Women's Quarter-Finals, Part 1 Wimbledon

The quarterfinals at Wimbledon. Only eight women left standing. When some

of the greats of tennis are tested by pretenders to their crown. She's

very hungry, very keen player, a very confident young lady. At 16,

when I walked out to play the lead Jean King, she was my idol. --

Billie Jean King. Any time you play in a major in a quarterfinals

against somebody you admire and respect, there will be extra nervous

and I think a little more pressure as well. This is the reason why we

practice for 15, 20 years, to get an opportunity to play in the

quarterfinals of a major, any major that this is special because it's

Wimbledon. That's it. She sees her daughter go into a Wimbledon

semifinal. When it comes down to it, it's just a tennis court, the same

dimensions as any court you have ever played on. There's only ball.

It doesn't matter who the player is on the other side of the net. If

you've got this far, you must be pretty good.

As Tracey's story proved in 1979, this can be a make or break day. 18

women remain but after a tournament of shock exits, it's not quite the

match ups we expected. Some new stars have emerged but who will have

the passion and intensity to go for? Centre Court is ready, the most

famous court in the world will be staging two of the quarterfinals and

that is where we have made our way, and it's wonderful to be back out

there with Tracey and Lindsay. A special healing, the first time out

on the court. It is. My son came here for the first time yesterday

and said it is so intimate and smaller than he thought it would be,

so every seat in the house is traffic. That was amazing, I was

getting teary eyed watching Tracy up there! I haven't seen that much, I

never went back and watched it. So let's see a little more of it. You

talk about Billie Jean King being your idol, and you were only 16. You

look about 12. The trademark little bunches you always had, but you were

moving her all over the place. She came to our club when I was in

fourth grade and did a commercial, I did a report on her in school, I got

an A-, so she was always someone I looked up to, and the lead Jean King

on Centre Court will be intimidating and I feel like quarterfinals in

Grand Slams are when the business end of the tournament starts. How

many quarters have you made in majors, so this is a big day and we

have for surprise quarterfinalists. That is what you gave her for giving

you an A- and not an A+. I didn't have enough indentations in the

paragraphs! This is when it gets more nerve wracking. At the

beginning of your career you think let's make it to the second week,

but playing back-to-back here, the intensity ends up on Monday night,

once you know what the quarterfinal line-ups are, you get ready to go

again the next day, a little more pressure, more serious in the locker

room. Quieter. Letters start to leave, it is Abe a day, there is a

big difference between quarterfinalists and semifinalist.

It is a huge opportunity for the players. It's not quite the matchups

we expected at the start of the tournament, but let's look at who is

on court today. We will start with the world number one, the reigning

champion, Serena Williams is once again the headline act, basing a

chance at ousting her is an estate Pavlyuchenkova. Venus Williams is

back in the big time. Can she reach her first Wimbledon semifinal since

2009? Flying the flag for haddock standing, Jaroslav Shvedova is

looking to set the odds. Angelique Kerber has been in cruise control to

the Courtaulds. She will expect a tougher test to her credentials from

Simona Halep. Dominika Cibulkova has wowed the crowds with her sizzling

form on grass and is unbeaten in nine matches. Looking to end that

run is Elena Vesnina, in uncharted territory after reaching the first

Grand Slam quarterfinal. Where will we see these matches? First up it is

Halep against Kerber. There will be some wonderful rallies to look

forward to, then Serena against Pavlyuchenkova, the number 21 seed,

then the Bryan brothers will make their worst appearance on Centre

Court. Venus Williams first up against Shvedova, great to see her

in top form, who will triumph today? Who will have the energy to get to

the semifinal. Then the top seeds, Herbert and manhood. We will keep an

eye on Court number three, because the more experienced check Tomas

Berdych, is in battle with cheery Vasili. Berdych was not happy about

being kept out late last night, and we will also keep an eye on Jamie

Murray and Bruno Suarez. We have those to look forward to. It is

ladies quarterfinals day and we talked about Serena, she breaks

record after record. Still looking for that elusive 22nd Grand Slam

title. Venus, her first quarterfinal here for some time, she has come

through a couple of tough matches but she is always dangerous.

Angelique Kerber is the top-ranked player in the bottom half of the

draw. A big chance for her. Simona Halep, she put out Madison Keys in

three sets yesterday, she has promised so much in recent years.

And here is Tomas Berdych. He wasn't a happy man last night, he didn't

want to let that fourth set tie-break, he wanted to come back

today or move to Centre Court that he will be back on Court three to

complete his match. We will try to see if we can see it because it was

9:23pm when they had set point here. The crowd rise. It was just a

wonderful atmosphere on the court and cheery Vasili has held firm, so

the young pretender from the Czech Republic trying to help the former

finalist. I don't know if you saw that, Lindsay. It was crazy. He was

up 6-1 in the breaker, Berdych comes back, isn't able to close it out and

then some discussion went wanted to come in here but the court had been

closed. Can you imagine the panic in our office? Exactly! It must have

been so hard for them both to slip, especially Berdych when you have all

those match points and don't come through, so interesting to see how

they both handle the situation. The conditions are different and a lot

to remember from last night. Berdych went and -- 3-1 down and was

unhappy, he was furious with the umpire. It is tough to lose those

match points in any situation but when you know the sun is going down

and you can see the sand going through the Ardglass, how many more

points you can play, he knew he had to finish it in that fourth set and

it was interesting because we were doing the highlights show and in the

middle of a tie-break he was asking to come. Once you start the

tie-break you have to try to finish. It was wonderful drama. It is ladies

quarterfinal date and a much brighter sky, a little overcast, I

hope you will have some sunshine but someone who can tell us about the

weather is someone who looks like a ray of sunshine, Carol Kirkwood.

You can see how easy it is behind me. We are looking for some good

tennis and it should stay dry. We have quite a bit of cloth at the

moment and when you are under the cloud it does feel chilly but in the

sunshine it looks rather pleasant and eels lessened. We're looking at

temperatures up to 21. Into the evening we expect it to stay dry

with sunny spells. Tomorrow it will be aimed at the start but a sunny

one, through the day you will notice more cloud forming, so by the

afternoon we are looking at sunny spells rather than wall-to-wall blue

skies. As we head through the rest of the week will be a mixture of

bright spells, sunshine and the risk of a couple of showers, but by

Friday it will feel more human than today and into the weekend we could

be looking at temperatures into the mid-20s at Wimbledon, but it doesn't

mean it will be down dry. It will be blustery as well.

We will take the clouds as long as it is dry. We will look ahead to

each of the quarterfinals today, starting with the world number one,

Serena Williams. Here is the story of her championship so far. Serena

Williams, number one in the world and up against a woman in the match

of her life. I never underestimate anyone so it was a really good

match. I was shouting at myself and pushing myself, so... It was tough,

but I always expect the best. Serena Williams has won her 80th match at

Amazon. -- at Wimbledon. It was a really good match. She played great,

she always plays great against me, it takes a lot to break me mentally

and I knew in the third I would have to put my mind in it. What a way to

finish. I was really focused and calm. Did you know that was your 300

Grand Slam win? No! Was at? I had no idea. She has played really well

against me in the past and beat me earlier this year, so I knew I had

to play well to win this. She is simply the best. She certainly had

that battle with Christina McHale. That was a battle, Christina have

that nifty lead, 40-15 on her serve and it seemed like Serena's spirits

were sinking, and that is when McHale couldn't handle the

situation, then Serena, once she is back into that set, back against the

wall she seems to come up with best, but yesterday was when she played

her best tennis. It is like she clicks fingers it is a different

level. She played phenomenal. It was bad Serena and then good Serena. The

second set she only dropped by points. Once the roof closed, it was

almost game over, and it is interesting that threat than up

didn't fight a little harder. She was troubling Serena in the first

set, Serena was getting frustrated. Svetlana is one of the few who can

play offensive anti-fence of, and Serena was trying to dictate play.

It got interesting once the roof closed and it was all over. One of

the best sets I have seen from Serena, it was that good. Svetlana

had such a good game plan at the beginning, she was slicing, mixing

up the pace, she can handle the power of Serena but once that roof

was closed, she just kind of let what happened happened, it had been

about a key second missed so it wasn't that slippery but the other

matches were on Court, it happened in Australia 2009, she won the first

set and then it's different when the roof is closed, and Serena said they

both went off and talk to their coaches, that made a difference, she

got some good advice. Patrick is very strong with her. Serena has

always run her own show on the tennis court and in 2012 she let

Patrick in and everything he says, she listens, he has got to refocus,

it is amazing seeing her so committed now, no way people would

have guessed ten years ago that she would still be playing and still

this hungry. He motivated her by saying she is still good enough and

can make records, he wanted to give her a site further away to aim for.

