Day 10, Part 1 Wimbledon

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

Wimbledon... He's done it! Her Majesty will present the trophy.

Brilliant! Oh, yes! Perfect. Irresistible. Majestic. Superb.

Champion again! You are about to leave the sanctuary

of the locker room. Take a deep breath. Focus. And it is time to

take the walk. Pictures hang on the wall, great moments captured in

time. Ignore them. Your opponent is right there. Ignore them. You are

nervous. There is pressure. Especially if you are the home

favourite. The woman who has suddenly got the whole nation behind

you. History weighing on your shoulders. Ignore it. A British

victory at last. Walk down the stairs, past the trophy cabinets,

past the honours board, ignore them. Tell yourself this is just another

match. Only it isn't. You know it isn't. A place in the Wimbledon

final... It is the semi-final at Wimbledon. That is genius! The door

is open to the final. Light at the end of the tunnel. British tennis

history is made! It is time to go to work. Nobody knows that walk better.

Martina Navratilova has 59 Grand Slam titles and Johanna Konta will

make that walk today. Still driving for her first. We have not had a day

like this for 39 years, a British woman in the semifinals at

Wimbledon. Johanna Konta has performed bravely at this year's

Wimbledon and now carries the country's hopes following Andy

Murray's defeat yesterday. The British number one was out on the

practice court this morning. Three times she has been taken to three

sets and each time she has found a way to win and they have been some

of the most thrilling matches that this year's Wimbledon. But standing

in her way today is an all-time great of the sport. Venus Williams

is a five-time winner of the Ladies' Singles and at the age of 37 is the

oldest semifinalist since Martina 23 years ago. She has now played

exactly 100 matches here and won 86 of them. But Johanna Konta has a

winning 3-2 record against Williams and has already disposed of the

number two seed Simona Halep. She is the first British woman to reach the

semifinal since Virginia Wade in 1978. The other semifinal is Garbine

Muguruza against Magdalena Rybarikova. Garbine Muguruza was a

semifinalist when she lost to Serena Williams. Rybarikova is ranked 87 in

the world that you makes a comeback from injury but she has won 18 of 19

matches on grass this year. Those are the two semifinals that we are

looking forward to an Centre Court. Muguruza against Rybarikova and then

a huge day for Britain's number one Jo Konta up against the great Venus

Williams. That is Centre Court and we thought it was fitting on this

day that we make our way courtside. I am with two people who know that

walk well, with multiple Grand Slam titles between them, in places and

King. It is some walk, Sunday. -- Kim Clijsters and Billie Jean King.

It is just so nerve-racking. If you are in the zone, it is a wonderful

walk. It reminds you of history, you look up at the boards, you see the

trophy, the plate. It is truly beautiful. I think that is the most

beautiful award in the world and I love it. With all the different

names on it. All the shoulders that you are standing on before you get

here. It is quite wonderful. Walking out on this court, when you turn the

corner, it opens up to this panoramic view with the people.

There is nothing like it. It can be wonderful but it can also be

terrifying as well! Looking at the trophy and the board and everything!

Bows, it can be both. I remember as a junior I would wait at the stairs

outside of the locker room and I would look through the window and I

would see the players leaving, and I would see them walking that five or

ten metres, and as a junior it was like being in Disneyland seeing the

Disney characters walking out! At a junior it was an incredible

experience already back then and it is still special now after being

retired for a few years. Coming back it is still just as special. Martina

was saying ignore it, ignore all the pressure. How easy is it to ignore

it? You don't ignore it. You know it is there. What really helps is when

you admit it. You say I am nervous. When you try to say that you are

fine and you are not, that is the worst. Just accept it. Have

ownership of it. When you say I feel pressure, then it dissipates. It is

being honest. It allows you to move on also and then get really focused

on the task at hand. It is not easy. It is so emotional. It is the person

who is stronger at that that tends to be the greater champion in the

world. If you have the head and the heart and the guts together, and

integrated, those are the true champions. It is amazing to watch

that evolve every generation. I have been around a while now! I keep

thinking about this occasion for Konta and how important it is for

her. She needs to just stay focused. I know she gets a text message the

night before. Tactics. And they go over it again in the morning. Almost

like an exam. Testing to see if she has got it clear. Clarity is a big

part of being a great player. It is very important. Being very clear

what you are going to try to do. You have got to embrace it but you can't

get away from it. Semifinals is a different feeling around the

grounds, the locker room, and you know it is a huge occasion. It is.

After winning the quarterfinals, the media hype it up. The day off in

between, there are lots more things to do. There is a lot more pressure.

Dealing with the pressure. What is important to know, for Jo as well,

Venus has been in this situation many more times than her that she

will also be nervous. Everybody will be nervous in this situation, no

matter how many times you have been there because it is so special.

Absolutely. I think for both of them... The two waterboard things

are served and service return, the two initial shots. -- the two most

important things are service and service return. But you are only as

good as your second serve. That will make the difference today. You have

got to get a huge percentage in if you are not serving well. These are

the decisions you have got to make as you adapt and adjust and you go

through the match. I really know you are always as good as your second

serve because you don't have your first serve going every day, day in

and day out. And don't get overwhelmed. You look at the draw,

128 people at the beginning. But you have only got to win seven matches,

one match at a time, one ball at a time. I remember Rod Laver telling

me that. I only have got to beat seven guys, not 128. I thought that

was brilliant! That allowed me to calm down right there. That makes it

sound so easy! I do think that pressure is a privilege. Jo knows

that better than anybody and she is a bracing it. Andy Murray might have

to step over, Kim and I might have to step away, and we might have

Konta Castle on the hill! Tim Henman and Andy Murray are great, but go

for it because you are the last bricked left! -- the last Briton

left! I know Tim Henman on the committee here and he is not going

to give up that hill! We will talk more about Jo and service later, but

talking about Andy Murray and the disappointment yesterday, playing

with an injury is always hard but yesterday was painful to watch.

