Day 1, Part 1 Wimbledon

This is the national programme. Now we are going to take you over to

Wimbledon... Irresistible, majestic. Wimbledon

champion. Wimbledon, a place like no other in

the sporting world. 140 years of history, 140 years of grass court

tennis. 140 years of glorious memories. During that time

generations have seen Legends born, champions made, heroes and heroines

striving to win in their pursuit of greatness. 140 years is a long time,

but Wimbledon is as relevant today as it was for the first

Championships back in 1877. And to play here, to win here, even just to

be here, it's a privilege. Yes, this place is special.

I grew up dreaming and reading about Wimbledon my whole life.

Keep coulomb courts. It was a tradition, it was like our Super

Bowl. You could feel a traditional magical thing inside those gates.

Walking through the gates, everything was so new. I was a zero

of the whole place. It was amazing. I immediately fell in love with it.

This is heaven. I loved the court, the atmosphere of the place. It was

just different. You walk out on Centre Court, there's such a harsh

before everybody explodes. The most famous tennis court in the world.

This court definitely feels like home. Everything I am is because of

this court. I'm going to try this and it is not going to be easy,

thanks to everybody... Wimbledon is the Golden Globe you're aiming for.

I came here for one reason only to try and win Wimbledon. The chalk

blew up! The waiting is over! In a class of her own. It is like living

in a dream world. A fairy tale. It is one of the most beautiful things

that can happen to as a tennis player.

Wimbledon in the words of so many great champions. What a history it

has. The 2017 Championships are about to get underway, the latest

chapter in the greatest Grand Slam tennis tournament in the world. To

be crowned champion you must win seven matches over two weeks with

the pressure and expectation building over every round. There are

two notable absences this year. Defending champion Serena Williams

who is expecting her first child, and no Maria Sharapova who pulled

out because of injury. But the other big names I here and we will follow

their progress. Among the arrivals here, one of the most watchable

players on tour, it Nick Kyrgios. We were worried after that horrendous

fall at Queen's Club but he is healthy, fit and ready to play and

is on court in just a moment. Also arriving, Juan Martin Del Potro, a

former Grand Slam winner and semifinalist here. And one of the

danger men, Feliciano Lopez, fresh from his victory at Queen's Club. No

one in the draw will want to face him and one of his big serves.

Agnieszka Radwanska, a former winner and seeded nights. Venus Williams is

just going through the motions, a gentle warm up. She will be on court

later today, the five-time champion. All eyes have been on this man and

the hip injury. Today on the practice courts, just looking like

he is moving a little freer. He will start the defence of his title on

Centre Court. This tournament, not only treasured by the players but

the fans love it as well. The gates opened at 10:30am this morning. The

queues were so long. Some people have been queueing since Saturday

morning, such is its appeal, and of course the prospect and the as he

starts the defence of his title. The crowds rushing to take their seats,

to find where their favourites are playing. There are 18 courts to

choose from and I can tell you that just walking around the grounds

here this morning, I have never seen Wimbledon looking better. The

flowers everywhere, just perfection. The courts looking immaculate as

always. So, we are ready to get underway and we have made our way

right by Henman Hill. Joining me for the opening day, Tracy, Matt and Tim

are here. Tim, I have to say, you must be so proud, it has never

looked better? It is amazing. It is important to reflect that is

actually a building site. There were some massive cranes in the process

of constructing the roof on Court Number One but when you see it

today, it looks amazing. The attention to detail, the flowers,

the courts, it is ready for action. There is always a buzz on the

opening day of a Grand Slam, Tracy? Absolutely. The word that comes up

is opportunity. I do think there has ever been a women's draw as

wide-open as this year. We might get something similar to the French Open

at Wimbledon. I think there are ten or 15 women who have the prospect of

taking the title. And Rafa and Roger with the prospect of winning the

men's. Mac, it is 90 years of coverage here at Wimbledon, 50 years

of colour television and 40 years of year here! Well put! Can I just say

that because London and Great Britain has been going through a

rather difficult period recently, we as ex-tennis players and the players

who play here thank them and the police and everyone else, when we

come here it is as beautiful as ever. We do our thing and we

hopefully get the chance to say something semi-intelligent and it is

awesome. Well said, well said. Going back to 1977, your first Wimbledon,

like a lot of people's first Wimbledon, it is nerve-racking? It

was a crazy time in London. It was the punk rock era. Johnny Mac

inherited the punk of tennis, somewhat deservedly so. This was a

life changer for me. Playing in this event for the first time. Next thing

I am on Centre Court with Jimmy Connors. That was my first match on

Centre. I played one match on Court Number One. I walked around in total

anonymity, it was awesome, and then the rest is history! Before we move

on, talking of the ladies' championships, I know you have been

vocal about Serena Williams. Have I? Has it been in the news this week?

Not this again! Everyone knows I believe Serena is a magnificent

champion and she is the greatest female tennis player in my mind who

has ever lived. At the number I came up with would have been better left

unsaid and it is apples and oranges. But I would say if the women are in

arms about it, we could offer to have the men and women play together

in the same circuit for the next two years, starting in 2018. What do you

think? I liked the first part of your paragraph much better. You are

healing things at the beginning. Let's move forward. Absolutely! You

have got your book out. You have talked about Serena but what did you

say about him? What did I say about him? That he was pretty good for an

Englishman. I did not believe in my heart of hearts going against the

likes of Sampras and other great champions that it would be difficult

for him to win. Is that fair to say? He has thrown a couple of grenades

already! It is 11:35am! He likes to get you on the back foot little bit.

Can I sell the book! Are you in the book, Sue? We will plug the book so

much because he was nice about me! I was not even in it. Why'd you think

I brought it up?! Sales will go through the roof. But both men's and

women's are awesome? After what Roger did in Australia which was one

of the greatest achievements I have ever seen in sport, much less

tennis, and then Rafa turning it around, all of a sudden they are on

the top of their game again. What is going on with Novak and Andy? They

have injuries. You are waiting for someone to break through. It is a

great time in the men's game. It was an unbelievable shot in the arm for

Roger. And the women, I was covering that. If you told me that someone 50

in the world would go and win the French Open, especially when she was

break points down. The producer said we have got to get something else

going. That would leave me to believe that ten, 15, 20 other women

are saying, hey, maybe I can win this. Of course, I have a soft spot

for Petra Kvitova after what happened to her. She is so great at

Wimbledon and it would be nice to see her pull it off. That is my

pick. That would be a fairy tale, having been stabbed by an intruder

only back in December. We saw Venus practising them. She has not got

Serena with her full support. She was in a car accident a few months

ago which resulted in the death of a man. She said she was heartbroken.

She has not done any press. She will do a press conference later. It is

not an easy time for her. It is not an easy time to start Wimbledon when

you are already emotional over that tragic accident. Venus is only one

of two ladies who have won the title, the other being Petra

Kvitova. They both have extenuating circumstances. Petra had her playing

hand stabbed multiple times, slicing through tendons. It will be

interesting to see if the Mrs to emotional or if she is able to put

that aside. Venus is 37 years old here. It is incredible. I think she

won her first title back in 2003 and she is still playing at the peak of

her powers. She is someone who can still take the title. Once she steps

into the All-England Club, this sits her game perfectly. It will be

difficult for that not to be a distraction. Venus played great in

the finals of Australia and in the French. So you are thinking,

especially without Serena being here, that she can win this thing

but it is hard to compartmentalised this stage. And hard not to talk

about. Just briefly, on Andy Murray, the hip injury, do you think he is

fit and healthy? Fingers crossed. It has been the story of his year. He

has not been able to gain any momentum. I think he did fantastic

to get to the French on the back of poor preparation but coming into

Wimbledon, it is such a special event, he is the defending champion,

he is so good on grass. Fingers crossed, he can have a great run.

Andy Murray will be on Centre Court when play gets underway at one

o'clock. He is up against Sasha name-macro, a six foot four

progression is talent. He dropped his phone in a cafe when he heard he

would be an centre. We hope that Johanna Konta's back is

fit. She is up against Hsieh Su-Wei. Jo-Wilfried Tsonga will be up

against the British wild card, Cameron Norrie.

Heather Watson had a wonderful Eastbourne. She looks to be back at

her best. We have been talking about the contenders but who are the main

men this year? Phil Jones can tell us more.

The Fab four are reunited at the top and the men's Championship has

rarely been so inviting. The Wimbledon king is primed to rain

again. Roger Federer targets an unprecedented eighth title here. The

latest of his Grand Slam crowns, is his Australian Open slammer. No one

does it here better. Novak Djokovic, his all conquering dominance is now

more folklore than fact, but he is a three-time Wimbledon champion and

too much of a legend to let this next chapter go unscripted. Rafa

Nadal has a storybook fable all of his own after winning the French

Open. Recent Wimbledon 's have been cruel. But be warned, this is a

resurgent Rafa. For stammering Kerr, Wimbledon remains the one who got

away. -- for Stan Wawrinka. The best here is the quarterfinals twice.

