Day 8 Highlights Today at Wimbledon

The best way to approach Wimbledon is in a bubble... There is some

excitement at the prospect of a good run here for Konta. Floating above

the melee, it insulates and concentrates. But it comes with no

instructions, nor directions. That's a very tiny and impressive

performance for Johanna Konta -- a very tidy. It may be surprisingly

tough. What resilience from Joe Konta. And suddenly light and

fragile. What a battle! On fine days in fair wind, you will effortlessly

glide. Joe Konta into the second week of Wimbledon for the first time

in her career. Before you know it, you floated further than you think.

Jo Konta, Wimbledon quarterfinalist. But flying is easy. The tough test

is how you land. It's been a grey and wet women's

quarterfinals day, but we've had the added bonus of a leftover men's last

16 match, is Novak Djokovic finally got on court against Adrian

Mannarino. This has been an epic day of tennis.

Lots to discuss in the company of Tracy Austin and Marion Bartoli,

A lot of action to enjoy. We will stop with a woman who has been so

impressive in her nerveless nurse. We'll start with the first British

woman in a quarterfinal Jo Konta has been impressively

nerveless in her matches so far, But in Simona Halep she faces

the highest-ranked woman Halep raced into a 3-0

lead in the first set. Konta broke back

in the seventh game. And they have both held serve

to take it to a tie-break, which is where we join our

commentators - Chris Bradman, Hallett was complaining a little bit

about the crowd being too loud. -- Halep. Got that back! You

underestimated her legs, I think. Oh! It's in! Or is it? Either way,

it'll be challenged. The linesman called it in. I think the umpire

called it out. She's asking whether she got only one bounce. That is in.

Unbelievable point! That's right, hung in there, Halep.

She's breathing heavy now. Darren Cahill is leaning forwards a

little more after that double fault. Her reaction to it.

CROWD GASPS And those balls tougher to hit in

the air? Letting the ball bounce, it seems like there wasn't much on it.

It forces the opponent, most men and women take it in the air. I know I'm

old score, but it seems like you don't practice that shot from there,

or do you, that often? Are used to practice that at every practice,

everyone up. All over the court? Because I wanted to use that one. --

every warm up. Did you practice just in the air? Probably taking in the

year. -- in the air. She's dialled in, right now, Halep.

Prepare to get both of those points. She is the quickest that Konta has

ever played. APPLAUSE

Quite the tie-break. What a magnificent tie-break from

Simona Halep. Konta has got to do what you did in Miami, and come from

behind to win. STUDIO: Great playing from both of

them, but the Romanian with the advantage. Konta found her focus and

angles again, and both players held serve until we held on to another

tie-break. Now is the time to Staples at. -- to

stay positive. Raced into a 3-1 lead in the first

set tie-break. Nice deep breath out from Konta

before she has to serve. UMPIRE: Let, first service.

That looked like it was about six inches over the net. You complain

about that on the first point of the tie-break, I think.

APPLAUSE That was a point that Halep

desperately wanted to establish a lead. A little tight. Every shot

seems to just... Mean more in this particular way to end the set. A

unique tie-break. APPLAUSE

Oh, it's well done. Still mods of approval everywhere. The handling of

this pressure. -- nods of approval. Both still going for it. Still the

excess for Konta going back behind Halep. That's the only way you're

going to be able to win a match, if they're going to keep going for it.

I think it's safe to say that Konta always will go for it! Win, lose or

draw. Oh, this could be a big one there.

The shot that she hit was in. Or nothing with the call. -- all won

nothing. Our Oh! That's a good I. Wow! I knew it all along!

LAUGHTER The umpire, Kadir, is like, wow, I'm

impressed! CHEERING

The return is just a little bit short. Enough behind it. We see

Konta just immediately grabs the opportunity to go for the winner.

CHEERING These moments are great. You know,

when I was playing too, you always just tried to hang in there, be

positive, and give yourself the opportunity that when your opponent

is just dropping a little bit, you get a chance.

She got it! And a set point with it! People are starting to stand around

Centre Court. Most are standing, look at that! An

hour and 50 minutes. Somehow, Jo Konta has forced a final set. CLARE

BALDING: The Centre Court crowd absolutely loving this. It was first

strike to Konta. She broke the Halep serve to lead 3-2.

Everybody watching was far more tense and nervous than Konta

herself, who jogged out to serve for a place in the semifinals

as if it was a first-round match in a local park.

If you were Halep, that's how you wanted that game to start.

She just uses that whole court so well, moving her from side to side.

Until she has a bit more of an opening, then just really

exhilarating into the". -- the opening quarter.