Painful but also I admired him that he was still fighting, still out

there. If it had been another tournament, I don't think he might

have started. It just shows how much he respects this place. He did try

to finish the match. When you rely so much on your speed and you cannot

push off, there is no chance for him to win points. No, and it also comes

down to not wanting to give up. He wants to give his opponent and the

crowd the respect. Maybe I am not as fit as normal but I still want to

finish and I want my opponent to have the respect that they beat me.

I think that is something... Personally I had mixed emotions

going into this tournament for Andy Murray. If he has got an injury, I

don't want him to hurt himself so badly that he ends up needing an

operation. Sometimes you need to have a short-term loss for long-term

gain. I know the reason he played, he wanted to play for his country

and the people. I felt bad and I felt that he was between a rock and

a hard place no matter which way he went. He still made the semifinals!

Amazing. Quarterfinals, sorry. Novak Djokovic, similar, an elbow injury

yesterday and the shoulder injury, long-standing. He has got to have a

long time now. But then who walks onto Centre Court? Roger Federer. He

just made the game looks so easy. Wow! If he could pass that on to

others! He has got such a passion to play and his technique is a perfect

that he is having this longevity and being able to sustain it. I have had

a kidney operations and when your knee is not right, it is horrible to

play. -- I have had eight knee operations. Taking that rest in the

second half of the year and getting extremely prepared and repaired, his

body and having time with the children, he just seems so relaxed

and fit this year. He is so fit. And he has got the chance to have a

record number of titles, between him and Pete Sampras. And then of course

we can go way back for the record of seven titles, and Roger has the

chance to get to eight. He knows that. He is so fluid and efficient.

We were wondering whether he is human. Some of the shots he was

playing yesterday were out of this world. For me it is funny. I have

been around him since the juniors and to see the process, to see how

he was from juniors and how he is now and the way he thinks out on

court, it is like a chess player. Everything is very tactical as well

and it is incredible to see. He is a great guy and I am really excited

that he is in this position again. I interviewed him recently about his

very first match at Wimbledon and he came at 16 in the juniors and after

four games he said he was so nervous that he asked the umpire to measure

the net because he thought it was too high. He said police measure the

net, and he got down and said it is not too high. He said it just felt

to be, an enormous thing. And then he won the juniors, I think in 1998,

and now look where he is. Unbelievable. Wimbledon has that

effect on people. Good news for Roger Federer fans yesterday as he

went safely through to the last four. And I wonder if we have more

good news about the weather because we want that roof open today.

Absolutely! The cloud has been building up through the course of

the day but it is still going to be a pleasant afternoon. It is still

quite warm and we will have further sunny spells. The maximum

temperature today is 23. As we head through the evening, we are looking

at a lot of dry weather and temperatures of about 20. Coming

down in the evening with only a 10% risk of a shower in the late

afternoon, early evening, but we are more likely to see dry weather. Into

the next day, dry weather and temperatures on the right side of

20. All is good. Yes, and you are looking wonderful in your Wimbledon

colours! Perfect for the semifinals. We did meet for breakfast and yes, I

did pay but she only had a cup of tea! Thank you very much. All of the

talk, a real buzz on Centre Court, because Britain's number one Jo

Konta will be on Centre Court, because Britain's number one Jo

Konta will be an second. She has been talking to us.

It's a very special day for Joanna Konta. And the fans have waited 33

years to be able to say that one of their own is in the quarterfinals.

Whenever you engage in one of these titanic tussle is, you always seem

to have the belief. I trust in my own ability, that trust has got to

be there. # I rise up

# And I do it a thousand times again The first British woman since 1978

to reach the semifinals at Wimbledon, and you will be in the

top five in the women's rankings when they are out next week.

I didn't know that! OK. Thank you. Congratulations. When you tot up all

of these achievements, do you ever patch yourself on the back and go,

well done? Um... It's difficult, because in the fortunate and

unfortunate position in tennis, things move quickly, so before you

know it, the Championships will be over, things are so fast moving. It

is almost an art to reflect well and to acknowledge the good things that

you do, and that is something I work on to make sure that I acknowledge

the good things I'm doing, but I'll let you know after Wimbledon how my

pat on the back went! COMMENTATOR: British tennis history

is made. Venus Williams, semifinal at

Wimbledon, the sound of that to as is are as exciting as you can

imagine. What about EU? Equally. I have shared the court with a number

of times in the last few years, and every single chance I've had to play

her, it's been a battle. The last time she got the better of me, so I

am the King forward to sharing accord with her again, to be really

playing against someone who is in such good form and if such a

champion. I have never played her on grass. How much can the crowd help

you in those difficult moments? But I'm sure we'll be coming against

Venus. They have been tremendous in their passion and support, and their

excitement for me to battle well, and I'm definitely feeling very

humbled and grateful that they are on this journey with me, and I'm

definitely looking forward to seeing them on Thursday. Well, they are

preparing the Centre Court for the first of the ladies semifinals, so

we have come to our usual spot just behind the net in the corner, and

just listening to Jo, she is remaining very calm. It has been the

same since the beginning of the tournament. There were questions

before about her injury before the tournament, but she has been very

composed and well spoken, and she has been like that on court as well,

when she wasn't playing her best tennis, staying focused on what she

had to do and could turn matches around. And she will need that today

as well if she wants to get through. This was her this morning on one of

the championship courts, going through all her routines as they do.