Alexander Zverev is just out of his teens and into the men's top ten

after beating Novak Djokovic to win the Italian open back in May. He is

a German with a pedigree game for grass. Australia's Nick Kyrgios is a

former quarterfinalist here with skill and flair undoubted, but a

temperament often questioned. Be it brash or brilliant, he is pure

theatre. Grigor Dimitrov beat Andy Murray en route to the semis here

three years ago and he reached his second slam semi in Australia this

year. He wants to muscle in on another major. Queen's finalist

Marin Cilic won his only slam of the 2014 US Open. His Croatian mentor

Goran Ivanisevic claims he is third favourite for the Northern. Milos

Raonic, runner-up here last year, and has served to inflict pain. He

is a Canadian force of nature hoping to rediscover his Grand Slam powers.

Andy Murray, now Sir Andy, world number one, top seed, Olympic

champion, here the defending champion, twice a Wimbledon winner.

To make it three would be to emulate Britain's previous greatest, Fred

Perry. Golden glory awaits at fortnight's end.

They are the top ten. Mac, you get a feel it is the top four you are

focusing on. Hold on a second, I was coaching someone last year who got

to a Wimbledon final! It is time for someone to step up. Raonic and drop

have an opportunity but I would be shocked if it was not one of the top

four. -- Dimitrov has an opportunity. To see Federer not play

for six months and then win three five setters in Australia was

incredible. Rafa Nadal looks unbeatable on clay. And then you

have these other two guys, what are their names, Murray and Djokovic I

believe. It would be hard pressed to imagine someone could be two or

three of these guys. Djokovic went to Eastbourne last week. He has

never played a warm up tournament before. He felt he needed it but he

won it. Seemed semi-desperate considering he had won Wimbledon

before so it did surprise me. It shows his fellow competitors that

perhaps he feels a little chink in the armour, but you have seen that

in the last year. It is a perfect example with Novak. He was holding

off and the next thing you are wondering what is going on, off

court issues, personal issues getting the way. You become a

completely player when you are not lazily been mentally. Hopefully, he

is back contract settling in. He has these new guys around. The thing

with Andre, I love this. His career was cut short. I love seeing some of

the older younger players and the older younger players than me and

ex-champions around. I know, it is great. Mac, I may you have to go to

American TV. We will hear from you later. We will carry on talking with

Tracy and Tim. Your thoughts on the Murray injury scare? Fingers

crossed, it makes sense. For me, a lot of things happen when you are

not as prepared as you want to be. No one anticipated he would lose

first-round Queen's. But you don't want to panic and then you are

stressing because you want to do well and everything starts hurting

and you have seven injuries and then just before the event, everything is

magnified. I am hopeful, we will see. To me, his record is so

consistently good here it would be difficult to imagine, if he is

healthy, not to get at least the quarters and semis. They are calling

for you, you are needed elsewhere! Talking of Murray, he was out on the

practice courts and Lee McKenzie went to watch them.

We are here with Murray and Mark Petchey. We have seen him limping

around on court, yesterday he said he was fit and well and ready to

play at Wimbledon. Is it a halfway house? I think it is a halfway

house. At this stage of the tournament you want to say you are

fit and you do not want to give anything away but he has been far

from 100% in his preparation coming in. Given the nature of the surface

and his movement on the court, it is still a course of a concern. Do you

think if it was any other tournament he would think about it twice? I

think he has been thinking about it twice already but because of the

magnitude of the tournament and Father Time is ticking for him, he

does not know how many more Wimbledons he has got left, he does

want to play. You know you will get 100% out of Andy. You have seen him,

how is he moving on court? Helix OK. When you see him walking, he has

always had that walk where you wonder if something is wrong. He

seems to be walking a little bit more gingerly but when he gets into

the point he is moving OK. In terms of the ball striking, he looks

great. And you think it is right to take on Bublik in this round and

then assess how he is feeling? If he can get himself through the first

couple of matches in the first week without too much drama, that will be

crucial to his success. The one thing we don't know is how much

training he has been able to do, in terms of putting in the miles in

case he has to put in four or five sets. There are some unknowns.

Thank you, Mark. SUE BARKER: He had such a good

French Open, losing the final, he has still got a lot of matches in

him? Guest, and there were a lot of variables going into the French. He

was ill the week before and did not have a good clay-court season. I

think it shows his strength of character, he was not playing the

best but he was able to take it one match at a time and work his way

into the tournament. I think that has got to be the case here. He has

not had good preparation. His practice

round prior to this was interrupted. Given his track record, given the

nature of this tournament, I think he has got to stay in the moment,

come out today and hopefully, put in a good performance and slowly build

momentum as the tournament goes on. That is the thing, you feel if he

can get through the first two or three rounds and then play your way

into it and forget about what happened before? That is what

happened that the French. He did not have a lot of great match

preparation on clay. One thing that comes into account is his ability to

play on grass and his desire and passion. There are semi-players out

there who do not feel comfortable on this surface. He has a day off as

well and then the hip can start to settle down, I think he will really

start to feel a lot better with his game. Going through so many

different routines on the court. He has such a great team so you know if

anybody can get him fit and ready, it is his team of trainers. He has

had the same team of trainers around him so they understand his body.

They know the areas he has got to work on to make sure he is as

flexible as possible. I think it will be interesting to see him on

the court today. His body language is never the best at times, he is

always complaining about a few things. With an injury like this,

hopefully we don't have to read into it too much. I think it is important

how he can come through the early rounds relatively unscathed. If he

is out there four hours, you wonder if the foundation he has got coming

in, whether he has got the legs on him to keep going. He has been a

lucky loser as well. That is a thought in a drawer. He seems like

an entertaining young man, Bublik. Jordan Johnson was a lucky loser at

Queen's as well, they have a lot of matches on grass, the qualifiers.

And they will start the defence of his title at one o'clock. We have

been talking about the main men. Now here is filled with the leading

women. It is a bone of the tournament. The

women's Championship has never been so wide open. -- it is a bowler of

it on that. Venus Williams won her first Grand Slam title here 17 years

ago. Now 37, reaching the Australian Open final shows she is still

stellar. Petra Kvitova is twice Wimbledon champion. She was attacked

last December in a robbery at home. Her racket hand was badly damaged.

After surgery came recovery and then a sweet comeback which saw her win a

title on grass at Birmingham last month. Victoria Azarenka is also

back having given birth to a son 6.5 months ago. Twice a Grand Slam

champion, this former world number one is a mother on a mission to

recapture that global glory. Karolina Pliskova, the 25-year-old

Czech player, a runner-up at the US Open. In Wimbledon it has been

second round and out for the former world number three. Spain's Garbine

Muguruza was a Wimbledon finalist two years ago. She won her only

Grand Slam at the French Open last year. She has been as high as world

number two. Jelena Ostapenko, only 20 and a breath of fresh air. She

just created tennis history by becoming the first Latvian ever to

win a Grand Slam and the first unseeded player to win the French

Open since 1933. Romania's Simona Halep was a set up at the French

Open final this year and lost. Psychological barriers may need

tearing down if the world number two is to win her first major title

here. Angelique Kerber is world number one. Wimbledon runner-up and

twice a Grand Slam champion in 2016, but the German is not in that kind

of form this year and lost in the first round of the French Open.

Johanna Konta is the top British female player for an age and has

reached a career world high of another six but a fall on the grass

at Eastbourne last week left questions over her fitness.

Conquering a bad back is part of the Wimbledon equation she had not

expected. That was such a nasty fall. She got

up and won the match but she pulled out of the semifinal. She is a real

contender, if you can get over the nerves and pressure of it all? I

think she handles it so well. This is the first year she is coming back

to Wimbledon as world top ten. That is interesting as it is a whole new

landscape. I think she likes to play on this surface. I think the faster

service will benefit her style of play. If she continues on she will

have Kvitova in the fourth round. I think we could look to big things

for Jo. She has made such progress in the last 12 months. Will know the

pressure off coming in as British and about one. It is not easy to

distance yourself from it? No, I would felt when I was playing here,

you have to do a good job controlling the controllable and

that is your job and performance. With what is said in the newspapers

and on television, you have to shy away from that. I think Jo has the

capacity to deal with it. She has had a great year. She won in Miami.

Grass is a good service for her. She has to look to be offensive and

dictate. The first round will not be easy for her. You look at her

Wimbledon record, she has only won once in six times she has played

here. That does not bode well but she has had such a fantastic year.

As far as other contenders, Petra Kvitova, she only came back at the

French Open, but with that big serve, such a danger? That shows how

wide open the women's drawings. She won Birmingham and that made

everyone think she will be a possible favourite. You don't think

so? I do but it is only a third tournament. I think she would like

to come back under the radar for only had third tournament back. I

think Pliskova is someone to watch as well. She has never been past the

second round of Wimbledon but we are putting her as favourite as well

because she has 14-macro titles this year. She has been the most

consistent throughout. Angelique Kerber, never won in the world and

she was a finalist last year. She has had a very

difficult year. There has not been a lot of consistency from the women.

