Day 10 Today at Wimbledon

GRUNTING. If you don't stop making Can anybody stop Shazza? People

carry on camping it hoping to see you know who tomorrow. You know

you're heading thought the home straight when half the courts lie

empty. There is still plenty for Linsey and Pat to talk about. We

are going to look ahead to tomorrow, when you know who has his date with

destiny. For two 21-year-olds, today offered

a first chance of a Grand Slam final. Victoria Azaranka, the

fourth seed from Belarus, facing Petra Kvitova, the eighth seed from

the Czech Republic. Azaraenka, the queen of the elongated screams,

reached the quarter final here two years ago and twice won the girls

doubles as a junior. Kvitova reached this stage last year, and

was bidding to become the first left-hander to reach a final since

Martina Navratilova. Do spider Azarenka being ranked

higher, the bookmakers decided that Kvitova's forehand and serve red

hair the favourite. Here we are Kvitova is hitting some big, big

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Illustrated by a glorious sky on Points will be very similar. There

will not be a lot of variety in this match. Not a lot of top spin.

Such an early return. Back to Azarenka before she had almost

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Unbelievable depth. Too much to The taking of the opportunities.

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Great! Forcing the first break of I like a little shriek when she

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BUZZING NOISE. That is very distracting. Azarenka

now knows what it feels like! I think that goes on longer than

Azarenka's noise. It has been 45 seconds so far, the siren. Nobody

is leaving their seats and rushing It is nice to hear the crowd clap.

It means you do not take that annoy a nice! I have a vision of people

running around him directions to find the bottom. NOISE STOPS.

many founded. -- somebody found Azarenka ran think it up a little

bit. Getting Kvitova on her back foot. Kvitova, way over from that

centre line trying to get more The timing his spectacular. She

does not have much time to react. A quick shoulder turn. Keeps those

Only two ever left-handed winners. Martina Navratilova and Anne Jones.

Kvitova is heading halfway towards It is extraordinary how many set

points have be ready good points. - - it is extraordinary how many set

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Cara Black and her older brother one. - - won. Chance is developing

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She is just keeping the lid on. Did not Paul back fair. - - Didn't

pull back there. She needs to give That was lack of footwork. When you

get nervous, the feet and not quite Azarenka just trying to weather the

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It takes your breath away. A roar Azarenka is a great fighter. She

Kvitova was in such control in the first set, but it's deserted here

after that. Azarenka found herself in complete control and took the

second set. Let's moving to the There's Wembley Stadium. We talked

about Crystal Palace earlier. For one played tonight. - - Fulham are

playing tonight. Here's Petra Wonderful return. Kvitova off-

balance. We have not seen a drop shot -- we have not seen a drop

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Brilliant. When they play well at the same time, it is a spectacle.

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Nice way to get rid of the break One of eight break points converted

four Azarenka. Much of that is due to Kvitova raising the level. It

It's in the steam had run out of Azarenka. Here we are, with Kvitova

on the point of going one better. It ended in a rather tame and

When I came onto the court, it felt special and the nerves went. It was

so close. Me and hair had some chances. It was good. I was not

ready shot. I know she can play really well. You are surprised that

your best shots are coming back, but I had to fight. There was no

looking back. I just had to try to take more control. It slipped away.

I will get this are out of the wake first, because when Azarenka plays,

it is indisputably cloud. I listened to Radio 5 Live and

somebody had a stop watch. He had a stopwatch and how long the grunting

talking each match. He said each grunt was taking too 0.5 seconds

burying rally. On the basis of the average power been seven shots, the

average number of set being a 3, six minutes and 59 seconds was the

grunting total in a match. You talk about... It seemed as if the match

was in Kvitova's hands. The most telling statistic was faulty

winners fog Kvitova, and just nine for as a banker. She could not find

a way to control the match. When one played well, the other played

badly, and vice versa. They never got into a good rhythm as well. It

is a big occasion for Azarenka. She struggled to get past the quarter-

finals stage. Kvitova, one semi- final here before. She seemed to go

after it more. That was why she won. They both had a great opportunity.

Kvitova has been in that situation. It was a big opportunity for both

of them. Kvitova started off well. She lost it for a while. She has

been a quiet achiever, I suppose, through the tournament. She has

only lost one set. The first week of the tournament, all the best

matches where women's singles matches. Since the men's matches

have got to the latter stage, it is almost a slump. Is it inevitable,

at this stage, the balance of power switches? It is such a departure

from the last 20 years, when the top women seeds would get through

easily. Roger is not in the semi- finals. The guy is crews much more

now. -- the guy is crews much more now. The women have more

competitive matches from the beginning. It is not as established

who is at the top. They play such high-level towards the end of the

Grand Slams. Samba against Djokovic tomorrow. What is your take? --

Tsonga against Djokovic. I have not been that impressed with Djokovic.

He is still winning. He has not clicked yet. Well pressure has been

on him. He is almost number one. This match will turn a little bit

So, what a reducing? Not much! So, you took a minute to say nothing?

