Ladies & Men's Doubles Final

:00:40. > :00:45.Today at Wimbledon the ladies' champion was crowned and once again

:00:46. > :00:52.it was the world number one, Serena Williams. This is the moment that

:00:53. > :00:56.she won her 7th Wimbledon Crown, her 22nd Grand Slam tight toll equal the

:00:57. > :01:01.open era record of Steffi Graf. Wonderful scenes on Centre Court and

:01:02. > :01:04.a warm embrace for her opponent Angelique kerber who played her

:01:05. > :01:09.part. A wonderful match and great rallies but it was Serena who was

:01:10. > :01:14.just too good at the end of both sets. Serena is the champion once

:01:15. > :01:20.again. We have seen history made on Centre Court. Shes had a busy day

:01:21. > :01:23.because she will be back in the ladies' doubles final. Now we are

:01:24. > :01:35.heading to Centre Court to rejoin the match you may have seen on BBC

:01:36. > :01:42.One, it's the men's double final. An all-French affair with Pierre-Hugues

:01:43. > :01:47.Herbert and Nicolas Mahut and jewel general Benneteau and Edouard

:01:48. > :01:52.Roger-Vasselin. -- Julian. Let's join our commentators now.

:01:53. > :02:00.Five games each. Herbert and Mahut were two points away from the set in

:02:01. > :02:06.the last Roger-Vasselin's service game but now just a little bit of

:02:07. > :02:16.pressure on the shoulders of the youngest member of this quartet,

:02:17. > :02:19.here he is, Pierre Hugues Herbert. He has dealt with everything

:02:20. > :03:02.impressively with everything that's been thrown at him so far.

:03:03. > :03:07.Mahut makes the fourth round of the singles and is probably best known

:03:08. > :03:13.in these parts for his role in that extraordinary match with John Isner,

:03:14. > :03:16.the 11-hour classic. He is really enjoying some fine success at this

:03:17. > :03:24.relatively late stage of his career. He is 34. Herbert to the right is

:03:25. > :03:29.just 25. Winning in New York last year and

:03:30. > :03:34.finalists as well at the start of 2015. It's their third Grand Slam

:03:35. > :03:39.final in 18 months and at a time of transition, Peter Fleming, in the

:03:40. > :03:44.men's doubles with the Bryans stuck on 16 Slams, they haven't won one

:03:45. > :03:50.for a while, do you sense this is a team that could dominate for a

:03:51. > :03:57.while? Well, they certainly have the possibility of doing so. I mean,

:03:58. > :04:04.they have done so over the last nine months or so. So, it's certainly a

:04:05. > :04:09.possibility. They're not easy to break. They are flashy, can just

:04:10. > :05:16.light up return games. Well, the cheer suggests that was a

:05:17. > :05:42.fine catch. Well done, sir! His moment in the spotlight.

:05:43. > :05:48.Benneteau has held serve confidently in the second set, just dropping two

:05:49. > :05:56.points in total in his three service games in this set.

:05:57. > :06:00.At 6-6 it's tie-break time. Always in these situations it's the team

:06:01. > :06:05.that lost the - it's more of a must-win tie-breaker for them than

:06:06. > :06:44.the other team, obviously. You can't afford to go down 2-0.

:06:45. > :06:55.Not sure if that was going in, was it? It came at him fast. But seemed

:06:56. > :06:57.pretty high up. Difficult to judge.

:06:58. > :07:10.Didn't see it early enough, that's for sure.

:07:11. > :07:22.Oh, dear! Two in a row. Wasn't an easy shot, but certainly

:07:23. > :07:30.should have made it from that height. Could at least make his

:07:31. > :07:52.opponents play. Now in big trouble. Double break.

:07:53. > :08:03.A tie-break to forget so far for Roger-Vasselin. Sounded as... When

:08:04. > :08:09.the volley is that easy there is no reason to take any chance. I agree I

:08:10. > :08:36.thought it felt like it was dropping in, that ball.

:08:37. > :08:43.He was off balance on that volley. It was relatively comfortable too

:08:44. > :09:24.from Herbert. Don't know quite what he was doing there. Didn't get set.

:09:25. > :09:34.Perhaps just the power of the returns of Herbert and Mahut

:09:35. > :09:40.catching their opponents off guard, just not reacting quickly enough.

:09:41. > :10:16.It's been a poor tie-breaker for them so far.

:10:17. > :10:27.APPLAUSE Got there in the end.

:10:28. > :10:38.The penultimate shot, this one, very tentatively played by Herbert.

:10:39. > :10:44.Thankfully, Mahut there to save the day. Roger-Vasselin and Benneteau

:10:45. > :11:07.have lost all four points played on their serve. Five set points.

:11:08. > :11:14.It's been so keenly contested this final. That really took us by

:11:15. > :11:18.surprise that one-sided tie-break. Terrible, one of those things that

:11:19. > :11:22.can sometimes happen and they started off so badly, particularly

:11:23. > :11:28.Julien Benneteau, just two volleys right on top of the net. Then they

:11:29. > :11:31.never recovered. As you say it was completely strange because they were

:11:32. > :11:35.both backing their serves up so well during the set and then just fell

:11:36. > :11:50.apart when the tie-breaker was on. Of course, coming back from 2-0 down

:11:51. > :11:59.not out of the question, but it is quite a task. Really the only thing

:12:00. > :12:06.you can recommend is one step at a time, the old cliche. Just play the

:12:07. > :12:10.first couple of games as if your life depended on it and just keep

:12:11. > :12:20.trudging onwards. You can see when Herbert and Mahut

:12:21. > :12:28.get their first serves in play they are rough. The stats there actually

:12:29. > :12:32.were better for Benneteau and Roger-Vasselin. But it's just they

:12:33. > :12:35.played an awful tie-breaker. Up until then their stats were slightly

:12:36. > :12:50.better for them in that set. As you said earlier on, with the

:12:51. > :12:55.Bryan brothers seemingly past their peak now, there is a huge

:12:56. > :13:00.opportunity for a doubles team to really be the dominating factor.

:13:01. > :13:03.There must be, Jamie Murray, all these teams, Jamie has been number

:13:04. > :13:08.one in the world, not for such a long time but he has hit number one.

:13:09. > :13:16.All these players who must fancy their chances now because it's wide

:13:17. > :13:23.open really. Of course Jamie is the reigning an Open champion with

:13:24. > :13:26.Bruono Suarez. Really there's been such a variety of winners in the

:13:27. > :13:35.Grand Slams the last couple of years. So many of them new teams, as

:13:36. > :13:42.well. Yeah. They have such long careers now. A lot of guys in their

:13:43. > :13:46.late 30s, early 40s still playing. I think that's to do with the no add

:13:47. > :13:49.scoring at all the tournaments and no third sets so you are only

:13:50. > :13:54.playing for an hour really in these doubles matches so you don't have to

:13:55. > :13:59.be sort of in amazing physical condition. You can keep training and

:14:00. > :14:02.it's a sharp sort of match for an hour but that's about it. They

:14:03. > :14:05.obviously did that to try to get the top players to play and

:14:06. > :14:08.unfortunately it hasn't really worked. That was one of the things

:14:09. > :14:12.they've tried. It seems that ship has sailed now in terms of getting

:14:13. > :14:21.the top players to play at certainly major events. Occasionally they'll

:14:22. > :14:25.play in the Palm Springs and a couple of Super Series they'll play

:14:26. > :14:28.to get practise. Other than that you don't really see top players play,

:14:29. > :14:37.which is a pity. It would be fun to watch them in these matches to see

:14:38. > :14:43.how they would go up against the doubles specialists.

:14:44. > :14:49.Perhaps the next generation because there is no question that doubles

:14:50. > :14:53.really can be a great learning tool for young players, especially. Learn

:14:54. > :14:57.how to serve and volley, how to return serve against a player who is

:14:58. > :15:05.serving in volley. We have seen that ska Raonic, how much he has improved

:15:06. > :15:19.by bringing that coming forward ethic into his game.

:15:20. > :15:32.Great tennis! APPLAUSE That was great, quick reactions,

:15:33. > :15:38.here, how quickly did he move and then improvise to get that ball over

:15:39. > :15:39.the head? But then, Roger-Vasselin, what a forehand, what whip on the

:15:40. > :16:09.ball. That is out of court and Benneteau

:16:10. > :16:13.and Roger-Vasselin starting as they mean to go on. It is set they have

:16:14. > :16:16.to win to stay in with a chance of winning bids were more than final

:16:17. > :16:21.but what point that was, the second point of the third set. Well worth

:16:22. > :16:26.having another look at this. What amazed me, Peter, is how well Mahut

:16:27. > :16:31.managed to scoop up the log from just a couple of inches on his side

:16:32. > :16:36.of the Netcom here. Yes, he did well to get there but in fact, as you

:16:37. > :16:42.say, to improvise and get the log up as quickly as he did. Pretty

:16:43. > :16:46.special. -- the log. Would look like you lob wedge on the golf course,

:16:47. > :16:50.Peter, is that right? I've heard your pretty good with that Phil

:16:51. > :17:19.Mickelson type of thing. You heard well!

:17:20. > :17:25.Lie the call is being challenged on the right baseline, the ball is

:17:26. > :17:35.called in. -- UMPIRE: The call is being challenged. It was in, and the

:17:36. > :17:40.umpires that that Benneteau was challenging. I died thing he wanted

:17:41. > :17:44.to challenge his own shot. It was a brilliant one. -- I don't think. He

:17:45. > :17:59.was thinking of my foot. -- Mr Herbert and Mr Mahut have two

:18:00. > :18:17.challenges remaining. Oh, what a volley. Yes, he did well.

:18:18. > :18:22.I think Roger-Vasselin was disappointed in himself that he was

:18:23. > :18:28.not able to get across because although it was a great low volley

:18:29. > :18:29.from Herbert, it looked as though Roger-Vasselin might have been able

:18:30. > :18:38.to take it. APPLAUSE

:18:39. > :19:13.What a shot that was! APPLAUSE

:19:14. > :19:42.Stepping up a bit, you feel, in the early stages of the third set.

:19:43. > :19:54.Edouard Roger-Vasselin come here, 32 years old, to serve at 1-1. UMPIRE:

:19:55. > :19:55.Stop, Mr Herbert and Mr Mahut challenging the call on the right

:19:56. > :20:12.service line. The ball is called in. SLOW CLAPPING

:20:13. > :20:19.UMPIRE: 15-0. Not sure Mr Mahut is impressed with his team-mate's

:20:20. > :20:20.decision to challenge! Mr Herbert and Mr Mahut have one challenge

:20:21. > :20:30.remaining. O! LAUGHTER

:20:31. > :20:49.APPLAUSE He should have run the opposite way,

:20:50. > :20:56.not towards it. He should have gone to the side and said," here you go,

:20:57. > :21:00.your point". Does he think he is playing rugby or something, with an

:21:01. > :21:26.up and under? Perhaps his best chance, actually.

:21:27. > :22:40.Spectacular, perhaps, well, perhaps wasted at 40-0, but you never know.

:22:41. > :22:48.The smash from Benneteau, bounces, one on the commentary box at the far

:22:49. > :22:57.end and then all the way up into the players' box. Up there, Christophe

:22:58. > :23:03.Roger-Vasselin, the former French Open semifinalist, and one Benneteau

:23:04. > :23:15.to the right, the younger brother of Julian. He has worked in the past

:23:16. > :23:18.for a French newspaper L'Equipe. In the other team, Mark Woodforde is

:23:19. > :23:22.Nicolas Mahut's doubles coach and has done some excellent work with

:23:23. > :23:28.the Frenchman in the past year or so, the multiple Grand Slam

:23:29. > :23:39.champion. City area also works with a number of the French players, on

:23:40. > :23:42.the left. -- Thierry also works. A good crowd in, took a while for the

:23:43. > :23:45.stadium to fill up again especially in the first set after the

:23:46. > :23:49.excitement of the Ladies' Singles final but people have come back in,

:23:50. > :23:55.and maybe some other lucky spectators have got their hands on

:23:56. > :23:56.tickets, in the retail scheme, on the golden ticket, so getting close

:23:57. > :24:34.to full. -- in the resale scheme. Changed up the pace on that serve,

:24:35. > :25:06.put it in at 101. Benneteau cranked that return. A bit of trouble, here.