Varies Angelique Kerber. You just wonder with so many of the big

hitters around, how she will get through this draw? Last year in 2016

she was serving much bigger, she was much more aggressive from the

baseline. She had a lot of confidence but her confidence has

been deemed this year. She lost early at the Australian and French

Opens. She is not quite as instinctive out there. She is

doubting herself in the big moments. Grass is the toughest surface to

defend on. If you are not as confident that can go into your

movement because you are a little bit tight. If she is not recovering

and staying in the rallies, she can be exploited. It will be interesting

to see again if you can get on the offence, be aggressive and dictate

the points which she does when she is playing her best. I spent the

whole French Open giggling watching Jelena Ostapenko. She was

incredible, no nerves, nothing. And fearless.

47 in the world and came through so many matches, four that she won

after losing the first set and in the final, the first of a Grand

Slam, it was fortunate she was so young, she did not know what a big

deal it was for a 20-year-old. Simona Halep up by a set and 3-0 and

she froze and we have a new star in women's to less -- tennis. We will

change our minds but a winner for the ladies? Pliskova. I'm going with

Kvitova. I'm going Johanna Konta the British double! More to talk about

in a moment but I have been talking about how wonderful Wimbledon looks,

and we can find out more about it with Rishi Persad. I am out and

about sampling what it is like to be around the grounds and I'm by court

14 and 18 and in the shadow of Court One where the roof is under

construction. Around half a million people are expected to attend the

championship and they will be consuming about 230,000 bottles of

water and around 130,000 portions of stories and cream but arguably the

most important statistic is what the weather will do and the Oracle of

all things whether it is with me, Carol Kirkwood! Surrounded by her

hordes of fans! What do we have in store for the next two weeks? A bit

longer but maybe the next week! For this week we are looking at a lot of

dry weather, there is the risk of some thundery showers later on in to

Thursday and Friday but they might miss Wimbledon so in the next few

days and it should be dry. Today, a lot of dry weather, increasing

amounts of cloud, feeling humid with temperatures up to 24 and tomorrow,

a lot of dry weather, a bit more cloud but still sunny intervals and

24 or 25. So definitely dry? 80% chance it will stay dry! You have

filled us with such hope! Thank you very much. We are all set fair and

the show courts will begin at 1pm with Andy Murray on first.

On Court Number One, Venus Williams starts up. Johanna Konta has a

pretty opener against at the player who beat her at the French Open.

That is on serve between Tsonga and the British wild card, Cameron

Norrie. All of that look forward to before we go we will go and see

Laura Robson in her match. Such a tough time for her since she had

that wrist surgery in 2014 but she is battling her way back. She had a

great job in the last five weeks, playing all on grass, even going to

Japan to play a couple of tournaments and get ready. It has

been difficult to see Laura who has not risen up the rankings as quickly

as we would hope after that surgery. She had been top 30, Bedene Mi Na,

Venus Williams, Tim Clijsters, -- beating Lee Na. She still has so

many weapons and I think she can break through but this is an

important match for her to get points and confidence. Not easy,

travelling around the world, playing all of these low-level tournaments

and it is hard to break out of that rut. It is hard, especially when you

have been towards the top of the game. She was top 30, as you

mentioned, but there had been encouraging signs. She had a good

tour of Asia, got her ranking into around 170 again and have the

consistency of matchplay and tournament play come if she can keep

building that moment, she has a great game and is a great ball

striker and hopefully she can win today and build on that for the

future. She is up against a lefty with a strong serve. Thank you very

much, we have plenty of forward to and we will tell you how to watch it

because the BBC but we are heading out to court 18 with Laura Robson up

against Beatriz Haddad Maia, the Brazilian, a big server who is

ranked 97 in the world and already Laura is a break of serve down. We

can join our commentators, Sam Smith and Matt Chilton.

MATT CHILTON: Difficult start for Laura Robson. Three double faults

and she has looked a little nervous at times in the first 23 minutes of

this match. And Beatriz Haddad Maia has a big serve and so far as the

measure of Laura Robson. 21-year-old, originally from Sao

Paulo, now a resident of Rio. Two left-handers, making life

interesting. And Robson holds on to maintain an

interest in this opening set. Laura Robson with the wrist injury

problems over the last three or four years. Wimbledon has traditionally

been a happy hunting ground for her, winning the junior title here aged

14 and a silver medal in the Olympics in the mixed doubles

alongside Andy Murray and she is desperately trying to fight her way

back in. In tournaments played on grass in Japan, she won one of them

and had an interesting opponent in the round of 16, a player by the

name of Rika Fujiwara, every time there was a break, she dropped to

the grass and did four or five push-ups! Not at the change of ends

but between points and Laura had to deal with that.

Anne Keothavong, the Fed Cup captain, Jeremy Bates at the back

and Johann or to groom who is the coach from Magnus Norman's Academy

in Stockholm and he is looking after Laura Robson right now.

SAM SMITH: Just trying to find her feet in this contest, the first

meeting between, historically lefties don't like playing each

other and they have both looked a little uncomfortable at times.

Haddad Maia is someone who is on the up with her ranking, having just

broken into the top 100 and when you have been on the lower circuits,

that is when you think you belong and you are a proper tennis player

so she has a lot of confidence and has won lot of matches this year but

very inexperienced on grass and at Grand Slam level.

She has got some insect action at the broadcast Centre end of court

18. In the opening half an hour she has

had real problems reading the Haddad Maia serve and she has switched it

up and been very clever out here. She sends in these big first serves

around 110... And they are swinging as well, loaded with slice.

Yes. Laura Robson just stood and watched that sailed past and Haddad

Maia is one game from clinching the opening set. We have seen this a

lot, the big serve and she shapes up for the forehand, the big con

extreme grip which they tend to have on the clay in South America. Not

really the grip for a grass court but she is making it work. 3-5 after

28 minutes, Robson is serving to save the opening set.

APPLAUSE After all the years of problems with

the wrist, she said in her press conference she is now playing

completely pain-free. That was close. She has accepted the

call. She can challenge it if she wants, the Hawk-Eye cameras are up

around this court. I don't understand why she wouldn't. It

looked long. She should challenge that. That is

right under our commentary box. I think the rule of thumb from the

players should be done if there is a different of opinion between the

umpire and line judge, challenge. Miss Robson is challenging the call

on the left baseline, the ball was called in. Eventually she decides to

use the Hawk-Eye facility. That is far how -- how far in it was. I

can't believe that, that's not the right ball, I'm sorry. That was back

edge of the line or over it. Sorry, guys, that's the wrong one.

She was a little nervous at the start of the match, Laura. There is

a bit of fire their and its needs to come out.

That one missed the doubles court from the Brazilian. Laura Robson is

quite fired up and is getting the rewards.

After the change of ends it will be the Chris Haddad Maia serving for

the opening set at 5-4. -- Beatriz Haddad Maia. There was a

controversial moment in the last game, and overall from the umpire

which we will have a look at in a little while -- overruled. SUE

BARKER: There is a big story brewing out on court number three. Nick

Kyrgios has dropped the opening set 6-3. He is wearing the warm-ups

under his shorts, he had that big fall at Queen's Club and had a hip

injury and we wondered if he was fit and we are hearing he is not looking

good and is limping around the court. He is up against

Pierre-Hugues Herbert who is the defending men's doubles champion

here along with Nicolas Mahut, but he is not very happy out on court

number three, Nick Kyrgios, and he is a set down to the Frenchman at

that. We will keep you up-to-date with his progress but it is back to

court 18. COMMENTATOR: Beatriz Haddad Maia

serving for the opening set. And Laura Robson got a good read on that

first serve that time. Rallies have been in short supply. I

don't think there has been an exchange of more than six shots.

Robson thought she might just have made that. This is a big, tricky

serve, and it is accurate and the most difficult part is its disguise.

She has had such bother trying to read it.

30-30, Robson will view this as an opportunity.

Kept the forehand winner low. Robson left chasing nothing on that side of

the court and Haddad Maia has a set point at 40-30.

The good news for the fans is that Laura is getting better almost point

by point and it is such a great site to see her wrapping the racket head

around that one, just about hung onto it on the forehand side.

Beauty down the line from the Brazilian! She enjoyed that shot.

She might not know her way around a grass court but she has won a lot of

matches this year at all sorts of levels and that is when you make

those big shots, when you're confident in the big moments.

Yes. She clinches it with a serve out wide. And it took 35 minutes in

the end for the Chris Haddad Maia to take the opening set 6-4 -- Beatriz

Haddad Maia. We got every crosscourt backhand,

drop shot and overhead smash cupboard on the BBC. You can watch

action from up to 15 courts live and uninterrupted on the BBC sport

website, BBC iPlayer and the BBC sport app on your mobile, tablet,

games console or connected TV. Press the red button on your remote and

you will get coverage from up to six additional courts.