She looks very relaxed, which is a good thing. It's good, smiling and

relaxed, you have to remind yourself to keep your face relaxed, and that

is good, she is enjoying the process which is helpful to keep your pulse

rate and nerves down so you are not wasting energy. Sometimes you can

leave it all in the locker room or the day before because you are so

nervous, that when you get out here, you are flat. So you have to keep

your inner self calm, keep on message, and it is interesting to

hear her speak. She is so articulate. You know what she's

thinking and feeling, she is honest. And I think it's really helped her

to be where she is today. She is very, very reflective, she really

thinks a lot and feels a lot as well, and I think when she puts

those two together, she is indomitable, she really is. I love

watching her. Absolutely, and against Simona Halep, when it got

tight, she really did hold their nerve, and she kept hitting so hard.

We have a few illustrations where she broke in the final set to get

that break of serve which is so important when you get into the

third set. It is, and she made Simona Halep doubt herself because

of her internal strength, and you could see the shift coming. It was

even through the whole match until the end of the second set, and a

venue could see Johanna fighting and fighting, and she broke down. And

this was her serving for the match, she didn't let up. Because she knew

she did, she might let Halep back in. That is when you have to make

the total commitment. I am going to keep doing what I need to do to win

this, I am not going to win the other way, and sometimes you have to

go back, you want to go back and play different, but she knows this

is the way she's going to win, such clarity, and she stays with it no

matter what. A very different opponent today, because Venus

Williams is a very different style of play. Yes, against somebody like

Simona, the rhythm is there, she hits a nice height over the net, you

have a lot of rallies, so you are in a rhythm when you play against

someone like Simona Halep, but today it will be different. Venus, like

you said before, she returns well, she serves well, and that is going

to be the key. Let's talk about the first shot. We have been looking at

the stats, and how close they are. There is only one mile per hour

difference between their average first serve speed and second serve

speed, and only double faults at the bottom as well as separate.

Let's have a look at the two different players. Down the centre

of the column, 30% in the middle, and then 14 on the right, and if we

now put Joe in, it is totally different.

There we go, going for the corners. You want to get the player off the

court say you have all the court to hit into on the very next shot off

the return, that is what we are taught. Venus with her long

wingspan, by serving down the middle, she gets less angle on the

return, so it is very interesting. I think that Konta's second serve is

better than Williams, so Venus is going to have to get a high

percentage of first serves in to win this match today, and if she

doesn't, then Jo will have the upper hand. You are only as good as your

second serve, and you cannot serve great everyday on your first serve,

so how does my second serve hold-up? That is going to be the thing I will

be looking for. How many first serves in, and how many second

serves are they winning? What percentage? It will be interesting

to see how it evolves, and the service return is major to really

strike the ball well on the return, to really get the point so you

really do have the upper hand in the point. And the Jo, she can go for

those corners, because she is such a great athlete, she doesn't mind if

they come back at angles. One is serve that Jo hasn't really used is

the body serve, and against the French girl, Garcia was so close,

she was inside the court, and I was wondering why she wasn't using the

body serve more, because it is so effective on grass. And especially

against Venus today, too, it was a serve I tried to use a lot against

her, because she has those long arms, try to not give her the angle.

We will see if she will use it a little more today, but I think she

will. So you won't be happy if she isn't getting some down the middle?

I am not seeing very many body serves. This was Venus going through

a gentle warm up, building herself up here, but how good a serve is it,

Billie Jean? It is one of the best in the tournament. She got really

upset, she was tired of not serving well, and at the beginning of the

year she went out and work extra hard on her serve, spent extra time

on the gym, on all so her autoimmune condition, I thought she might not

come back at all, but you can just see her resolve thinking, no, I am

going to come back here and play again.

Still playing for titles, and we have been asking why.

A lot can change in 20 years, people come and go. Some things remain

constant. Long reigns are scarce in sport, making various Williams were

rare. Williams the elder is a serious contender again. It is the

love for the game is what you need if you want to be able to keep such

a long career, and of course the belief, too. She must still believe

that she is capable of beating the best players out there, and she can.

At 37 she is the oldest woman to make the semifinals here since the

legendary Martina Navratilova in 1994. The British player who

practised with Venus during her first Wimbledon didn't see it coming

at all. I remember back in 1997 it was her first Wimbledon, and we

spent a lot of time together on the practice courts. I started hitting

with her, and she hit every ball at Mack ten. If you told me back then

20 years ago that she would still be playing in 2017, I do think I would

have believed you. This achievement is all the more remarkable

considering the surrounding heavy gloom of her recent and much

publicised car accident. I think I should go. She is a warm,

empathetic person, this is not something that she'd be able to

brush off. She in turn lies is it, Angie is a very stoic person, so for

her to break down like that demonstrates the internal struggle

she is going through. I think that she finds refuge on the

tennis court, but no more so than at Wimbledon. Just being on the grass

is very comforting to her in a lot of ways, and she is one of only two

former champions here, so I give her a shot. Being able to treat those

two impostors, triumph and disaster, the same, has never felt more apt

for Williams as she bids to succeed her pregnant sister Serena as

champion and win her first title here in nine years. She is playing

unbelievably well, as well as she ever has. Venus always comes to

Wimbledon as if she belongs here, and she says she feels it's like a

home. Taking full ownership of her

Wimbledon home once again would be a tale for the ages. A lot can change

in 20 years, but lifting Wimbledon trophies never gets old.