The adrenaline must be pretty high at the moment.

CHEERING Oh, my God, she stopped playing!

What a shame. It's over. British tennis history is

made. It's been 39 years. Since a British woman can say, I'm a

Wimbledon semifinalist. She's done it in front of the last woman to do

it. Virginia Wade. Right now it's a bit surreal. Just because it's quite

incredible how quickly things go in tennis. Smack minutes ago I was just

playing, now I'm in here. Things happen very quickly -- two minutes

ago. I'm still die jesting things. I felt I was clear on what I was

trying to achieve out there, regardless of whether it was going

my Way or not I stuck to my true self and tried to create as many

opportunities as possible. I knew that going into the match against

Simona that she was really not going to give me much for free. So I

definitely had to be the one out there to create my own chances. And

I felt I did that. I feel fortunate enough that I took a few of them.

How much did the crowd helped to date? They were incredible. I think

they were little overenthusiastic in part! I def crew cannot complain --

I definitely got a complaint with the amount of support and just the

good feeling. CLARE BALDING: So many congratulations to Jo Konta. She did

a terrific job of hanging on in there. I want to talk about. What

happened here? When Simona hit the ball close the baseline with a

backhand down the line, a fan thought it was going wrong and

shouted out. There was a big screen right there. And Simona just lost

her concentration and didn't get up to that ball, didn't drive the ball.

And you learn that at the very early age that unless the ball is called

out or hits the ground twice, the point is not over. Especially after

this long of a match, I'm really surprised that she lost her focus

and didn't still drive that forehand into the other corner. It's

really... I mean, you can't replay a point like that because the crowd

will always get involved. How impressed by you, Marion, with the

way that Konta keeps her composure? She wasn't asking for the support

from the crowd, they were giving it but she wasn't feeding of it. I

think the scream of the person disturbed that Michael Moore. It

came right before she was about to hit the ball, -- before it disturbed

Jo. When you hear a screen right that, that should disturb you more

than I think Simona. She has been able to meet, to really stay into

her bubble. The clip at the beginning when she was inside the

bubble, it's perfectly that. She plays so much within herself, the

crowd is overenthusiastic but she doesn't want to have any more sort

of pressure from them. She's taking the club that I think is coming more

under pressure on the other side, you feel the pressure from the crowd

but she wants to stay within her pen is because the history of having her

really be not able to deal with sort of pressure, she finds a new way to

deal with it, to play within herself. I think that is the main

quality and that is why she the semifinal. I have messages from

people watching at home saying how impressed their kids had been with

the ability to stay calm on court. We will talk more about Jo Konta

later in the programme. Earlier in the afternoon,

Venus Williams strode out for her 100th singles

match at Wimbledon. Against Jelena Ostapenko,

who was making her first The first appearance of Venus

orbiting planet Wimbledon was in 1997. A couple of weeks before that,

a baby girl was born in the Gulf. They named her Jelena, and at 17

years old by she became an champion. Ostapenko won are very first tour

title, no big one, just the French Open! Oldest against youngest. Most

experienced against the least. But both Grand Slam champions. CLARE

BALDING: Venus started the more confidently, breaking the game of

the second set which continued on serve before she won the first set

in 29 minutes. Ostapenko shaking her head in

disbelief. It's going so fast! A break in the first and sixth game of

the second set lead to some of Ostapenko's best tennis.

Commentary from Nick Mullins and Martina Navratilova.

COMMENTATOR: I don't think there's anyone smarter on Centre Court

today! Very bright. Oh! That's the touch of genius,

that's the touch of a very special player. Exactly, what she does get

there, she still has the confidence to get imaginative. This is great

hands. She looks in trouble. She should get out of it.

Ostapenko's pressure is starting to pay off. Venus Williams is backing

up a little bit on the court, the openings are bigger for Jelena.

She is slap bang in the middle of this scrap, Jelena Ostapenko.

Well, just a little punch from the five-time former champion.

CLARE BALDING: Williams broke in the 11th game,

and came out to serve for a place in the semifinals at Wimbledon

What they serve. 98 mph -- what a serve. What a slice, the ball stayed

low. Ostapenko, the big swing, never catches up. Where did this end up?!

Oh, dear me. Right by his nose. It's just a tennis ball, but it still

hurts when it hits you in the face. UMPIRE: Let, first service.

The ageless Venus Williams, at the age of 37, for another Wimbledon

semifinal. Well, a month on from Paris there

will be no London fairy tale for Jelena Ostapenko. But Venus Williams

continuing to take care of business. CLARE BALDING: Next up for Venus is

Jo Konta. Afterwards, she was asked about playing the home favourite.