SUE BARKER: There are so many ways to watch Wimbledon this year. Our

featured match right now is on Court Number Two on the red button which

is Jo-Wilfried Tsonga against British wild card Cameron Lawrence

who went to play college tennis and was the top ranked player there but

he is up against a tough competitor in Tsonga who is taking the first

set. -- who has taken. Cameron Lawrence playing his first ever

Wimbledon. -- Cameron Dorier. It is still on the serve in the second set

but it is not looking good for Nick Kyrgios, his body language is not

looking good. That Matt is also on the red button and the website. That

is what is happening out there but we will go back. -- that match.

MATT CHILTON: The first set to Beatriz Haddad Maia. Laura Robson

with a lot of work to do to give herself a chance here. A bit of

movement just behind where the Brazilian player was standing as

people shuffle their seats. Usually when you get a seat on this court

you don't move! Stick with it. By contrast, Haddad Maia has had a

lot more success returning this Robson serve, she seems to have a

good read on it and she has a pretty fierce return.

That is a beautifully crafted point. In essence, they both have the same

game plan, the movement is probably the weakest part of both their games

but they both have excellent forehands and they are constantly

trying to get on it to dictate the point.

One of Robson's quicker service. She is about ten kilometres, ten mph

slower than her opponent out here today. Normally her service speed

would peak at around 102 mph. She seems to be stretching for some

of these forehands. You almost feel she has not shaken off some of those

early nerves, she is a bit uptight and trying too hard and she has to

try to get some footwork going out here. Break point. That is going to

hurt. She had time and acres of space and found the court 18 net. An

early break for Haddad Maia, now leading by a set and a break of

serve. They know what she has been through.

Can you imagine, three years ago, the world at your feet, heading

almost to the top ten, the fourth round here, and then a year later, I

was sat next to her in the commentary box after that wrist

surgery. So much happening in such a short time and such a young career.

APPLAUSE The court 18 crowd are doing their

best to help her along. There's quite a golf in ranking

between them, Robson is currently at 189. Haddad Maia is in the top 100

at 97. So much goodwill towards Laura

Robson, she has been through an awful lot. But the way back into

this match, and she has the game to do it, is to get Haddad Maia on the

stretch because the Brazilian does hang a bit deep behind the baseline

and is not able to cut off those kinds of angles.

Time and again Haddad Maia's serve comes to her rescue.

Nothing that Robson can do about that. It left the court via the side

door! Great work with the hand at the top. Super wrist action. Great

result. She is a good doubles player and she

is comfortable at the net. Robson's unforced errors count

starting to stack up now. So much of this is a lack of confidence from

Laura and it has to be a big reset because she is not playing on the

top for any more and life is much more difficult on the Challenger

circuit and she has found it really hard going. I think almost here,

this is such a big opportunity, she could leapfrog so many ranking

spaces if she could win a round or two at Wimbledon. That is looking

increasingly unlikely and she needs to start making the move now.

It is actually stringing points together of a high quality.

Individually there has been some good tennis but she hasn't really

gained any territory. She spent almost 17 months away from

the sport. That's a long time in your early 20s, just as your career

is getting going. And in that time she has had to watch all of her

contemporaries, Madison Keys, Eugenie Bouchard, flying up the

rankings. That is a good forehand. Down the

line, plenty of power, kept it low and gave Haddad Maia no chance.

When you seen her play a point like that and hold her serve so

comfortably you realise that Laura is world class when she puts it all

together and the hope is that she just keeps working and she settles

down with the coaching arrangement that really works for her. She has

had nine different coaches in about seven years which is not good. Still

a young player. Only 23. There is still time and it is a case of

getting through this next 12 months, we would love to see her back here

in the main draw by right, and no reason why she can't because when

you see her playing well close up, you still believe. She has the same

agent as Maria Sharapova there. You believe she could be a top 20

player, it is all there, but she has lost a lot of confidence and she

needs so much support in this part of her career. Still are set and a

break down as Haddad Maia prepares to serve at 2-1. -- a set.

The longest rally of the match. 13 strokes in total. We have not seen

too much in the wake of long baseline exchanges. Worth a trip to

the towel! She has missed it. The last time she

was in that position she found the net. This time, she sends it long.

This is confidence. She may have played a lot of grass course

tournaments leading into this match but I'm afraid she has not had many

wins. When you're not feeling well and not feeling confident, you miss

those kind of easy balls. Haddad Maia with the confidence of a

40-0 lead. Having a good year as well. She has moved up over 100

ranking spots. That is a big move in women's tennis.

Laura is going for her shots, but unfortunately missing the target

time and time again. Beatriz Haddad Maia has strengthened her lead in

this second set. Is there a way back from this

position for Laura Robson? They certainly hope so. Jeremy Bates with

the sunglasses on. There are some wonderful academies

out there. There is the all in Academy in southern France.

She has gone globetrotting around the different tennis centres in the

world. The poster boy for that Academy is stammering kahuna Magnus

Norman has done amazing work with. -- Stan Wawrinka.

If she is broken again here, Laura Robson Wimbledon is probably as good

as over. That is better at back a clean

winner on the 11th stroke of that exchange. At times she has looked

quite ragged but this is fluid. This is Laura when she was top 30. Just

creaming the ball. Another mis-hit. The timing all out,

footwork poor. Haddad Maia leads by 4-1. Surely on her way to the second

round now? SUE BARKER: Really not looking good

for Britain's Laura Robson. We will keep you up-to-date with that match.

We will head over to Court Number Three, the big story involving Nick

Kyrgios. He is a set and a break down to the Frenchman Pierre-Hugues

Herbert. The body language is not looking good. He has held serve but

there is a problem. Maybe the hip injury he sustained at Queen's with

that heavy fall, he was forced to pull out of the tournament. Not

looking good for Kyrgios. We will drop into this one and join our

commentators and Mark Petchey. So, Kyrgios

hanging onto his service game. His head in his hands. That has been a

familiar picture during this contest.

He suffered a fall and his hip was bothering him. He has come out here

with precious little energy. The server has not fired in the same way

we expected it to. The forehand has been more of a liability than a

strength. Searching for answers and may be searching for a decision

about whether he should continue? Jamie, what do you think would be

the right thing to do? Looking at his mindset, his body language, his

intensity through the last hour or so, it is hard to imagine what would

be in it for him, to still be on the court from two sets down. It is

certainly very hard from where we are sitting to see where he could

possibly get back into the match. Sebastien Grosjean, twice a

semifinalist here is in the Kyrgios corner.

That has been the story. Some beautiful touches from Herbert,

whether it has been drop shots or serve and volley play. A terrific

doubles player, of course. The defending men's doubles champion

here with Nicolas Mahut. Kent ace. He is outpacing the

Australian by 10-3. Not the stat you would have expected.

Herbert wraps things up. He is two sets to love to the good, the

Frenchman. Quite a few fans, as you can see,

exiting at the end of that second set. Perhaps feeling that the

writing is on the wall. Those are the stats behind the tale so far,

Jamie? Yes, from what we have seen, it is hard to look too much into the

stats. Herbert outpacing Kyrgios, not something we would expect to

see. That is the area which is affecting his game the most, in

terms of how dynamic he can be off the return of serve. Really, you

want to see a decision one way or the other. Either stay out on court

and play or, if you're not able to, as have the decision as it is, I

think that is the one you have to make. It looks like Herbert may be

taking his leave of absence from the court here to go for a rest room

break. It will give Kyrgios little bit more thinking time. He has been

about as combustible out here as a rain-soaked bonfire, hasn't he?

Usually what you get from him is a little talking, maybe some antics,

that may be not everybody is going to love and embrace, but at the same

time, you get a bit of a show. This has not been the Kyrgios that we

know and love. SUE BARKER: Not looking happy, is

he? While we wait for Pierre-Hugues Herbert to come back onto court,

let's go back to court 18 where Haddad Maia is now serving for the

match at 5-2. Laura Robson with a lot of work to do. Back we go.

Just over an hour to get to this stage. It has been a rapid-fire

first-round encounter. It is almost certainly very nearly over for Laura

Robson. The court 18 crowd generously trying to lift the

British player. The winner of this match will

possibly play the number two seed Simona Halep in the second round.

A little puff of white, that was right on the line. She has not been

looking further forward. The locker room knows Robson is not where she

was three or four years ago. She is a beatable player.

I have been impressed with Haddad Maia. She has traded very nicely

from the baseline and not made many unforced errors. She has been solid

out here. After just 61 minutes of play, the Brazilian Beatriz Haddad

Maia has three match points. Robson desperately trying to stay in

this match. Two match point saved. One more to come.

It is such a big deal to win a match at Wimbledon. She is feeling it

here. Haddad Maia just struggling to get

over the line here. That is disappointing. She has just

not made Haddad Maia play enough and she knows it. Match point number

four for the 21-year-old from Rio de Janeiro.

Robson is hanging an indirect smack -- hanging on in there! Does shame

it is two breaks rather than one. Haddad Maia is not looking to go out

and win this last point, she is waiting for Laura to give it to her.

I like Robson's stubborn streak here.

That was a poor attempt at a second serve. She is clearly feeling the

nerves. This opportunity for Haddad Maia to

finish this off now. Yes, got it done this time! A 100

mph serve right on the line. And there it ends in straight sets,

victory for Beatriz Haddad Maia over Laura Robson, 6-4, 6-2.

