Ladies' Final 1978 and 1993 Wimbledon Classics

These are two of the most iconic trophies in sport

and this is Wimbledon's world-famous Centre Court.

Coming up, the ladies are centre stage.

Welcome to Wimbledon Classics.

The Ladies' Singles Championships at Wimbledon have produced some

memorable finals and we're going to relive two of the very best.

Later on, we'll see the 1993 final

between Steffi Graf and Jana Novotna.

But first, it's back to 1978

and the clash between Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova.

This would be the first of five Wimbledon finals between the two,

during an epic rivalry that spanned 15 years and 80 matches.

We join it from the start. Chris Evert to serve.

Commentary comes from John Barrett, Winnie Wooldridge and Dan Maskell.

UMPIRE: Miss Evert to serve.

DAN MASKELL: And so here we go.

First set.

Play.

APPLAUSE

0-15.

Well, that's a remarkable start, a 14-stroke rally.

The very first rally of this final.

APPLAUSE

15-15.

15-30.

Out. 15-40.

APPLAUSE

Game to Miss Navratilova. First game.

Well, that's a wonderful start for Miss Navratilova,

with a break of service.

And after that opening rally of 15 strokes,

when the girls looked as though they'd already been

playing for a half-dozen games at least,

Miss Evert suddenly lost control.

JOHN BARRETT: A very, very confident start by Martina there but,

Winnie Wooldridge, it seems to me that Miss Evert is nervous.

She certainly looked it in that first game and that did surprise me

because if anyone should have been nervous, it should have been

Martina because it's her first appearance in a singles final here.

Chris there.

It's her third... Trying to win her third title.

And she seems to be very keen,

having missed a lot of tournaments at the beginning of the year.

So now Martina Navratilova serving.

1-0 up, first set.

0-15.

Let.

Out. 0-30.

APPLAUSE

15-30.

GROANING

15-40.

And the server rather clumsy there.

First time she'd put her first service in and she wasted a chance.

APPLAUSE

The game to Miss Evert. One game all, the first set.

SUE BARKER: So an early break for both players.

A case of Wimbledon finals nerves, perhaps.

But any nerves quickly settled

as the next three games went with serve.

So Martina Navratilova serving 2-3. First set.

Out. 0-15.

Out.

APPLAUSE

0-30.

Miss Evert having a lot of time

and a lot of room to make that two-handed pass.

The Czech girl didn't really come in with great conviction then.

APPLAUSE

15-30.

A well-timed volley on the 11th stroke of the rally.

Out.

Quite a wind getting up into the Centre Court.

APPLAUSE

30-30.

APPLAUSE

30-40.

So the serve volley coup failed there

and so it's break point for Miss Evert.

APPLAUSE

Deuce.

Out.

Advantage, Miss Evert.

That very good return

gives Miss Evert her second break point here.

LINE CALL: Net.

UMPIRE: First service.

LINE CALL: Net.

UMPIRE: First service.

APPLAUSE

Deuce.

Advantage, Miss Evert.

Miss Evert has a third break point and each one has been

because the server has failed to make the volley

coming in behind it, behind the service.

Fault.

APPLAUSE

Game to Miss Evert.

Miss Evert leads by four games to two, first set.

And Miss Navratilova really has got to find a way of getting this

first service into court more often.

She only put three in in that long game. 4-2.

LINE CALL: Out.

UMPIRE: 0-15.

Fault.

15-15.

APPLAUSE

30-15.

Forehand approaching the net.

That's a weak one. 40-15.

Miss Evert getting a very easy point there.

A very undecided Navratilova in the backhand corner.

LINE CALL: Out.

UMPIRE: Game to Miss Evert.

APPLAUSE

Change of balls, please.

Miss Evert leads by five games to two, first set.

Certainly the Czech girl really has to find her game

and string it together.

Her service is not going too well

and she's missing really very easy shots.

That backhand in the backhand corner was utterly indecisive.

I have the feeling that she is already beginning to feel

the relentless pressure, as everybody playing Evert does,

of those ground strokes. Evert is not giving anything away.