He didn't make it about micro, micro seem to get boring for her, for so

many years she was in and out of tournament is like a tourist, and

since Patrick has been on board you have noticed how many good results

she has had in the smaller tournaments, and how many Grand

Slams she has won in that time, I think she is playing for history and

there is a lot on the line here. She hasn't won a major since Wimbledon

last year. Let's look at the draw because these new stars have

emerged, they are not young stars of new names for people at home. They

are all veterans. None of those players have ever been Serena, so

Serena a heavy favourite on top of the drop but it is great to see

players come through. Elena Vesnina has been around a long time and to

see her have success in singles, she has always been at good doubles

player, and very nice girl in the locker room. How about Dominika

Cibulkova? Getting married on Saturday, but she is a great player

to watch and a lot of fun. She has a nine match winning streak on grass

and said she didn't think she laid well, that is why she planned her

wedding on Saturday, and one in Eastbourne yesterday. So many

changes of momentum, it was a three are match. She is someone to look

out for. We will look at the match later but we talked about the older

players in the top half of the draw, but the oldest in the draw is Venus

Williams. It is her 19th Wimbledon. What a career it has been. I've been

blessed to live my dream to do what I wanted to do and not everyone has

that chance. Abe blessed life, a charmed life, it could have been

anyone but it was me, I've been fortunate enough to achieve the

things I've wanted to do. I've been here around the block 20 times, so I

am so much more experienced than just the chance to play in 1997 that

first time, it's something you can't repeat. It was tough to date your

first time but since then I was able to handle my nerves better. Venus

Williams retains her title. Her third Wimbledon title. Venus

Williams reigned supreme at Wimbledon. The champion for the

first time here. To play at this level you have to be passionate,

every point is tough. Working so hard and then being able to do what

you love and achieve your dreams, that is so wonderful. I have always

worked my hardest, I've lost matches, I learned from it, it made

me better, so I wouldn't change a thing. I would have liked to hit

that one shot the front they've that that's competition, you learn from

it. I still feel 26, I don't thing anyone feels older, you have this

infinity inside you that feels like you could go for ever, so as long as

I'm half wave decent and can get my racket on the ball, I think I can

make something happen. Guys talk about she won this Wimbledon and

that Wimbledon, it has played a big role in terms of how I will be

remembered in tennis history. It's great to be for I am in life, I'm

enjoying my life and my tennis, playing well, so who can ask for

more? We have relocated behind because we were going to get moved

off quickly as they are getting ready for the next match. It is an

incredible story. At 36, back in the quarterfinals for the first time

since 2010, she said she had children syndrome about four or five

years ago, which makes you very tired. She doesn't know if she will

be more of hard from one day to the next, and she has had long matches

here, back in the top ten for the first time in a row, always a threat

here and when you look at the draw, Venus has won this five times and it

is extraordinary because Richard Williams said his girls had so many

things to do, so many interests, they would be won by their mid-20s

and here she is up dirty sets as strong as ever. It shows how much

she loves the game because with everything she's one it would be

easy to walk away but she doesn't want to. This is the tournament why

she is still playing, it is her favourite tournament, and she said

it would go down, this will go down as one of my favourite quotes,

nobody picks you to win your last Grand Slam so you have to tick

yourself, and she's still think she has a chance and that is the most

important thing. I don't think that the beginning of the tournament we

would have said it is a possibility, now it is likely that it will be

another all Williams final. That would be amazing for them at their

ages now. She has come through some tough layers. Yesterday she had to

dig deep. There was rain delay, she spent a lot of time there because of

rain delays and Navarro is no slouch. She has even Venus three

other times, a crafty player with different spins, but Venus loves to

spend time in the forecourt here. It is lovely to see. Her game is

rewarded because she had so flat and hard, she likes to have quicker

points on this service, she doesn't like the long rallies, and the

ability to defend, and the most important thing is that she loves

the surface. For so many other layers they haven't yet crossed that

hurdle of playing on a surface only for one month and are not that

comfortable. We going to talk about age, Venus at the top of 36, Serena

at dirty for, the youngest is Simona Halep. No one is 16 like it was back

in 1979. It was 16 years ago that the Williams sisters were in their

first quarterfinal together, but it is tougher and more physical now.

Gone are the days when youngsters can come in and sustain it through a

championship. It has been such a change, it is not a sport about

teenagers. We had Martina Hingis win three majors here at 16 in the

1990s, but now it is about experience, players' bodies being

able to handle the demands of the tour, but that youngest player is

24. You would have thought it would be younger but it shows experience

is winning. Younger ones like Halep and Kerber have had debts of not

handling the pressure. This is representative of what we have had

on the WPA tour because there seems to be parity, and players right

beside the top 80 are thinking she has done it, what about me. We have

seen players like Kerber, through at 28, another theme, and win her first

major and then struggle with expectations and then lose the next

three or four matches. Other players lost their first and one here, but

Serena has been so consistent. We have to go back to another era word

you could bank on them getting to the quarters, whereas this era it is

different. They have terrific results, even Halep and a two-time

champion here, I thought she would go on and be number one in the world

she has had major debts. When you think about how to build up the

matches, Lindsay, Tracey and I said we had to relive the best match of

the season so far. Enjoy it again. We are on for a shock here on Court

three. Dominika Cibulkova takes the first set.

Wide. And we are back with a real contest here.

That was phenomenal. Lie down, why don't you? Who can blame her?

Third time lucky. The pocket rocket, the route to the Wimbledon

quarterfinal. I thought it was great yesterday, it looks even better

today. It had to end at some point because they were so physically

spent, you don't have that big serve for quick points, every point was a

lengthy rally and that last point, when, Nick fell down, it was 25

shots, moving from side to side and her fiance, I was glad it ended

because I thought he was going to have a heart attack. It was this

one, the 25th shot, and they are both spent. Dominique is such a

human by no that might dynamo, whereas Radwan sket is a magician.

She gets everything back. It was that contrast, it was make or break.

It is a sort of dying shot, the overhead in the game. Remember she

had a match point, didn't get it, so huge credit for her to be resilient

to come back because she had everything in that match. I always

think this is the craziest touring, Monday to Tuesday, if you have a

tough raft in your round of 16, Simona Halep they'd almost three

hours, her up in an today Kerber played just one hour, so a big

contrast in their time on court. We will see how she will respond. Elena

Vesnina, she then had to played bubbles last night. She had to stop,

she is coming back today so you have to keep that in mind and worry about

Venus. How her body responds with short rests. We talk about how

Dominika Cibulkova will recover, how well her fiance recover? He lived

every point with her. Her whole camp is intense. She has been through a

lot, surgery last year, she works as hard as everyone on tour and it was

a big moment for all of them. She wants to cancel the wedding.

Postpone it! I am so sorry, plus boat bed for a week. She said it was

in the ice bath last night when she looked up and said, oh my gosh, I'm

supposed to get married on Saturday, and that is when she will it make

the rush and said if she won to date she would postpone it. Eg Good

enough to win a Grand Slam? I don't think her game matches up well with

Serena so the draw would have to work out well for her. If she

doesn't get that many in, the first served can be weak, she defends well

and then hits hard, then you play someone like Serena who thinks she

can break every time, it puts pressure on her, she has been to a

final before, she has the game but I get concerned with the serve. That

is a little later but we are ready for our first match. Simona Halep

having a look out on Centre Court and Angelique Kerber having a look

behind her. It is run on a clockwork here, you have to wait until the

clock ticks over before you walk out.

That is a very difficult time to wait, because you walk down the

stairway, you see the trophies and the champions, and you know it is

Wimbledon, it is so elegant, so different from any other Grand

Slams. This is the same court that Rod Laver has walked on and all of

the others. It is one o'clock, here they come.

APPLAUSE It is a shame that it's not a little

busier here an Centre Court, but that won't affect the players at

all. This young lady, Simona Halep, so much was expected of her a few

years ago, she was moving up to the top of the rankings. Absolutely, she

got to the finals of the French, and pushed Maria Sharapova to three

sets, then she got to the semifinals here against Eugenie Bouchard. She

doesn't have a big serve, but it is accurate, the second serve attack

Kabul. She is working with Darren Cahill. -- second serve can be

attacked. But this to me, this match of all of the matches today, is

right at 50/ 50. This is the match that really intrigues me, because

Kerber is a Grand Slam champion at the Australian Open, and Halep, a

former finalist as well as the Grand Slams, so they have some experience,

four and five in the world, there is just so little between them. You

have to go to Court One, you are commentating on Venus Williams

against Shvedova. How do you think that one will go? I think that will

depend on how Venus Williams turns up physically, she has played a lot,

and doubles as well. She has been brushed a few times even in the

second round she had a 3-set match as well. But if Venus is feeling

good, if she can keep the point is quick, the big serve and big first

shot, I think she is the clear favourite. Shvedova has never been

into the quarterfinals. Will it be overwhelming? I think it will be

better for Shvedova that it is encore number one and not Centre

Court, because Centre Court is so big. We will let you go. Angelique

Kerber has come through so many big matches at Wimbledon, let's hear how

she is preparing for the last eight. I am very happy about my game here

in Wimbledon and also about my whole year. I won my first Grand Slam in

Australia, and also here I am feeling good, and I play good tennis

right now. COMMENTATOR: Brilliant!