:25:07. > :25:23.You could see the secret communication between Mahut and

:25:24. > :25:27.Herbert before that point. Sometimes, they will just sort it

:25:28. > :25:35.out at the baseline like that. Sometimes, it will be a hand behind

:25:36. > :25:42.the back. I've never understood that. Do they think the opponents

:25:43. > :25:46.can lip read? How do they expect that you can hear them from the

:25:47. > :26:03.other side of the baseline? But maybe they can.

:26:04. > :26:12.So good. So good. You can just see, when they are both that the net,

:26:13. > :26:18.they backed up their first half-volley or volley. Once they are

:26:19. > :26:21.up there, they have got this sort of like 8-foot rope attached to them

:26:22. > :26:25.and they just move when the other one moves. They just can't get

:26:26. > :26:39.through their defences once they are at the net. They have been superb.

:26:40. > :26:49.I think that's about the fourth time he has told him to leave the ball

:26:50. > :26:50.and he's disregarded him every time! He is also shouting out as he is

:26:51. > :27:01.hitting the ball, isn't he? So much so that they are looking for

:27:02. > :27:08.the line judges, here. "Where Has the call, from?" That instant

:27:09. > :27:10.decision-making is so key in doubles. -- where has the call come

:27:11. > :27:38.from. It looked as though Roger-Vasselin

:27:39. > :28:02.perhaps allowed that ball to come to him. APPLAUSE

:28:03. > :28:11.This is like the start of the first set, service dominating. Benneteau

:28:12. > :28:22.and Roger-Vasselin have to win this set, though. Certainly serving well.

:28:23. > :28:28.You would take that any day. Two love service holds for Benneteau.

:28:29. > :28:33.You would take that any day, too. LAUGHTER

:28:34. > :28:37.Definitely take that any day. But those numbers in the grand scheme of

:28:38. > :28:40.things mean very little while there is a big, fat zero next to their

:28:41. > :28:48.name on the set part of the scoreboard. 2-0 down in sets to

:28:49. > :28:54.Herbert and Mahut, Nicolas Mahut having reached the final of all four

:28:55. > :28:59.Grand Slams. Australian Open finalist from last year and they

:29:00. > :29:02.also reached the French Open final in 2013 with Michael Llodra, another

:29:03. > :29:13.fine French player from the last ten years or so. -- Mahut also reached.

:29:14. > :29:17.Beating David Ferrer in his run to the last 16 of the singles. That was

:29:18. > :29:25.a decent win and unusually, beat his doubles partner as well in the third

:29:26. > :29:34.round. Herbert to serve at 2-3, third set.

:29:35. > :29:45.That was a good serve. He has a lag on his service swing. But he comes

:29:46. > :29:48.through it well. He did get nervous in the previous round and served a

:29:49. > :30:23.few double faults. But so far today he has been excellent.

:30:24. > :30:40.Normally hits those very well. Just cut that one too fine.

:30:41. > :31:30.Good value for the Centre Court spectators today enjoying this men's

:31:31. > :31:40.doubles final following a win A win for Serena Williams. And there

:31:41. > :32:10.is her coach, Patrick. Looks like he's dressed ready for a

:32:11. > :32:23.big night out tonight! A celebration planned, and well-deserved.

:32:24. > :33:23.Oh! How good was he in that rally? The way he got down on all those

:33:24. > :33:27.shots. Easy to pull up and hit the ball so hard. Stayed low. And then

:33:28. > :34:21.that last explosion. Boom! What a point.

:34:22. > :34:32.He's really carrying the team at the moment in this game. How about you

:34:33. > :34:36.returning one? That's what he brings to the team. He gets hot and there

:34:37. > :35:18.is nothing you can do about it. Oh! Just what he was asking for. Now

:35:19. > :35:23.Roger-Vasselin is in trouble because he is break point down. Already

:35:24. > :35:30.trailing 2-0. You can see they're taking time here. He doesn't quite

:35:31. > :35:33.know where to serve this ball. He's been equally good on both sides in

:35:34. > :35:58.this game. What a game he played. That was awesome play. Played four

:35:59. > :36:02.perfect points on his side and Mahut made that great return at deuce.

:36:03. > :36:08.Break of serve. Where do you serve to him? They tried to serve to his

:36:09. > :36:11.body, that didn't work. Wide to his backhand didn't work. To his

:36:12. > :36:15.forehand didn't work. Unfortunately, Roger-Vasselin's serve is not big

:36:16. > :36:21.enough to sort of bully him on those occasions and whes hot, as you were

:36:22. > :36:29.saying, Peter, he is just awesome. Yeah, and of course Herbert has been

:36:30. > :36:34.a top 100 player in singles. And it makes you wonder, if perhaps a

:36:35. > :36:39.sports psychologist couldn't get into his head and help him play a

:36:40. > :36:44.little more consistently or play well a little more consistently. He

:36:45. > :36:51.could threaten the top 50 because the guy has a lot of tools. Really

:36:52. > :37:03.he has every shot. Serves well, returns well. Just prone to the odd

:37:04. > :37:08.period where he moves out of concentration or belief or whatever

:37:09. > :38:07.it is. Two more service holds required from Mahut and Herbert.

:38:08. > :38:13.Haven't lost their serve in the match so far. Faced four break

:38:14. > :38:15.points, they've saved them all. At the moment Mahut serving his team

:38:16. > :38:35.towards the title. That was a 131 serve too. That's

:38:36. > :38:36.when you use the pace of the serve. Short back swing and directs it

:38:37. > :39:07.right back. A fantastic return. A wonderful position for them to

:39:08. > :39:12.find themselves in. After a fraction over two hours at

:39:13. > :39:13.Centre Court, Mahut and Herbert are one game away from their first

:39:14. > :40:17.Wimbledon title. Roger-Vasselin didn't do enough with

:40:18. > :40:30.that first volley. Yeah, things are going the wrong way

:40:31. > :40:34.for Benneteau and Roger-Vasselin at the moment. Their opponents are on

:40:35. > :41:39.fire. Oh, it's gone long and wide. The

:41:40. > :41:46.teamwork has been superb today from Mahut and Herbert.

:41:47. > :42:49.UMPIRE: Deuce. An excellent serve, 121, but deep, right in the corner.

:42:50. > :42:57.This one here coming up, he looked ready and it kind of checked. You

:42:58. > :43:15.could see he was off balance when he hit that forehand.

:43:16. > :43:25.Oh! Really nicely played. Mahut was so

:43:26. > :43:27.far behind the baseline when he hit the ground stroke. No time to make

:43:28. > :45:11.up the ground. What a wonderful moment for Nicolas

:45:12. > :45:17.Mahut and Pierre-Hugues Herbert from France, the Wimbledon Men's Doubles

:45:18. > :45:27.champions for 2016, their second Grand Slam title, their first year

:45:28. > :45:35.at Wimbledon -- here at Wimbledon. And Mahut, there, struggling to hold

:45:36. > :45:39.back the tears, the man who will always be remembered as the man who

:45:40. > :45:49.lost one of the most famous matches ever. Now he has won and now he's a

:45:50. > :45:54.champion. Well, you can see clearly why Mahut... Ladies and gentlemen,

:45:55. > :45:57.we ask that you please remain in your seats for the trophy

:45:58. > :46:02.presentation ceremony which will take place shortly in the Royal box.

:46:03. > :46:07.You can see why they are the number one pair in the world right now.

:46:08. > :46:10.They were solid on serve and took turns taking over return games.

:46:11. > :46:21.Exactly. But they were so solid at the net as

:46:22. > :46:35.a combination, very difficult to get past them today.

:46:36. > :46:43.And for young Pierre-Hugues Herbert, only 25, what a performance that

:46:44. > :46:51.was. You know, the match of his life, Centre Court, held nothing

:46:52. > :46:56.back, no nerves. Was he the standout man for you, John? I think he was

:46:57. > :46:58.the best on the court. Mahut was great as well, obviously, but for

:46:59. > :47:20.me, Herbert was just amazing. As is tradition for the doubles

:47:21. > :47:24.final, the trophy presentation is conducted in the Royal box so they

:47:25. > :47:32.have to leave the court first, go up through the stairs of the

:47:33. > :47:35.All-England Club for a -- foyer, past the wonderful trophies on

:47:36. > :47:38.display, through a door and into the Royal box, back into view and they

:47:39. > :47:47.will be lifting a trophy of their own. The first success of the

:47:48. > :47:54.weekend for France! The footballers will try to do it tomorrow night.

:47:55. > :47:58.But they are now the standout team, aren't they, at the top of the game?

:47:59. > :48:08.The reigning US Open champion Wimbledon champions. -- champions.

:48:09. > :48:10.With any luck, they will win their repeal regarding Olympic

:48:11. > :48:15.qualification as well this week and had to Rio where they will make

:48:16. > :48:19.their debut as a team in Davis Cup -- and they will make their debut as

:48:20. > :48:22.a team in the Davis Cup when France head to the Czech Republic this

:48:23. > :48:30.weekend. All is rather rosy in the world of Herbert and Mahut. And to

:48:31. > :48:35.remind you, he is 34 years of age, still looks a lot done Diop -- a lot

:48:36. > :48:39.younger, doesn't he, but he has been playing this game for a long time

:48:40. > :48:48.but really, now is finding a settled partner who he can win big

:48:49. > :48:52.tournaments with. She has won a few of these, what is it? 62 major

:48:53. > :48:58.titles, singles and doubles, Margaret Court, amazing. They must

:48:59. > :49:05.be a bit tired, getting up those stairs. Carrying those big, heavy

:49:06. > :49:10.bags. You did not have that problem in your day, Peter, did not have

:49:11. > :49:13.those big, heavy bags. Ladies and gentlemen, the

:49:14. > :49:16.presentation of the Gentlemen's Doubles and Girls' Singles trophies

:49:17. > :49:20.will now take place in the Royal box. Trophies will be presented by

:49:21. > :49:24.his Royal Highness, the Duke of Kent, President of the All-England

:49:25. > :49:31.Club. Ladies and gentlemen, the Gentlemen's Doubles 2016 runners-up,

:49:32. > :49:41.Julien Benneteau and Edouard Roger-Vasselin! APPLAUSE

:49:42. > :49:47.They had a terrific run to the final, beating a horse lyrics of

:49:48. > :49:54.Grand Slam winners to get here, including Jamie Murray -- beating a

:49:55. > :49:59.host of Grand Slam winners. That was a bit of an epic. You can see the

:50:00. > :50:03.disappointment in their faces, can't you? Benneteau in particular knows

:50:04. > :50:07.that he did not bring anywhere near to his best tennis onto the court

:50:08. > :50:16.today. His opponents did not allow it.

:50:17. > :50:28.APPLAUSE And the Wimbledon Gentlemen's

:50:29. > :50:37.Doubles champions 2016, Pierre-Hugues Herbert and Nicolas

:50:38. > :50:42.Mahut! APPLAUSE Well, Mahut's name is on a plaque by

:50:43. > :50:46.Court 18, where he played that 11 hour match with John Isner. He was

:50:47. > :50:49.the loser that day but I have always thought, ever since, he has dealt

:50:50. > :50:55.with that occasion with great dignity in defeat. Now his name will

:50:56. > :51:00.be inscribed on the winners honours role in the Men's Doubles, alongside

:51:01. > :51:03.Pierre-Hugues Herbert. And they thoroughly deserved their second

:51:04. > :51:23.Grand Slam title together. Another Wimbledon win for Mark

:51:24. > :51:52.Woodforde. This time, as a coach. And now, ladies and gentlemen, the

:51:53. > :51:56.Girls' Singles 2016. The runner-up, Dan air Yastremska! -- down I

:51:57. > :52:04.Yastremska! In the traditional final say, the

:52:05. > :52:16.Centre Court crowd get to see the rising stars.