SUE BARKER: And I guess that is an important factor, the fact that she

has gone on to win it and she has that champion's aura about her. That

is very important, and what happened earlier when she made the finals of

the Australian Open again, losing to her sister, Serena, but that must

have been a big confidence booster to her again, she believes in

herself but she is showing herself again on court. I have known her

since she was 11 years old, I met her in California where I was born

and raised. I just saw her, remember she is only 15 months older than

Serena, but she seems much older internally, wiser, she has been

through a lot, and I think with the accident that has happened, she

found out it was a green light, and I think she feels that she is OK

now, it wasn't her fault, but she still has great empathy as a human

being, she very has, she is very reflective as a person.

And it is good to see her with everything you have been through --

she has been through, and you talk about her Sjogren's syndrome, that

affects her joint and fatigue. Exactly, when she wakes up in the

morning, she doesn't know how she is going to feel, you can feel

absolutely horrible with Sjogren's autoimmune, so it is a blessing to

still be able to see her play at this height of play, and remember

she is on five times here, she understands that as Virginia said,

she just loves Wimbledon, this is her home. That is the second match,

it will be a new experience for Jo, and same here, Garbine Muguruza has

been here before, but the Magdalene Rybarikova, this is her first ever

Wimbledon semifinal, it is the first time she has ever got past the third

round of a major, and she had so many injuries last year and only

came back to the tour in February, but she has done it the hard way,

she has played all the small tournaments, won 18 out of 19

matches on grass, and she is feeling comfortable. Yes, and sometimes

having injuries like that make you reflect and make you miss the sport,

and the fact that she went back to the lower ranked tournaments, it is

a sign that she wants to fight and tries to get back, and the love for

the game, and that is why you want to be able to play these big

tournaments. Absolutely. Konta will be an second. She has

been talking to us. Mary R. Garbine Muguruza who has

been so impressive so far looks to be back to herself. There was a dip

in form and then she won the French Open last year and then another

death and she looks to be back to her best once again. Let's hear from

her. She has been talking to Lee McKenzie. She is there! Garbine

Muguruza in the Wimbledon final. The star is born today. Can you compare

where your game is from two years ago to now? I was learning how to

play because did not play a lot of matches on grass so it was sort of

love it. Now I have learned with experience and I think I am a

different player. A little bit more calm and figuring out what to do in

certain moments I am improving. I am happy to be able to be in the

semifinals. It is great to come so far. Is it possible for you to relax

at Wimbledon when you know you have got a semifinal coming up? You have

also got to learn how to relax. You can't be 24/7 intention. You have

got to close the window, now it is my moment, I will focus again

tomorrow. It is interesting looking at your social media. Johanna Konta

is the goody to shoes making muffins for everyone. Working seems to be

more chaotic in your house with fire alarms going off. -- cooking. Yes,

we had a problem with the fire alarm but that is part of Wimbledon! We

have got a house and we can cook altogether. I tried to be there and

I do this week part because I love sweets. What is your signature dish?

I love creme caramel, brownies, anything with sugar. It should in

everything and it tastes fine! I can't believe it. Magdalena, you

have got Muguruza and a date back on Centre Court. For a long time I did

not play against her but her game is still there. She was in the

semifinals. I am just expecting another tough match and I am ready.

I can't believe she said the fire alarm off! She is staying 20 yards

from where I am staying! She is such a happy person. When she is playing

happy tennis, and hitting the ball so freely, she is beautiful to

watch. Conchita makes a big difference. She won here in 1994 and

she is very relaxed. It spills over into Muguruza and she is having fun.

I think the fire alarm was good because it is something to laugh

about. She is very relaxed for her and she knows she has that if she is

going to play. She has lost the least games and she has come through

against Kuznetsova and Kerber. She maybe wasn't feeling her best before

this tournament but she built her level. People always say it will be

tough for her but then she steps up. She has done what she has got to do

and it is the sign of a great champion and today she will

definitely have to step it up as well. I think the question is

whether she can play Rybarikova off the court because Rybarikova has

great hands and slice and she can break up the rhythm and he has

terrific drive shots. Can she handled the pace of Muguruza off the

ground? That is my question. Muguruza is so tough of the ground.

I watched her playing last year after the French, and sitting right

behind the court, kind of like the royal box ear, she hit the ball so

hard and it penetrated through the courts so fast, and you have just

got to play early. Let's hear from her.

It is a Slovak surprise. An unseeded Magdalena Rybarikova is through to a

Wimbledon semifinal. I would never ever believe I could be in a

semifinal before this tournament. I am speechless right now and so

happy. The fairy tale continues. What are the expectations of taking

on Muguruza? The head to head is 2-2 at the moment. Last time we played

it was on grass. This will be completely different. It is a

semifinal of a Grand Slam and she is experienced with semifinals and

finals and she is a Grand Slam champion. He is an amazing player

but again it is not pressure on me, I think it is more pressure on her

because I am not the favourite in this match and it is the semifinals,

so I will enjoy the match. I want to give my all and I want to fight for

this match and to be in the final. It is a great achievement for me

already now. She has certainly done it the hard way, getting into the

grass here. Playing in the smaller tournaments, she won at Surbiton and

Ilkley and she got into the semifinals of Nottingham, but when

your ranking has dropped that low, that is what you have got to do,

work your way back in those tournaments. You have got to win

matches. That is what is so important. Just try to win matches.

