liam Broady is through in the qualifying at

Wimbledon. His sister, Naomi Broady, was earlier today playing Kristyna

Pliskova. Here we are at the start of the second set tie-break,

Pliskova having won the first. Kristyna Pliskova.

Taking the first point of this tie-break. And going on to win

comfortably in the end in three sets. -- two sets.

A good win for Kristyna Pliskova. We rather pre-empted what happened

in the tie-break of there! You can probably guess how this match ended.

But anyway, sorry about that. If you weren't aware what happened earlier,

obviously use map of the end result. It was a victory for Pliskova. Naomi

Broady played well. We can show you the -- we can show it to you now.

Great potential she has. Who knows what you can achieve in the next

couple of weeks? Great first point of this tie-break,

a tie-break Naomi Broady needs to win to hang in against the elder of

the Pliskova sisters. She is doing extremely well. Kristyna Pliskova is

the elder by two minutes. She is a top 60 player and has been improving

a lot this year. Naomi has a wildcard but fancies her chances on

grass. She is against somebody who is also comfortable in this -- on

this surface. She is a leftie as well. This court is laid on cement,

saw the ball comes through fast and quick. Yesterday afternoon I was

watching the Pliskova sisters hit with each other. Their ranking is

high enough so that they are playing the same tournaments. The ball was

coming off her racket very sweetly. Kristyna Pliskova took the first set

by 6-2. Naomi Broady has done really well to get herself into the second

set tie-break. Is not easy because this young woman has such a big

serve. You don't get a lot of rhythm, you don't get a lot of time

on the ball. Naomi Broady is unbeaten in

tie-break in 2017. Admittedly, it is just her third. Something to hold

onto. Yeah, you often favour a player with a big serve and a

tie-break. But it is neutralised out here because they both have great

serveds and they both have big games. And they're both very, very

tall! You are looking at differences

between the two Pliskova sisters. Not just the way the ball comes off

Kristyna Pliskova's racket, she doesn't move quite as well as her

sister. Just subtle differences like that can make a big difference in

the rankings. Big hitting and a little bit of luck

for Naomi Broady. Her game is lopsided. It is all about the server

and the forehand. The backhand can go in one day and at the back fence

the next. It is a shame for her. It has improved but it is a big

weakness. Players do like to go there. But she has great strengths

as well. She is a difficult player to play against. Results are up and

down. I spoke to her at the start of the

year and she said it had almost dawned on her that she had to think

of herself as a big server. It may mean she lost a few points and she

would have to go down the ranking, but she would work on her game. It

needed to take in her mind before she did it. -- to click.

You can see the problem with that shot. She do -- she almost wants to

get rid of it. She doesn't trust it. But she can read some winners off it

as well. -- rip. Just getting some frustration out.

It is better out than in. There is a lot of pressure on her. She wants to

take advantage of these wildcards. It can change the course of a year,

getting a win or two at this event, and as a launch pad into Wimbledon.

Very few players in the world get these opportunities.

Kristyna Pliskova looking to finish things off here.

Brave play from Broady but it had to be. She always is. They have similar

games. If Naomi has a little more time on the backhand, it is a very

big swing, she has time to get the racket head back, and then through,

and then do it with control as well. She is a very likeable person on

court and off court. She competes well. She gives it everything. She

is an honest player. She takes risks and goes for it. Whatever the

outcome. I don't think I'd like to be a passenger in a motor car with

her, the way she plays her tennis! It is a little too high-rolling and

high risk for me. I did find when she did commentary with me, she was

very honest. It was quite refreshing.

An opportunity for Broady to take this into a decider. She has got to

be thinking the slide is coming into my backhand. Maybe just nudge over.

Forcer opponent to make the... We have had a match point, we have

had a set point. You have to admire Naomi Broady's

ability to improvise. Use the forecourt. It is so new they are. It

is so dead. It is so soft. We are going the distance. Naomi

Broady closes at the tie-break, 9-7. The world number 111, the wildcard.

As you may have guessed, sadly that was the end of the joy for Naomi

Broady. She lost 6-1 in the third set. From a British perspective,

from one extreme to another. Heather Watson won a fantastic victory

against Dominica Cibulkova. The defending champion, world number

six, fourth seed. The second victory in her career over a top ten player.

Someone we have enjoyed seeing for so many years at Eastbourne and

elsewhere. On court, and here in the studio. How good was that?

Very good. I knew it was going to be a very tough match. She's a great

player, very aggressive. We have played each other a few times

before. I felt really good out there.