:52:17. > :52:42.And the Wimbledon Girls' Singles champion 2016, Anastasia Potapova!

:52:43. > :52:58.APPLAUSE SUE BARKER: And here is Anastasia

:52:59. > :53:01.Potapova, the world number one junior, just 15 years of age and

:53:02. > :53:06.this is her first Grand Slam junior title. What a great moment for her.

:53:07. > :53:10.Remember the name, Anastasia Potapova, we will be hearing a lot

:53:11. > :53:17.more from her, making Sophie mistakes. Her opponent today,

:53:18. > :53:22.Yastremska of Ukraine hit more winners but she was so consistent

:53:23. > :53:26.today, Potapova, and she is the junior champion. Wonderful moment

:53:27. > :53:32.for them to celebrate the Royal box. One of the other great traditions at

:53:33. > :53:36.this club. So, still one more final to come on Centre Court and that is

:53:37. > :53:40.the Ladies' Doubles which will feature the Williams sisters, so a

:53:41. > :53:44.very busy day for Serena Williams. But before we joined that, time for

:53:45. > :53:46.you to pick your shot of the tournament and there are eight to

:53:47. > :54:04.choose from. Oh, my goodness! How on earth did he

:54:05. > :54:17.get that back? That may be the best shot of the championship so far.

:54:18. > :54:25.That is phenomenal! Every inch of physical and mental power won that

:54:26. > :54:36.point. They have let it go but still in

:54:37. > :54:40.play. Oh, what a get by Leander Paes! Extraordinary. Oh, no! Oh, my

:54:41. > :55:01.word! An absolutely brilliant point. Oh, what a winner! And what a way to

:55:02. > :55:21.win. Oh, it's good! And it's good from

:55:22. > :55:25.Nick Kyrgios, they very rarely come off but it turned into near-perfect

:55:26. > :55:40.lob. Murray continues to torment Tomas

:55:41. > :55:52.Berdych. Oh, yes! She can do anything!

:55:53. > :56:19.Incredible reaction from Serena. , On, get up! This is unbelievable!

:56:20. > :56:24.-- come on. He has got some good hands and feel. This is too good. So

:56:25. > :56:26.many wonderful shots and some great memories. Pick your favourite to

:56:27. > :56:48.vote. So, just before we head back to

:56:49. > :56:51.Centre Court to see the Ladies' Doubles final, we are going to show

:56:52. > :56:55.you what happened out on Court Number One in the semifinal of the

:56:56. > :56:58.Mixed Doubles, featuring Heather Watson of Great Britain and her

:56:59. > :57:05.partner, Henri Kontinen, up against over Iraq and Gullane Ostapenko.

:57:06. > :57:10.Watson and confident won the first set and we join it at 2-2 with

:57:11. > :57:27.Oliver Marach to serve. Liz Smiley and David Mercer watching this one.

:57:28. > :57:42.COMMENTATOR: Shot selection lacking a little bit from Oliver Marach.

:57:43. > :57:46.What a return! I told her she had to be waiting for that one down the

:57:47. > :57:48.middle and she was. Well struck by Watson, look at this, just perfectly

:57:49. > :57:57.hit. It was flat, it was living. What an opportunity now, three break

:57:58. > :58:56.points. Credit to Marach, he has got in two

:58:57. > :59:14.first serves but he could do with another.

:59:15. > :59:35.SUE BARKER: We are going to move it on a few games, and this is Marach

:59:36. > :00:17.serving to stay in the match. You said she was in a pushle patch.

:00:18. > :00:20.She remains in the purple patch. Heather Watson, another terrific

:00:21. > :00:27.return. This is off a first serve. Has done a good job of look for the

:00:28. > :00:41.one down the middle. This was the change up to the back side.

:00:42. > :00:49.Oh! It was a double hit but that is now legal. When you were playing

:00:50. > :00:58.that would have been a foul. Now it's one swing. As long as you only

:00:59. > :01:03.have one swing it's a legal shot. Ostapenko claiming it was a double

:01:04. > :01:08.hit, it was but it's now perfectly legal.

:01:09. > :01:32.She wouldn't be the first tennis player not to know the rules of the

:01:33. > :01:46.game. That's why the umpire's there. He did, yeah.

:01:47. > :02:12.Marach has lost his forehand totally. It is match point.

:02:13. > :02:15.UMPIRE: Deuce. LAUGHTER

:02:16. > :03:04.Getting in on the tension! UMPIRE: Challenge to the call. The

:03:05. > :03:17.ball was called in. This was mighty close. And out.

:03:18. > :03:27.A double fault! Andy Murray will not be the only

:03:28. > :03:35.Brit in a Wimbledon final this year because Heather Watson and Henri

:03:36. > :03:40.Kontineen who only ever played three matches together in their lives are

:03:41. > :03:43.through to the final. You can hear the reaction of the crowd. Well

:03:44. > :03:51.done, Heather Watson. APPLAUSE AND

:03:52. > :03:54.CHEERING Wonderful scenes out on court number

:03:55. > :04:00.one. It's a wonderful story. She was so disappointed in the first week,

:04:01. > :04:05.walking away from court heart-broken at having lost. Here she is, proud

:04:06. > :04:16.mum watching on, as well. In a Wimbledon final, she will be on

:04:17. > :04:20.Centre Court tomorrow. What a story. What a lovely story. That will be

:04:21. > :04:31.tomorrow. But we still have one final to be played here on Centre

:04:32. > :04:37.Court. Here they come. This is the Williams sisters, Serena and Venus.

:04:38. > :04:44.What a record they have here. They're taking on Timea Babos and

:04:45. > :04:51.Yaroslava Shvedova. They won't be overawed by the occasion. This

:04:52. > :04:57.promises to be quite some match. It was lovely to hear Serena talk about

:04:58. > :05:01.her sister and what an inspiration she was to her growing up. They have

:05:02. > :05:05.a wonderful record. 12 singles titles between them here at

:05:06. > :05:09.Wimbledon. They've won this doubles title five times, as well. In fact,

:05:10. > :05:12.they've never lost when they've reached a Wimbledon final, that's

:05:13. > :05:17.how strong they are as a doubles team. Serena was here in the studio

:05:18. > :05:21.talking earlier about what a difference Patrick, her coach, has

:05:22. > :05:25.made over the past four years and they've now won nine Grand Slam

:05:26. > :05:29.titles. I think the one today equalling Steffi Graf's record of 22

:05:30. > :05:33.is very, very special. Let's hear from Patrick. He has been talking to

:05:34. > :05:38.Rishi. First of all, congratulations. What

:05:39. > :05:42.was Serena's reaction like, what did you chat about when she came off

:05:43. > :05:46.court? It was very interesting because the match point she won

:05:47. > :05:50.today was this volley, forehand down the line, it was exactly the volley

:05:51. > :05:56.she missed in the final of Australia against the same player on the match

:05:57. > :06:00.point. This was a good symbol of switching from a defeat to a

:06:01. > :06:04.victory. When we spoke yesterday about this you said all you can

:06:05. > :06:10.control are the elements that are within your own scope and you said

:06:11. > :06:14.you put her back in the same position, like she was, a tennis

:06:15. > :06:17.watch against Angelique Kerber in the final, what was the difference

:06:18. > :06:22.today? There was a huge difference. First of all, whatever happened she

:06:23. > :06:27.never panicked. She was calm. She was focussing on her own strength.

:06:28. > :06:32.The most important thing we found back Serena. She's a player that is

:06:33. > :06:36.not like every other player. She's an unbelievable champion for many

:06:37. > :06:39.reasons but one of her characteristics is this ability on

:06:40. > :06:45.key moments of the watch to raise her level. When she threatens on a

:06:46. > :06:50.serve to hit aces, when she's getting the break points to play the

:06:51. > :06:59.best tennis of her life. And that's what she did today. This ability to

:07:00. > :07:03.win the big matches with big crowds on the big moments, that's what

:07:04. > :07:08.champions are made for and she showed that she was back. A lot of

:07:09. > :07:13.people watching today have said that because she's now won 22 that it's

:07:14. > :07:17.almost inevitable that she will go on and beat Margaret Court's record

:07:18. > :07:22.of 24 Grand Slam titles. How do you talk about that with her? Do you

:07:23. > :07:24.even bring it up or do you just play each tournament and take each

:07:25. > :07:30.victory? First of all, I don't listen to what people say otherwise

:07:31. > :07:36.I will go crazy! Because you hear so many things. Well, to be honest, I

:07:37. > :07:39.am more happy about winning a Grand Slam again than reaching 22. Because

:07:40. > :07:44.we were in a situation in the last eight months that was not

:07:45. > :07:48.comfortable. I was not feeling Serena being herself. This is what I

:07:49. > :07:53.was looking for, to find back the real Serena and that's what I am

:07:54. > :07:58.happy with. I told you I think yesterday that after Roland Garros

:07:59. > :08:02.we had a talk on the phone and I realised she was back. She showed

:08:03. > :08:07.it, this tournament she showed it. In the final it was crystal clear.

:08:08. > :08:10.Now she has 22. She's not someone who equals records, she's someone

:08:11. > :08:15.who beats records. For sure we are going to go on. How far we going to

:08:16. > :08:19.go on? I don't know. Nobody knows. But since we have the belief and

:08:20. > :08:22.since she wants to do it, I think she can go quite far. The other

:08:23. > :08:27.thing you spoke about recently when we chatted was that you said, for

:08:28. > :08:31.example, when she won at Roland Garros a few years ago, five minutes

:08:32. > :08:35.after winning the French Open she's saying right, let's focus on

:08:36. > :08:40.Wimbledon. Do you - is she in that frame of mind already or do you say

:08:41. > :08:44.enjoy the moment pause that's what you have worked hard for? She would

:08:45. > :08:49.deserve 100% to enjoy the moment. But she's not like that. I don't

:08:50. > :08:53.want to change her. That's what makes her the champion she is. This

:08:54. > :08:57.ability to immediately forget what she's achieved and already focus on

:08:58. > :09:01.something else, that makes her Serena. I am not going to try to

:09:02. > :09:05.change that, that would be a mistake. I think the same. That's

:09:06. > :09:08.why we get along so well. Patrick, always a pleasure to speak to you.

:09:09. > :09:13.Congratulations, hope you enjoy the moment and look forward to the next

:09:14. > :09:18.one. Thank you very much. He certainly has brought Serena back

:09:19. > :09:22.to her best. They're a formidable team. Talking of formidable teams,

:09:23. > :09:25.the Williams sisters have a wonderful record and looking forward

:09:26. > :09:31.to representing the United States at the Olympics. Their goal today is

:09:32. > :09:36.another Wimbledon title. They're up against Babos and Shvedova, the

:09:37. > :09:38.number five seeds. Let's join our commentators for this match.

:09:39. > :09:45.For all they've achieved it's been a while since they shared a court for

:09:46. > :09:52.a Grand Slam final, four years since they won this title in 2012. Almost

:09:53. > :09:57.hard to believe 16 years since they won their first title in tandem

:09:58. > :10:05.here. And here they are again, still here. Still setting the standards.