OK. If Tsonga plays the way he did against Federer, he will win but

Djokovic will kick it up a level. We do have another match tomorrow.

The world number one against the world No. 4. Andy Murray is playing

a man with 10 Grand Slams. In Madrid and Barcelona, how are they

doing these things? Well, when the Spanish seemed Murray, do they

worry? Andy Murray against a Rafael Nadal.

You're that tennis commentator for Spanish TV how excited is Spain

about this semi-final? So Spain is always excited when Nadal is

playing, or even more when it is a Grand Slam semi-final. Now he has a

chance again to win another big title. So it is going to be a big

game in Spain. Dare I ask, who do they think is going to win? Do they

think Nadal is a sure thing? Yes. If you ask any Spanish people, they

will tell you that Rafter will win. We think he will win almost every

match. What does Spain think of Andy Murray? I think there are lot

of people that like Andy Murray. Really? Yes. There are lot of

people, too, that they do not like Andy Murray off the court. On the

court, everybody has to like Murray, because he is one of the biggest

because he is one of the biggest players. But they get me the think

Nadal is going to do it, Murray no contest? If Murray wins the first

set, it is going to be a tough match, but if Nadal wins it, it is

going to be good for him. You see the Murray-mania we have here. Is

then Nadal mania in Spain? Yes. Everybody is crazy in Madrid and

Barcelona. Everybody wants a photo with him. Everyone -- every one

wants to touch him. The people like him the most as a sportsman.

When he went to Barcelona, he had a billboard. The biggest one I have

ever seen. Fantastic. It is interesting to save the first

set will be the key. It is always important in a big match. The key

for me is, really, the mental ability of Andy Murray. His game is

getting closer to Nadal's. He has beaten him before. But there seemed

to be a few gaps in his concentration which she cannot

afford. That and second serves. They will be huge. That is probably

the only time any player will have half a chance to attack. Both of

them can drop a ball short sometimes. We like to think the

pressure that the media put on people is going to be the factor in

this, but if you are champion, you play in a bubble, don't you? Do you

think that is true to Murray? Or could the occasion be a factor?

cannot help but feel he is under pressure. He is getting more

experienced with the media and the fans and their expectations. He has

so much experience behind him with the semi-finals, but it is going to

be about stepping up the level of play. He realises what a big deal

it would be here. He grew up watching Henman go through this.

For him, he has got to learn and take more risks in these matches

and not just let those balls and. He has to attack. He hasn't done

this in the semi-finals before. will ask for your verdicts earlier

in the -- later in the programme. Next, Petra Kvitova or was

contemplating a place in the final when her to prospective opponents

walked out on court. -- when her two prospective opponents.

Maria Sharapova was up against the unseeded German, Sabine Lisicki.

Sharapova is almost a part-time tennis player. The winner in 2004,

she was chasing her first Grand Slam final for three years. Lisicki,

who in Sri condemn to a world ranking in the 200s a few months

ago, she was fighting history in a be great. Not since Billie-Jean

King 48 years ago had an unseeded player made it through to the final.

We were talking about expectations a moment ago. Sharapova,

overwhelmingly favoured against the 21-year-old, could either seize the

moment like never before or would freeze before the ice queen. She

held serve safely enough. Here is what happened when the Russian's

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The more experienced woman tight at That was a return with them. It is

great to see Lisicki playing so free so early in this match. Looks

totally at ease on this big occasion so far. Suddenly Sharapova

immediately facing three break Well, talk about ugly opening

service game. A double fault to start, double fault to finish.

2-0 became 3-0. Sharapova then held serve. Here we are at 3-1. This is

a big opportunity for the German to APPLAUSE.

She may well have fouled her rhythm. Good choice, good execution from

Lisicki has good feel on a drop shot. When she goes for the

forehand drop shot, she takes two hands back with her. She tries to

give it some this guy is. -- some Maria is starting to find her range

on that forehand. Finding an opportunity to step in. She has a

very big first serve, Lisicki, but the second is very attack Kabul. --

APPLAUSE. A good choice of shot by Lisicki

because Maria actually had taken two steps forward to cover the drop

It is important for Lisicki to mix CROWD GROANS.

APPLAUSE. . We should do a coffee-table book

of views from the Wimbledon River. Fantastic London skyline. Here we

are at 4-4. A key moment for the Those are the shots that are so

effective on grass, more so than on other surfaces. The deep, right

back to the server. It is difficult for the server to handle that pace

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You get the sense Lisicki is on her heels a lot more during this match.

Not in control as she was earlier on. Maria is starting to find her

CROWD GROANS. Sharapova census her moment. --

APPLAUSE. There it is! Sharapova, earlier

problems overcome and now in control of this first set.

A very stern face from Sharapova but despite the double faults and

the unforced errors, she found herself at set point. She

dispatched her first ace at that point Mac. Her steely determination.

She's determined to be in the final once again. Into the early stages

of the second set, Lisicki got off to a wretched start. Sharapova with

an opportunity to break her serve at the start. The double fault

disease is catching. Here is When hitting balls like that, you

can afford to serve double faults. Unforced errors as well into the

bargain. So, Sharapova, 3-0 up. That is on page 42 of our book.