Playing that long match yesterday in the wind, those conditions, it

prepared me well for today. It was not as windy today. I was seeing the

ball better, my serve was coming together. I'm pleased with how I got

through that. I was at Queen's, and the final was immense. It was a

fantastic match. I took my eye off the ball about what was happening

elsewhere. I looked up the results, so you had won yesterday and thought

it was a really good win. A lot of people thought you might win today,

because momentum is such a big thing in this sport, isn't it? Absolutely,

momentum and confidence are two big things in tennis. Yes, I felt ready

to go today. I wasn't tired at all from my match yesterday, even though

it was a long one. It set me up for today. There are little moments when

you feel the pendulum turning. When he went 5-2 up, 4-2 up, 30-0 up,

then she got it back to 30-30. Then he produced a massive serve. And

your serve was good from start to finish? I thought it went better as

the match went on. It has to be, really. I got a little nervous at

the end. I thought Dominika upped her game, so it was a little bit of

both. I kept fighting and got through it in the end. We were

talking about the fact that, given the way your ranking has dropped a

bit, you have been relying on wildcards and things like that. How

does that change the way you approach the week in, week out

business being a tennis player? It hasn't changed too much, just

because I have been the main draw of these tournaments for many years. It

is not different for me playing in Eastbourne, or Birmingham last week.

But I'm very thankful for the wildcards. I felt I had been playing

great tennis and I love playing on grass. I'm glad I've had an

opportunity for the last few weeks. When you look at your diary in

January, do you look at the block from the beginning, the middle of

June, to the end of July, do you say that is my time, that is when I'm

really looking forward to it? I always look forward to the grass,

every single year. It is my favourite time of the year for

tennis. How much of that is because it is nearly home? I think it is a

big part of it. I also think the service does suit my game. --

surface. It's great, I feel I am home wherever I am, Eastbourne,

Birmingham, Nottingham. One final question, Petra Kvitova has sadly

pulled out of the competition. It has been an extraordinary year for

the women's game, Serena being pregnant, some people out of the

game at the moment, the way that Ostapenko took things by the scruff

of the neck in France. Suddenly we have Kvitova back in the game, and

here she is, seven months on, having won in Birmingham yesterday. Even

though she has pulled out from here, it is amazing to see her as a

contender again for the big trophies. What is the general

chitchat in the dressing room about that? It is great to see her back.

It is horrible what she has been through. I heard that she was told

she might not be able to play properly again. To come back, she

has won Birmingham now, it is great to have her back. She is a really

nice girl. Obviously a great player. Can you imagine her winning

Wimbledon again? Might have to beat you in the final? I was going to say

that! Best of luck, great to see you winning again, and smiling again.

Are you back in action tomorrow? Probably Wednesday now? I hope so,

but I don't think I will be. I think it is going to rain tomorrow, so you

might get a day off. I mentioned Petra Kvitova, and she has been

speaking about having to pull out here, and also about things that

have been happening to her over the last few months.

We understand you're not going to be playing at Eastbourne this year. You

have just pulled out of the tournament, why is that? Yes, I had

to pull out, my body is not prepared for a tournament like that. I had a

long-running Birmingham and my body did not respond well. Especially my

abdominal muscle, which is a bit more tightened than normal. Is it a

fitness thing, or a problem with your injured hand? It is the fitness

thing. Still some work to go before Wimbledon in the gym? Yes, a lot of

treatment as well, to get back into shape. What are you doing this week?

I assume you still hope to play at Wimbledon? Yes, I will do my best to

get to Wimbledon. I need to take some days off and then I need to

start to train slowly, hopefully. Congratulations, a brilliant win in

Birmingham. Your first title since coming back from that horrific knife

attack six months ago, in your own home. A remarkable story. How did it

feel to be back on the tour and back with a trophy in your hand? Well, I

cannot describe it in words. It is something very special for me to

come back to play tennis, to win titles. It is unusual, I think. It's

just after I came back and I already won. I still don't know if it is

true. For me, it is a dream. I'm just living in a dream right now.