This girl is having to make all the pace

and is trying to take the attack to her, as she knows she must on

grass, and knows that if she does it well enough then she can beat her.

But she is treading a tightrope all the time.

And we have the usual teams of supporters in the Players' Box.

In the top left-hand corner of your picture, there,

just attending to her hair, Chris Evert's mother.

The father not here this year, Jimmy.

He coached her from the beginning.

And two away, Stephanie Tolleson,

a member of Chris's team, the Los Angeles Strings.

They both play for the LA Strings in team tennis.

Time for a change of balls, then.

Navratilova to serve. 2-5, first set.

15-0.

APPLAUSE

APPLAUSE

30-0.

That's much more like the form.

APPLAUSE

40-0.

And certainly Martina Navratilova has come with a rush,

playing her best tennis on those last three points.

CROWD GASP

APPLAUSE

40-15.

LINE CALL: Out.

UMPIRE: 40-30. APPLAUSE

Fault.

Just a fault.

Oh, I say!

Deuce. INDISTINCT

Bit hard. Both of these girls friends.

Remember they won the 1976 doubles title here.

LINE CALL: Net. Out.

UMPIRE: Advantage Miss Evert.

And set point to Miss Evert.

Yes.

APPLAUSE

Game and first set to Miss Evert. Six games to two.

Well, a 27-minute set there, in which Miss Evert

was calling the tune most of the time.

Quiet, please.

And her opponent trying hard to find her best game.

LINE CALL: Net. Fault.

LINE CALL: Fault.

UMPIRE: 0-15.

15-15.

APPLAUSE

15-30.

APPLAUSE

15-40.

Martina Navratilova really counterattacking

on the forehand to a blistering two-hander from Miss Evert.

APPLAUSE

Game to Miss Navratilova.

So, Martina serving, 1-0 up, second set.

15-0.

30-0.

APPLAUSE

APPLAUSE

30-15.

NAVRATILOVA: Watch the ball!

30-30.

LINE CALL: Out.

UMPIRE: 40-30.

LINE CALL: Fault.

Deuce.

Although a good return, she isn't at all secure,

Miss Navratilova, on her first volley behind the service.

Fault.

Yes.

APPLAUSE

Advantage Miss Evert.

Fault.

APPLAUSE

Deuce.

So, it was 40-0 once in this game.

LINE CALL: Out.

UMPIRE: Advantage, Miss Navratilova.

APPLAUSE

Deuce.

One doesn't usually get away with a point with a volley that

drops around the service line against Miss Evert.

Well played.

APPLAUSE

Advantage Miss Navratilova.

So much a better low volley that time behind the service.

APPLAUSE

Deuce.

Hard game for the server. They've had four deuces in this game.

Fault called.

Oh, dear.

Advantage Miss Evert.

And Miss Navratilova getting a bit caught up close to the volley

with the backhander.

APPLAUSE

Deuce.

Net.

CROWD GASP

That's incredible.

Advantage Miss Evert.

I can't remember...

I cannot remember in a final seeing an air shot

played like that off a comparatively easy ball.

That was a quite easy lob.

She said to herself a few moments ago, "Watch the ball."

Perhaps she wasn't then.

APPLAUSE

Game to Miss Evert. One game all. Second set.

After that extraordinary miss...

..now, can the Czech girl settle down?

LINE CALL: Net.

UMPIRE: First service.

APPLAUSE

0-15.

To her eternal credit, she didn't funk the issue then

when she had one overhead.

That's more like it.

APPLAUSE

0-30.

CROWD GASP

APPLAUSE

15-30.

And the volley of Miss Evert gave her opponent a chance there.

The left-hander usually good on a running forehand

and she's already made one or two in this match, Miss Navratilova.

Well played.

APPLAUSE

15-40.

Beautifully conceived point, that.

That's the tennis that she can play

if she can build up enough confidence.

Fault.

APPLAUSE

Game to Ms Navratilova.

Navratilova kept up the pressure as we approach the latter

stages of the second set.

We pick it up with Martina leading 4-3.