:10:06. > :10:16.Venus Williams, a couple of years older than her little sister. Hours

:10:17. > :10:23.after winning the singles title she's back on Centre Court going for

:10:24. > :10:31.another Wimbledon title. Doing the best to stand in their way this

:10:32. > :10:39.evening, a happy tennising partnership with Hungary and

:10:40. > :11:05.Kazakhstan --. Second time she's come across Venus

:11:06. > :11:15.at this year's championships, beaten in the quarter-finals. Centre Court

:11:16. > :11:20.pleasantly populated once again by familiar faces. Mum who has pretty

:11:21. > :11:25.much parked herself on this court over the last fortnight, Sam. I

:11:26. > :11:30.wonder if Beyonce and Jay Z will stay for the doubles, that will

:11:31. > :11:38.really test their stamina, won't it? They may be making a few plans for

:11:39. > :11:52.the Williams party tonight. What's great about this final is that Babos

:11:53. > :11:58.and -- and Shvedova are a proper pair, they'll certainly test Venus

:11:59. > :12:07.and Serena. They dropped one set on the way to

:12:08. > :12:11.the final. Otherwise it's been plain sailing. But here is the challenge.

:12:12. > :12:21.There's never been anything quite like these two.

:12:22. > :12:24.UMPIRE: First set. Venus Williams to serve. Four years on from winning

:12:25. > :12:41.this title on this court they're trying to do it again.

:12:42. > :14:02.Lots to talk about for these two. Certainly aware when you are trying

:14:03. > :14:06.to deliver to Shvedova, probably want to stay away from that backhand

:14:07. > :14:15.return. Nicely to the net. Closing the door

:14:16. > :14:44.on the Williams. APPLAUSE

:14:45. > :14:48.It's been fascinating watching them throughout this tournament. I have

:14:49. > :14:51.caught a few of their matches. One against the Czechs. They've got

:14:52. > :15:04.sharper and sharper with each round. And I think that is the first volley

:15:05. > :15:08.she has missed on Centre Court today because there's quite a few people

:15:09. > :15:11.in the media who feel that the fact Serena has played doubles here at

:15:12. > :15:16.Wimbledon had a big part in her success in the Ladies' Singles. She

:15:17. > :15:26.did not miss one volley out there, earlier.

:15:27. > :15:31.How sharp was that? It has always been part of the reason they have

:15:32. > :15:38.played doubles together, to sharpen the singles game. Playing together,

:15:39. > :15:41.however sporadically in recent years, they joined forces with an

:15:42. > :15:43.eye on defending the Olympic title that they won on this court four

:15:44. > :16:17.years ago. APPLAUSE

:16:18. > :16:24.It has been a cracking start to this final.

:16:25. > :16:30.Babos and particular Shvedova has been around long enough to know that

:16:31. > :16:34.you have to be right on it from the very first point. And stay on it

:16:35. > :17:19.until the last. APPLAUSE

:17:20. > :17:27.Well, that is a highly promising start to this final. Off to Rio next

:17:28. > :17:30.month, Sam, as we mentioned, Williams and Williams, Gold

:17:31. > :17:37.medallists in London and in Beijing and in Sydney in 2000. And they are

:17:38. > :17:40.back together and it has not taken them long. I think they came

:17:41. > :17:45.together in Rome for the first time in a while and as you say, they have

:17:46. > :17:48.been getting better and better. The clay-court was a difficult place for

:17:49. > :17:51.them to restart and they had not played in almost a couple of years

:17:52. > :17:52.but it is incredible since then how quickly they have reunited and

:17:53. > :18:14.gelled. The big thing that has changed over

:18:15. > :18:18.the course of this tournament fortnight is how much better they

:18:19. > :18:22.are just timing their interceptions and actually moving with each other

:18:23. > :18:25.on the court. The first few rounds, they were leaving a few spaces here

:18:26. > :18:44.and there. It was rather chaotic. The only chaos they are providing

:18:45. > :18:53.right now is on the other side of the net.

:18:54. > :19:08.Timea Babos, who has already beaten Venus this year, got the better of

:19:09. > :19:14.her in the signals on the clay-court in Rome in a tight match, edging it

:19:15. > :19:59.over three sets. Here they are together again on the doubles court.

:20:00. > :20:18.The first double fault leads to the first break point.

:20:19. > :20:40.Good awareness from Babos, who really has established herself as a

:20:41. > :20:42.very fine doubles player over the last couple of seasons. Her singles

:20:43. > :22:13.improving as a result. A couple of error rather unlike

:22:14. > :22:17.Venus. Yes, a little askew. Certainly, though, Babos and

:22:18. > :22:23.shivered of will get Sarah tension because there is plenty of power

:22:24. > :22:56.heading their way. -- Shvedova. APPLAUSE

:22:57. > :23:04.She has been busy since walking off court with the dish if you hours

:23:05. > :23:09.back. All the media duties, a million television studios to

:23:10. > :23:12.service. -- a few hours back. And time for a shower before she is back

:23:13. > :23:24.on court with her sister but here she is.

:23:25. > :23:32.APPLAUSE I'm not sure that Serena Williams

:23:33. > :23:38.needed to hit that, but she did, made absolutely sure. It is just a

:23:39. > :23:39.blanket coverage, isn't it, from the Williams sisters? They don't allow

:23:40. > :24:04.teams to breeze. -- breathe. Babos doing a nice job serving to

:24:05. > :24:07.Serena, really, the place to go at the champion's left hip so she has

:24:08. > :24:12.to move away from the ball. Whatever you do, don't allow her to move on

:24:13. > :24:16.to the service returns. It is pretty much the same with Venus as well,

:24:17. > :24:20.and then just switch it up for some variety and surprise.

:24:21. > :24:32.APPLAUSE Smiles of relief as they dig their

:24:33. > :24:41.way through. Wherever you look, there are Williams on court, around

:24:42. > :24:47.court and in the Royal box today. You may recognise Maisie Williams

:24:48. > :25:01.from Game Of Thrones. It has been a long day.

:25:02. > :25:10.Oh! APPLAUSE You never tire of seeing shots like

:25:11. > :25:15.that from her in this arena. It must be wonderful for Serena, coming back

:25:16. > :25:19.on court after winning the title, after all that pressure was

:25:20. > :25:28.released, and now she can just play, swing free. Probably the most

:25:29. > :25:29.enjoyment she will get on a tennis court this year, being out here this

:25:30. > :25:40.evening. Babos and Shvedova will be concerned

:25:41. > :25:42.that the singles final was merely a way for her to warm up her serve for

:25:43. > :25:56.the doubles. Yes, and look at this big, powerful

:25:57. > :26:00.team of Babos and Shvedova, already backing off at the other end with

:26:01. > :26:17.their court position, to return the first served. -- serve.

:26:18. > :27:31.Third game in a row at the start of this final where we are heading to

:27:32. > :27:32.deuce, just as it looked like the Williams sisters were waltzing

:27:33. > :28:01.through this one. 40-0, to deuce. It looks like the fifth seeds have

:28:02. > :28:06.really thought about this, targeting Venus on the return as much as

:28:07. > :28:08.possible. Your options are limited, aren't they, when it is Williams-

:28:09. > :29:13.Williams out there? So many aspects, Sam, that Serena

:29:14. > :29:19.Williams builds her game on, so many impressive bricks. But the serve,

:29:20. > :29:24.from a technical point of view, just offer us your thoughts on how she

:29:25. > :29:29.gets the point going? It is a perfectly technical motion. It is

:29:30. > :29:39.one fluid movement, a chain reaction from coming up from the ground. It

:29:40. > :29:43.is perfect. And I think that it is one to be copied if possible. So

:29:44. > :29:47.much of it is about the leg strength and the drive she gets up. The

:29:48. > :29:50.difficulties in returning the serve is the disguise because the ball

:29:51. > :29:54.toss goes up in the same channel wherever she is serving so the

:29:55. > :29:58.return does not get a clue but also, sometimes you get a guess from the

:29:59. > :30:03.shoulder turn, but when she is slicing out wide, she does not open

:30:04. > :30:10.up, she does not hold her shoulders back longer and when she is serving

:30:11. > :30:14.flat down the T, she does not change. It is like trying to guess a

:30:15. > :31:03.baseball pitcher. It is impossible. Quite a character, Yavrment she has

:31:04. > :31:07.a tendency to lose the score, that she did twice in her quarter-finals.

:31:08. > :31:36.Forgets where she is? Yeah. Brilliant. That's what doubles is

:31:37. > :32:11.about. APPLAUSE

:32:12. > :32:18.All the women out here can comfortably serve over 115mph. I did

:32:19. > :32:41.tell you it was quite a big bash contest. They can all hit it.

:32:42. > :33:05.Oh! Both a little bit too polite, left it for the other.

:33:06. > :33:41.Make no mistake, Babos and Shvedova more than handy opponents, the fifth

:33:42. > :33:47.seeds. They will know they've got their hands full this evening if

:33:48. > :33:54.they are to, in that four-year barren spell without winning one of

:33:55. > :33:56.these spells in tan dam. Done the service rotation. So, back to Venus

:33:57. > :34:11.Williams. Her sister's been writing compelling

:34:12. > :34:19.stories at this year's championships but for Angelique Kerber a couple of

:34:20. > :34:33.days ago, it would have been her in the final, as well.

:34:34. > :35:05.They do combine well. Squeezing the space. Babos and Shvedova.

:35:06. > :35:15.Just feel like it that we are in some sort of time warp. It could be

:35:16. > :35:20.ten years ago watching Venus and Serena playing in a doubles finals,

:35:21. > :35:26.Serena winning the singles. Nothing seems to change. Venus apparently

:35:27. > :35:32.the other day was talking about 2020 Olympics. I don't think there is any

:35:33. > :35:37.retirement plans just yet. She was certainly saying she will be back

:35:38. > :35:58.next year in the singles, that's for sure.

:35:59. > :36:05.APPLAUSE So much work to keep that ball in

:36:06. > :36:54.play. What was big sis doing? Well, this would have been discussed

:36:55. > :36:58.by the fifth seeds, the big difference in the first serve and

:36:59. > :37:04.second serve of Williams, Venus Williams that is, and the

:37:05. > :37:31.opportunity it provides. UMPIRE: Let. First service.

:37:32. > :37:44.Take that. All you can do is smile if you are

:37:45. > :38:46.on the other side of the net and that's what Babos was doing.

:38:47. > :38:56.The concession of serve. What's already apparent in this final, Sam,

:38:57. > :39:00.is that neither Shvedova and in particular Babos will feel out of a

:39:01. > :39:05.place on a court where their opponents like to give the ball a

:39:06. > :39:09.wallop. They're happy on the front foot whacking back when they can.

:39:10. > :39:13.They're both fabulous athletes. Babos when she was younger was a

:39:14. > :39:18.national champion in swimming. And had to choose between the two

:39:19. > :39:21.sports. I think she found tennis rather more exciting than ploughing

:39:22. > :39:27.up and down in the early hours of every morning but generally loved it

:39:28. > :39:34.and it was pretty handy that her father and the family owned a tennis

:39:35. > :39:37.club and she got to practise. She ended up spending a couple of years

:39:38. > :39:44.in England when she was about 15 or 16 to train before getting a sponsor

:39:45. > :39:48.and then going back to Budapest. I think you look at so many tennis

:39:49. > :39:54.players and they've often been high achievers in other sports. Angelique

:39:55. > :40:09.Kerber another one, a top swimmer when she was younger. This is the

:40:10. > :40:11.former swimmer turned tennis player, Timea Babos with a break of serve

:40:12. > :40:28.now. Just in terms of stiffness and

:40:29. > :40:32.getting yourself back out on court when you put your muscles through a

:40:33. > :40:36.singles final, how challenge something this now for Serena? I

:40:37. > :40:41.don't know how much warming down and warming up she did. Doesn't sound

:40:42. > :40:57.like a lot considering how busy she's been.

:40:58. > :41:05.Serena is super focussed and wants to bring this home for Venus as

:41:06. > :41:09.well. There must be part of her that can feel - I thought all that relief

:41:10. > :41:15.and pressure off her shoulders after the singles, there must be some sort

:41:16. > :41:50.of reaction. Patrick in the front row on the left

:41:51. > :42:17.alongside Robbie, who is Serena's hitting partner these days.