When you are growing up in Germany, was Steffi Graf the idle for you? Of

course, she is still my idol, she is a champion, and when I was growing

up, I was always watching a lot of matches from her, and was always

dreaming to be like her. Was she a source of inspiration for you, when

you became a professional, you started playing tennis for a living,

was it difficult to follow in her footsteps? Of course it is

difficult, because Steffi is a champion, she always won everything,

so it is difficult to step in her first steps. I am happy to be the

next German Grand Slam champion after her. It is tough to play like

a. It is 20 years since Steffi last won Wimbledon. Have you dared to

dream whether or not you might be the one to end the 20 year wait? I

didn't know this, it is interesting, but maybe! I think of everything,

let's see what happens here, see how far I can get, and yes, maybe I am

the next one. Let's see. It must be tough for her to always be compared

to Steffi! Yes, all the German tennis players after Steffi Graf,

Boris Becker, Michael Stich, it must be hard for them. The look on

Kerber's phase when she was able to win, and a celebration when she got

home, that country was happy to have a tennis champion again. And what

can we expert from this match? Kerber loves to move players around,

let's have a look at her match point against the Saky Dory, she was going

from side to side, it was a wonderful way to finish the match.

She changes direction so well, never with pace but with placement. --

Doi. Nobody wants to run around that much! What a way to celebrate,

because that was terrific to do that, and that is what she will be

trying to do a game here. We will see great rallies. We are, two of

the best players in women's ten right now, but they both play

defensive tennis, so who will step up and take more chances playing

offensively? Yesterday Simona Halep played one of the biggest hitters in

Madison Keys, and she spent the majority of the time well behind the

baseline just reacting. 24 hours later, much less pace of the shots

of Angie Kerber. And as we look at Simona Halep Mushy almost prefers to

play big hitters -- she almost prefers to play big hitters so she

can absorb the pace. One thing Kerber does well is short little

slices into the court, not at odds of Spain, they stay pretty slow.

Hallett will have to get into the court pretty fast. She hasn't lost a

set, the only player in this tournament to go through, then I

start to worry about Kerber more. Absolutely. They had an epic match

in Canada last year, 6-4 in the third. We could be in for another

like that. Absolutely. I have to work the points, and these two will

work the points, there will be very few rallies under four or five

shots, it will all be about the stamina, placement of all the shop.

There is Angelique Kerber an Centre Court facing Halep, and Tracy is on

her way to Court Number One to go to see Venus Williams, because she will

be walking out to play Shvedova. It is a big moment for her, back in the

big-time, back the Wimbledon quarterfinals. She has worked so

hard, she loves playing at Wimbledon, and here she comes out on

Court Number One. Venus Williams at the age of 36, just proving it

doesn't matter, experience really does count, and she is still fully

fit, although that strapping on the leg which she has had for some time

is always a worry. It is, and it is always a worry to have back-to-back

days. It was a worry as well when she played

against Suarez Navarro. We have to scamper out of Centre Court now.

Lindsay is on her way to join Jonathan Overend.

JONATHAN OVEREND: The 28-year-old from Germany is at the far end to

start. This has been billed by many as the

match for today, really. We could be in for a treat.

Excellent second serve from Kerber, and a love service hold. One of

three Grand Slam champions in the final eight this year, and here we

are an quarterfinals day in the Women's Singles, Kerber a member of

that elite band, the Williams sisters of course, but Kerber

winning her first in Melbourne at the start of the year. It was a

surprise when she beat Serena in the final. Some fabulous tennis.

UMPIRE: Missed Simona Halep to serve.

LINDSAY DAVENPORT: a nice start for her, both players will have to work

extremely hard on their service games, not a lot of free points to

be won from either player. It is really more about the placement.

That is a tentative start from Halep at the far end. She had some chances

early on that rally, decided to push the ball back in play, and on grass,

if you get an opportunity, you have to try to take advantage.

That's better. A few more forceful shots inside the baseline from

Halep. She is going to have to find that mix of defence and offence

today. That was a great angle from Kerber

there, the left-hander. Tipuric two has actually played

three fellow left-handers out of her four opponents. -- Kerber has

played. That is unusual. It really is.

A lot of statistics we start looking at in the second week of Wimbledon,

but one of the most surprising ones to me of all the women

quarterfinalists is Angelique Kerber has only been broken three times.

That is quite an effort. Her serve is not one of the strong parts of

her game. And after those early nerves, really

important for Halep to hit that back. As Lindsay says, unusual for

the Kerber serve to be broken. And doubly so, Hallett has broken it to

love. She has been around the top of the game now, Simona Halep, a few

years, very much on the rise in the last few years or so. French Open

runner-up two years ago. Did reach the Wimbledon semifinals as well.

She lost to Eugenie Bouchard. But yet to win a major championship like

her opponent today. Do you feel it is only a matter of time, Lindsey?

Does she have the talent? Absolutely. Does she have the mind

and the belief, that is really the questions we have been asking. If

you had told me after that wonderful French Open, especially the final,

that she lost a Sharapova, that she wouldn't really be close, except she

reached the semifinal here immediately after, I would have been

surprised, but it has taken her transition time to get used to being

a favourite. Her ranking has improved for the last eight years,

she finished last season as the world number two. So there is only

one way to go from there! The sixth Grand Slam quarterfinal today.

There is no question she is one of the fittest players out there, she

works incredibly hard and it's so fast around the court. It is just

the expectation. We have seen it get to her. In some of the bigger

matches she has played. Oh, it is a wonderful rally! One of

those where you are absolutely desperate for it to end on a winner,

but what recovery skills from Kerber at the far end initially. Two of the

best athletes, two of the best movers. You could see it all unfold

in just one point. Remarkable. Yet to hold serve, facing another

break point here. APPLAUSE

Well, this isn't bad! What fantastic tennis to start this quarterfinals

day here in the Wimbledon sunshine. We have had three games against the

serve, but it doesn't get much better. Absolutely, some of the

highest quality we have seen off the ground, with the movement, the shot

selection, impressive soft from both early on.

Halep knows what she's doing with those drop shots, but it is an

illustration of Kerber's speed and tenacity on the court. They both

cover the court so well, great anticipation.

This is going to be a match that sees a lot of rakes of serve, both

of these players have excellent returns, they both struggle to win

easy free points with her serve. Well, that is two easy forehands

this game that Kerber has missed, and those are the types of mistakes

that she wants to eliminate from the game today, already five.

Once again, we find ourselves back on serve, with four breaks from the

first five games. It is a peculiar start in that respect, we have

already had some excellent tennis. As Lindsay says, don't expect serve

to dominate out here today. Kerber had only been broken three times

coming into this match, already twice today, and she will have to be

a little bit better with where she places her serve, doesn't want to be

too predictable. Through this tournament, she has

been getting her second serve interplay, but she has been

consistent. That is an incredibly high number of points won on the

second serve, 63%. I have a feeling that those statistics will change

drastically, win or lose, after today's match. All those figures are

better than when she won the Australian Open. And this is an

illustration of her second serve, she gets it into the backhand side.

For the most part, they are just that middle part of the box, almost

always directed to be Halep backhand.

That is the slight element of surprise that Halep possesses down

the line there are. That is a big weapon of hers, and she wasn't able

to do it much yesterday with a heavy power of Madison Keys coming at her.

She will have more time today and she will need to use that shot. Drop

shots on both sides of the court today. This is perfect, back-spin,

barely over the net, bounces backwards, and she set it up while I

hitting a few deep shots. If Simona Halep cannot get to a drop shot, you

know it is a good one. The depth that Kerber is able to

entertain from defensive positions. And already today she is getting so

close to the baseline. Whether she is changing direction or hitting a

setup shot. That has been the biggest difference

so far, the links she is getting on her ground strokes.

Yet another break. It could be that Kerber's opening game, the one she

held to love, will be the deciding one in this set! Which sometimes

means it is a really, but you couldn't say that about this. -- a

really messy match. It is just that these are not the

two most powerful serves on the women's tour by any stretch of the

imagination. We saw her miss a couple of easy

forehand is in her last service game to get broken. She has to be more

careful with that shot in her service games.

Kerber is just being so smart about when she goes for the drop shot,

very aware of where Hallett is in the court, and very aware of her own

court positioning. One of the great Wimbledon rallies

of this tournament so far. You can only watch and admire. The tenacity

of Halep at the back. It's been a highlight reel, some of these

points, the movement, Kerber head about two or three shots that would

have been a winner against just about everyone else. She is so far

out of the court on that shot, she was almost in with our cameraman.