LINE CALL: Out. UMPIRE: 15-0.

She tried.

APPLAUSE

30-0.

Just waiting for Miss Evert to come back into receiving position.

It just shows how wide that volley took her out of court.

APPLAUSE

30-15.

Out.

CROWD MURMUR

Oh, that was a nasty kicking serve for Miss Evert

and that seems to be an extremely doubtful decision.

40-15.

Well, Jeremy Shales, the umpire, confirms the call of out.

NAVRATILOVA: Did you see it? Did you see it?

It was too close for me to judge from here. What?

It was too close for me to judge from here.

I shall have to take the linesman's word for it.

INDISTINCT

You think it was out? You think it was in. Fine.

30-30.

APPLAUSE

Sorry, can you play a let? That's... Could you replay the point?

You see... I think this is the right decision, to play a let because...

Could you replay the point, please?

The linesman called it out. I thought it was in.

LAUGHTER

Ladies.

What's the score?

LAUGHTER

The score was 30-15 so you replay that point. Replay the point.

Replay the point.

INDISTINCT

Miss Navratilova.

If you wish to concede the point...

INDISTINCT

30-15.

APPLAUSE

Well, I think Jeremy Shales has finally decided that's

the correct way to play it because the ball was called out,

Miss Navratilova didn't play.

If it was a wrong decision and that's been corrected then

they must play a let.

APPLAUSE

40-15.

CROWD GASP

Oh, it's too far back to play a drop shot.

You see, she's still standing outside the baseline.

40-30.

And there's quite a bit of wind in the Centre Court now

and that's a dangerous shot to play.

But she's still 40-30.

APPLAUSE

Game to Miss Navratilova.

Change the balls, please.

Miss Navratilova leads by five games to three in the second set.

Having lost the first 2-6.

Miss Navratilova there making use of that heavy sliced left-handed

service to take her player,

- her opponent - once again right outside the doubles line.

Maybe we'll see her use that shot a little more often.

3-5.

Out.

APPLAUSE

15-0.

30-0.

APPLAUSE

40-0.

It's just out.

Game to Miss Evert.

APPLAUSE

Miss Navratilova leads by five games to four in the second set.

Miss Evert leads by one set to love.

Martina Navratilova coming back to serve for the second set, 5-4 up.

Fault.

15-0. APPLAUSE

Out.

APPLAUSE

30-0.

CROWD GASP

Now that really was a great return.

Early ball, wonderful angle.

30-15.

Out. Oh, beautifully judged.

40-15.

Maybe a bit too close for comfort but it was out

and it gives the server two set points.

CROWD GASP

40-30.

Well, that was a chance.

But it's still set point.

Yes, wonderful judgment again.

APPLAUSE

Game and second set to Miss Navratilova.

Six games to four.

APPLAUSE

Final set. Miss Evert to serve.

WOMAN: Come on, Martina!

So, the issue well and truly joined after 63 minutes in this final.

SHOUTS FROM CROWD UMPIRE: Quiet, please.

A few extroverts in the crowd want to get in on the act.

Miss Evert serving.

APPLAUSE

15-0.

APPLAUSE

15-15.

15-30.

A third double fault.

Out!

15-40.

Out.

Just out.

APPLAUSE

Game to Miss Navratilova, first game, final set.

So, first blood to Navratilova in the third and deciding set.

Now, the question was whether the 21-year-old

could hold her nerve to clinch a first Grand Slam singles title.

Martina Navratilova serving, 2-1 up, third set.

Out. 15-0.

The wind really is getting into the Centre Court now.

You can see their hair and their skirts blowing around,

and above the Royal Box, the awning is blowing around a bit.

Nothing like they had at Eastbourne two weeks ago, of course.

A glorious volley.

APPLAUSE

30-0.

30-15.

Yes, a slightly late call, but a correct one, I'm sure.

Tremendous swerve on that service.

30-30.

CROWD GASP

Is it in or out?

30-40.

It's out.

First service.

Deuce.

Chris Evert badly needs a break of service here. She really does.

Advantage Miss Navratilova.