SUE BARKER: And although the Brazilian was ranked above Laura

Robson, everyone believing that this was a match she could win to try and

get her ranking up, having dropped as low as 189. But not to be. A

terrific serving display from the Brazilian but a very disappointed

Laura Robson leaving court 18. Laura Robson goes out but the biggest

story today involves this man, Nick Kyrgios. We saw him a moment ago

losing the second set to Pierre-Hugues Herbert of France.

They had the train on court at the end of the second set. They went

through a range of movement testing the hip injury which he sustained at

Queen's Club but in the end he was forced to retire from the

Championships. He did not want to do that. He desperately wanted to play

here at Wimbledon but he decided the hip was not good enough. One of the

most charismatic men on the tour, Nick Kyrgios, sadly is out of

Wimbledon on the opening day. Andy Murray will be starting the

defence of his title in just under ten minutes time on Centre Court.

First, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga up against the British wild card Cameron

Norrie. We can join our commentators.

Cameron Norrie has done well to rescue himself from a tricky

situation. He has done well, John? He has not found a way to blunt the

weapons which Tsonga has had. Once the service starts cranking up as it

has been, a big forehand, he is having to defend too much at the

moment. Tsonga won the first set 6-3 with a

break midway through and the other towards the end and he won the next

16-2 in the same circumstances. -- 6-2.

He is a 21 Rod Britain, his Wimbledon debut, a wildcard.

Just the extra gears at the moment, some extra power. What a challenge

this is for young Cameron Norrie. I def say lots of you saying hello to

him for the first time today. He has quite a story. He was born in South

Africa, brought up in Johannesburg in the early years but the bulk of

his growing life was in New Zealand. He has a Scottish dad and a Welsh

mum who have flown halfway round the world to be with him here today. He

might have been here representing New Zealand, but he switched

allegiance five years ago. He has been studying in the States. He has

put his sociology degree in Texas on hold to see what he might be if they

concentrate full-time on the sport. He has done well to be number one in

American college tennis. That is a very good effort. We have seen John

Isner come through their a few years back. American college tennis has

become in vogue, something players are working on to improve tennis. He

is a well grounded player. He has some things to work on, no doubt

about it. UMPIRE: Mr Norrie is challenging the

ball. The ball was called in. He has struggled to find the balance

of being aggressive but not making too many errors, and he has not

quite found that. In the last set he had triple the amount of errors that

Tsonga had. He has to find that balance if he is going to get back

in the match. I think he is just trying to force

the issue too much. He is seeing Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and he is trying

a little bit too much. SUE BARKER:. We are leaving this

match as we will be heading to Centre Court as Andy Murray will be

starting the defence of his title. If you want to continue watching

this match, it is our featured match on the red button. We will keep you

up-to-date on BBC Two. Now it is time for us to head to Centre Court.

In a few minutes, last year's champion will walk out to start the

defence of his title, and so begins the latest chapter in Andy Murray's

Wimbledon story. It is Nadal again. He ripped the

heart out of Murray. It is not going to BET. -- it is not going to be

easy. The waiting is over! Wimbledon champion again. A supreme

performance. It truly was a masterclass from Andy

Murray last year, winning in straight sets over Milos Raonic. The

queues were long this morning. Everybody wanting to get into the

grounds. Those lucky Leave not lucky enough to be on Centre Court have

taken their place on Henman Hill to watch the champion on the big

screen. Everybody so excited. The defence of the title is always a

nerve of time and for Andy, it has not been that good a year since he

was crowned world number one at the end of 20 16th. He has had injury

problems and illness problems and a little loss of form. That is the

focus of our attention to see Andy Murray walk onto court in

just the moment. I'm delighted to say joining Tim and I, Boris Becker.

It must give you goose bumps coming back here to Centre Court. As

defending champion, it is a nervous time? Yes, it is the most beautiful

feeling because you get to go where you really want to play tennis. It

was great to watch the documentary and hear your story which was on

last night. It has not been an easy few weeks for you, how are you? I am

happy to be at Wimbledon. And on we go. As far as Andy Murray is

concerned, he has not had the best year, has he? Very much up and down.

Almost undervalued. He has not won a big tournament. He won in Dubai. It

was not a Masters Series. He did well at the French Open. His form

was picking up. Then he went to Queen's Club, his favourite surface

grass, you expect him to be champion but he goes out in the first round.

It was trying times for Andy but he is a champion with winning

mentality. He has not forgotten how to win. Absolutely. Tim, we will get

your thoughts in a moment. Let's hear from the man himself. It has

not been an easy six months for him. He has been talking to Russell

Fuller. Andy, defending champion here at

Wimbledon, the pertinent question seems to be how is your hip? Yes, it

feels good. In the last few David Silva are -- in the last few days it

feels much better. It was hampering my movement and therefore I wasn't

getting loads out of my practice sessions but in the last few days,

the practice has been good. I would have liked to have trained the whole

week and got some exhibition matches but the positive from it is I am

fresh. I have not played too much tennis, but I will certainly have to

work my way into the tournament and I will probably not play great

straight off the bat. Was there a point on Thursday or Friday when you

were worried you had not been truly competitive and you gave thought to

pulling out of the Championships? No, I was going to wake to the last

minute if there was a chance of that happening. It is just a little bit

stressful. At this point of the year, and the biggest tournament of

the year for me as a Brit, I want to be prepared and be out there

practising and I have not been in that position before really, but you

have to try and stay patient, stay calm. It is not easy to get away

from everything and all the cameras and the media when you just want a

quite practice. It is just a tricky couple of days but I feel much, much

better now and looking forward to getting going.

The Wimbledon champion again... Andy Murray!

Do you feel better equipped to win the title now than three years ago?

I think so. A little bit more experienced. Wimbledon, 2014, I

wasn't feeling that great, I hadn't had a particularly great year and I

dropped out the the ten after Wimbledon that year. It shows how I

had been playing for a while. I definitely feel better coming in

this year. I feel mentally in a better place. I just need to work

out how to get through the first week. And how about your first round

opponent, Alexander Bublik? He'll have a couple of Russian rappers in

his player's box. What more do you know about him? We don't know each

other that well. I have met him a couple of times and he seems like a

nice guy, very confident. He's got very unorthodox game style that he

makes decisions, like, you know, might hit drop shots out of nowhere

from the wrong position. He's very difficult to read on the court.

SUE BARKER: Sounds interesting. Leading out the defending champion,

Andy Murray. A wonderful ovation for Andy.

Flags all going up around Centre Court. Everyone wanted to be here to

show their appreciation of everything Andy's done for British

tennis. He's got the headphones on. He doesn't want to hear how bias the

crowd will be. As Andy said, this could be a fascinating match. That

happened just a few moments ago. So, an the i is on court and Tim talking

about, it is an interesting guy this guy, he's one of the next, as Andy

said you don't know what to expect from him. I don't know a massive

amount about him. I am intrigued to see how the match unfolds. As Boris

touched upon, first round of any tournament is nerve-racking coming

back as defending champion. Throwing into question for Bublik, you don't

get a chance to practise on Centre Court. Every other court, if you

knew you were going to play, a French Open, US Open, you get half

an hour to soak up the atmosphere. Here, Centre Court, Wimbledon, you

don't. That is an opportunity for Andy to sdam p his authority early

on. -- stamp his authority early on. I think the start can play an

important factor. I seem to remember a young man walking out on to Centre

Court and it didn't phase him at all, that was you Boris. It is

called the innocence of youth. You don't know what you are about to do.

You live for the moment and pretty much in denail. You don't know the

consequences. Hasn't played at Wimbledon, if you have been a

veteran, you know everything already, you have a sleepless night

before. But I think Sacha or Alexander, they had a wonderful

night. He's actually a lucky loser. He didn't qualify: He said, you are

joking. You wouldn't believe his father. So he said, send me the

whole draw. Then he started thinking. I wonder how lucky he

thought he was when he saw the draw of playing Andy Murray. He is a

character on and off the court. Let's find out more about Andy's

opponent. What does it mean to play Andy

Murray on that famous court? It means a lot. I am very happy to play

my first match in Wimbledon, playing against Andy. It is what I work for

all my life. Then I get a chance to play against the best player in the

world. Now, you lost in the final round of

qualifying, didn't you, in a really, really tight match. I never get so

emotional, that time I was ex-husted. I woke up in the morning.

My father texted me. You are playing Andy. I am like, it cannot be real.

It is my first time lucky loser. I have never been lucky loser in my

life. Never. I just, the phone fell out of my hand. It can't be real.

Does everyone call you Sir Andy Murray? No, Andy is fine. I have

seen you interview a few, not just Andy Murray. He's Sir Andy Murray.