Kerber not sure about the call on the line but it will have to stand

now, and we are back on serve. I'm not sure that matters, but very

entertaining on Centre Court and we will be back with that. We will keep

an eye on the other quarterfinal, Williams against Cibulkova, their

first ever meeting -- but it is life on the red button. Now, fire, jury

of Selly got a second break in this third and final set, he will want to

be getting this over quickly so he can prepare for a quarterfinal.

Whoever wins this will have to prepare for the quarterfinal. Back

we go to Centre Court. JONATHAN OVEREND: Simona Halep has

really put in a shift so far at the back of the court. If you early

nerves, no doubt about that, desperately trying to win points on

her serve, let alone games on her serve. Hasn't held so far, the

Romanian. Can she do it here? Eight patchy record at Wimbledon over the

years. Didn't make the semis here two years ago.

A fantastic job setting this point up by Kerber. Inside the baseline,

taking a chance with that I can. -- backhand. Simona Halep has won just

four out of her 18 service points so far in this first set. Really

struggling. Now she's rushing, just to be a bad

habit of hers when things aren't going well.

First Hawk-Eye intervention of this quarterfinal. A long wait away from

it. On tarmac Miss Kerber has two challenges remaining.

Oh! She took it early. And I don't think she can quite believe what has

happened there. Set up for her, but again it is a mess and again it is a

break, four times out of four, Simona Halep's serve has been broken

in this first set. The Australian Open champion from Germany has a

chance to serve for the set. Kerber has to try to find a way out

of hitting too many balls to Halep. She has missed the few easy ones.

That's the angle! Hardly any margin for error on the shot. Wake up in

the service box. Kerber could be in trouble as this

match goes on, Aichi grounds that into the ground strokes of Halep in

the backend, but it is not in her comfort sewn to go to the forehand

with the serve. Both these players have a chance of

being the world number two at the end of this tournament, a edition

which is changed 19 times since arena return to number one in 2013,

but there is a scenario where Kerber could be world number one if Serena

Williams loses today and goes on to win the title, she would hold two of

the four major championships. There is her coach in the white there. And

the captain for Germany, who also spends quite a bit of time with

Kerber and the other German players. King con used to work a little bit

with Simona Halep's coach when he worked for the Adidas team. --

Kerber used to work. What a turbulent set of tennis it has been

with it breaks of serve. Is it going to settle down at all? It is the

first point on her serve, she has to almost fake the confidence in her

service games here. One of the best forehands Halep has

hit in this match. Cut off the angle, went inside the court, stayed

with it. And that will be the hardest serve

that Halep has set one away. Let's see if that was in. And the return

was in. It's taken her over half an hour but

she got there in the end and held serve, and finding a few more

piercing first deliveries in that game. Halep made more of an effort

to be aggressive, after her serve, didn't have the mindset of spending

it in, we saw one at 104 miles an hour, even though your game can

revolve around high percentages, you still have to be more offensive

minded on the surface than any other.

After a set were both fears were struggling to even hold her serve,

we've had to relatively easy holes in a row.

Pressure on Halep to come out after the change of ends to serve to stay

in the first set. Michael Parkinson to the left, watching some of his

classic interviews with Muhammad Ali recently with the tributes. Sienna

Miller is in the Royal box today as well. Jack Nicklaus is back, 18

times major golf champion. Best seat in the house, the Royal box.

Quarterfinal stage in the Women's Singles. Serena still to come, here

on Centre Court, defending champion world number one. Wondering whether

this year's Wimbledon will be remembered for a new star.

The great offensive hits by Kerber get her out of trouble there. A few

accounts on forced errors we have seen from Halep.

Well, that was just a little too ambitious. I know we have managed

some angles in this match so far. Halep taking off all the pace on

those backhands, trying to get them short.

Kerber controls in this point with her forehand, she finishes well

inside the baseline. Just wide from Halep. She did well

to get up to that drop shot but Kerber did damage, the sliced she

was able to generate. The next wonderful drop shot, so close to the

net, so much court for Halep to have to cover, she wasn't able to do

there. A sad way for the set to end. Kerber

is the only one of the eight on the quarterfinal date who hasn't dropped

a set so far and she maintains her perfect record.

And really, Lindsay, even though we have been talking about the quality

of returns of both these players and the fact the servers aren't the

strongest, you cannot realistically expect to have your serve broken

five times out of sets and get as close as she did to winning the set.

Halep will have to figure out some way to be more consistent with her

service games. She got a little nervy at the end. That last double

fault, it almost seemed inevitable that was coming, Kerber was putting

so much pressure on Halep, every single one of her service games.

Kerber has been the more offensive they are, to theirs to those play

such defence, Kerber has taken more risks and it has paid off. A second

point, neither player excelling in that area. A couple more winners

from Kerber, she has been inside them baseline more. That has made

the difference. Isn't that a picture? What a day at Wimbledon.

Blue sky above, lovely to have the roof open.

Already the first three points of this set, I believe that is a tactic

she will try and use more. She didn't use that shot quite enough in

the first. And that is beautiful from Halep, a

lovely change-up. Miss Kerber challenge the call, the

ball was called out. Simona Halep has had an early break point in the

second set, but Kerber, thanks to Hawk-Eye, has an ace, which wins the

opening game, and Halep looks distraught, look how slowly she is

walking back to her chair. She made a effort to win the opening game,

they said Chi has to win to stay in Wimbledon. She was using a backhand

up the line more effectively. You feel that more than any game in the

first set will hurt her. She changed her tax tax, was trying to be more

offensive, we saw a drop shot one of the few times from Halep, still

couldn't get the break. Haven't been many held servers in this match so

it is important to both these players to break consistently, the

serve not a weapon for either player.

Kerber has continually cotton lying on her ground strokes, that has been

one of the biggest reasons she is ahead in this match, so many more

balls deep in the court than Halep. STUDIO: We are leaving this match on

Centre Court and will head to Court Number One. It is over on ABC one,

so we will be heading off to see Venus Williams in a moment, but a

couple of results to bring you. A match held over from yesterday the

men's fourth round, has been finished and it was won by Tomas

Berdych. Three breaks of serve in that fifth set. He won against Jiri

Vesely but bird excuse through to face Lucas Pouille will in the next

round. That match took around for hours but this match has taken over

five hours and has ended in a win for Jamie Murray and Bruno Suarez.

They have defeated the 16th seeds 16-14, Jamie's coach absolutely

thrilled with that, and Jamie world number one in doubles and flying

here. A wonderful day for the Murray family and Andy will be on court

tomorrow. So that is the scene on court 17. We are heading now to

Court Number One to see Venus 5-4 up, holding well against Yaroslava.

This matchup between two players who have never played each other before

has been a curious affair. They have been holding well except games five

and six where they changed breaks and here we are, Shvedova serving to

stay in. She has still dotted. Terrific movement from Venus, and in

all her time on court this week, we were wondering, whether she would be

feeling too much lactic acid in her body. She is looking good. And she

has set point. A great way to save it. Shvedova has

had about ten enforced that side, her forehand is not as durable as

the backhand for Shvedova. Venus has found it quite hard going

against this Russian born player from Kazakhstan. The eighth seed

here. Shvedova has saved six break points,

five of the six that she has faced. She has done a good job of elevating

her serve when she needs to. Oh, yes! The backhand has been

spot-on with the passes today. These two certainly haven't been

holding back, they have been throwing some big punches, two heavy

hitters, very athletic women. The battle of the forehands! Who was

going to blink first? Clearly the intent is to attack the

second serve of Venus. There is a disparity in miles per hour between

first and second serve for Williams. Well, the service game has been

getting easier and easier for Venus Williams, and she pushes ahead once

more. Venus today my turf been expecting

to play -- might have been expect interplay Garbine Muguruza, instead

playing somewhere she has never met before, and it is going to be a very

busy afternoon for Oracene there. I wonder what she

will do, Serena is second on centre. Will she stay here? That has been

part of the tracking of Oracene this week, it has been interesting,

because it has been a couple of times where crucial situations, she

has had to choose. But she has been doing it a long time, and I'd

anything even identity even she thought she would still be out here

all these years later. Here she is back as a 36-year-old, a

five-time former champion, extraordinary. So, Shvedova once

more serving to stay in this opening set.

Shvedova running around the forehand there, she likes that side but she

couldn't get enough space. That is well played. Much better

point construction from Shvedova there. Very handy around the

forecourt, an imposing figure up there, and knows where to position

herself. UMPIRE: Ms Shvedova challenges the

call, the ball was called out. 15-30, Ms Shvedova has two

challenges remaining. Really leaned into that high

backhand. It shows Shvedova's strength above her shoulders. Venus

still not completely comfortable out here, a little thrown by Shvedova's

game style. Great ball striking from Shvedova. A

little off-balance, but adjusted very well.

Venus might just be ruling that Mr chance, a set at 5-4 by Shvedova's

service game. Couldn't convert, so into the break we go. Venus has a

fabulous record, has won eight out of nine, Shvedova three out of five.