Deuce.

Well, Miss Evert really stretching the server there,

first with the volley and then that well-disguised lob.

Deuce.

Oh! say no more.

APPLAUSE

Advantage Miss Evert.

That must surely have been over-anxiety there.

A player of this class can't play two shots in succession like that.

Deuce.

The service was a really very good one,

but if Miss Evert could've returned that,

who knows what would have happened.

It really was a very well-placed Czech service, that.

It's out.

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

Advantage Miss Evert. And play worthy of a champion.

Miss Evert really at her best in that crisis, that rally.

APPLAUSE

Game to Miss Evert.

Two games all, final set.

Well, twice, Miss Navratilova had a chance to win that game.

She had the game point, but a great recovery by Miss Evert,

so 2-2, and that could be the turning point, perhaps,

in the match.

15-love.

Out! 15-all.

30-15.

30-30.

40-30. An early ball returned by Chris Evert.

Low over the net, in fact, just clipped the top of the net.

40-30.

APPLAUSE

The crowd now beginning to get behind Chris Evert,

seeing this recovery. Love a recovery.

Now 2-3, Navratilova.

0-15.

APPLAUSE

0-30.

Oh, I say! What another lovely return.

0-40.

Two glorious returns of service.

Oh, a magnificent rally!

APPLAUSE

Game to Miss Evert.

Miss Evert leads by four games to two, final set.

And by far the finest rally of the entire final.

0-15.

15-15.

Shot.

15-30.

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

15-40.

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

Game to Ms Navratilova. Change the balls, please, boys.

So, yet more twists and turns in this topsy-turvy battle.

Who would finish the stronger and emerge victorious?

We rejoin the action at five games all.

0-15.

0-30.

APPLAUSE

0-40. Twice the forehand approach stroke has gone astray. 0-40.

15-40.

Game to Miss Navratilova.

Miss Navratilova leads by six games to five, final set.

And what an extraordinary set this is. What a fluctuating set.

Well, having achieved that break, Martina Navratilova

within four points of the biggest prize of her life.

So, Ms Navratilova serving for the match, 6-5 up, third set.

APPLAUSE

15-0.

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

30-0.

Relief there from Navratilova as she makes the drop volley.

40-0.

Three championship points, Ms Navratilova.

That's it! She's done it!

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

APPLAUSE DROWNS SPEECH

And that's the famous silver gilt salver.

So, she has her medal, the runners-up award.

What a match, and the start of a Wimbledon love affair

for Martina Navratilova,

who would go on to win nine Wimbledon singles titles,

including that run of six starting in 1982.

She would win an amazing 20 Wimbledon titles in total.

Well, next up, another great of the women's game, Germany's Steffi Graf,

and her 1993 final against Jana Novotna of the Czech Republic.

Graf came in as a four-time Wimbledon singles champion,

but was looking for her third straight title.

In the commentary box for this one,

the 1969 Wimbledon winner Ann Jones alongside John Barrett.

15-0.

First service.

APPLAUSE

15-15.

Carrying on where she left off against Navratilova.

But being very patient before seeking the net position.

15-30.

30-30.

Ah, well played.

30-40.

So, quick thinking there.

Game, Miss Novotna. First game.

APPLAUSE

An encouraging start, then, from the underdog Novotna,

in temperatures that reached a wilting 40 degrees.

The Centre Court crowd settled in for an exhausting battle.

So, still with the break in hand, 2-1.

15-0.

15-15.

APPLAUSE

And Jana getting into the net on the Graf backhand

and certainly not expecting the speed

of that crosscourt passing shot.

30-30.

You're seeing that backhand pass just now,

but often it was a shot that Pavel Slozil, her former coach,

the Czech, encouraged her to play,

and in practice she plays it so beautifully all the time.

30-40.

Jana misjudging the heavy slice

that Steffi put on that backhand crosscourt.

Her first serve percentage is very, very low,

25% at the moment, too.

Deuce.

Advantage, Miss Novotna.

Yes, that was really one of those unforced errors

which she'll have to eliminate.