What did he say? He said, no, you don't need to, Andy's fine. I was

like, it is OK, you'll be sir after that, anyway. You don't mind being

on Centre Court? No. Finally people can see my trick shots. I do it

every day. Finally! He loves his trick shots. He

interviewed Roger Federer. He said I think we should play doubles today

and Roger diplomatically said, no. He says trick shots, so he's

obviously very talented. It is a tricky match, isn't it? If someone

is that confident. The vast majority when you play on the tour, with Andy

as experienced as he is, he'll know his opponents, this guy coming

through the qualifying, a lucky loser. Ranked outside the top 100.

Andy doesn't know much about him. He knows to expect the unexpected. He's

got to expect him to hit some trick shots. Then, as the opponent, he has

to concentrate on his own game. We all know Murray is best when he's

proactive. He's aggressive. If he has got a little bit soreness in his

hip, there's more reason to be aggressive. The more defensive he

is, the more he has to run. He obviously doesn't want to do too

much of that. The injury is a worry. We'll all watch closely the first

few games how well he is moving, whether pulling up at all. He had

injuries before. He knows how to deal with it. I think the injury

could be also called lack of confidence, because he hasn't won

anything big. This is the tournament, this is where everyone

wants him to do so well. The whole country is behind him. It is a lot

of pressure. Even if you won it a couple of times, he's still human.

That plays part in the injuries. He's fit enough to win today. He's

fit enough to win. We have all had injuries. Injuries make you focus

more because you don't want to be out for a long match? Injury can

distrack you because you think of the pain and whether you can keep

going. It focuses you to think I cannot be in rallies, I have to be

aggressive and live by the sword, die by the sword. I think we'll be

able to in the first seven or eight games understand where Murray is at.

If he is running and moving well, hopefully the hip is not too bad F

he is aggressive, maybe it is sorer. Having seen Andy so many times, he

likes to complain anyway. You don't know whether it is a real injury or

whether it is something he needs to get off his chest. He has a way

about his behaviour. Is it real? Or is it not? Absolutely! There is

Judy, a very proud mum, OBE. Boris, it is lovely to have you back on the

BBC. You are not working with Novak and you are heading to the

commentary box. Thank you to Tim as well. You will be joined by Andrew

Castle. All yours, Andy. THE COMMENTATOR: The first match on

Centre Court... The defending champion. The world

number one, Andy Murray serving to Bublik.

It strikes me he's not a character who will fold under pressure here on

Centre Court. Already some interesting variation.

From Bublik on the back-hand side. That is his best shot, that and the

serve. Going 0-30 down with this delicate forehand down-the-line.

You see this variation from Bublik. This is a man who lost in the

qualifying. A Wimbledon debut.

This generation certainly respect their elders. He's going to enjoy

the stage. He's having to play quite a lot of

good tennis already, is Andy Murray. Two break points saved.

Sweet drop shot there. Forced to play some good tennis.

So Andy Murray who lost to Thompson at Queen's Club.

He's got some old fashioned tennis has Sasha Bublik. He doesn't mind

throwing in a drop shot, maybe coming into the net. He's got a big

serve. His backhand is worth watching, too.

Mr Murray has two challenges remaining.

Net. First serve. He has settled in nicely. He looks

to be a man who enjoys this stage. He came across prematch as a

confident guy. He interviewed players in tournaments before. He's

obviously born in Russia, plays for Kazakhstan, sounds like an American.

It is difficult to read him. Bublik just shock his head, a gentle

enquiry from Andy Murray choosing not to go to the Hawk-Eye system.

Very surprised. Just an 81 miles per hour second serve. He's bound to be

nervous as defending champion. This is show time here.

Early in the match! He's winning these contests at the

moment. I do expect him to win those

mini-battles with touch. He's got a lovely feel for the ball.

He also shows authority that he's not afraid to play, and his opponent

is known for his trick shots and Andy's not afraid to do the same. It

is a clear sign of confidence. No breaks here. Just ten minutes.

The defending champion, 2-1. SUE BARKER: We will be back with

this match in a moment. Play on the outside court got under way at 11.

30. Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, out on court number two, up against Cameron

Norrie and Tsonga winning it in straight sets. Cameron Norrie's

first ever Wimbledon. Playing one of the toughest on the surface.

One of the No big celebration from Jo-Wilfried

Tsonga! That's a shame! And this is a shame, too. Seeing this man, Nick

Kyrgios forced to withdraw from his match. 2-0 he was up against

Herbert. This is the hip injury he sustained at Queen's Club a couple

of weeks ago. Obviously it hasn't improved. He was totally out of

sorts throughout the match. No great surprise that he had to call it a

day. Always sad when you have to withdraw from one of the Grand Slam

events and particularly his favourite, Wimbledon.

And disappointment for Laura Robson. Wild card, she lost 6-4, 6-2 to the

big serving Brazilian, Haddad Maia. That is what has been happening

elsewhere. Back to Centre. This match is on red button, Venus

Williams, 3-0 up. That is our featured match on the red button.

So, back we go to centre. That's definitely not the shot. So,

having lost in qualifying what's he doing in the draw? Well seeded

player took out. Came in as a lucky loser. That is what he's doing here.

Break point down. Very unpredictable, this young man.

But important for Murray to establish his position early.

APPLAUSE 133 miles per hour.

Murray, remember has saved two break points himself. Is he limping a bit

with his hip injury? Yes, he is. Slightly worrying.

Settling in nicely. Just a quarter of an hour played in this match.

Wow! Earlier on this year, Indian Wells, I did ask Andy Murray how he

got to be number one, he said train harder and don't serve 20 double

faults. That was his advice. Bublik, having fought back, he then

handed the break over. Yes, with the two double faults back-to-back. It

is slippery. Early days here, the grass is very lush. Obviously nobody

has played in about 12 months. So when you get to the net, it's

slippery. Mentally that was very important for

Murray to break first. Get your nose in front just a little bit.

Bublik doesn't believe the call. Hawk-Eye, I believe? No.

We were warned that a couple of Russian rappers were in his box. I

was trying to spot the rapper. Didn't look like anything that I

expected. No. Or they may different type of music! What do I know?

UMPIRE: Murray leads four games to one for set. 4-1 to Murray, the

defending champion, for the second time, actually, coming out at

Wimbledon, asserting his authority. Really he's won the first

mini-battle here. Boris, you came out as defending champion on three

occasions. Did you know how intimidating it was for the

opposition to come out against against somebody who has won the

Championships? You beat out of sight everything. I didn't know the

effects coming against me. I, maybe not in the first year, but the

second, I felt, this is a place, the court, I felt very comfortably. I if

I have to walk more confident, then I feel I may as well do that, just

to have the effect. But to play at home and open the championship is

the biggest honour in tennis and therefore something I loved doing.

Andy Murray still with a suggestion of a limp.

Murray checking if there is any dirt on the ball. Hawk-Eye comes into

effect. Players have three challenges per set. An extra one

goes to a tie-break. UMPIRE: Mr Bublik has two challenges

remaining. You mentioned the little wobble in Andy's movement. I think

it's easing off. The match eventually takes over. He's

focussing more on the points, not so much on the hip.

That's a good sign. Bublik coached by his father. His

father, he called him and said, you are playing Andy Murray at

Wimbledon. It's the biggest match of his career, by far. And at first,

young Sasha didn't believe him, until his father showed him the

door! until his father

showed him the draw! Well, this is a stunning piece of

work, isn't it? Going at your opponent, absolutely fair game, but

not swinging too much, he makes it look simple. I thought Sasha gave

him a bit of Astaire afterwards. -- I thought Sasha gave him a bit

of a stare afterwards. Now this backhand lob that won the

Davis Cup, against Belgium. I don't know if it was the wisest of

choices, the forehand slice, when your opponent is approaching.

APPLAUSE The turn out wide, because you

really have to push off to cover the rest of the court. That is how we

can tell how serious the injury is. The second serve, gone for an ace.

Gives him the fourth double fault. And finally, Bublik wins one of

these exchanges. There is no way between points Murray leader Murray

is moving like a panther, let me put it like that. He is uncomfortable.

He has had hip injections. To go seven matches in a Grand Slam

tournament and to win, if you're not 100%, I don't know whether that is

possible. Another entertaining rally. I have

seen many opening match is far less exciting as this one, and we are

only 25 minutes into it. Oh. That puts me in mind of the

match he played here when he hit that shot and almost ran into the

crowd. Used his muscles, if you'll remember, that day. This is a lovely

touch from Andy Murray, down the line. Little bit of a slice as well,

just to take it away. Beautiful play.

The ball was called out. Well, it was on the side of the court, where

the umpire's she is, so he had the perfect view. Murray has challenged

this one, and umpire will be a little embarrassed with that.

Well, Andy Murray pretty much seals the first set with that double

break. 5-1. The winner of Dubai this year, Andy Murray, as we assess his

form for 2017. A 45th title, remarkable, but, you know, apart

from the semifinal of the French Open it has not been a great season,

but he retains the world number one ranking.