And Shvedova won no grass court matches coming into Wimbledon, first

round and qualifying, hadn't won a main trauma that on the WTA Tour

since April, and now five in a row. First Wimbledon quarterfinal,

though. Williams targeting that more brittle

side, the forehand side. I do wonder if Venus is feeling a

little tired, she has played a lot of tennis in the last eight days,

some long matches, some filled with rain delays, doubles as well.

That was a change-up. Yes, Venus has been playing this last eight days,

players about half her age, and I think she is quite glad to see

someone at 28 down the other end, someone within a decade! She has

great longevity has Williams, no signs of stopping yet.

The backhand slice always effective on the approach, but accept you

entered -- accent you waited on this surface, download.

The points are starting to heat up now, and that is such a makeable

volley, particularly for somebody like Venus.

It has been a strange set, almost an hour played. Tracy, you described it

as a set without any flow. It has been clunky, and just when you think

it is about to ignite, it falls flat again. Yes, Venus mist that high

volley that she wouldn't miss in one out of a hundred, then gets the next

return in the next point. 4-2 down, though, on this court yesterday in

her opening set tie-breaker with Carla Suarez Navarro. Never write

off Venus. And if you are Venus, you have to

realise you have been in this situation so much more frequently.

This is her 35th Grand Slam quarterfinal.

Just trying to bounce around now to keep those feet moving.

Well, she is making everyone nervous out there. Four points in a Rover

Venus, she has just played a solid four points.

It's long! Never, never write off Venus Williams. She takes the

opening set on the break. SUE BARKER: That will warm American

hearts, a little fist pump from Tracy in the commentary box, because

it is still Venus and Williams flying the Stars Stripes. Not a

great day for the other American youngsters yesterday. I am just

always filled with so much respect for Venus at 36 and all that she has

gone through physically, and to come back out and play, she doesn't

always feel rested when she wakes up, and then to have the long

matches that she has had, add in doubles. Venus and Serena haven't

played doubles much in the last three years, I think it was at the

US Open three years ago when Venus was having a good run, and she lost

a match I think ago she played the ball is late the night before. So

she really has to save her energy, and she has done a really good job

of just getting herself back into the top ten last year, back into the

top 20 the year before, so it has been this gradual elevation back

into the elite. UMPIRE: Time.

Very oppressive. First serve in 70%, and she is going for that serve, it

is not serve just to get the point started. And second serve points won

at 60%, that is a really good number for her, because sometimes she can

back off that a little too much. The experience of the five-time

former champion paying off here. Shvedova with a lot of work to do.

Let's see how Shvedova rebound is here, or if she can, after having

that 5-2 lead, and then five unforced errors, inexperience really

showing up there. Coach doesn't look too positive, dusty? -- does he?

Watto return to open up sport. -- what a return to open up the court.

Well, she has made some expensive errors out here.

So many off that win, and it starts to get inside your head, where you

doubt yourself. Venus has to make sure she gets the

ratio right there, she was targeting the forehand the whole time, not a

bad idea, but maybe in the next few points, send one wide to the

backhand and run her to her weaker side.

Oh, dear. Even though Venus hasn't played Shvedova before, Serena did

in the round of 16, and I'm sure a few tips will have been passed over

the cornflakes this morning! UMPIRE: Shvedova challenging the

ball on the right-hand line, the ball was called out.

First service. She desperately needs that break

point down once more in this game. And Venus driving home the

advantage, it is set and a break now.

Tracy, when we sit here marvelling at Venus and what she has achieved

36, that is taking away the fact that she suffers from an autoimmune

deficiency, a problematic disease where at times she can hardly get

out of bed, and to pick herself up from that, diagnosed four or five

years ago, to regroup, even more extraordinary. Not even a team

sport, individual sport, and to have to do it all on your own.

I feel like this is a very important game for Venus to hold, because she

was down in the tie-break, Shvedova will have been very disappointed not

to have won that, and that affected her first game. Venus can put her

foot down here. Not only approached to hit so early,

but look how close she is to the net. Really hitting that volley so

much using her legs. This was the best point of the match

so far. Once again, Venus so strong behind the break point. Shvedova

still has one here. Strong resilience from Tevenet two,

but it would be very easy for her to disappear after losing that first

set, losing the first game. Oh yes! Shvedova coming alive here.

She seems to be enjoying herself. The court coverage...

That is some doubles skills right there. It is not bad on the athletic

front either. Brilliant one moment and then very

careless the next. That is really the tale of Shvedova in this match

and in her career. What a strange way to start this

second set. I'm finding this match a real

oddity, I cannot see where the momentum is. I feel Shvedova does

not know what shocked she is going to play, stringing it together, not

stringing it together -- what shot. Absolutely and when Shvedova started

breaking into the women's game, people thought she was so athletic

and had such a big serve that she had a great all-round game and

people thought there would be more there, a very high ceiling. But it

is these lapses in concentration, ebbs and flows, a great shot

followed by a shop where you are scratching your head. That is where

I think a really good coach, maybe it is Victor, who has worked with

Halep for up short time, they could help her with game plans and being

clear and concise. Most players have a hole, whether you are not quick

enough, strong enough, the first server is not big enough but I think

for Shvedova it is strategically, knowing her game and the game plan

she has to employer matches. And she is up against someone who innately

understands what she can and can't do and when to do it. Court 1 just

taking a little time to settle here. There was an immediate overrule from

the chair. Venus looked a little surprised because there was no

question from Shvedova. Well, Williams will take it. And the

former champion is pulling away now in this second set. I feel like this

has been a pretty long match for only a second half, but it has not

been such a physical match because the points are not long.

Playing against someone like Carla Suarez Navarro yesterday would have

been much more demanding for Venus with longer rallies.

It has been a feature of this match, a few awkward looking shots from

both women. Huge point here for Shvedova. Her

time on Court One will be severely limited if she cannot get out of

this game. And now it is 15-40. I think Venus

has got a much better read on the Shvedova serve and Shvedova cannot

out rally Venus from the baseline. And another strange thing, just

watch sped over at the end of this point. -- Shvedova. She hit it and

walks towards her chair. She had lost the score again.

She does lose her concentration on the second time in the match, this

was the woman who did not note she had won a golden set here four years

ago. She won every point and was asked about it in the press

conference and was very surprised because she had not realised!

Miss Shvedova is challenging the call.

INAUDIBLE The discussion is when the call came

with the umpire saying that it came first so it ended Venus but Shvedova

is saying that Venus slipped and then the call came and the ball she

hit was out. It was worth a try! Just to follow along the theme where

Shvedova has forgotten the score a few times, that carries through to

the fact that she played without purpose because you had to see

tendencies of your opponents, be able to change tactics mid-match.

Miss Shvedova is challenging the call, the ball was called out.

Hawk-Eye has not had a lot to do in this match but has been fired into

life. Not that time. It was the wrong time to come in,

she was too far behind the baseline. Venus was going to get there for

sure and she had too much room to work with crosscourt. Venus is ready

to finish this now. Yes, right on song. And she is leading by a set

and a double break. Top right of your picture, David Witt, he likes

it. He is a good man, spent a long time

with Venus, former player himself. Richard is a figure we don't see

these days, bad, Richard, he has a new family in Florida -- dad

Richard. And David Witt is much more than a coach for Venus I think, he

is like a brother figure, they have a very close relationship and the

Williams entourage is very tight. It is very large, they have a good

time, but... They are very loyal, the Williams sisters, to those

around them. David Witt has been there for a long time. To the left

in the white hat is Carlos, the agent of Venus. It is a part-time

job trying to organise all the tickets and passes for those guys.

It is a good problem to have. As Venus has said recently, there is

still life in this cat! There certainly is. Not at her very best

out here but it is not that kind of match. It is without rhythm and

momentum, a little ugly at times. But Venus is getting it done.

We talked earlier about how this was the 35th Grand Slam quarterfinal for

Venus but she has not been in the quarter is here at Wimbledon for six

years. -- quarters. The last time she was in the final was 2009.

There are too many loose errors at this level. The quarter finals of a

major, you have to be more consistent.

Venus has broken that forehand down. It just seems like Venus is winning

the majority of the baseline rallies now, picking up the Shvedova serve

and reading it and also working out where she should serve to. She has

been the brains of the operation out here. A little breeze picking up.

That last backhand, it was very subtle but the return came at Venus

quickly so she shortened her backswing and went to the slice. She

realised what shot was best available to her. Shvedova serving

to stay in this quarterfinal. A little bit of a lapse there. One

of many that we have seen this afternoon.

Venus is just looking more and more comfortable as the match wears on.

Such a good sign. It feels like a long time since she was 5-2 down in

the opening set tie-breaker. She has just turned on the style.

Consolation game for Shvedova. But it is Venus who will serve for a

place in the semis. One of my favourite quotes from the

fortnight so far has been from Venus. She talked about the prospect

of even thinking about getting to a final or possibly winning. You look

at the drawer open now, of course Serena is the clear favourite but

things are looking pretty good for Venus as well and Venus said, the

first time you win, nobody picks you, the last time you win, nobody

picks you so you just have to pick yourself. It sums up what she has

done for the last five years since letting everybody know that she had

Sjogren's syndrome. People thought that with the autoimmune situation

and being so fatigued that she would not be able to play at this level

and if she could not play at this level, she would not want to play.