Anyway, Sharapova, a set to the good. Serving for another Grand

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UMPIRE: Lisicki is challenging the APPLAUSE.

Not going to go gently, Lisicki. She has started to be more

aggressive on this backhand return. We saw a couple of beauties cross-

court in the last game. It is important to take the serve early

and put the pressure on Maria as APPLAUSE.

Now she seems to be playing as free as she was in those first few games,

swinging away, not that much pressure. That is when she plays

her best tennis, when she is relaxed. We can see that smile on

her face a little bit more. Sharapova suddenly finds ace number

Maria doesn't like to take her hand off the racket, and she was so

CROWD GROANS. You felt it might go that way.

Sharapova gives it away. Lisicki, still a break down, but still

fighting. Still alive, somehow, in Maria would much rather be

returning for a match than serving for a match. Especially with

today's performance with serving. She can block the last 510 minutes

Lisicki, cranking up the power required. All of a sudden, these

last two service games, the first APPLAUSE.

Well, that was a great shot by APPLAUSE.

And almighty swipe on a forehand from Maria Sharapova it brings up

APPLAUSE. It is out!

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE. Maria Sharapova is through to the

final. It has been a long wait, but that Wimbledon final is calling

again, once more. Sharapova, the smile might sup Centre Court.

Many congratulations. It feels like after all the trials and

tribulations of the last 3.5 years, you were back where you belong.

is amazing to be back in the final of Wimbledon. It has been a while.

To be here and to get to the final, I am really happy. It stated back

to the start of the match when Lisicki got off to a good start.

How did you turn it around? played really well and I did the

opposite. It was tough. I had to stay focused. I got back on track.

I remained really focused What do we say about that game?

Well, it was good of Maria to pull through. She admitted it, she

didn't play her best. Certainly the same with Lisicki. We saw a higher

level throughout the tournament. Maria is a fighter. 13 double

faults, though, and she's still got through it. It is easier to get

through what on grass because she has such heavy ground strokes.

There is no question her level is going to have to raise one or two

not she is in the final. What did you make of it, Pat? I thought

Lisicki played really well in the beginning. Sharapova length on the

ground strokes was iffy, her serve was dodgy as well. But once she got

into the rallies, her depth of forehand improved a lot. Sabine

Lisicki, after she lost the first set, she had a bad patch for a

little bit. And it was the end of it. Sharapova... Towards the end of

the second set, some of those rallies were spectacular. But then,

the odd shock as well. A double fault or a horrible volley. The

wind was blowing up. It will be an interesting find of. So, the final,

Kvitova... If you are going to serve 13 double faults, you were

giving away half a set. What does that say? Is Kvitova good enough to

take advantage of it? I don't know! Pressure! It is a good. Make. This

is not the first time she has served two double faults. She still

comes up to a winning. That is how good her second service. Her ground

strokes are powerful. But can she tidy it up? Kvitova will be the

first returner that will put pressure on Maria and make her feel

the pain if she is serving a lot of double faults. She has had a

relatively good draw in terms of power players. Cibulkova was a very

good draw for Maria and Lisicki didn't do enough today when she saw

second serve. But Kvitova will be in the baseline, looking to pounds.

-- looking to pounce. It is all about one British man

these days. It might not be far start the perennial search for

British champions isn't all about Andy Murray and Liam Broady kept up

his challenge to ended almost 50 you wait in the Boys' Singles title.

The left-hander from Stockport took the deciding set in the quarter-

final 13-11 and faces an Australian next. People were thinking, there

is another Brit going out! I was pretty disappointed with myself

with not taking it in the second set. But I got the job done in the

end. There will be no repeat of Laura Robson's success after our

last remaining representative lost There was more bad news for Brit

supporters as the Mixed Doubles pairing of Fleming and Rae that one

for Scotland last year in the Commonwealth games, they lost to

straight sets to the Israeli perv. Don't despair. These shenanigans

made put a smile on your face. Daniel Capel picked up an injury

and couldn't play in the Invitational doubles. Step forward

Daniel cash from the crowd. And Pat Cash was on the other side of the

net with his partner. Like father, like son, the talent is clearly

there. But the try-outs for a 4th player continued and the ball boys

got they go. Wimbledon will winners of the future, perhaps? Wimbledon

winners from the past, Krajicek and Ivanisevic were also in action on

court three. Well, at least one of them was. Goran became distracted

by the crowd, and having posed provocatively for photos, the

Croatian decided he would rather part of the lovely ladies in the

front row, leaving Krajicek to take on the opponents all on his own.

And Mal -- not an insurmountable task, but two champions are better

than one. Your family, a family of rebels.

Soap, who is playing tomorrow? Tsonga versus Djokovic, Nadal

versus marry. You have five seconds each to tell us who is going to win

between Nadal and Murray. Nadal. I don't know why. Andy Murray has got

to play his best. It is not easy. am going to go whoever is going to