It doesn't matter if the player is ranked 300 in the world or top 50,

as long as you can win and build your confidence and get into the

routine of playing matches, that is the most important thing. And see

how your injury is holding up. That is important. The mental side of

things, when you have been away for so long, just knowing how much you

have missed the game and loved it, that is something that will boost

your confidence and your work ethic as well. She has been working

extremely hard. I was talking to her in the locker room and it is nice to

hear that the hard work pays off. It is such a lovely game, a throwback

with the slice and wanting to come forward and volley. Yes, and she

makes it very tough for the opponent on grass because she has that

variety in the game. I wouldn't enjoy that. It is easy to play

against somebody when you know which shot is coming at you every time but

she has got every shot. She can slice it. She can come in and really

surprise you with all types of tactical tennis. She will have to

use that today. Angie has got a big serve. They all do otherwise

wouldn't be in the semifinals. -- and she has got a big serve. Built

for service, playing on grass. People think they can't play on

grass, and that takes the pressure. She has got a great game for grass

because everything she hits penetrate and that is what you want

unless you are hitting the soft shot. Is that strapping new? I don't

remember it. I think it new. When you go through these Grand Slams,

you do pick up little things. Yes, that this is prevention may be as

well? She wants to be moving and she doesn't want anything more serious

to happen if she makes it to the final. They have called time. Where

is your money going? Muguruza if she is hitting well. I think so as well.

Thank you to Billy Kee and Kim Kleist is, who is on her way to the

commentary box. We will speak more to Billie later. Now over to John

McEnroe. Muguruza in her third Grand Slam

semifinal and she has not lost one yet. This is a comparison of how

they have done. Not a lot to choose between the two. More winners from

Muguruza but you would expect that. John has joined me. Do you expect

Muguruza to dominate this match? Potentially. She has obviously got a

lot more experience and belief. I think she has added something to her

game, variety. She has a lot of strapping to her leg which could

because for concern. She is playing someone with not a lot of pace. It

could be interesting. Muguruza will begin.

Her sixth Wimbledon. Last year she lost in the second round against

Cibulkova but the year before that she was magnificent, all the way

through to the final. Kim, she is a superb athlete,

Muguruza. She is a very good athlete. We were talking about the

strapping is on the leg, but it is more prevention. I think we will see

some of her great movement out here. Conchita Martinez seems to have

settled down and make believe that she can win this one. Nice change

from her normal coach. She gets calmer and calmer and Conchita gets

more excited. Good yin and yang. I helped a girl here at the

beginning of the tournament. She and Muguruza played in the second round.

I was just a few seats away from Conchita and they were very vocal in

the box! Much more aggressive. Don't you

think that Conchita has brought to the table the idea that you don't

have to blow the ball through or by anyone every time. That was how she

was able to use her guile and wherewithal to win this. A nice

matchup, especially for Wimbledon. A lot of girls think that they have

got to play perfect tennis to win matches. That is what Conchita, with

their experience, having won here, it helps to know that she can also

win matches without playing your best tennis. She has not always

played her best here but every match she has been playing better and

better. It will be fascinating to see how

big a part nerves play with Rybarikova. It is new for her that a

lot of this fortnight has been. Yes. She is a talented player and she can

do anything out there, but because she is so comfortable with a lot of

things, she can lose her focus a little bit.

Strapping on her left arm as well. It doesn't give a lot of pace on her

ball. It is sneaky base at times that is throwing off her opponents

in this tournament, especially in the last round. -- sneaky pace.

This is a whole new level now for Rybarikova, the Wimbledon semi. She

looked a little hesitant in that move forward, not the shot that she

wanted. You don't normally hit a half-volley

and run backwards. No. That is her favourite shot, that

backhand down the line, on any surface. She loves to go for that

shot. Always great slow-mos when Muguruza

is around. It is almost expected when someone

hasn't been in this position before, experience comes in handy. She is

challenging, but I'm not sure with how much expectation.

When you got nervous, Kim, how many games did that last for? Sometimes

the whole match! Depends who you were playing. As I got older, it is

shorter, of course, but in the beginning of my career, I remember

playing Jennifer Capriati... The nerves go down a little bit, but

there is always a different type of tension. Wasn't that a 12-10 in the

third? Yes! UMPIRE: Ms Rybarikova is challenging

the call. Another challenge, but she is moving

towards the sit down. It's all right. And the crowd giving

her a healthy round of applause. UMPIRE: Replay the point.

That's when you know things aren't going well, when they are applauding

Hawk-Eye! You never had that, did you? I had other issues!

Consistent and strong, and after ten minutes, it is 3-0.

And four Rybarikova, this is totally new ground. In March she was ranked

453. And she had allowed the record here at Wimbledon, seven consecutive

first-round exits, 2008-2014 and again last year. And here she is,

Centre Court, playing Muguruza. It is to be expected and anticipated

that she would be tight. That was like Sam Querrey against Murray. But

looking at her record, the last time they played, two years ago on grass

in Birmingham, she won. So once she is able to settle down and get rid

of those butterflies, she should be able to make this competitive.

UMPIRE: Time. S nervous connections. Peter Hooper in

she has never been to the third round in a major before this.

UMPIRE: Fault. She will have to think about challenging.

Hawk-Eye says it was in, but having lost a challenge, she didn't want to

go for another one. She won one. To me, that was close

enough, and as tight as she is. Too late now.