She was off the tour for a while, slowly came back a couple of years

ago, top 20, top ten last year. She is going from strength to strength.

There is an enormous amount of respect out here from the fans for

Venus Williams on this court. She is a very special athlete. Serving now

for a place in the semifinals. APPLAUSE

We have not seen enough of that today. I do think that Shvedova

could have tried to pick on the Williams second serve a little more.

Go to the sidelines more with that return.

It is a case for Shvedova of what might have been. For Venus, she has

not been in a Grand Slam semifinal in just under six years, that was

back at the US Open in 2010. Well, it is a long way back, two

breaks. But Shvedova is still dangerous.

Too many of those today for the Kazakh.

CHEERING You have got to love that! She has a

thoroughly enjoyed herself today. She has had a grin on her face. Do

you think she knows what the score is? She doesn't have a good track

record on that front! At 36, Venus still believes. Second

match point. That's it! Never ever write-off

Venus Williams! She is back in the semis.

Venus doesn't usually show much emotion but look at that big smile.

Her mum, Oracene, she must be very proud of her daughter. Mum has got

to get on the move because sister Serena is warming up on Centre

Court. That is where Venus will probably be soon as well. They are

on their way, team Williams. Only half the day is done. She is an

amazing woman with two incredible children, lots of incredible

children but particularly Venus and Serena. Venus has been coming here

just shy of two decades, she has won the singles title five times, the

doubles numerous times, still playing doubles here and look at the

excitement. This is why she plays the game, because of an event just

like this, to go deep in the Grand Slams and particularly at Wimbledon

where she had such an affinity and such a love. Five championships here

and her game is always rewarded on this surface. She feels more

confident as soon as she steps in the gates. And a wonderful

tournament for Yaroslava Shvedova. Her third Grand Slam quarterfinal,

her first at Wimbledon. It was a good match, not a great match.

Shvedova was fun and you can feel the respect from the fans for Venus.

When she came over as a 17-year-old with all the beads flying about in

her hair and this huge game, nobody quite knew what to make other but

they have grown to love and respect achievements. And don't bet against

her being in Saturday's final. She will play the winner of Halep and

Kerber. In fact, that sent a good result

came in a few moments ago and it will be Angelique Kerber. -- Centre

Court result. But first we can hear from Venus. Huge congratulations to

the semifinal again, seven years since your last one here and six

since your last Grand Slam semifinal, what are you thinking?

Wow, what a tough day on the court. The first set eyes she had so many

opportunities but she played so well and evenly tie-breaker it seemed

like she was going to win it. I somehow walked out with the set so

what date against an opponent who was just fire. What it a case of

just getting the job done? I guess so. When you walk to the net as the

winner, that is the goal, the dream. For her, her first quarterfinal and

playing so well when it is your first time there, so much credit to

her. It seems to a lot of people watching you that you are just

living the moment and enjoying yourself. Would that be the way to

describe how you are treating it this year? I mean, I love playing

the game, I always have. It always makes it sweeter when you are

winning. I can't lie about that but the wins and losses all lead to this

big moment. You can't always have it. But this is an awesome day.

Angelique Kerber next, does it really matter given how you are

approaching it? Who your opponent is? Know because whoever it is you

have to figure out how to get the ball in. We haven't played in a

while but we have had some great matches will stop I would love to be

walking to the final and progress made today. And the crowd seemed to

be on your side all the time. Wow, you know, honestly, I felt they

enjoyed all the great points. In the end she got them involved in the

last game and you have got to love that. The crowds here want to be

here because the ticket is so hard to get so they want to see good

tennis and that is what we gave them. You most certainly did.

Congratulations. SUE BARKER: What a big smile from

Venus Williams and why not? A five-time jumping coming through

against a difficult opponent. She has been through so much in her

career with her illness, missing Wimbledon had a ranking drop. This

year she has found her form and a way back into the top ten and now

she is back in a Wimbledon semifinal. And the crowd rises to

her, very popular, they know the journey she has been on. That is the

big story out on Court Number One. Everybody enjoying the tennis and

the nice weather. Vote in future Jo-Wilfried Tsonga,

and Andy Murray was in action, against the Tim pitcher as Kyrgios,

he had some difficult questions to answer after the match, but we can

relive it. The most eagerly anticipated contest, at Wimbledon

2016 so far. Challenging the call. Majestic.

Kyrgios really on the ropes. Murray in cruise control. Clinical,

quarterfinals. Well played. Four rounds in. Are you pleased with how

the game has been progressing? Today was obviously going to be a big

test, first set was tough. Nick served high 80%. First set. And to

get that, it was big for me. It has been a good start, I have played

well, at the important moments and it has been good. You have got a

good record against Jo-Wilfried Tsonga. Especially good record

against French players. What difficulties does he represent?

Here's a good athlete, likes to come to the net, and wants to come

forward. That is always top. Serves big. Big first serve. Very

explosive. Winners from all over the court. Sometimes up and down. Rhythm

not always there. But it is always tough. When you get surprises, at

Grand Slams, with Djokovic and Wawrinka out this week, do you get

ahead of yourself or is that when Lendl comes in? That is when coaches

help, but I have also been on that tour for 11 years, so I know how to

deal with those results. It does not affect me, yet. If I reach the

final, it is different coming up against somebody different, than

Novak, but at the moment it has no effect. Nick is one of the best in

his bracket. Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, also extremely tough, you have to

concentrate on those matches. If you get distracted at this level, it can

cost you. Do you feel different, when the second week begins, more

difficult to relax, stress levels higher? No. The same. I normally

find, if few days beforehand, it is stressful before the competition

gets going, and the first couple of matches, maybe not comfortable on

the court, you do not know how you are going to be hitting the ball,

but then you know the level that you are going to be playing at.

Pressure, coming towards the end of the tournament, budget does not

change much. Thank you for your time. Good luck on Wednesday. He has

been so focused, throughout these championships. Not dropping a set.

He is going to face Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, also in his side, Berdych

and Puisse. This was over on Centre Court. Kerber, the world number

four, defeating Halep, straight sets. 13 breaks of serve! Just

wonderful defensive play from both. Super rallies. Kerber, who won the

Australian Open, despite having a dip since then, looked back to her

best, deleted to be through to the semifinals. I mentioned Berdych. He

was back in action, against Vesely, also from the Czech Republic, just

22, but the experience told, four minutes short of four hours! And he

will be back, tomorrow, it is a busy schedule for them, back against

Pouille. And this is Jamie Murray and his partner Bruno. 16-14 in the

final set! Three minutes over five hours! That as the Murray family,

celebrating, and what a transformation for Jamie, number one

in doubles. Also, they won the Australian Open, wonderful scenes,

Encore 17. I think they have earned a rest after that. Those are the

results, from earlier today. But it is ladies' quarterfinals, we are

going to go back to Court Number One, for Cibulkova, against Vesnina.

She has certainly got a game. Powerful here they come. Big day.

They had difficult time. Cibulkova, it was difficult against Radwanska,

but also, Vesnina was taken to three sets, against Makarova. Cibulkova,

one at Eastbourne, nine match streak, one of the characters of the

competition. Phenomenal. Third time lucky! Pocket

rocket through to the Wimbledon quarterfinals. Are you aware how big

it is when you're in that moment? Of course, you are playing, so I was

aware, it is getting tough physically, after Eastbourne, to get

to the second week of the Grand Slam, it is with tough physically

and mentally. I always thought that physically, I was going 100%, and

that I could not give more. This is a Shakespeare quote. Though she be

but little, she is fierce. I have to compensate for the height. Fight for

every point. And I am improving my game. The serve. This was something

I always had problems with, but it can be something that I can now rely

on. The British public, taken you to their hearts. Not just because of

how you have been playing, but because of your on court manner.

That is important to me, I am really happy that they like that, standing

behind me. L love a trier. Certainly this is an important match, also for

her life, if she wins today she would have the Osborne are waiting,

on Saturday, up against Vesnina today. We can join the commentators,

Annabel and Nick. So much resting on this contest, not just who we are

going to see in the semifinals, but her fiance, in the box, and hundreds

of guests are going to be watching, wondering what they are going to be

doing on Saturday, going to a wedding, in Bratislava, or make

alternative plans! I think they are going to be hoping for alternative

plans! Because this is a player who has so much heart and passion, we

saw that yesterday, the marathon, she said she has never had such a

physical contest. You only just need to look at the way that she has been

walking around two say that she means business. This is Vesnina, the

second lowest ranked, 50th in the world. 29. 11th Wimbledon. She has

been coming here since 2006, finally got to the Grand Slam quarterfinal.