I'm sure she's confident and determined, paying with a different

kind of pressure at home, but she is handling it well. Looks like she

does well under the pressure. I've her before. A lot different to

today, definitely. I play a similar style, aggressive, serving and

returning well. Very solid off the ground. So really it is about

playing the game better and seeing where you find openings on the day.

The amazing thing is that despite being the oldest player here, Venus

Williams is the most consistent on the tour, the only one to reach the

round of 16 in the last 16 Grand Slams or better. Is he playing as

well now as she ever has done? Amazing how consistency is, at dirty

seven, getting back into the top ten last year. Venus Williams out there

today like a champion, she knows how to handle the situation, she was

forceful, she moved extremely well. She served very well, hitting the

ball cleanly. She played a clean match against a player who can be so

dangerous, just winning the French Open and loves playing on grass,

young Ostapenko. I don't think she was born yet when Venus started

playing? It was really impressive because so much happened to Venus

the week before the Championships started, so emotional with the car

crash and everything. She seemed to get better with each match. She

never plays a lead up grass court tournament. Simona Halep has gone to

the press after losing to Jo Konta and said that Konta can beat Venus.

Yes, she can, the head-to-head is in favour of Jo, leading 3-2. You can

look at the head-to-head is, but a semifinal at Wimbledon is a special

match. What Venus is absolutely true, it's about finding the opening

on the day. I think for Jo it will be about her first serve percentage,

she must serve well if she would like to play over Venus because

wieners will be all over the second serve. -- because Venus will be all

over the second serve. When you look at the toughest match that Jo had to

play, it was against the players when she was on the brink of losing,

she doesn't like it when the ball is coming fast at her, which is what

Williams is going to do in this semifinal. It is about handling that

very well. It will be a fabulous match. Today is quarterfinals day in

the women's but we had a cheeky interloper. They were due to play on

number one Court yesterday but Rafa and Gilles Muller kept them in the

locker room so out onto a half empty Centre Court they walked at midday.

Let's see some of the best bits of Djokovic against Mac Torino --

against Mannarino. That is outstanding. Great strike,

wasn't it? That's brilliant. Ooh! And that's

unlucky. Fantastic. That was like a game of

chess and then Mannarino just turned the board over.

That's fantastic. That is the roar of a champion. A 12 time Grand Slam

winner. It has been a hugely entertaining

match and he will have his 39th Grand Slam quarterfinal tomorrow.

I just think it was the wrong decision not to play us last night

because we could have played. I think the last match on the Centre

Court was done before 7pm. And having in mind that Centre Court has

a roof and lights, we could have played until 11pm. We went to the

referee's office before 8pm and there were security reasons and that

was the only excuse, the only explanations we were getting. I just

didn't see any logic in not playing us on the Centre Court. Djokovic

really not happy with what happened last night because he had to hang

around for so long. He did and that was a ticketed match for Court One,

but Rafa was still playing Gilles Muller and they thought that the

match would end soon and then they could put Djokovic on the court but

it went to 15-13 in the fifth and that is the unfortunate part, that

Novak had to wait around with Mannarino 42 and a half hours before

they said it was too late because they don't want to move the crowd

from number one court over to Centre Court for safety reasons. And I have

never seen the Hill soap easy. Maybe they wouldn't have moved if they

hadn't started before Rafa finished -- so busy. Al Worra were you about

Djokovic's shoulder? -- how worried were you. His serve was a couple of

miles an hour slower. I would be quite worried because now he doesn't

have a day off, he will have to play tomorrow. That's also why he was so

annoyed about the decision not to play on Centre Court. He took some

painkillers early in the match. It looks like tendinitis, that can be

treated with anti-inflammatories, getting good physio work on it. If

it isn't a muscle, I'm not too worried. He played in Eastbourne,

something he hasn't done I think since 2010. He needed that

confidence. The way he was playing in Eastbourne, you could see, match

by match, he was improving. He loves to be there. The craziness of

Wimbledon. He seemed in a good mood coming in, he was pointing out

problems with the court. A few things are annoying him and he might

have a point. The shoulder could be problematic, he said he didn't want

to talk about it in the second week and it wasn't just today, it has

been lingering. When you are hanging around until late last night, you

come out at 12pm and now you only have 24 hours before you play

verdict who is going to have a day off... -- played Tomas Berdych. He

has had this before with Andre Ellington Mario in his camp, they

will have a talk and he will calm down -- Andree and Mario. Up

Let's have a look at one match that did manage to get

The runner-up from two years ago, Garbine Muguruza, who is trying

to become the first Spanish winner here at Wimbledon since the coach

she has in her corner, Conchita Martinez.

look at what Kuznetsova was wearing as an earring here. I don't know if

this is a sign of safety first, it is a safety pin in her earring. She

hasn't dropped a set so far, scampering around like a spring

chicken. We join it early in the first set

with Kuznetsova serving. Commentary from Gigi Salmon

and Annabel Croft. Kuznetsova, 32 years old now, has

been as high as number two, currently number eight, the seventh

seed here. She has kind of altered her service

motion over the years, she experimented. She had shoulder

problems a while back. Sometimes she goes for broke on the first serve.