:42:18. > :42:29.Classic Williams. As soon as they're pushed they don't take a step back,

:42:30. > :42:53.they push back. They become a lot more aggressive in this game.

:42:54. > :43:07.It has been some journey for Venus since she was beaten in her first

:43:08. > :43:10.singles match. She won for the first time in 2,000, the same summer the

:43:11. > :43:13.Williams won the doubles for the first time and they've won five in

:43:14. > :43:17.total. This would be number six.

:43:18. > :43:36.The first for four years, as we have been saying for a while.

:43:37. > :43:41.Anticipation and perseverance in equal measure. This could turn into

:43:42. > :43:44.some final. What's lovely compared to all the other Slams, it's played

:43:45. > :43:50.in front of a packed house and it's very much part of the programme when

:43:51. > :45:01.you buy your Centre Court ticket for today.

:45:02. > :45:44.A drop off between the Williams' first and second serves in terms of

:45:45. > :45:46.points won. First served, it is seven out of ten, second serve, it

:45:47. > :46:13.is two out of ten. Shvedova's coach on the left in the

:46:14. > :46:20.white top. He worked with Simona Halep for part of last season.

:46:21. > :46:23.Shivered of used to be one of those who was coached by her dad. --

:46:24. > :47:03.Shvedova used to be. Sinews strained but to no avail.

:47:04. > :47:10.Rich entertainment we are having on Centre Court here this evening. Once

:47:11. > :47:15.again, the pressure on the serve of Serena Williams.

:47:16. > :47:31.I'm sure when the two sisters walked out there, that most of the fans

:47:32. > :47:35.just presumed they would be the favourites to win out here and maybe

:47:36. > :47:38.they are, certainly not on paper but what they are trying to do is win a

:47:39. > :47:41.Grand Slam title after hardly playing doubles for a couple of

:47:42. > :47:43.years against players that have played, you know, maybe a couple of

:47:44. > :47:59.hundred matches in that time. , An! -- come on. At times it sounds

:48:00. > :48:05.more like the last night of the Proms but it is also a tennis match.

:48:06. > :48:17.Being given some opera along with the points.

:48:18. > :48:29.APPLAUSE UMPIRE: New balls, please.

:48:30. > :48:35.Mighty struggles to hold on to service games and it is easier. --

:48:36. > :48:47.easier for some than others. Let's just have a look at the

:48:48. > :49:00.percentages. When the first serves go in, that is OK. However, it is

:49:01. > :49:07.the second serves that provide an interest. The returning is so great

:49:08. > :49:12.and Billie Jean King was saying earlier in the studio with Sue and

:49:13. > :49:16.Lindsay Davenport, these days, it is or is a bit of a cliche, you are

:49:17. > :49:19.only as good as your second serve but the second serve is more

:49:20. > :49:23.important than ever because the returning is so great. That is one

:49:24. > :49:26.of the reasons why you have to play doubles, especially as a young

:49:27. > :49:32.player will stop many more of them are but that is why Serena and

:49:33. > :49:35.Vinnie 's -- Serena and Venus in same anyways are good for the game

:49:36. > :49:38.but this is an additional way. You look at the greatest player of all

:49:39. > :49:42.time and she's one of the greatest doubles players ever as well and how

:49:43. > :49:44.much... I don't think we can even quantify how much it has helped in

:49:45. > :49:51.this championship. Serving with new balls, first set of

:49:52. > :50:20.the final, 3-4, Shvedova. The big play in this game is to get

:50:21. > :50:23.the ball to the shivered of forehand which can be a wonderful shot at

:50:24. > :50:28.times and it can go to the back fence at others. -- the Shvedova

:50:29. > :50:38.forehand. Sometimes I'm not sure where it's going and I don't think

:50:39. > :50:45.she is, either. UMPIRE: Mrs shivered of and Ms Babos challenging the call

:50:46. > :50:55.on the left baseline. That little improvised backhand up and Hawk-Eye

:50:56. > :51:01.confirms that it was in. Ms Babos and Mrs Shvedova have two challenges

:51:02. > :51:17.remaining. The umpire is from Great Britain, Kelly Thompson.

:51:18. > :51:28.CHEERING AND APPLAUSE You can only smile, watching this

:51:29. > :51:56.quality of tennis. UMPIRE: Miss Williams and Miss

:51:57. > :51:59.Williams channelling thing -- challenging the goal of the left

:52:00. > :52:08.baseline. The ball was called out. It was right in front of us. Replay

:52:09. > :52:13.the point. It is always best to leave those on the line, Nick! I was

:52:14. > :52:44.waiting for you to commit yourself and you wisely didn't!

:52:45. > :53:38.It has been such a competitive first 41 minutes. But the importance of

:53:39. > :53:54.this point right now. Once again, Babos and Shvedova,

:53:55. > :54:04.stranded by the quality of venous' crosscourt winner. -- Venus

:54:05. > :54:10.Williams' crosscourt winner. They have had breaks of serve chances

:54:11. > :54:17.previously in this first set. You start to wonder if this might be the

:54:18. > :54:28.decisive one. Venus Williams to serve for the set, 5-3.

:54:29. > :55:24.That took it towards the net! We have do have another look at this.

:55:25. > :55:28.This would have taken the wicket of the best text batsman in the world.

:55:29. > :55:35.That is unplayable. It has pitched on leg and hit off. Backspin, side

:55:36. > :56:00.spin, and another spin I've never seen before.

:56:01. > :56:07.That is a nice move from Shvedova. Gave Williams the line. I think

:56:08. > :56:10.they're just needs to be a little more activity from these two, just

:56:11. > :57:53.to catch the eye of the sisters. That door keeps on getting slammed

:57:54. > :58:02.shut, doesn't it? They have these little openings. The Williams

:58:03. > :58:10.sisters, very rarely miss on the big points.

:58:11. > :58:59.Beautifully timed move by Serena. It is worth noting, just watch how far

:59:00. > :59:09.in front of her she keeps her racket at all times.

:59:10. > :59:16.APPLAUSE How about that return from Babos?

:59:17. > :59:30.That set them up. They are creating plenty of break

:59:31. > :00:06.points. It is converting them that is the problem. Another one.

:00:07. > :00:16.Brilliant again. Just held her position.

:00:17. > :00:22.They're just working out where to serve to for Babos because she's

:00:23. > :00:29.becoming a nuisance. Look at Serena's position here.

:00:30. > :00:30.Racquet is up, hands in front of her, elbows well away from her body.

:00:31. > :00:45.There's plenty of air there. What does that do? Often you see

:00:46. > :00:49.juniors and even club players, racquet down and hands close to

:00:50. > :00:53.body, elbows tucked in to their sides. Watch Serena, she will show

:00:54. > :01:18.you how to position yourself at the net.

:01:19. > :01:24.APPLAUSE AND CHEERING I am running out of words. What a

:01:25. > :01:29.final. Can this be over five sets, please?

:01:30. > :01:37.Venus and Serena have won the first, 6-3.

:01:38. > :01:42.It's been fabulous point after fabulous point.

:01:43. > :01:51.Wonderful movement. There's been a few bruises out here

:01:52. > :01:55.already. It's been played in a wonderful spirit but aggressively.

:01:56. > :02:00.This is one of the best sets of women's doubles I have seen in a

:02:01. > :02:07.The Williams sisters bring a lot to the doubles court. The look on the

:02:08. > :02:12.face of Robbie initially and then he leads the celebration with Patrick

:02:13. > :02:13.following not far behind. It's been intense, hasn't it? It's just been

:02:14. > :02:25.wonderful. Let's have a look at some numbers.

:02:26. > :02:28.We have a million images from that first set.

:02:29. > :02:33.They might help to tell us why it was won by the Williams. The line

:02:34. > :02:36.you want is the fourth one up really.

:02:37. > :02:38.Converting one of seven break points.

:02:39. > :02:42.You don't get a lot of chances against a great team. Williams and

:02:43. > :02:47.Williams are almost at the top of their game now.

:02:48. > :02:52.They have come a long way from that first round.

:02:53. > :03:02.Very tough when you have two of the greatest servers in women's tennis

:03:03. > :03:07.powering down at you. But Babos and Shvedova have held their own. They

:03:08. > :03:42.need to be more accurate with their serving.

:03:43. > :03:57.Threw a cricket ball almost as fast as the Williams sisters can serve

:03:58. > :04:12.them. Babos enjoying a third Grand Slam

:04:13. > :04:41.final, yet to find a way to win one. We were talking about the experience

:04:42. > :04:45.Babos and Shvedova have, Shvedova no stranger to these days either. Half

:04:46. > :04:50.a dozen finals to call upon experience-wise. Has won two of them

:04:51. > :05:06.here and at the US Open. They know what they're doing.

:05:07. > :05:17.In no way have they been cowed, and in no way is this final over.

:05:18. > :05:23.They come with some serious artillery of their own. They

:05:24. > :05:29.wouldn't be anywhere in this final without some serious power. I think

:05:30. > :05:34.worth noting the Williams sisters have giving away almost 20 years out

:05:35. > :05:45.here to these two. That's worth a mention.

:05:46. > :05:51.Babos is 23. Venus Williams turned 36 last month. A little older than

:05:52. > :06:09.her younger sister. Even I can see that there is a big

:06:10. > :06:23.difference, even though my maths is appalling.

:06:24. > :06:30.What that says, as much as we all know the story, Richard Williams,

:06:31. > :06:34.the father, brick bringing them into tennis as a way of making a lot of

:06:35. > :06:40.money, they're not doing it for money any more. They love this sport

:06:41. > :06:42.and love being out in arenas like this. Nothing comes close, despite

:06:43. > :08:39.all their other interests. Unlikely royalty in the Royal Box,

:08:40. > :09:37.Peter Kay going out-out tonight. So many of the service games,

:09:38. > :09:41.particularly their service game, they were hanging on in that first

:09:42. > :09:45.set. They could just do with winning a few a little easier to 15-0 to put

:09:46. > :10:20.pressure back on the Williams sisters.

:10:21. > :10:27.She did work beating that point. I love the idea of Serena barging

:10:28. > :10:32.Venus out of the way to get to the ball.

:10:33. > :10:34.It's great! They're playing this as if it's their first final.

:10:35. > :10:52.So much hunger and enthusiasm. Lovely smiles. They're loving it

:10:53. > :12:00.playing on Centre Court. Kind of touched on the Shvedova

:12:01. > :12:04.story at the start of the final. Born in Moscow, raised in Russia,

:12:05. > :12:08.represented Russia for six years on a tennis court. To the decision to

:12:09. > :12:13.switch nationalities and play for Kazakhstan raised eyebrows. Well, it

:12:14. > :12:16.was a time when Kazakhstan was really trying to build its tennis

:12:17. > :12:24.programme. They offered a lot of Russians, both

:12:25. > :12:28.male and female pros to switch. It's a hugely rich country in oil and gas

:12:29. > :12:32.reserves, although probably not so much now with the price of oil

:12:33. > :12:34.plummeting. At that time it was a wonderful offer for not only

:12:35. > :12:39.financial support, you have to remember after the break-up of the

:12:40. > :12:46.Soviet Union in Russia and she played at I think CSK, one of the

:12:47. > :12:49.big clubs, two main clubs in Moscow, became hugely expensive to rent

:12:50. > :12:55.indoor courts, find practice partners. Also, so many great

:12:56. > :13:00.Russians in her era she thought she would never have a chance to go to

:13:01. > :13:04.the Olympics. It did kill two birds with one stone. That's the phrase I

:13:05. > :13:08.was looking for! It's been a long day! That's a good phrase at the end

:13:09. > :13:38.of a long day. That's pretty much why she did it.

:13:39. > :13:56.You can see why this is the only serve yet to be broken on the court.

:13:57. > :14:07.She equalled Steffi Graf's record of 22 titles.