New ground. That Wimbledon win for Vesnina seven years ago, one of half

a dozen previous meetings. Umpire from France. Who is to play Venus in

the semis? Cibulkova won the toss and serves first.

27-year-old Slovakian. 19 years old. In calling -- equalling the best run

five years ago. Deleted by Maria Sharapova, then.

Just losing control, on a couple of the backhands already. Choosing to

go centre of the box. I am sure they are both going to try to shake out

lactic acid building up in the legs after those marathons yesterday!

Force somebody so small, 5'3, Cibulkova has such a slow,

deliberate build-up, to the service motion, but she has got to get that

to perfection, to have an impact at the other end.

Alternative sound effects from either side of the net... Vesnina

always sounds like she's saying hiya! Wave back at her?

One thing Dominika does so effectively, body weight behind the

ball. Got that this opening service game, she has been late with

backhands. That as a purposeful march. Bundle

of energy. Makes up for lack of inches. 5'3. Like a boxer entering

the ring. Non stop. Clever serve. Swinging to the body.

Short reply. Perhaps not enough with the forehand. And it is never good,

when your opponent gets a net cord like that.

This is going to be an intense battle, from the back of the court.

Two strong minds. Neither willing to give an inch on the baseline. They

are going to try to stay as close as they can.

It is a lovely afternoon. Not overly warm. But we have waited long

enough, for a day like this. Very bright. Sun out, stronger, in

the last minute. The side Cibulkova serves from is more up into that. We

saw Venus making adjustments. Varying where she's serving. Keeping

Vesnina guessing. Varying all the time. Into the body, down the T.

Oh! That is a return and a half. Vesnina has been a fabulous doubles

player, two Grand Slam titles, US Open and the French. Finals at

Wimbledon, twice. Doubles players good at returning serve.

Particularly under pressure. This is a marathon opening service game!

Seven minutes already! Third opportunity, that she has had,

to close out this game. Eight minutes now.

That was a decent work-out, just one game! You were talking about how

hard they had to work to get this far. Particularly, fourth round

matches. That is the comparison. 16 double faults for Vesnina. High. 24

aces though. Evenly matched, first serve percentage. Evenly positioned.

Oh yes, made that! One benefit of being 5'3... You need to stay low on

grass. Quick to the mark. Racket head up. Stays low through the

swing. Nearly fell over trying to return

that one! It is interesting, the morning of

the final of Eastbourne, she was spending so much time, practising

the return of serve, her coach was getting her a wider base to kick off

from. Jump forward. Kick it out to that backhand, it is the little, she

does not have the benefit, of long levers, like Venus.

That is what you want. You want the short ball, attacking those corners.

That is what she does. Body weight forward. That was a good service

game. First bit of variation from

Cibulkova whipped away. She was not afraid to come to the net, fourth

round match took three hours, 9-7 final set! She was happy, moving

forward, we may have two say more than that -- to see more of that

today. Cibulkova, in the fourth, win

against Radwanska. Many people judging that is the best women's

match of the year. That is so frustrating. Best serve... Think

it's an ace. Already celebrating, and got to go through everything

again. We have just seen the drop shot from

Cibulkova and now Vesnina, excellent control. She managed to fend off

three break points, here's another three.

She just about held on, first service game. Fell away worryingly,

second. Just some movement, some instruction, from the coaches. Hand

her fiance, bag of nerves yesterday. He was playing every point from the

sidelines. Out and understand that. It is almost more painful, from the

side, coaches seemed to be signalling, to get legs moving. She

is almost signalling back. I am sure they have got to the hurting today.

Three hour marathon. We talked about that wide stance, how much more

difficult does that make it, to get those feet going? You want to push

off, jump forward, when we watch Andy, one of the best with Djokovic,

they time that to meet the ball out front. But also, Cibulkova has got

to stay low. Bed was something that she has worked on, what, at

Eastbourne. Ended up winning the title. That confidence has come to

Wimbledon. But it is the opponent, Vesnina, 50th in the world, struck

the first blow in this. She is serving at a very high level

here. Executing the spot, getting the short reply so she can go deep

into the corners after the first serve.

It is the far end from us, but it looked long. However, Cibulkova is

going to play one of her cards. It was a long way away. I don't know

why she challenged that. Her coaching team are at her end right

now, so she didn't have the benefit of a quick glance up.

Cibulkova's Wimbledon history punch awaited by the best round, and here

she is in a quarterfinal for the first time.

She is just missing a little bit, isn't she? Hasn't come out with what

you would expect, the intensity that she had from yesterday. She is a

fighter, though. Looks like a change of racket is in order. She had the

perfect warm up on the way here. One Eastbourne. Has won nine matches on

grass this year, which is more than she has won over the last three

years combined. It is a puzzling start. It is not the start we were

expecting from the 19th seed. Break of serve down in this first set.

Having to deal with the sunshine as she serves again.

That is a statistic that tells a story. As the score does right now.

At the moment, Cibulkova couldn't win a point in a raffle.

That is the first in a long time. Encouragement from her future

husband. Cibulkova brings so much personality

out onto the court. You can really feel her presence. Even if things

aren't working at the beginning, she will fight until the bitter end. You

cannot be of your guard for a single second.

Double break of serve. STUDIO: 4-1 up with another break.

The 29-year-old, whose best position at Wimbledon was in the fourth

round. We will be back with this one in a moment.

We will update you with what is happening on Centre Court. Serena

Williams with set point against Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova. That error

means Serena Williams goes in front. The six time champion out in control

on centre court. That was a short time ago. It is 30-15 in the opening

game of the second set. That match is on BBC One. Here, we are heading

back to Court number one. She had some good winds in 2016 and

they add up and you bring them out onto court and you feel you have

earned it. She is busy building her ranking. She ended last year outside

the top 100 for the first time in a decade. Working hard this year to

restore her status. She lost in the first round here 12 months ago, so

these are eight points in the rankings bank right now. But look

where she is on the scoreboard, 4-1, two breaks.

I think she needs to try to start winning some of the longer

exchanges, Cibulkova. So far in this match she has come out second best

in those. If she starts winning the longer exchanges, that will start to

build pressure. She needs a few more of those. That

is what she is capable of. So far, has set up has done enough

damage. Cibulkova not being able to do enough with the return of serve.

They are landing mid-court and Vesnina is able to step in and

crunch it. Very quick off the mark to get

underneath the ball. The height differences on a grass court from a

clay-court, it is so low, the bounce.

She really uses her height so well on serve. She is a tall girl. Points

one, 70 5% of them. Cibulkova will have to change that if she is to get

stuck into this quarterfinal. The sun continues to shine on the

Russian. Half a dozen unfurls errors in the

Cibulkova game. -- unforced errors. Not matching the weather at the

moment, which is beautiful. Serving to stay in this first set.

I think she will be disappointed with the unforced error count. She

is just missing too much out here. At the start of this match. There is

then the bend she has. So often they are planted on the grass.

She has had a couple of those today. Doesn't seem to be any way that

Cibulkova can get her punches to hit right now.

Vesnina, took the chance. And it landed in. There you can see, once

again, Cibulkova with her knees on the floor, but not willing to be

pushed behind the baseline. She stands up to this ball, takes it on

the rise and holds her position there. She almost looks like she has

springs attached to those feet. And in her knees as well, instead of

ligaments. We don't have surgical proof her ligaments were taken out

and replaced with springs, but that looks like what has happened. Once

again, it is just too loose to get any kind of rhythm going at the

moment. Not sure what has happened, but something that has caught the

amusement of the crowd here. She is desperately trying to GE

herself up out here. If she can, she will find a way to get the energy

going and transfer that into her tennis.

We talked about the fact she is a brilliant doubles player. Has Grand

Slam doubles titles. It is helping her fish out some unbeatable angles

right now. Been to the final here a couple of

times with her partner. One she beat in the singles yesterday. That

cannot have been easy, beating your doubles partner and your best mate.

Determination from Dominika Cibulkova right now. Let's have a

look at the first shot from Vesnina. Her service action, Annabel. What do

you see here from coach's perspective? She is rocking back

onto the back foot, transferring the body weight. It is a high start

position with the racket and the ball. Everyone has their own style.

It is an abbreviated swing on the take back. A very nice, loose wrist.

She leans in on the left hip, brings the back foot up and launches

herself up into that motion. Very nice pole position going into the

serve and landing on the front foot inside the court. What she has often

achieved with her serve out here today is the shorter ball. What you

don't want is the return pushing you backwards. So you are not heading

backwards into the court, you need to be going forward. She has pretty

much done that out here today. She has developed so beautifully over

the last decade or so. Taken her time, she is 29 years of age, but

almost playing her best tennis right now. And now here with new tennis

balls. The Russian, Alina Vesnina. Serving for the first set.

What is says a lot. Can almost see the smoke trail behind this poor

hand. Holding the body position, not being pushed too far behind the

baseline and taking the ball on the rise. Two set points.