APPLAUSE

And this point shows the increased confidence

of Steffi Graf's net play.

She fades that one away, and angles it beautifully,

outmanoeuvring her opponent, but Steffi had such good feel

on the racket with that backhand volley.

Advantage Miss Graf.

Made simpler, that pass,

by the fact that the service return was so good.

Deuce.

So, living a little dangerously, surviving two break points

thus far in this game.

When she relaxes a little more,

perhaps we'll see a few more first serves go in.

Advantage Miss Novotna.

Let!

First service.

Let!

First service.

Let!

First service.

APPLAUSE

The longer this game goes on, the more important it becomes.

Jana failing to get that serve onto Steffi's backhand

and suffered the consequences.

Out! Advantage Miss Graf.

Well, suffering there, and another superb service return

and it's produced a third break point.

Game, Miss Graf.

APPLAUSE

Two games all, first set.

Back on level terms.

Graf went on to break Novotna to lead 5-3 and serve for the set.

But Novotna refused to buckle,

breaking straight back and forcing a first-set tie-break.

We join it midway through.

Jana, so athletic,

so quick around the court.

Probably second only to Graf in speed around the court.

In fact she may even be quicker.

Certainly a fine mover.

So 3-3.

Out.

APPLAUSE

Well, if you want to play your best tennis, I suppose

4-4 in the tie-break is the best place to do it.

Jana stretching in every direction

and managing to keep her eye strictly on the ball

to make that easy kill.

It's so easy to get distracted at such a vital time in the match.

3-4.

Now that's clever.

APPLAUSE

5-3, Miss Novotna.

Not a fully-committed forehand

from Graf.

Giving Jana the time she really shouldn't have been allowed.

APPLAUSE

5-4, Miss Novotna.

So these two service points could clinch it.

Let! Out!

5-5.

Ha-ha! The little grin telling all.

Yes, it was a chance.

And somehow in those vital moments of a match

the elbow just seems to tighten a little bit

as you go to play the shot.

Out!

6-5, Miss Novotna.

So the first set point to Novotna.

The Graf forehand failing her

just when she most needed it.

SHOUTS OF ENCOURAGEMENT

Quiet please, thank you.

APPLAUSE

This is what it looked like to Novotna.

Too late with the swing - the ball was already past.

One of Steffi's better serves at 95mph.

Total symmetry on the scoreboard. Not for long.

7-6, Miss Graf.

And this time, the puff of chalk

not accompanied by the bleep from Cyclops

so a set point now, to Graf.

Yes!

Game and first set, Miss Graf, 7-6.

And if Peter Graf is happy,

you'd never have guessed it, looking at him.

But I'm sure there must be a deep satisfaction down deep inside

that Steffi came through with that lovely pass.

So a tight first set went the champion's way

and Graf was now an even bigger favourite to defend her title.

How would Novotna respond?

0-1, second set.

0-15.

And from here we can see

one of these beautiful lobs of Jana Novotna's.

No clue that it's going to come -

she just gets the racket head underneath it,

excessive topspin and an outright winner.

0-30.

Oh, well.

Well, Steffi Graf's reactions at the net were always a little bit slow

but now she's there more often, and not quite so surprised.

They've certainly speeded up.

15-40.

Yes, a little nod of annoyance.

Rather rushed the forehand.

Two break points.

30-40.

APPLAUSE

Graf ahead of Novotna on aces

which is something of a surprise.

Game, Miss Novotna.

APPLAUSE

Miss Novotna leads 2-0, second set.

Come on, Jana!

Let. First service.

Jana's athleticism coming to the fore.

She slows that approach down to give herself time

to get into the net

and backs up beautifully for the overhead

and the racket head producing the speed and the angle she needed.

Out!

30-0.

Mid-court forehands are normally bread-and-butter shots

that are dispatched for winners.

40-0.

Game, Miss Novotna. New balls, please.

Miss Novotna leads 3-0, second set.

And the crowd, I think, warming to Novotna now,

this strong challenge in the second set

as Graf serves, 0-3.

15-0.

30-0.

Fault!