Source at number one at this year's Championships, and the defending

champion wins it 6-1. That could have been very different, if Bublik

had managed to break serve in Murray's opening service game from

15-40. Yes, the scoreline does not indicate it was a very well played

first set on Centre Court by Alexander Bublik. Centre Court, if

you can remember, it can be the most frightening of all courts, very

intimidating. That was a nice gesture. Seeing this young

generation, Phil of tattoos, this is the way the world goes. But Andy

looked better and better as the match went on. Ten Grand Slam finals

he has been in, and he brings this huge experience to bear, doesn't he?

Davis Cup medals twice and an Olympic gold medallist as well, but

some very good news and life changes, which players absorb more

into their playing careers as they get older. Delightful news that

Kimberly, his wife, is expecting their second child, after baby

Sophia was born. As we let some of these numbers sink in, couple of

breaks for Andy Murray, but the players are getting older now and

are well into their 30s, so the absorb these family changes, don't

they? I think it is important. It doesn't mean you have to stop

because you have to start a family. But similar to Novak Djokovic, Roger

Federer, now father of four, I think it is imported as you get older to

have an off court life, your family. You can't talk only about ten is all

night long. I think it is wonderful, the situation, for him. -- you can't

talk only about tennis. A bit breezy at the start of the second set here,

one set to Murray. These double faults are going to haunt him now.

That is number five already. Quite quick on the service motion.

And this is a gift of a game so far to Murray. I mean, you have to

batten down the hatch. He has cut out the errors. Definitely not the

shot to play there. An interesting look at Sasha Bublik.

Another forehand slice. Unusual choice of strokes for this young

man, but Andy Murray's not complaining. Break points.

That is his strongest side, the backhand. The father has a bit of

worry on his face. He might just have one of those faces that looks

worried always. No, Sir. Absolutely not. And the

nation, that was, you cannot bring Murray in with the drop shot. Too

bad for Bublik. And the new patron, the Duchess of Cambridge, alongside

the chairman of the club. Patron of the England tennis club, now, the

Duchess of Cambridge, taking over from the Queen, who was 64 years in

that role. Finding a little bit of peace and quiet... Oh, Norma, back

with us. I wonder what tennis club that is.

Murray is in cruise control now. His opponent looks out of sorts.

And that is exactly what the doctor ordered. A slight injury and you

risk playing, you want to win fast. Obviously still a long way to go,

but it looks promising. APPLAUSE

So our first match on Centre Court, and the reason why that man might be

having a little bit of a nap in the afternoon. He may be suffering

terrible jet lag. Elderly tennis club is in Auckland, New Zealand!

The wonders of the Internet, Boris. Wow, that was quick. Hopefully he

didn't arrive just this morning. Murray are starting to enjoy this.

He is having fun. So great to see Sir Jackie Stewart

here, the motor racing world champion, three times.

Playing some better tennis now. He qualified at the Australian Open

earlier this year, beat Lucas Pouille, well inside the top 20. An

outside bet for this championship. No, he has good strokes, beautiful

height. I don't think he has an idea yet what his game plan is. He does a

lot of trick shots. He is a wild thing, isn't he? Arms

and legs flying everywhere. He is giving away this second set rather,

isn't he? That was an opportunity for Andy. He

is a very bright and quick young man, Bublik. Intellectually he is

very strong. You feel he probably has 56 shots for each situation. If

you only had one, it might be better -- he probably has five or six

shots. That is the case sometimes. Too many options.

Bublik doesn't bring the consistency.

Advantage, Bublik. Bublik need a confidence booster now. Yes, Bublik

keeping the second set alive, a competitive set, anyway, but there's

going to the defending champion. We are slightly concerned about Murray.

Was he perhaps not even going to take to the court, which would have

been a real shame for the tournament? He shakes his head

there. We have been taking a look at his movement, Boris. Certainly,

between points he has looked very stiff of hip, but during the points

as strong as ever. Well, we never know what the problem really is, and

I don't think he will tell us honestly, but there is a limp when

he walks between the points. Once the rally starts, I find him moving

good. He had to run to a lot of drop shots, and you have to do that with

your hip or any other part of your life, and he seems to be fast. Once

the rally starts, she stands very close to the baseline, as we can see

here again, so he doesn't really want to have to track way back

behind the baseline. Keeps the point short. He is pretty aggressive.

Then again most players only have one game. If you are the number one

player in the world, you have multiple games.

Bublik has an incredible long reach, his arms and legs.

APPLAUSE And as has characterised this match,

the exchanges in the forecourt have gone Murray's way.

He just has the ability to bring the ball up and down, and even a shrug

from Bublik, as he is forced into playing another shot that opens the

court up for Andy Murray. A rally of 19 shots, that one.

APPLAUSE Murray leads 3-1, second set.

No comparison will be favourable for the younger man, including the

career record. 651 matches won for Andy Murray. Just the for Bublik who

is new to this level. But two of those were top 20 wins. -- just two

for Bublik. He has a good technique. But the question, especially when

you are that young, will always be can you put it together in one go?

Well, if you were the coach, you had coached Novak Djokovic to six Grand

Slam titles, the first thing you would say surely to heaven, this is

sliced forehand, can we have a word? I would go absolutely mad, I would

tell them, for every forehand drop shot, you pay me 10 euros extra.

This is an impossible shot. LAUGHTER

Sue SUE BARKER: We are leaving this match on BBC Two and it continues

over on BBC One. If you want to continue watching

Andy Murray at the start of his title defence, you can, and it

continues on BBC One. We will head straight over now to Court Number

One with Venus Williams has set point against Elise Mertens, so

let's join our commentators there. Annabel Frank alongside Chris

Martin. COMMENTATOR: Two set point saved by

Mertens. She raced into a lead, Williams. She had Mertens at 15-40,

but very close right now. Third set point.

Battling from the beginning and continues to do so, on the draw

here. You could feel the tension in that last point. She got great depth

on that the of serve. Not the best strike, but you just felt there was

a few nerves creeping into Venus Williams on that last point. She

certainly has a battle on her hands. Not a feisty opponent, but someone

who is just competing so well out here. Rematch of their third round

of the French Open this year. By far the best Grand Slam performance from

this 21-year-old, who only has four games on the clay.

Is not served and have quite the impact it had earlier in the set,

but here, I had to hold my breath on this one. Just got that one into

court. Kind of state that one in there. -- steered. Fourth set point.

Not batting an eyelid. She is just loving being out here on Court One.

She is taking her game to the seven time Grand Slam champion. Just

striking out. Great freedom. A smile from mum, she has seen it

all before a million times. Never looks overly stressed out there in

the box, does she? Fifth set point. Took the best part of our. -- and

our. Took the best part of our. Fifth set

point. That has created quite a buzz around Court Number One. It

certainly has, my goodness, I don't think she played their best tennis

in that set, Venus Williams. There was a lot of tension towards the

back end of it but drawing on all that experience she brings out onto

that court and she needed it. Her friend on the right, hitting

partner, friend, mental, coach, been with Venus Williams for so many

years, five times champion here of course, last time in 2008. From the

spin of the coin, she chose to receive, and when it went 15-40

down, since then, she has really grown into this match and has given

way to real fight here. She's had such a great attitude. I've enjoy

watching her body language, and she has enjoyed her time out here. She

plays a solid game, doesn't she? Opening up her shoulders and using

the power of Venus Williams. A good set of tennis from her. Somehow, she

needs to keep up that level of intensity because quite often, after

a tie-break set like that, you can dip off, and she needs to keep

battling and stay tight. Second serve points, they have both been

struggling. The first serve has been important.

75th grand slime main draw, Williams, her 20th Wimbledon. Just a

third for Mertens, total. She is ranked 54th, three of her career

high of 51. Last month. At the top of her game at the moment. Qualified

in Hobart at the start of the year. A big step. This is a giant one.

Again, great swerve on that server but when you watch her second serve,

that to ball tosses way out to the right hand side, almost like she

can't kick back on that server, and has to come back on the outside.

Coaches are getting younger. We talked about that earlier.

For three years they have been together.

Kim Clijsters certainly would have had an input, the biggest match of

her career. No question about that. She would have given a lot of very

good advice as to tactics, how to tackle the occasion, the fact she's

walked out onto this big show court and the scale of the court would

have felt so different to anything she's used to but she seems very

much at ease. Look at the way she is marching about this tennis court.

There's nothing passive about that. This will be the biggest win of her

career so far today if she manages to pull this off.

Number 15 in the world, her best so far.

Has many matches has she watched, honestly?

What I like about watching her is she's really relaxed but also she's

very warm to the opposition, often applauding their shots at there. She

just enjoys it. She enjoys that to. Or maybe not. Maybe not that one!

This is a great need bend here, staying low throughout that shot. --

knee bent. Never shies away from a drive

volley. Yes, she's pretty confident on that

shot, isn't she? That was quite a high judge actually, she was taking

that ball out of the air. -- hi trajectory.

No wonder a half smile. Perhaps didn't do enough with that drive

volley. Mertens on it quickly. She has really taken on the second

serve in this match. They're certainly hasn't been

dropped off after that first set. Quite the opposite. One of two break

points converted. That is warm applause. We talked

earlier but that match against Venus Williams in the third round of the

French this year. It's been a good rehearsal for this match again. I

think it's such a good point, Chris, because she's already used to facing

the patterns of serving. The pace of the shots. Even though at a

different surface. That all didn't feel quite the same. She's done it

once before. Like you say, a good rehearsal.