She's looking very assured, Muguruza. Very much so. Using that

backhand down the line very well to set up that point, and just going to

the open side. That is well played. Not the right

shot, the drop shot. Not executed as well as she would have liked.

Muguruza is moving well, looks to be a little desperate here early to try

to settle them somehow. So she is trying to throw different

looks at Muguruza, and it is not working.

Her backhand reminds me a lot of Nick Kyrgios's backhand. It is a

pretty solid shot. I like her backhand more than her

forehand. She slaps at the forehand sometimes. If she could get out of

this game, this would be a big boost for her.

A couple of misses on the backhand, and three break points saved.

There was a chance there for Rybarikova. I don't think I've ever

seen Muguruza attack and move forward as much as I have. Take the

net. A good addition to her game, I would say.

Gives her opponent more to think about. Oh, yes.

Thankful but that passing shot was up as high as it was. Longreach and

good control. Not enough loft on the club. You can

see she is still a bit cramped out there, she is not playing freely

yet. UMPIRE: Miss rib are covert is

challenging the ball, the ball was called out.

The umpire was noncommittal about what she thought.

Just wearing her down. UMPIRE: Miss Rybarikova has one

challenge remaining. She is looking a little overwhelmed.

She does. I think if she wins again, she can be a little bit more

comfortable. It is not perfect, that backhand,

there have been a few errors. When you are nervous, your legs are

tight, the spring isn't there, nothing seems to be working. You

feel heavy. It is a terrible feeling. And your breathing is

short. It's not fun. And what can make that feeling go

away? Just a bit of success? Yes. Like I said before, that breathing,

trying to calm yourself down, turn to the back of the court and just

take a few deep breaths. But also with age, I got more used to dealing

with that stuff. bloomer, maybe doesn't have a couple

of years before she figures it out. Can she get on the board here? Can

you remember matches where you felt totally overwhelmed?

My first match here against Jimmy Connors, I was hyperventilating, my

legs were shaking. On my last match where I lost to

Agassi, it felt like nothing you can do. That is the other terrible

thing. You just get blown out. And that's not nerves, it's just old

age. That's worse! And I thought I was old, I was 33.

Take a look at Federer right now, 35, almost 36, the guy looks

amazing. Unbelievable. And Venus, we see her at 37. 22

minutes, and Muguruza has opened up a 5-0 lead.

SUE BARKER: Garbine in a hurry on Centre Court. Disappointment for

defending champion Gordon Reid who has lost in the opening round of the

men's wheelchair singles. The top seed lost 62-63 to Stefan Olsson of

Sweden who avenged his defeat in last year's final. Gordon Reid is

out in the opening round of the singles, 6-2, 6-3. So that was a

little earlier today, but back we go to see if Rybarikova can get on the

scoreboard. It is going to be tough. Shots

played inside the baseline. I think in the last year or so she has been

doubtful about her own game. It is nice to see her in this tournament

with everything falling back into place and her confidence building

with every match that she wins. Her approach is good but not going for

the outright winner every time. 15,000 people here but it is a

lonely place on that court. The good news for her is that she

had a slow dart. -- slow start. She came back against the risk --

Pliskova and won that in three sets. She at least has got that to fall

back on. Well played! Her best rally so far.

But when things are going wrong, John, it is things like that

comeback against Pliskova that you can use as a crutch. Absolutely.

There is more expectation and more pressure. Nobody was expecting her

to beat Pliskova. In a previous post-match interviews

she kept saying I can't believe it, every time. She needs to believe if

she wants to be able to have a chance in this match.

One of the signposts of the way she has made her way through is that she

has been so calm and assured all the way through, even in the Pliskova

match when things got tough. This is a different kettle of fish.

There we go. How sweet it is. The mercy applause is somewhat annoying

even at 5-0! You never got that applause, John! Take anything you

can get! She is more than likely not going to

win this first set but just to get a foothold and do something here. You

never know. There are more is moving a little bit more freely than than

what we have seen so far. -- her arm was moving more freely.

Shots like that are never far away. That is the problem. Even to miss

it, you just want to get a little bit more power and hit it out of

you, the tension, and then hopefully the next time there will be a little

bit less of that. Set point after exactly half an

hour. An utterly convincing first set foot

Muguruza, 6-1. It seems to me that the problem with

Muguruza for most of this year has been that she is a perfectionist and

if her tennis is not absolutely 100%, then something is seriously

wrong. Yes. Why hit with her a couple of years ago at the

Australian Open. We were practising together. I was trying to try my

best. I wasn't playing greater anything but I wanted to give her a

good practice and she was missing a few forearms, and out of nowhere her

coach Sam said please don't hit it to her forearm any more. OK! That is

one way of avoiding a problem! To me that was a strange approach. And she

lost the next day. They haven't asked me to practice with her since!

Blame it on you! With Conchita being here, Sam is very intense. Perhaps

blowing off a little bit of steam. Conchita has had success here and

for whatever reason she has worked very well. I am sure some will come

back into the picture at some point soon. I am not sure of the exact

schedule. Due to come back for going to the US season. As far as

Rybarikova, you have someone who is a career top 100 player, who has

spent several years in that area, and then she dropped to something

like 400 and 53 or something. It is hard to get yourself to believe that

you can take it to the next level. That is a problem right now.

That is well played. I thought she might have been pushed out of the

rally though. It is really playing for her. -- it is really paying off

for her. That was a nice volley, cringed away.