APPLAUSE

APPLAUSE

Jana again in full cry in this rally.

The slice this time down the line to the forehand.

Jana reads it well, stretches across and just controls it,

putting it out of Steffi Graf's reach.

That pulls her back to 30-30.

0-3, 30-30.

Fault!

Out! 30-40.

Game, Miss Novotna.

APPLAUSE

Miss Novotna leads 4-0, second set.

Well, quite suddenly,

the match has taken a new turn.

It was Novotna doing no more than playing good, disciplined tennis

keeping the ball as deep as she can,

but the errors from Graf have really been responsible.

0-15.

15-15.

At so many points of this present season,

we've seen this happen to Steffi.

the forehand just losing control,

but she's always been able to recover,

or usually been able to recover.

30-15.

Fault!

40-15.

40-30.

Game, Miss Novotna.

APPLAUSE

Miss Novotna leads 5-0, second set,

first set, Miss Graf.

Graf did hold serve at last in the sixth game of the set

but Novotna only needed to hold serve next, to level the match.

0-15.

Let! First service.

Fault!

15-15.

30-15.

Fault! 40-15.

So still out of range with that forehand

ever since, really, the end of the first set.

So two more set points.

Game, second set, Miss Novotna.

6-1.

one set all.

Now we had a classic match on our hands.

A brilliant champion intent on keeping her crown

and an inspired challenger

determined to write her name into the history books.

We're now 2-1 ahead in the Wimbledon final, final set.

15-0.

APPLAUSE

30-0.

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

Jana stretching for that high one.

I thought it could possibly have gone out.

But the topspin backhand of Steffi Graf still being reliable.

Rather graphic picture we get from that camera at the far end.

40-15.

Steffi, so annoyed with herself.

That point would have made an enormous difference.

Ah, at last!

And really, the first decent forehand for a number of games.

Fault! Game, Miss Novotna.

Miss Novotna leads 3-1, final set.

So the failings of the 1993 season coming back to haunt her again.

The forehand, so much depended upon but simply not functioning today.

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

15-0.

APPLAUSE

And from the far end, Steffi really in trouble at this point.

She's stretching Jana Novotna but Jana is equal to it.

Such an athletic bounce.

She was going the wrong way, actually, Jana.

Still managed to reach it.

15-30.

Jana, sensibly taking her time.

Some punishing rallies in this game. Thank you.

Regrouping herself, very sensibly.

Fault!

Good stop there by Novotna.

The serve too short, taking advantage of it.

So here are two break points for a 4-1 lead.

Desperate times for Graf.

Thank you.

Fault! Game, Miss Novotna.

New balls, please.

Miss Novotna leads 4-1, final set.

Well, the last remaining question is, as she serves

with the new balls, does this young lady really have the belief?

If she does, she has it in her power to take the title

for the first time.

0-15.

Fault! 15-15.

Let! First service.

30-15.

APPLAUSE

Jana electing, this time,

to serve to the backhand.

And it was severely punished.

Where's your forehand, Steffi?

Oh, that's brilliant. Really is.

APPLAUSE

I think this gives you some indication now of the eagerness

within Novotna.

I think the belief is here.

At moments like this in the past, she's tended to choke on her leads

but I don't think it's going to happen today. We'll see.

Deuce.

Come on, Steffi!

Advantage Miss Graf.

SHOUTS OF ENCOURAGEMENT

Come on, Steffi! Thank you.

Game, Miss Graf.

APPLAUSE

Miss Novotna leads 4-2, final set.

Just as I thought that she had got the belief, I think she showed us

that it is wavering.

Quiet please, thank you.

Rather the same sort of thing in the first set

against Navratilova when she had two breaks and lost one of them.

15-0.

15-15.

15-30.

Steffi's been given a great deal of encouragement.

If only she could raise her game now, she could be

well back into this match.

Too many unforced errors still, though.

APPLAUSE

15-40.

That was such an important point, that last.

30-40.

CROWD GASPS

Deuce.

Such an important moment, this, an instinct saving Graf here.

It's a very, very deep approach indeed.