That was a very ambitious second serve. Bit of stress up in the

support camp. Second double fault but she still has a second set

point. What a wonderful first set before

the Russian. Never let Cibulkova get into any routine, any kind of

rhythm. She really didn't. She came out of the blocks. They have the

very long first game, but she played at a very high level. Cibulkova has

left the court to go and change her outfit. Maybe she needs to wipe the

slate clean. But that was an exceptional set of tennis from

Vesnina. I think Cibulkova will be disappointed with the serve, it

didn't do enough damage. She was a bit too loose with some of the

points. Just the one ace for Vesnina. Winning a high first serve

percentage. You normal thing of Cibulkova as being a very big high,

strike rate with the winners. She likes to dance around the back and

looking for forehands and Dominic with that side of her groundstrokes.

But hasn't been able to play her best tennis, and maybe a knock-on

effect from yesterday. We should get a mph on the ground shots because it

looks like Vesnina is hitting it harder at the moment. We talked

about the doubles experience and finding the angles. She just seems a

bit sharper. She is hanging in, they haven't had many long exchanges, but

if they have had any extended rallies, she is coming out on top of

them. Playing at a higher intensity rate and the key is to see if she

can continue. It is how long you can continue it. She is the second most

famous Russian tennis player right now, Alina Vesnina. But she is the

only one here right now set to fly the flag is up to Rio Olympics.

Maria Sharapova is serving a two-year drugs ban. She reached the

semifinals last year and Vesnina is almost emulating that. Maria

Sharapova has been the missing part. She has been part of the

conversation at this year's Wimbledon and has allowed the likes

of Vesnina to make headlines for herself. What an opportunity she is

creating. She really is and she is handling the situation extremely

well. She is not overwrought being out on the show courts are to

Wimbledon. She is drawing on the confidence she builds up to the

cause of 2016. It is satisfying when you see the hard work paying off and

coming to fruition at a Grand Slam event like this. On her way back. It

is as if she runs on inexhaustible batteries at times. Maybe she has

plugged in the charger. I wonder if she has put her outfits in that

little wash bag. Change of kit, change of fortune. She will hope. In

bright sunshine on number one Court. We're waiting for this quarterfinal

to burst into life. See if Cibulkova can make it more of a contest in the

second set. Hasn't won too many of those types

of rallies. Desperately needs to reassert herself in this opening

service game the second set. That would hurt. Because when you

have played at three-hour match the day before and done a lot of

running, side to side, anything up and back, using different muscles to

launch yourself, it is painful. She was sitting in an ice at the

yesterday evening when she decided if she won this one, Saturday's

wedding would have to be postponed. The ice bath working hard to get

those muscles serviceable today, but this is a struggle. Much better

serve from Cibulkova. In this match, she hasn't been able to get the ball

away from her opponents, Vesnina. Get her off-balance. Too many have

gone into the strike zone. What you really want is the opponent to how

to move their feet and be slightly off-balance and reaching for the

return of serve. You don't want it when they don't have too much. If

they can get their body weight behind the return, it will have so

much more impact. Husband on the left, doubt on the

right. That is also coach. That is brave, isn't it? I always wonder how

they get that to work. Keep the stress out of family and

work like that. But happens so often in tennis. Seems to work!

Both will have moved to the front edge of their seats!

Hasn't missed too many of those, Vesnina. Offering more hope for

Cibulkova emotionally and mentally. 14-9 return and errors.

Second double fault of her match. Window creaks open again for the

Russian. Vesnina read that well. On her bike

quickly. Gets the break. Makes that. Interesting to try to

change it up. Going against her quickly. So keen to show her

opponent legs are still firing. Engagement ring might offer some

kind of encouragement! I saw it close up. Beautiful! Dazzler!

Being played at quite a pace. 49 minutes. Already racing into the

lead. Completely in command. Oh! That would have felt good. Great

movement, cutting off the angle, meeting the ball out in front,

taking the pace. About time she kick-started her

quarter final, Cibulkova. Well played. You sense the crowd

will try to lift her spirits. Needs to get on a roll.

Cibulkova whacking her legs. Almost to say get these working! Feeling

heavy from yesterday? Needs to try to lighten them up. That is not

going to help. She got one of those, yesterday, on match point.

Neither will that. Players have 20 seconds between points. I am sure

that has wound her up even more. Concern on the face of the fiance.

Could be starting to think that they may actually get married, on

Saturday. It is starting to look like that, unless she can halt this

momentum. Legs tired today. Jaded. As much as we are talking about the

woes, of Cibulkova, we do not want to take anything away from Vesnina.

Canny game. Must be aware the legs of Cibulkova not working. Keeping

the ball in play. Making her work. You make the error, I'll get the

point. That is it, using aggression, making her play the extra shot. And

that is what underlines, how tough it is, at the Grand Slams, you have

got to produce good tennis, over two weeks, and play consistently at such

a high level, seven matches, and sometimes, rain delays, normally if

it is good you would have the in between. -- day off. But Vesnina

seems to have reacted better. No sign of fatigue in her legs. Both on

court for three hours. Cibulkova, trying to get crossover going. I

think she was looking straight at you! I to not offer any inspiration.

But we will see. Cibulkova has been really busy,

rebuilding ranking, dropped to 38, win at the spawn got to the top 20,

and going to the top ten, after what she has done here so far. --

Eastbourne. Battle of the partners won by that

man! Haven't played an hour yet. You have to admire the spirit of

Cibulkova, boozing around, you would not know that she was a set down.

Ringing out the life, the hope. From the Slovakian. You just wonder what

Cibulkova can do, she does not possess a mass of variety to change

pace, rhythm, has to hope her opponent drops off and she can

create doubt. That tactic has worked, swinging to

the body of Vesnina and the short reply.

Compiling highlights of this... Vesnina would be dominating. I do

not think returns of serve get much better than that.

She described the win against Radwanska as the most physically

punishing, she was in tears, taken its toll here.

Gone wide. Once again. Russian break point.

What a difference when she gets the first serve away from Vesnina. More

accurate. You hope days like today, should be

celebrations of tennis, Wimbledon, both players, but this is

uncomfortable watching, if you are supporting Cibulkova. You have to

admire this spirit. She is still going to keep marching around,

trying to get solutions, to this puzzle. What she does. What makes

her such a good player to watch. She has such a good attitude. Well done!

Finally. Something to feel positive about, for the current Eastbourne

champion. Vesnina, took it three years ago. That peculiar serve.

Flicker of hope. Been a while since the women's title has been won here

by someone who won before. You would have to go back to Wales years ago,

Maria Sharapova, -- 12 years ago. Birmingham. I am always amazed about

that. 80s, 90s, Martina, whoever. Doing those grass court events,

Serena Williams does not play coming to Wimbledon, but that works for

her, and Novak Djokovic, he has not played a warm up event. Andy has. He

has got heaps of confidence. In fairness, it was too tough for

him to offer a serious thought. Cibulkova took the decision. Right

to. All the frustration in this backhand

return. Look at that. All the pace off the serve. Body weight forward.

You feel more tension in this match. Vesnina can see the finishing line.

New ground for her. Quarter final. Brink of a semi. Suddenly, finding

another gear. Not that time. Vesnina getting more

animated. She knows this is teetering on the brink. Won't want

to let the door open again. Insurance policy of two breaks.

Muted response to that going long! Ball was called in... Out. Are you

sure!? At the end, second serve. Trying to keep focused.

Oh! The sound of the The Slovakian key in the ignition? It just feels,

as though we are getting some momentum shift. The intensity,

ramping up. The enormity of what Vesnina is on the brink of...

Playing its part. That would allow felt good. Not

playing out a long rally. You just feel that she has been pulling back,

from those ground strokes, not as much impact.

Gone long! The reaction of a team on the brink of a Wimbledon semi final.

She has been to finals, of Grand Slams before, but that was the

doubles, never on her own. A game away. Cibulkova, serving to stay in

this year's Wimbledon. These last shots of Slovakian

defiance... Or the start of something significant? Vesnina still

has two breaks of serve. But it has been much better, from the 19th

seed. If she is feeling weary, shaking off tired muscles. She never

leaves court without giving everything that she can, trying to

get herself involved in this tennis match. That was a good start. And I

thought the forehand was flowing better, move cover, controlling,

finding gaps, and you just sense that Vesnina was feeling somewhat

ancient, trying to close out out the match. Might not be long. Before

Serena Williams finds out who she is going to play, Thursday's semi.

She has seen off Pavlyuchenkova, may not be far from meeting a novel --

another Russian. She has got it! They are the kind of

shots that earn you a place in the semifinal of a Grand Slam. Inspired

play from Vesnina. Anticipate that, holds the body position and finds

the line. Mickey could see the look on Cibulkova's face when she let

that one go past her. You just feel that she can do no

wrong out here. What moments these are for Elena

Vesnina. Three match points for a place in the Wimbledon semifinals.

The images she will remember for the rest of her life. Dominika