Just missing. Feels as if she is with the wind down this side so that

one flattened out a bit, needs a bit more spin on the ball. The last

serve was only 86 mph, sometimes she pulls back and goes for spin so as

an opponent you must guess what she's going to go for.

And from holding to love, Kuznetsova has been broken to love.

Service holds for both players until Garbine Muguruza comes out to

She'll be disappointed with that, you can see, getting quite bizarre

serrated with herself. That was an opportunity, wasn't it, the floated

second serve -- quite annoyed with herself.

There is another freedom point off that serve. Found it difficult to

read some of these serves, she has mixed it up well today.

Once again, that kind of whipping action, the acceleration of the

racket face. Fantastic rally and there's the

reaction from Muguruza. 32 minutes on the clock, a clean set of tennis,

a happy coach, Martinez. Looking on approvingly as Muguruza

took the first sets. Some great tennis on show in the fifth game of

the second set, what a rally. Great positioning from Muguruza, close to

the baseline, looking to be aggressive or stop she seemed so

contained. Not making many unforced errors, the right shot selection and

moving well. Kuznetsova trying to outhit her. When she was throwing

some slices it seems to suit Muguruza more. She didn't keep it up

well enough. We join it with Muguruza 5-4 up in the second,

serving for a place in the semifinals.

Muguruza moving to within two points of the Wimbledon semifinals. She was

going for big targets, Muguruza, not giving an inch, but greater depth on

it, still that place on the ball but not going to the corner. She was

just going to ask Kuznetsova, see if she would come up with the error

first, and she did. That's only the second forehand that

we've seen that has just rolled into the net where she hasn't struck

through the ball. I'm sure Martinez's heart rate has gone up a

couple of notches. Ooh! Well, well, well. Can you

believe it? She has played some of those driving volleys so bravely,

more difficult than that one. Look at her intensity, doing everything

right apart from getting it over the net. Rolling the ball, you can see

the spin and the rotation. She must have taken her eye off it a bit.

There is the tension as well. Yesterday there were a few aborted

ball tosses. I'm sure that her heart is racing right now.

That will slow it down a little bit, the perfect way to bring up match

point. Kuznetsova will have a challenge, though.

It was good. That means it is match point, Muguruza.

And there it is, Garbine Muguruza is into her second Wimbledon semifinal

and she is also back in the world's top ten. Delight from her camp

including the 94 champion, Conchita Martinez. Disappointing for

Kuznetsova but today is about Muguruza, who rarely put a foot

wrong, a clean performance from the Spanish player who moves through to

the Wimbledon semifinals. Having to adapt to the changes, the weather

today, it was colder and it was a bit rainy. But I'm happy to be able

to be in the semifinals, it's a great achievement. Never easy to

compare but you look so comfortable on the grass, reminiscent of when

you got to the final here before. Can you compare where your game is

from two years ago to now, is it a fair comparison? I was learning how

to play then because I didn't play many matches on the grass so it was

love hate but I have learned with experience. I feel I'm a different

player, a bit more calm and figuring out what to do in certain moments.

I'm improving. Is she a potential champion? Tall, strong, confident,

aggressive. I can see the old Garbine Muguruza, the French

champion of last year, who made it to the final two years ago. More

confident, her footwork is better because she isn't trying to hit a

winner every time, she's trying to move better and find bigger targets.

I feel the influence of Conchita Martinez is massive on her. She

likes to play more, you can see the freedom, focused but relaxed. When

she plays like that I think she is right there with Venus Williams to

win the title. Now to the question of who Muguruza is going to place in

the semifinals. Now to the fastest rising player

on the women's circuit, Magdelena Rybarikova,

who has arrived at Wimbledon via titles at Ilkley and Surbiton

against Coco Vandeweghe of the USA, who comes from a family of

basketball players and the daughter Introducing Maddalena Rybarikova and

Coco Vandeweghe, two of the more mysterious quarterfinalists. To

search for clues it is better to search social media. Vandeweghe is

Californian white spirit -- white spirit. She is the Australian

semifinals. Rybarikova's rise is more stealthy, after injury she was

453 in the world back in March but the ranking was hiding an underrated

skill and now, her next trick. She had booted out the favourite,

Pliskova and got stuck into Vandeweghe straightaway. The

American, broken in game one. She has hired Pat Cash to guide her

through the grass court but Vandeweghe was providing her own

analysis. In style, Rybarikova is decidedly

old school, the Slovak is a throwback, entertainingly retro.