Good footwork, good shoulder turn

and trusting everything on that flat backhand.

15-40, back to deuce.

Advantage Miss Graf.

Game, Miss Graf.

APPLAUSE

Miss Novotna leads 4-3, final set.

Still with a service break in hand.

The match, very, very close. 4-2, final set.

15-0.

15-15.

30-15.

Waiting for the call that never came.

The perfect length volley from Novotna.

APPLAUSE

And this is pure instinct. Steffi stepping around,

playing her favourite shot.

Feet in position, racket head flying through.

Maybe Jana's given her one too many chances.

Fault!

Fault. 30-40.

Once chance too many, certainly one double fault too many.

Five now.

And break point.

Thank you.

APPLAUSE

Deuce.

Fault!

Fault!

Advantage Miss Graf.

Well, fighting the inner demons of doubt here.

Two double faults have given...

Graf two chances in this crucial game.

And I wonder if she can take this second one.

Let. First service.

Fault!

Fault! Game, Miss Graf!

4-4.

Final set.

So it appears that,

at the moment at least,

she doesn't believe strongly enough.

All of her own doing.

In the end, though,

one or two key moments from Graf,

that steely forehand return.

4-4.

15-0.

APPLAUSE

30-0.

Extraordinary how, in these moments of crisis,

she finds just the instinctive

sting to the forehand, and kept it very low.

40-0.

CROWD: Come on, Steffi! Come on, Jana!

Come on, Jana! Steffi!

Quiet, please. Thank you.

Game, Miss Graf.

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

Miss Graf leads, five games to four. Final set.

Well, what a fascinating battle this is.

For the first time since game one of this set,

Graf in the lead once more.

CROWD SHOUTS OUT

Quiet, please. Thank you. CROWD MEMBER: Come on!

4-5.

0-15.

Net!

First service.

0-30.

What a clever ploy that was,

sensing the increasing anxiety in Novotna's arm and racket,

forcing her to make the pass, just darting to the net behind her.

Quiet, please. Fairly ordinary approach.

CROWD MEMBER: Come on, Steffi!

0-30.

CROWD MEMBERS SHOUT OUT

Thank you, ladies and gentlemen. Quiet, please. Thank you.

15-40.

And the fluency of the middle set has gone.

The tension very much in evidence.

Two Championship points.

Quiet, please. Thank you.

That's it!

Game, set, match, Miss Graf. Two sets to one.

7-6, 1-6, 6-4.

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

And relief and delight in the Graf camp.

For a marvellous, if at one time seemingly improbable, victory.

1-4 down in the final set, Steffi Graf the champion here.

And, really, that has been a tremendous performance,

to pull her game together when all had seemed lost.

The instinct for survival was paramount.

And I think a word of sympathy for Jana Novotna,

who had everything going for her, but, contrary to what I believed,

didn't really have the inner belief

that she had the stature of a champion.

Because that's what it's all about when you're 4-1 ahead

in the final set. Steffi off, I think, to greet the family.

Shades, here, Pat Cash making his dash...

..to greet her family. And here she goes.

Ready for her father, Peter, mother, Heidi.

And Klaus Hofsass.

What a marvellous moment.

And how well she played at the moments in the match

when she had to.

And just holding up the presentation ceremony for a moment.

APPLAUSE

And, traditionally, it'll be the defeated finalist who comes forward.

Jana Novotna in her first Wimbledon final, certainly not disgraced.

And overcome with the emotion of it all.

Which I'm sure is the reason she lost

after being 4-1 ahead in the final set.

And the Duchess,

who has seen the champions for so many years now

and knows just how acutely the defeated finalist

feels her defeat.

But I'm sure that the improvement that she's shown

will one day allow her to hold a rather larger plate above her head

than that silver salver.

Heartbreaking to watch - such emotion there from Jana Novotna,

who would enjoy much happier times here five years later,

when she beat France's Nathalie Tauziat in the final,

to win her only Grand Slam singles title.

So there you have it - four outstanding players,

two great matches.

Well worthy of the title of Wimbledon Classics.