:14:08. > :14:16.If you include doubles in that total, she's up to 37. We have a

:14:17. > :14:18.tendency at times like this to shower everyone with stats and

:14:19. > :14:22.figures, but they are number that is will confirm her as one of the

:14:23. > :14:34.greatest ever athletes, long after we are gone.

:14:35. > :14:39.Yes, and I think she likes to be thought of as one of the greatest

:14:40. > :14:42.athletes, not just one of the greatest female athletes out there.

:14:43. > :14:48.She made a point of it and actually, she's right. And thank goodness she

:14:49. > :14:50.is still playing because she keeps women's tennis in the spotlight.

:14:51. > :15:19.APPLAUSE 7:55pm on a Saturday evening and

:15:20. > :15:20.yet, hard to see a spare seat. Such is the value being provided by these

:15:21. > :15:57.four. Both these teams have done such a

:15:58. > :16:01.good job of using the middle of the court, not giving too much angle,

:16:02. > :16:07.and you can see that as soon as Serena opened it up, did not quite

:16:08. > :16:14.get the Depor right, Babos able to put it away. -- the dipping shot.

:16:15. > :16:16.Two very cagey teams. A couple of body serves out here. Not a lot of

:16:17. > :17:10.room for manoeuvre. She has played a lot of doubles of

:17:11. > :17:14.the last week or so, Shvedova, not just in this event but you got to

:17:15. > :17:16.the semifinals of the mixed with Qureshi, here, and lost yesterday,

:17:17. > :17:57.so she is sharp. Who is the best women's doubles

:17:58. > :18:02.partnership in the world at the moment, do you think, on current

:18:03. > :18:07.form? Can you read too much into the rankings? Serena and Venus are miles

:18:08. > :18:15.down the list because they have not played that much. But would you make

:18:16. > :18:23.them the best right now? Before this tournament, you would say Garcia and

:18:24. > :18:27.Kristina Mladenovic, they have been outstanding pretty much the entire

:18:28. > :18:33.season, the French pair who won at Roland Garros, and it was Mladenovic

:18:34. > :18:38.who Timea Babos played and made the final here with a couple of years

:18:39. > :18:41.ago. It was Martini gives an Sania Mirza, who dominated really from

:18:42. > :18:47.about this time last year all the way through to about April or May.

:18:48. > :18:52.-- Martina Hingis. Then Garcia and Mladenovic appended them. I guess if

:18:53. > :18:56.Serena and Venus win Wimbledon, they will certainly go to Rio as one of

:18:57. > :18:57.the favourites but I guess Garcia and Mladenovic are right there with

:18:58. > :19:03.them. On serve in the second set, Venus

:19:04. > :19:17.Williams, 2-3. UMPIRE: Ms Babos and Mrs Shvedova

:19:18. > :19:24.challenging the call on the near sideline. The was called in.

:19:25. > :19:35.15-0. Miss Babos and Mrs Shvedova have two challenges remaining. If

:19:36. > :19:38.they want to get any traction, here, they need to have a good, early

:19:39. > :19:44.start to this game after holding to love.

:19:45. > :19:56.APPLAUSE She's all right. That good, early

:19:57. > :20:02.start is not happening. I often think on a grass court, at this time

:20:03. > :20:05.of the Championships, you have three services out there, you still have

:20:06. > :20:09.where there's a lot of grass and can be slippy and have moisture on it,

:20:10. > :20:17.especially at this time of the evening.

:20:18. > :20:26.And if you look at the back of the court, you haven't got any traction

:20:27. > :20:35.at all, just bear surface. -- just a bare surface. And then there little

:20:36. > :20:37.parts of the baseline where it has really hardened up and you have got

:20:38. > :20:43.some grass where you actually have some good footing. There's no other

:20:44. > :20:49.surface like it in the world but certainly, at the other slams, it is

:20:50. > :20:52.rather easy-going compared to this. Think of all the little adjustments

:20:53. > :21:03.you have to make, three services, one court. -- three surfaces.

:21:04. > :21:22.APPLAUSE It is the kind of terrain for forex

:21:23. > :21:27.for -- 4x4s and we have got four on show here. If you look behind the

:21:28. > :21:31.baseline, it looks a bit like a cricket wicket, cracks appearing, as

:21:32. > :21:55.can happen at this time in the Championships.

:21:56. > :22:14.After a first set when the service going to deuce was a regular

:22:15. > :22:19.occurrence, this second set has been much more watertight. Yes, they have

:22:20. > :22:22.all settled on the serve, a very different pattern. There's a real

:22:23. > :22:27.opportunity for the Williams sisters, but it's going to be about

:22:28. > :22:28.taking Babos tight of the net. I wonder if they will the aerial

:22:29. > :23:40.route? Oh, dear. APPLAUSE

:23:41. > :23:54.These are the moments for Serena and Venus.

:23:55. > :24:28.APPLAUSE Really smart serve.

:24:29. > :24:34.UMPIRE: Ms Babos and Mrs Shvedova challenging the call on the right

:24:35. > :24:46.service line. The ball was called out. Time for the technology. Not

:24:47. > :24:50.forthcoming. 15-40. Shvedova has just lost our concentration in this

:24:51. > :24:54.game. That is all it is going to take. She needs Babos to protect

:24:55. > :25:12.her, here, and she needs a first serve.

:25:13. > :25:19.APPLAUSE Is that the signpost that sends the

:25:20. > :25:39.sisters towards another Wimbledon title on Centre Court?

:25:40. > :25:47.You have just got to be locked on for the whole match. You cannot, for

:25:48. > :25:53.a moment, lapse in concentration. Because they are great champions,

:25:54. > :25:56.they sent it. They would always have felt the Shvedova serve was

:25:57. > :26:00.vulnerable because she can be a bit up and down with her level. Three

:26:01. > :26:04.and one minute and then a few loose ones and that is all it takes. 100%

:26:05. > :26:11.concentration from first point to last, with great intensity and you

:26:12. > :26:12.get yourself in the game with the Williams sisters but very few can

:26:13. > :26:26.live at that level. Their mum at the back. It's been a

:26:27. > :26:31.long day for her, a long fortnight, been on the front row of the Royal

:26:32. > :26:34.box and now she is back watching her daughters. Richard does not travel

:26:35. > :26:38.from the States any more, by the way, which is why we don't see him

:26:39. > :26:43.any more. I'm sure he's watching on TV back home, his daughters once

:26:44. > :26:45.again so close. Serena Williams with a break of serve in the second set,

:26:46. > :27:06.4-3. It interesting that you majored

:27:07. > :27:11.Richard because he very rarely travels these days, you almost

:27:12. > :27:16.forget his influence. I was reading an article by him the other day and

:27:17. > :27:25.he talked about the Williams life triangle. Commitment, confidence and

:27:26. > :27:28.courage. That is how he brought them up, all interconnected. UMPIRE: Miss

:27:29. > :27:31.Williams and Miss Williams challenging the call on the right

:27:32. > :27:55.sideline the ball was called out. UMPIRE: Ms Williams and Miss

:27:56. > :27:59.Williams have two challenges remaining. I don't think Leigh Wood

:28:00. > :28:05.has made the story yet, but they will and they will start on those

:28:06. > :28:08.caught in Compton, LA. -- Hollywood has made. He had to sweep them clean

:28:09. > :28:24.before he taught them how to play tennis.

:28:25. > :29:46.The sisters are at the stage of their career where another record to

:29:47. > :29:49.break or equal is rarely far-away. Their 14th Grand Slam doubles win

:29:50. > :29:56.come here, would mean they go alongside Fernandez and Svereva and

:29:57. > :30:03.only Martina and Pam Shriver would have more, 21.

:30:04. > :30:10.Perhaps Martina can breathe a sigh of relief. There might be one record

:30:11. > :30:14.that Serena does not break! She will probably hold onto that. You are

:30:15. > :30:16.talking about two of the greatest doubles teams in history and the

:30:17. > :30:44.Williams sisters are right up there. APPLAUSE

:30:45. > :30:45.In the last 20 years there has been little more thrilling in tennis than

:30:46. > :32:29.the Venus overhead. I doubt there will be many too

:32:30. > :32:37.disappointed to see Timea Babos hold onto her serve. The way they played,

:32:38. > :32:42.they deserve at the very least to make the Williams sisters serve out

:32:43. > :32:46.for the championship. I must say, watching Timea Babos out here, she

:32:47. > :32:50.will win a grand slam title not too far away. There are some good things

:32:51. > :32:57.in her future. You forget she is only 23. It is great for her to play

:32:58. > :33:03.with someone like Shvedova, if you years older, much more experienced,

:33:04. > :33:15.and it has brought up a boss's singles game as well. The would

:33:16. > :33:19.ease, a big age gap, Todd Woodbridge and Mark Woodforde.

:33:20. > :33:30.Providing a lot of enthusiasm and energy -- the Woodies. For Serena,

:33:31. > :33:36.this happened about four hours ago. One game away from being a Wimbledon

:33:37. > :33:39.champion here. In tandem, as a Dureau, as sisters, it has been four

:33:40. > :33:56.years since Venus and Serena served to be Wimbledon champions.

:33:57. > :34:00.They have not stopped smiling, they have not stopped laughing all match.

:34:01. > :34:40.It is beautiful to see. She seems to see it so much earlier

:34:41. > :34:51.than anyone else on the court, doesn't she?

:34:52. > :35:10.I think strategy has been abandoned in favour of just giving it to

:35:11. > :35:48.somewhere Lee. UMPIRE: Challenging the corner

:35:49. > :35:56.baseline. It was called out. They only have one challenge left and it

:35:57. > :36:03.was worth playing. Miss Babos and Mrs Shvedova have no challenges

:36:04. > :36:06.remaining. BOOING CHUCKLING

:36:07. > :36:34.Pantomime reaction to the lack of challenges. Not a good thing, is it?

:36:35. > :36:50.CROWD GASPS Good grief.

:36:51. > :37:10.UMPIRE: Let, first service. Venus just taking a little off that

:37:11. > :37:12.first serve. I think she was almost trying to hit the other one is a

:37:13. > :38:04.little too hard, lost some rhythm. APPLAUSE

:38:05. > :38:12.How much to the lyrics to that song a few years back, Venus and Serena

:38:13. > :38:13.in the Wimbledon arena. And once again the sisters have another match

:38:14. > :38:40.point at Wimbledon. CHEERING

:38:41. > :38:51.I love the way Davos and Shvedova have gone about this. Played with

:38:52. > :38:58.aggression, -- Babos and Shvedova. Played with aggression, imagination.

:38:59. > :39:07.She has popped a string. She has broken a string. The spirit it has

:39:08. > :39:11.been played in, they broke a string. Must have just had it on the Gromit,

:39:12. > :39:33.where the string is tied off, just a little weak point.

:39:34. > :39:41.APPLAUSE Now, sadly, they don't have a

:39:42. > :39:50.challenge left, otherwise we might have been looking at Hawk-Eye.

:39:51. > :40:20.Another Centre Court championship point for Venus and Serena.