First set to the world number 87, 6-3, another surprise but her

progress stalled when the second started.

That was a very soft point there. Vandeweghe, in charge and changing

momentum, it seemed. But the weather was also changing. A big gust of

wind, this is a very open court and the league is off. -- the lid is

off. Great foot speed from Rybarikova. Vandeweghe was blown off

the court and not long later they were both taken off the court. Play

is suspended. More than three hours later they resumed, now in the

shelter of Centre. The rest had made Vandeweghe Rusty within two games,

break point. Another one, can't believe what has happened. This has

been a nightmare for Vandeweghe. Pat was powerless, the frustration was

all the more raw when Vandeweghe showed what she could do when she

saved two match points but then it bubbled over. I'm being serious,

what are you talking about? I am in play. One month ago, Rybarikova was

playing down the road in Surbiton and now she is in the last four. One

thing is for sure, we have heard of her now. I would never believe I

could be in the semifinal before this tournament. I am really

speechless right now. I'm so happy and grateful. Incredible story, it

really is, Rybarikova is arguably the story of the women's

championships. Fairy tale, missing the second half of last year because

she had two surgeries, on her left wrist and her right knee and she had

to start again, she was ranked outside the top 400. She played the

ITF, lower ranking and lower-level tournaments but once she beat this

cover, arguably the best player on the tour this year, I thought she

would be a let down but she has got better and she is riding this

confidence -- when she beat Pliskova. She hit the volley, the

backhand slice, perfect game plan, not giving Vandeweghe any chance. I

want to wrap up some of the mixed doubles.

More British interest in todays' double and we start

with Jamie Murray and new partner Martina Hingis.

Commentary comes from Simon Reed and Liz Smilie.

What a feeling it must be for Jamie Murray. The most perfect exhibition

of mixed doubles that you will ever see. So, the third round match in

the max doubles, Murray and Hingis, the number one seeds, against Jebavy

and Hradecka. That's good reach from Murray. There is the break.

What a super lob shot that was from Murray.

Delicate touch again. First set, Murray and Hingis, 6-3. Yes, there's

no getting past him, is there? No, telescopic arms. Oh, that's as good

a shot as he has played in the match because that was a challenging

return from Hingis. The way it goes. And they are

through to the last eight. A lot of fun points, there always are in

mixed doubles and a lot of people gave us some great support. You

know, not much better for us than getting out and playing in front of

a lot of people. I had a great partnership with Leander Paes in the

past and when that stopped the first option was Jamie for me. That's what

she's saying! No, that's not true. You were my number one pick. A very

happy couple and they are into the quarterfinals. They make me smile.

The quality of the women's championships this year and the last

four, Rybarikova against Muguruza and Konta against Venus Williams.

You have the run of 16, the level of play from all of the girls,

absolutely amazing and it's so great to see Azarenka coming back.

Although the stories. I love seeing all of the players, Serena Williams

not being there, it gave hope to everybody. Hope to take the title

and I can't wait until Saturday to see a new champion. It's going to be

incredible and we still have the semifinals to come.

Gilles Muller is the man who knocked out Rafael Nadal. Cilic hasn't

dropped a set yet. At least Novak has a little bit of time in the

morning. We wanted to share this with you

from the BBC Twitter account. The social action of the day. And you

know how hard it is when it keeps raining to grab a poncho and put it

on and work out which hole is which! He should start over. Whether this

took longer than a set of tennis, I'm not sure if he was trying to get

in or out. Tomorrow is going to be a better day which is a relief for all

poncho wearers, drier and brighter in the afternoon, damp in the

morning. It's nice to see that his wife is trying to help. LAUGHTER

Still going! He's still going! I just think that's one of the

funniest things I've ever seen, my word!

Tomorrow we have Andy Murray fighting for a place

That will be a great match against Sam Querrey. Can he win? Of course.

Tomorrow or the whole thing? Tomorrow, both. Roger is going to be

the biggest threat but I will always be Andy's biggest fan. For you

tomorrow, is it federal you are both looking forward to seeing? Federer

and Raonic because Welbeck beat Roger last year but Roger had a bad

knee and now he is playing incredibly -- because Raonic beat

Roger. Today was all about the confidence, the courage and calmness

of Konta.