A beautiful change of direction with that backhand, leaning in on that

shot on the front foot, rifles that one down the line. She's almost in a

hurry to get on with this. She has hit eight more winners in this match

to Venus. The first run for Hawk-Eye. Last

year was the 10-year anniversary of the very first Paul Kaye at

Wimbledon, ten years ago. Gosh, it doesn't feel that long, does it? --

the very first Hawk-Eye. Andy Roddick match. Six double faults for

Mertens. That serve just didn't do enough

damage. That ball toss quite far right to the right, just swerving it

into Venus Williams' strike zone there. Break point.

Nearly three quarters of the points one behind the first less than 40%

behind the second. Mertens had hit her shot at. No

complaint from the Belgian number one. Another break point.

Williams breaks straight back. UMPIRE: New balls please.

SUE BARKER: Venus breaking serve and fighting back like the championship

is. We can bring you one result from Court number 14 earlier today.

Dustin Brown, one of the great entertainers in the sport beat his

opponent in Fort set. He beat Rafal Nadal in 2015 and will await the

winner of the match on Centre Court, Andy Murray vs Alexander Bublik.

Talking of which, over on Centre Court, Andy Murray is coming up to

serve for a 2-0 lead. Everyone breathes a sigh of relief that his

hips look to be recovered and Andy Murray in charge on Centre Court, it

over on BBC One if you want to watch it. And this match is our featured

match on the red button. Marina Erakovic v Simona Halep is over on

Court Number Two on the red button. The French Open runner-up, a set and

a break up. This is Court number three. The number four seed, she was

a break of serve down, but Ashleigh Barty reached the final at Edgbaston

but she lost, so Elina Svitolina has quite a bit of work to do, so that

matches on the website. Back we go to Court Number One.

A break is not a break until you held serve so Venus Williams broke

straight back. Venus Williams has the ability to

make tennis look very, very simple sometimes, doesn't she? Get that big

serve and to play, massive strike into corners, and she is dictating

play. She's moving as well as she has ever moved. I think she looks

fitter now than she has in ten years or more. Just moving beautifully.

What a chance. She knows that was an opportunity missed because that

second serve sat invitingly. Kim Clijsters Courtside now.

Those two missed returns are something to discuss at the Academy.

Straight after this match. A real chance there for Mertens. I

think that first opportunity at 15-40, that second serve didn't have

enough on it, and she got enough on it but just missed it, but it's

about not getting the ball back into play and making Venus Williams play.

She's going to be disappointed. She needs to put that behind her. One of

the hardest things as a tennis player is to move on and wipe the

slate clean and not think about what's just happened. Yes, too many

of those. You made the point earlier that she's not allowing Venus

Williams to totally dictate. And that is 7-0.

Didn't go to the space. Mertens was punished.

A great lob, wasn't it? It really was a good lob. Great control. Good

height. Not sure how much she knew about it!

It was almost reactionary, wasn't it?

She hasn't been up at the net that match. The one she dumped into the

bottom of the net, it is a drive volley which sailed long. I'm not

sure she's that confident up around the net area.

One hour 12 minutes. More and more comfortable for this scoreboard for

Venus Williams on a new look number one court this year. A four-year

project to put on a retractable roof. Taken some parts off,

installed some parts and will do more over the next year as soon as

this Championships has finished. It will be the ready for 2019. It's a

massive project, but it's really coming on so well, isn't it? I live

quite close by and I've watched it over the last year or so, with all

the big cranes and machinery and watched a developing. It's amazing.

It's going to be incredible when it's finished. Constantly

modernising, never losing, though, the traditional values and look.

They want to create the English garden type effect as well because

that's where tennis was born, in the UK, in people back gardens. This is

a pretty impressive garden. Murray Mount, Henman Hill, whatever you

prefer. Court Number One, straightaway in your view there.

It's looking magnificent. It just blends in. I think that's what

people feel when they first visit Wimbledon. It's just a beautiful

planting, the flowers, the greenery, it's just really beautiful.

Williams, 3-2 with the break. Just holding Venus Williams there.

Just felt as if she was being rushed. Playing to the server's

pace. It starts on that serve. She just

doesn't quite get hold of the serve sometimes, and it's like it wraps

around the string and she doesn't get a good strike on it and then you

are chasing the ball and being dictated to.

She's had to really battle and, bearing in mind it's her first match

on grass since the fourth round of the French Open, things are going

very nicely so far, moving well, no signs of a slip.

It has become an issue, hasn't it? I think right from the word go Venus

was stepping inside the baseline and giving it a good crunch and she is

feeling the pressure constantly out here so she's trying to do little

bit more with it but it is affecting her.

That is a clever shot. Three drop shots, that's the second from

Mertens. Kind of Murray shot. Cut inside that

slice, fade to that ball away. It's more like a golf chip, isn't it?

This is such a big game. You almost feel she has to hold here. There's a

sort of sign of confidence and plucky spirit she brought out onto

the court, has waned a little bit. Venus going for the insurance,

double break. Look Rupp our right to the centre of

the strings. -- look at that power right through.

A look up at the support camp there, almost can't believe she missed that

one. A look of... Drizzle has arrived. That wasn't forecast, was

it? APPLAUSE

So that's really good concentration, to hit the ace.

It was hand in. Says the break point. 3-4. While we watch, with

clear keeping an eye on things, the committee here, we took a step back

in time, didn't we? The Australian Open, Annabel, and who would have

thought Federer Nadal final, and Serena against Venus Williams. She

and Kvitova are the only Wimbledon winners in the draw here. Why not

another Grand Slam? Definitely, definitely title contenders. We have

to remember this is Venus's first match on grass this year, hasn't

played a warm up and, OK, perhaps struggled a little in that first

set, drawing upon all her experience, but you can only imagine

if she does get through this match she will get better and better as

the draw unfolds. Well, they are continuing.

An hour and 22 minutes. Venus Williams has got the double break.

That's a great shot! APPLAUSE

LAUGHTER Smiles all round!

Great anticipation, the flick of the rest just keeping that racket face

over enough to get that ball over Venus's head. -- flick of the wrist.

Well played because that wasn't easy, that finish, just had to get

the body weight shifted backwards, get the footwork underneath that

smash, and managed to send it back, that over the top of it to control

that ball. Perfect body serve. She played French cricket there,

Kvitova. -- Mertens. It is hard to criticise Venus

Williams' serve because it is a stunning and has been so brilliant

throughout her career but there are times when she lets that ball

dropped a little bit and sinks into it, and that is when the double

fault tends to creep into her game. And there you can see it and really

push up and use her legs in there in that first serve, use all her

height. -- you can see that she didn't really push up and use her

legs in there. That was brilliant. Winning a lot of fans here, Mertens,

with this approach. I think she has the spring back in her step as well.

Her body language has just gone up a couple of notches. Break back point.

Using the body serve a lot now. Yes, she has used it a lot today, very

effectively. Good to tuck an opponent up, isn't it, and get that

short reply? Oh. I think five Venus Williams is really really good, we

always talk about that third ball of the rally, the shop that you hit

after your serve, and the top players will be brave with that and

go into the corners, and that is exactly what Venus does.

Solid. Venus could have done better with the pass. You can sense she is

not that comfortable up at the Met, Mertens, she slightly hesitant,

isn't she, moving forward? She had to force herself out of her comfort

zone in that volley. Deuce. Yes, she is really breathing

hard here. A tough game. APPLAUSE

Advantage, Miss Williams. Game, Miss Williams. Terrific hold

again from Williams. You can tell the points are getting bigger with

these ball tosses, but the golden rule is to pick a bad one!

LAUGHTER That is true. She has been a little

one... Something she has lost rhythm on that serve, but when she is

really needed to draw up on it she has come up with that big serve.

APPLAUSE Moves well.

It's just contented look on Kim's Place, watching her player out of

four Academy, in her first Grand Slam draw, first time here. -- out

of her Academy. Great experience whatever happens. It really is, and

I think it is just a chance because of the level of tournaments she has

played more on, and you comes a little bit more rain... It. Play

perhaps, it is actually raining quite heavily. -- here comes a

little bit more rain. What I was going to say, such a chance for her

to test yourself out against one of the very best in the world. And an

extraordinary situation, isn't it? Match point and it is pouring with

rain. Looks like they are going to let it continue. Yes, it is pretty

heavy. Advantage, Miss Mertens. Lovely

change up there. We have seen some power from her at the back of the

court and you can see the little great change. Venus just can't get

to that, can't see that one coming. Great disguise.

It's in! Or is it? The ball is called in.

Oh, just! Right on the outside edge. One challenge remaining.

Well played! There are a few people standing. She is not ready to go

back to the locker room just yet. She looks like she is really

enjoying this, was very nervous at the start. But terrific to see. Yes,

it is raining heavier now than it has been. This is such a shame,