:40:21. > :40:29.CHEERING UMPIRE: Game, set and match, Miss

:40:30. > :40:35.Williams, Miss Williams, by two sets to love, 6-3, 6-4. CHEERING

:40:36. > :40:42.Two sisters once again on another planet. Once again Wimbledon

:40:43. > :40:52.champions. But what a final. What a final. Hats off to Babos and

:40:53. > :40:57.Shvedova. CHEERING And all the congratulations on the

:40:58. > :41:03.world Howard Venus and Serena. Some people wait for their lives to win

:41:04. > :41:15.one Wimbledon title. Serena has 12 in an afternoon. -- has won two in

:41:16. > :41:24.an afternoon. ANNOUNCER: Ladies and gentlemen, weight in your seats for

:41:25. > :41:28.the presentation. CLARE BALDING: We will be back for the trophy

:41:29. > :41:31.presentation, we will show you that later in the programme but we have

:41:32. > :41:36.time between now and 9pm to reflect on the day's events. Earlier, Serena

:41:37. > :41:41.Williams tried to win her seventh Wimbledon title, her 22nd grand slam

:41:42. > :41:45.title, which would join her with Steffi Graf as the chimera

:41:46. > :41:49.record-holder. She was up against a woman who also had Steffi Graf in

:41:50. > :41:53.her mind, because Angelique Kerber was from Germany, bidding to become

:41:54. > :42:00.the first Wimbledon champions and Steffi Graf. Troisi alongside me,

:42:01. > :42:09.she has used Kerber, steady as a mentor. Absolutely. She joined

:42:10. > :42:14.Steffi for some advice to handle it, after Angie won in Australia. Of

:42:15. > :42:18.course, Andre Agassi, I'm sure he helped about as well. It has been an

:42:19. > :42:23.interesting relationship will stop Tracy will be with us analysing the

:42:24. > :42:32.match, and Martina Navratilova will also be joining us. Let's CV setup

:42:33. > :42:35.from Paddy Geary. Serena Williams arrived at Wimbledon and unsubtle

:42:36. > :42:43.skies. Clouds of doubt hovered around the champion. Wimbledon was

:42:44. > :42:47.the only grand slam title she held, and at first these courts brought

:42:48. > :42:53.clarity. COMMENTATOR: The defending jumpy and is to two. But storms came

:42:54. > :43:00.on the day of the second round. The intensity Serena prides herself on

:43:01. > :43:07.threatened to overwhelm her. The urgency, Williams found quality.

:43:08. > :43:10.Coming through the ambush seemed to trigger something within her, the

:43:11. > :43:15.all-powerful certainty carried her forward. Still on track for

:43:16. > :43:21.Wimbledon title number seven. The final came into view, she became a

:43:22. > :43:30.ruthless. The destruction of the loan River in the semifinal and

:43:31. > :43:33.eloquent statement of intent. And exhibition performance. Beware all

:43:34. > :43:38.who dared to stop her winning that record equalling slam. But Angelique

:43:39. > :43:43.Kerber has thwarted her before, beating her to the Australian Open

:43:44. > :43:46.title in January. This conqueror of Serena has somehow travelled through

:43:47. > :43:51.the tournament under cover. From round one where she took about Laura

:43:52. > :43:57.Robson, Kerber has really been troubled, but also rarely be

:43:58. > :44:02.noticed. Quietly progressing, impressing. Very solid performance

:44:03. > :44:09.from Kerber. Even when her challenges could have her, she

:44:10. > :44:12.hasn't let a set slip. Even when Wimbledon anticipated and all

:44:13. > :44:17.Williams final, she interrupted, vanquishing Venus. Might this all

:44:18. > :44:26.come down to the memory of Melbourne? Would it spark Serena's

:44:27. > :44:30.doubts, or via a desire for revenge? CLARE BALDING: Serena has done this

:44:31. > :44:34.a times before so she knows all about the bouquet of flowers, but

:44:35. > :44:37.for Kerber the wait to come out for a Wimbledon final was a uncharted

:44:38. > :44:44.territory. A prized seat on Centre Court for 15,000 people, here to

:44:45. > :44:52.witness a classic battle or big serve and terrier retriever. The

:44:53. > :44:56.players are merged at just past 2pm. And 11 joined them at the net for a

:44:57. > :45:00.coin toss, representing the charity, Barnard is, now in its 150th year.

:45:01. > :45:07.-- Barnard owes. There were no obvious signs of

:45:08. > :45:11.nerves as both players found their range in the very first point.

:45:12. > :45:30.APPLAUSE Clear

:45:31. > :45:42.APPLAUSE JOHN MCENROE: We would assume the

:45:43. > :45:47.longer the rally goes, the better chance it is for Kerber. LINDSAY

:45:48. > :46:04.DAVENPORT: Some star power. APPLAUSE

:46:05. > :46:13.JOHN INVERDALE: Look at the slice on that. In case you didn't reconnoitre

:46:14. > :46:22.that was in Serena's box, that is Aion say and her husband -- Beyonce

:46:23. > :46:28.and her husband. The beyond Soho concerts have been... Jay-Z. I was

:46:29. > :46:33.going to say. The fiance tickets have been the most

:46:34. > :46:41.take them earlier like Serena did. John, you said before you thought

:46:42. > :46:46.that Patrick said they had a good idea of Kerber's strategy. There is

:46:47. > :46:51.a noticeable difference in Serena's movement, clipped into the court to

:46:52. > :46:55.cut angles off, get out to those short, low balls as quick as

:46:56. > :47:02.possible. Where she is standing there, she is not going to give her

:47:03. > :47:06.that wide serve. APPLAUSE You were talking about it in the

:47:07. > :47:10.build-up, but it is so key for Kerber to get on the board early.

:47:11. > :47:14.Yes, we saw that in the semis with those Nina.

:47:15. > :47:17.Serena is a great frontrunner, particularly in the beginning of a

:47:18. > :47:38.match. APPLAUSE

:47:39. > :47:44.Quality in the movement there, great bit of touch by Williams as well. To

:47:45. > :47:49.win that point. It is a first break of this final. It is going to be

:47:50. > :47:54.interesting to see if Kerber can or will make an adjustment. Here she

:47:55. > :47:55.comes, Chris Kirk, where she is standing, she is just waiting for

:47:56. > :48:37.it. -- crosscourt. APPLAUSE

:48:38. > :48:43.That is a great insight out. That is the type of adjustment Kerber has to

:48:44. > :48:46.make. When she has just a split-second of time, she has got to

:48:47. > :49:03.take her chances and play offensively.

:49:04. > :49:10.That has been a problem for her throughout her career. If you double

:49:11. > :49:11.faults. That under is the good of that brilliant winner just 30

:49:12. > :49:39.seconds ago. Clear She has actually served 11 double

:49:40. > :50:25.faults in the tournament so far. Just two by Serena.

:50:26. > :50:32.Too good. We talked before the match, saying Serena should move

:50:33. > :50:35.over towards the left, she is definitely one step towards the left

:50:36. > :50:39.more than she normally is, but so ready for the backhand return. That

:50:40. > :50:56.is where Kerber cannot afford to be so predictable.

:50:57. > :51:03.A little bit unlucky for Serena Williams, lucky for Kerber, hit the

:51:04. > :51:09.line and took a bad bounce. That had all the air of a double fault. Just

:51:10. > :51:13.clambered onto the line at the very last moment. This is a long old

:51:14. > :51:15.first service game for Angelique Kerber. And they really important

:51:16. > :51:35.one too. She just reached for that, but work

:51:36. > :51:38.is key, took a couple of smaller steps, got closer to that and she

:51:39. > :52:06.could have had a much easier look at that backhand.

:52:07. > :52:18.She has put it long! CLARE BALDING: A really good hold of serve from

:52:19. > :52:30.Angelique Kerber, but she could not put enough pressure on Serena, we

:52:31. > :52:33.rejoin with Kerber serving to take the first set into a tie-break.

:52:34. > :52:50.Commentary from John Inverdale, Lindsay Davenport and John McEnroe.

:52:51. > :53:08.JOHN MCENROE: That is too good, Kerber just ran out of gas. LINDSAY

:53:09. > :53:20.DAVENPORT: She was inside the baseline the entire rally.

:53:21. > :53:36.She cannot bank on a free point on her serve.

:53:37. > :53:46.APPLAUSE Should that was the first point of

:53:47. > :54:26.the game where she was able to get Serena off balance or on the run.

:54:27. > :54:35.That is two lose points there at a really bad moment. Playing more

:54:36. > :54:42.conservative, no unforced errors, two in a row, and absolutely key

:54:43. > :54:43.moment for Angelique Kerber, two set points after 46 minutes for Serena

:54:44. > :54:59.Williams. She probably wants that drop shot

:55:00. > :55:39.back. Magnificent crosscourt from

:55:40. > :55:44.Williams! She hasn't won the match yet, you might think she has from

:55:45. > :55:49.that reaction, but she is halfway there.

:55:50. > :55:53.CLARE BALDING: Serena has never lost a Grand Slam final after taking the

:55:54. > :55:58.first set, and you can see how much it meant to her to have seized the

:55:59. > :56:01.advantage, but Kerber was far from throwing in the towel, showing some

:56:02. > :56:09.great retrieving early in the second set.

:56:10. > :56:15.Great shot, that, but still Williams held firm, and the trouble was that

:56:16. > :56:20.Williams was serving first in the second set, having broken to take

:56:21. > :56:28.the first set. We rejoin at 3-3, Williams with the servers balls in

:56:29. > :56:35.her hand. -- service. JOHN INVERDALE: That is Serena's

:56:36. > :56:40.knockout blow, isn't it? JOHN MCENROE: She just keeps on

:56:41. > :56:51.punching, throwing roundhouses. Kerber backed off about four yards

:56:52. > :56:58.on that server. LINDSAY DAVENPORT: She is doing

:56:59. > :57:05.everything she can to get more returns in, read the serves that.

:57:06. > :57:11.She needs Serena to make more errors like that. Out and out extra effort

:57:12. > :57:16.by Kerber, you have got to hand it to her, she really did not have any

:57:17. > :57:41.business winning that point. Just made her hit that extra ball.

:57:42. > :57:51.Error on the forehand, third double fault.

:57:52. > :58:13.A quarter of a half of a look at this game for Kerber.

:58:14. > :58:36.And the bigger cried there was from Kerber, actually. -- cry.

:58:37. > :58:54.And so, for the first time, in this year's final, the crowd are telling

:58:55. > :59:00.you. It is a break point on Serena Williams's serve.

:59:01. > :59:14.Well, what can you say? There is nothing to say! Exactly.

:59:15. > :59:23.There is even less to say about that! Serve of the tournament right

:59:24. > :00:08.there. Got a little luck going her way,

:00:09. > :00:40.hitting the lines. Another pressure error. She cannot

:00:41. > :00:45.afford to miss those rally shots, she has to take some chances, but

:00:46. > :00:48.because she is getting so few in her return games, she just feels this

:00:49. > :01:07.enormous pressure in her service games.

:01:08. > :01:26.Serena thinks she either hit the net... That was some effort! Protect

:01:27. > :01:32.herself at all times. Even in Serena's camp, they are on their

:01:33. > :01:39.feet as well, a wonderful point. Amazing effort by Serena, hands by

:01:40. > :01:43.Kerber cover got to see a replay of that point. We will see that again

:01:44. > :02:51.in a second, I'm sure. You have to hand it to Kerber, a lot

:02:52. > :02:55.of lesser players with crumbled against this onslaught, but she is

:02:56. > :03:10.still fighting. -- would have crumbled.

:03:11. > :03:22.But under the weight of all that pressure, at 3-4 in the second set,

:03:23. > :03:36.deuce on the Kerber serve, these could be the key moments.

:03:37. > :03:47.Well, you would think that there, which gives Serena Williams break

:03:48. > :03:56.point, might almost be much point, record book point. -- match point.

:03:57. > :05:10.There we are, it is Serena Williams again, 14 years after the first

:05:11. > :05:17.victory here, Grand Slam number 22, irresistible, majestic, and the

:05:18. > :05:24.judgment of history will surely be that she was in a class of her own.

:05:25. > :06:08.SUE BARKER: Angelique Kerber! CHEERING

:06:09. > :06:15.First of all, I would like to say really contracts to Serena. I mean,

:06:16. > :06:19.you really deserve the title come your next title, and you are a great

:06:20. > :06:23.champion, a great person, and it is always an honour to play against you

:06:24. > :06:26.in the finals. We played a great match, and really, congrats, you

:06:27. > :06:34.deserve it, well done, Serena. APPLAUSE

:06:35. > :06:39.Or so, I would like to say thank you to my box. Thank you so much, and I

:06:40. > :06:43.have the best team, the best family and the best friends, so thank you

:06:44. > :06:47.so much for your support. And we say thank you very much to you as well.