It's a beautiful story to have. Was there any point when you thought,

I'm never going to play tennis again, let alone win titles? Yes,

for sure. Those thoughts were there in my mind as well, when it

happened. The first few months were very difficult, when I didn't know

if I would move my fingers properly, if I will ever play tennis. I

appreciate now that I am able to play tennis and play well. Do you

think it has helped, the moment when you thought it might not happen, it

made you realise how much you want to be back out there, how much you

want to be playing? Do you think that's helped with your

performances, maybe with your mental preparation for games, that

expectation is pretty low because you have had so much time out? I

think so. Sometimes, when it has taken something from you that is not

your choice, it shows you how much you love something. That is what I

find now, that I love to play tennis. It was difficult to sit at

home, watching girls playing tennis on the TV. There was huge motivation

for me to come back as well. I always knew that I loved playing

tennis. But now it is more deep. I'm enjoying it more every time. What

about Wimbledon? As you say, your body is struggling to get you

through these tournaments at the moment. Wimbledon is another kettle

of fish. Two weeks of top competition. Is there a chance, with

no expectation at all, there could be another Wimbledon title for you?

No idea. I don't have an expectation. I didn't have

expectation coming back to play tennis, in Birmingham, playing on

the grass. I am so happy that my hand is OK, it is not in pain. That

is the most important thing in the world right now for me. It was a

dream to make my come back. It is better to be prepared for Wimbledon.

I can't wait to step onto the court there. It is great to have you back.

Well done. We are sorry we will not be seeing you playing in Eastbourne

this week. Thank you very much. It is with saying that she will be in

Wimbledon next week. Wimbledon qualifying continues and you can

watch it on the red button, online and on the BBC Sport app. Sam has

popped down from the, the box. Let's talk about three individuals with

differing fortunes. Dan Evans, there has been a lot written in newspapers

over the last 48 hours about his positive test for cocaine. Are you

inclined to be conciliatory, or do you think the book needs to be

thrown? Conservatory. I think there has to be a punishment. I also think

that he needs a lot of support. Really, for the first time, figure

out why he self-destructs in this way. That has been the pattern

throughout his junior career and his senior career. He is a really

talented guy, very popular. There is a lot to like about him. Super

honest, he has great opinions. But he has this tendency, and I think

some of it stems back to the way he was handled by the tennis

authorities when he was 13 or 14. We have seen this story many times in

British tennis. He was the poster boy for being a

bad boy who was reformed. I was so sad, it would give a lot of other

players that have a bit of a reputation, we have lots of them in

British tennis, every country has them, it would give them a lot of

hope. Let's give him some support. What do you hope the authorities do?

He has to have a band coming have to have a judgment. Cocaine is a class

A drug, it is illegal, whether it is performance enhancing or not. People

look up to sportswomen and men, and you cannot be seen to be taking

recreational drugs. It is a very bad thing. I hope he will go away and

have a lot of support, I am sure from family and friends. Whatever

happens with his tennis, this is only one chapter in his life. He has

the rest of his life to live, whatever he is going to do, come

back and play tennis, go into business, coaching. For him, as a

human being, this is a really important moment. I have obviously

thought about it a lot. I feel incredibly sad for him. But he is a

human being, is this going to continue to happen? Unless he really

gets the right help and sorts out why he does... You know, there has

been a pattern for many years. On a different subject, somebody that

maybe has lost his way a bit, Kyle Edmund has just lost to Donald Young

in three sets, a tight game. Donald Young is a good player, played very

well at Queen's last week. He has just parted company with his coach.

Do you feel he is at a crossroads? He is still young. He has pretty

much made all of the right steps at the right times. It is very tough on

the mend's tour. He has everything to be a top ten player in terms of

his ability. What I see is that when he's on court, I don't know who he

is. I don't see his personality coming out. I think it is more of a

personal development era for him, where he has to find his personality

on court. But you mustn't be afraid to make changes. Look at Andy

Murray, the Djokovic, it is not always about the coach. You've got

to be bold. If you feel it is right, he has to be his own man. We will

talk about Heather Watson in a second. We are back at Eastbourne

tomorrow on BBC Two from one o'clock. We are one hour earlier

than we were today. Johanna Konta will be in action tomorrow. Today,

from a British perspective, great to see Heather Watson. She was smiling,

happy, upbeat, bubbly. That is how we like to see her. We like to see

her playing extremely well. I thought that was an outstanding

serving performance. I love the fact in her interview she knew what she

had to do, run and worked his socks off. Tactically, she did everything

right. She is a far better player than her ranking suggests. I was

very happy to see that, particularly when she had the match points and

got there in the end. Excellent, thank you. An upbeat way to stop the

coverage weather-wise as well. Fantastic day. I cannot promise the

same tomorrow. But today has all been about Heather. You know what

the last word is going to be? Elementary!

The world number three, against Alison Riske from America. A pump of

the fist from Heather Watson. A set to the good. There is the break, 4-2

in the second. There it is. What a win for Heather Watson.