Yes, pouncing impressively. Important that Rybarikova can get

off to a lead in this second set. Otherwise it could be a very short

afternoon. There we go! She made her way onto

the court. Mind and body. Here we go. It took 35 minutes, to come back

to your question earlier! We are off and running, hopefully.

The difference in playing styles is very interesting. Rybarikova is so

straight, even when she hits it, her upper body does not go forward,

compared to Muguruza. Every chance, she likes to go forward.

Coming into this match, both players had been to the net about the same

amount. If you look here, 15 or 16 already for Muguruza and Rybarikova

only four times. She has been on her heels the entire match.

That is a break there! On the money so far. Another huge dent in the

confidence of Rybarikova. That was by far her best game in a match. She

served two aces, she did some good things, she had a passing shot that

took the top of the tape, which was bad luck. And some good play by

Muguruza. She has come out very focused, hitting the ball extremely

well. The bookmaker's favourite to win this and she is playing like it

right now. If you could get into the ear of Rybarikova, what would you

say to her? That is hard. Oh, boy! I think she is still cramped. You

wanted to step in a little and maybe hit a few more aggressively.

Like that shot, she could easily take two steps forward and maybe try

to go for it a little more than she is doing right now. That is not

really in her nature. She is more a slice and dice person. She tries to

throw her opponents off by not giving them a lot of pace. She has

been more aggressive in her previous matches, Isaac. -- I think. And also

Muguruza is keeping her on her heels a bit more so she cannot step in.

She is winning a few of the long rallies now but not enough. Keep

that going. She didn't move well at all to that

volley. It is one of the few times that she has come forward. I don't

know how low the ball and Muguruza were getting, but that is what she

needed to do there, just reach for it, get down with those legs.

I hate to say it, as she turns towards us, there is a resigned look

about Rybarikova. Frustration as well. It is frustrating when it is

the biggest match of your career and you are not playing your best tennis

and you feel like she is feeling. Hesitant. That is not fun. At least

when you are on the big stage you want to play some of your best

tennis. STUDIO: Muguruza is playing so well.

On BBC Two, we are leaving this match. If you want to watch it, it

is on BBC One. This semifinal continues on BBC One. And Johanna

Konta and Venus Williams will be next on Centre Court of course. On

BBC Two we are going to Court Number One, the semifinal in the men's

doubles. It has worked out in this easier, because it is the number one

seeds up against the number four seeds, Lukasz Kubot and Marcelo

Melo. They have taken the first set 6-3 and it is 1-1 in the second set

as we join this live with our commentators Peter Fleming and David

Mercer. Henri Kontinen serving, and he won

with Heather Watson last year. So far Henri Kontinen and John Peers

are definitely second against the fourth seeds with just the one break

in the first set. Really a difference of class. Yes, it was,

but not insurmountable. Two or three holes of serve here and John Peers

and Henri Kontinen will feel better about themselves.

This pair won the Australian Open at the beginning of the competing

against the O'Brien brothers in the final. And they have also won Grand

Slam doubles titles but with different partners. Marcelo Melo won

the French Open at Roland Garros in 2015 with his Croatian opponent. And

Lukasz Kubot won the Australian Open in 2014 with Robert of Sweden. But

the man with his back to us, Lukasz Kubot, has been the star of the show

so far. He has. He has served accurately solidly. But more

impressive of the return. He has really thumped the ball. Forehands,

backhands, following them up with some deft reaction volleys. He has

been solid. And of course he has been more than solid. Marcelo Melo

has been very solid and Kubot has been spectacular. The question is

how long can he maintain that kind of form? Marcelo Melo to serve. His

nickname is Giraffe because he is six. -- he is 6'8". From Brazil. His

partner is Polish. We didn't see many of those returns from Kontinen

in the first set! There you go! Henri Kontinen all

over the place and perhaps distracting his opponents just that

little bit. The first time that Kontinen and Peers have had half a

chance of a break. Oh, and net call and now they have

their first break point! Riding the wave. Kubot put together a really

good return game in set number one, and now so is Kontinen here. From

Helsinki but lives in talent, the capital of Estonia. -- Talinn.

The world number ones couldn't have hoped to play a better return game

than they did just then. Marketing returns, left, right and centre.

Peers is the only man to have dropped served so far.

Yet again, the returns of Kubot putting pressure on Peers's serve.

That second serve was just a bit pedestrian. Rolled in at 83 mph,

giving Kubot plenty of time to take a full swing at it.

Last year when he won the mixed here with Heather Watson, they were

ranked 35 in the world of doubles and now ranked number one.

You don't see jumps like that too often.

And that is a bad miss. Attempted to hit a very sharp angle. Not sure if

it is because he was slow to react to the ball, or overly ambitious.

Chance to break back. Peers is missing too many first

serves. One of the big differences is that

these two have only lost two points behind their second serve, they have

won 85% of them. In contrast, continent and peers have

only won 59%, that is a huge dichotomy. It helps to be six foot

eight, when you are going up for a smash! Nice looking smash as well.

They started out the more secure pair. A brief blip, and it looks as

though they have resettled. Perfect return. That was an almost

impossible half-volley. Has it landed in? Called in by the

linesman. Being challenged, though. So, Muhammed overruled.

And his overrule was absolutely right. He doesn't miss much, Mohamed

Lahyani, the umpire. UMPIRE: Kontinen and Peers have two

challenges remaining. One of the lovely things about

Wimbledon, on Court Number One the last four days, no singles played,

but there must be at least 8000 people in here. They just love

coming to Wimbledon to experience being at the Championships.