:06:48. > :06:52.These and gentlemen, Angelique Kerber! CHEERING

:06:53. > :07:15.Yes, it has just been great. Obviously, Angelique, you know I

:07:16. > :07:18.love playing her. She is such a great opponent, she really brings

:07:19. > :07:22.out great tennis in me, and then once we walk off the court she is

:07:23. > :07:27.such a wonderful person to be around, just to smile at, so thank

:07:28. > :07:30.you for being that great person, and thank you. APPLAUSE

:07:31. > :07:32.Your 22nd, you have equalled the record of Steffi Graf in the open

:07:33. > :07:44.era. CHEERING How hard has it been to not think

:07:45. > :07:48.about that? Yes, it has been incredibly difficult not to think

:07:49. > :07:51.about it. I had a couple of tries this year, lost to two great

:07:52. > :07:56.opponents, one of them actually being Angelique! But it makes the

:07:57. > :08:01.victory even sweeter to know how hard I worked for it, and thank you

:08:02. > :08:08.guys for being out here to seen a 22. This is awesome, so I Love you

:08:09. > :08:13.guys so much. Thank you very much. But also, your seventh here. This

:08:14. > :08:16.must feel like home now, this court. This court definitely feels like

:08:17. > :08:21.home, in fact I have a match later on today in doubles, so I will be

:08:22. > :08:25.back out here at home. Yes, because Venus is up there, and with the

:08:26. > :08:29.Olympics, you have so much to look forward to as well. I love playing

:08:30. > :08:35.out here on Centre Court, especially with my sister who has inspired me

:08:36. > :08:39.to be at here and be who I am, so I am just really excited. I don't know

:08:40. > :08:40.whether to say, I am just so excited, thank you. You have

:08:41. > :09:33.inspired many as And after having seen friends and

:09:34. > :09:38.former players, allergy came, bouncing onto the balcony to show

:09:39. > :09:43.off the Venus Rosewater Dish to the fans below, and it is moments like

:09:44. > :09:48.this that are really special, when Serena realises how much victory is

:09:49. > :09:52.matter to people, but a special hug for her coach, Patrick Mouratoglou,

:09:53. > :09:59.who she teamed up within 2012, and she has since won nine of the Grand

:10:00. > :10:03.Slam titles, more than 50%, an amazingly successful partnership. He

:10:04. > :10:07.gives a belief and motivation, because she is not going to be

:10:08. > :10:12.stopping here. Martina Navratilova has joined us, Tracy as well, how

:10:13. > :10:17.good a performance was that? Amazing, it seemed that she

:10:18. > :10:20.wasn't... Serena was not feeling the pressure, she had so much respect

:10:21. > :10:26.for Angelique Kerber, she knew she had to bring her A game, she did,

:10:27. > :10:31.and Angelique has hung on as well as anyone against Serena. She served

:10:32. > :10:35.well, moved well, the ratio of winners to unforced errors, all

:10:36. > :10:40.this, she was pretty unbeatable today. The serve was the big

:10:41. > :10:46.difference, Serena, at its best, just stunning. Angie Bray is just

:10:47. > :10:52.one break point and served an ace. -- and she faced. That is what she

:10:53. > :10:55.is able to do with that big serve, technically so sound. She is known

:10:56. > :11:01.for the power and the placement, but she is able to come up with the

:11:02. > :11:06.clutch service on those moments. In super slow-mo, it is like a ballet

:11:07. > :11:12.dancer, the grace, she lands and can move after it, it is fabulous, but

:11:13. > :11:17.she has amazing power as well. Well, that power is generated because of

:11:18. > :11:20.the technique on the serve, it is so amazing. Anybody who wants to play

:11:21. > :11:25.tennis, watch the tape of Serena Williams' serve, beat Sampras,

:11:26. > :11:31.Federer, I would watch those three, you don't need to see anything else.

:11:32. > :11:35.-- Pete Sampras. She uses her legs so well to push up, such easy

:11:36. > :11:41.technique, therefore it doesn't break down, not as many moving

:11:42. > :11:45.parts. There are no pitches, just a slow explosion, she gets the

:11:46. > :11:49.shoulder turn, the hips, everything rotates then explodes into the arm

:11:50. > :11:58.and the snap of the rest comes last, such a nice... An escalation. It is

:11:59. > :12:03.amazing to watch, but she also broke Kerber to take the first set, and we

:12:04. > :12:09.saw the reaction after the first set, because she knows, when she is

:12:10. > :12:14.ahead, nobody catches her. She said afterwards that it relaxed, to get

:12:15. > :12:18.that set in hand, and in the 12th game Kerber made two or three

:12:19. > :12:22.unforced errors, and it is just that little lapse of concentration, small

:12:23. > :12:28.moments against a top player that you cannot afford to have. She put

:12:29. > :12:31.so much pressure on you, because she holds her serve. I thought Kerber

:12:32. > :12:37.did a good job of holding her serve, because that is what we were looking

:12:38. > :12:42.for. The serve was a bit of a liability, particularly her second

:12:43. > :12:46.set, but in that set she was winning more seconds serve points than

:12:47. > :12:50.Serena. Losing her serve twice in the match, that is great, she would

:12:51. > :12:55.have a chance, but that is how good Serena was. In that last game,

:12:56. > :12:59.serving for the championship, it is over in a flash, three and

:13:00. > :13:04.returnable serves, then a rally on match point, and this was her

:13:05. > :13:09.reaction. -- unreturnable. Their collapse to the ground looks

:13:10. > :13:14.dangerous to me! Nobody to catcher. She said she felt relief, and that

:13:15. > :13:20.is a great moment. I love as well as when she got up with the two fingers

:13:21. > :13:24.up in the on both sides, saying 22. All fortnight she has been talking

:13:25. > :13:29.about how she is not focusing on 22, just winning the tournament, but

:13:30. > :13:36.within 30 seconds, it was about the 22. For Angelique Kerber, she has

:13:37. > :13:40.won a Grand Slam in the Australian Open, Martina, she is number two in

:13:41. > :13:45.the world, is this the beginning of a rivalry that might last? Serena is

:13:46. > :13:52.towards the end of her career, she might have another three or four

:13:53. > :13:58.years, but Kerber is one of the very few people that has beaten Serena

:13:59. > :14:04.more than once. Hopefully, they will play each other again many times,

:14:05. > :14:08.but nice job by Kerber now, she is a clear number two for the year, she

:14:09. > :14:14.backed up that Australian Open win by getting to the final here. Let's

:14:15. > :14:17.hope she stays consistent. She is a great retriever, she doesn't give

:14:18. > :14:23.up, every ball is going to come back. That is what is amazing, so

:14:24. > :14:25.many balls back in play, and a few of the mistakes that Serena

:14:26. > :14:30.committed were extracted because Kerber got that extra ball back in

:14:31. > :14:35.play. It made it fun to watch, you know, Kerber is known for creating

:14:36. > :14:41.such great angles on the run. I will say, though, when Serena was at the

:14:42. > :14:45.net micro, she moved immediately crosscourt. So Patrick Mouratoglou

:14:46. > :14:50.had said, this is what to do, this is how to counter her. Serena came

:14:51. > :14:54.back out on court to play doubles with his sister, and they won the

:14:55. > :14:59.title, we can show you the trophy presentation which took place in the

:15:00. > :15:12.Royal box after match point, Venus serving at the far end, a

:15:13. > :15:16.good-humoured and talented quartet. Venus and Serena winning the title

:15:17. > :15:21.for the sixth time, and every time they have done so, one of them has

:15:22. > :15:25.won the singles as well. His Royal Highness Biju God Kent, President of

:15:26. > :15:33.the All-England Club, making the presentation. -- the Duke of Kent.

:15:34. > :15:39.They have won three Olympic gold medals together. Let's hear what

:15:40. > :15:44.they had to say after their doubles triumph.

:15:45. > :15:48.Serena, Venus, many congratulations, can you put into words what it was

:15:49. > :15:55.like playing out there and how much it means to win another title? It

:15:56. > :15:59.was really special, like really awesome to be playing next to Venus,

:16:00. > :16:04.to win Wimbledon again in doubles, we have won I don't know how many

:16:05. > :16:10.now, but we love playing doubles, we love being here, it is great.

:16:11. > :16:14.Watching Serena earlier was so amazing, and I was so into that,

:16:15. > :16:19.then you have to reset yourself and say, OK, we have to try and win a

:16:20. > :16:25.match! She brought the energy from game one, and that really brought me

:16:26. > :16:30.up. They are amazing, and stay? The two of them have done so much for

:16:31. > :16:35.tennis, for sport. Actually, it is fun to see how they have progressed

:16:36. > :16:39.in doubles, because they used to be almost two singles players playing

:16:40. > :16:42.doubles on a single score. But Serena, even in the semifinal in

:16:43. > :16:49.doubles, she kicked it up a notch when she needed to. She didn't cross

:16:50. > :16:53.in the beginning of their career, but like you said, it is worth

:16:54. > :16:58.noting that all six times that they have won in doubles, they have also

:16:59. > :17:03.won in singles. I think that is crucial, it makes them more

:17:04. > :17:05.aggressive minded. They have both become better doubles players, and

:17:06. > :17:11.better singles players as well. There is more strategy when they are

:17:12. > :17:14.playing, and when you win the singles, you are so relaxed after. I

:17:15. > :17:21.know I played my best matches after I won the singles. The pressure is

:17:22. > :17:25.off, and you are really feeling the ball, little sister took over there.

:17:26. > :17:30.You saw how badly she wanted to win for Venus. Quick news from away from

:17:31. > :17:34.Wimbledon, from somebody who has gone home, Dominika Cibulkova at her

:17:35. > :17:41.wedding today, this is her marrying her fiance, isn't that gorgeous? She

:17:42. > :17:46.made such an impression here with her feet of Agnieszka Radwanska, so

:17:47. > :17:49.good luck to them, she looks beautiful! Let's bring you the other

:17:50. > :17:56.headlines of what has been happening at Wimbledon today.

:17:57. > :17:59.Top seeds Nicolas Mahut and PFU Herbert won and all French men's

:18:00. > :18:06.doubles final, beating Julien Benneteau and Edouard

:18:07. > :18:20.Roger-Vasselin. -- Pierre-Hugues Herbert. This is the inaugural women

:18:21. > :18:25.wheelchair champion with her victory over the fellow Dutchwoman. And

:18:26. > :18:31.there was British trying in the men's wheelchair doubles as Gordon

:18:32. > :18:35.Reid and Alfie Hewett lifted the trophy after a terrific battle on

:18:36. > :18:42.court 17, he will be back in the singles final tomorrow. And there

:18:43. > :18:49.could be more British success tomorrow, because Heather Watson and

:18:50. > :18:58.finish partner, Henri Kontinen, have beaten Jelena Ostapenko and partner

:18:59. > :19:04.in the semifinal. We have seen history geek world today, I know you

:19:05. > :19:06.are not fortune-tellers, but if you looked into the future, and

:19:07. > :19:14.Moneymore Grand Slam titles is Serena going to win? -- equalled.

:19:15. > :19:18.Two or three? Two to get to 24, which would be Margaret Court, and

:19:19. > :19:25.one more to beat it? She has a very good chance of beating it if she

:19:26. > :19:29.stays healthy. She is motivated, the pressure is off, she has not played

:19:30. > :19:34.that many matches this year, so she is fresh, the way she is playing

:19:35. > :19:39.right now, why not keep going? Today was very much Serena's day, thank

:19:40. > :19:42.you, for all tennis fans, tune in tomorrow afternoon because to

:19:43. > :19:46.Biermann Centre Court, the first time in a Grand Slam

:19:47. > :19:49.It sparked the greatest transformation in British history.

:19:50. > :19:58.It had nothing like the impact of the railways.

:19:59. > :20:03.Discover how the steam revolution shaped the way we live today.