I dare say a few of them may make their way up to Henman Hill to look

at Jo Konta and Venus Williams on the giant screen in due course. I

think it might be closer to 9000 in here.

John Peers is from Melbourne, became a father back in May, his daughter

Lily Rose. They are struggling to take Kubot

out of his rhythm. He is still seeing the ball very well on

returns. Two aces in the game, the first aces

for the Kontinen/ Peers partnership. So, the top seeds and Australian

Open champion is just moving ahead in this set, and there is Henman

Hill, absolutely packed. Lovely that the weather is set fair. Again, just

being able to savour the Wimbledon atmosphere, the Wimbledon

experience. When John Peers is clearly struggling on server little

bit, not getting many first serves in and coming under pressure, how

can Kontinen try to help him and left him? I think he needs to be

upbeat, needs to almost encourage him to take a few risks. Tom --

sometimes you can get to conservative when things are not

going well, and often it can be just relaxing for a guy if his partner

just says, come on, just do what you do. That's what's required right

now, and you can snap back into your comfort zone, and that helps a lot.

Taking advantage of his slice of good fortune with the net cord.

Fatal hesitation there from Melo, he thought it might have been going

wide. So, half an opportunity here, and did nothing with follow-up shot.

Unlucky, struck it well, just ever so slightly mistimed.

Kubot will be thankful, he had a couple of high volleys that he

didn't strike very cleanly. Got away with it, though. This is the real

test of a John Peers, he is the man who has struggle on serve, lost his

serve twice. He needs to get first serves in.

What a difference getting three first serves in makes. John Peers

was the runner-up in Wimbledon a couple of years ago with Jenni

Murray, and also a runner-up at the US Open.

I don't get that. You are up 40-0, and you hit a 77 mph second serve,

and your service your strength. Surely that is the time to roll in a

95 mph slider, or 100 mph into the body.

Entirely with you, Peter, but the essential thing there for John Peers

is he got four out of five first serves in, and that made life so

much easier for this partnership. They won the only previous match

between these two pairs, that was in Rome backing me. 6-4, 7-6, they won

the breaker 8-6. So now that little advantage of serving first in the

set means the opponents have got to serve to keep the set alive.

I am intrigued that Lukasz Kubot is turning back the clock and refusing

to sit down. Yes, and I'm wondering if he has some sort of back issue

that has caused him to say, if I stand up, it just feels better. If I

stand up, I won't freeze up. Lock-up.

Wishful thinking here, I think. Sure, I will lob the six foot eight

Guy! He will have a bit of a bruise on his ankle.

He has dispensed with the shades at the moment, they are on the back of

his baseball cap. It'll be surprisingly they don't fall off.

Kubot is cruising through his service games, he has dropped

precisely three points on serve throughout the match. And one of

those was a double fault. Gets back very quickly, John Peers.

Although the shortest guy on the court might be the most difficult

one to lob. Back-to-back love service games,

then, that one just flying by. They have got to find a way of breaking

again. Suppose this partnership would say, we have broken the

Marcelo Melo serve. This is a better chance for us. Even though he is six

foot eight, Melo doesn't have the biggest of serves. Really strange

statistic here. Kubot and Melo have won 83% of their second serve

points, which is higher than the percentage of service points they

have won on their first serve. It is very odd. I'm likely to lose serve

too many times when you have those sort of numbers.

It is not just his returning that is going well, he has been sharper the

net, Lukasz Kubot. He was a top singles player.

UMPIRE: Six games all, second set tie-break. Both teams receive one

additional challenge. We just may have reached the crux of the issue

right here. Kubot and Melo take this tie-break and they are in a

commanding position. On such fortunes are matches won and

lost. You saw that one dribble over. That is such an extravagant volley

to go for, Kontinen. And I didn't understand the strategy, either. If

Peers is going the other way, why serve out wide? He gave Kubot the

whole alley to hit too. Melo really got hold of that, just

wide, though. Oh, he's just overdone the angle. It

was a good shout by Melo, I suppose. Urging his partner to leave it.

Changing ends every six points, of course. The prize money in the

doubles, very nice. The losers of this match will share ?100,000. The

runners-up will share ?200,000, and the winners ?400,000. That'll do.

What did you get the first time you won the doubles? I think it was

$25,000 each. We would never have given new dollars! That's probably

how I converted it. UMPIRE: Let, first service. A

multi-winning doubles champion herewith John McEnroe.

The mini-break cancelled out. Marcelo 's brother, Daniel, won't be

happy with that. Well, they are challenging,

suggesting that it may have been on the sideline, but beyond the service

line. But they are wrong, it was on both lines.

Well, those last two points have certainly made Peers feel a lot

better about himself. Can he roll it into a winning return?

UMPIRE: Out. Mohamed Lahyani has overruled. The

baseline judge called good, Lahyani has called out, and Kubot and Melo

are challenging the overruled. Not the greatest of calls. Two set

points for the number one seeds to level the match.

. Whole host of being called here. Peers and continental are

challenging that call on the sideline. And they are right!

Having a good giggle about it! And certainly towards the end of that

set, John Peers started to play much better than he did for the first set

and a half. Yes. Marcelo Melo will be ruing that double fault he hit at

4-2. Let's not forget they were up 4-2 in that tie-break. That double

fault perhaps opened the doors. John Peers hit two huge serves and a huge

return and Kontinen finished it off with another huge return. The last

five points won in succession by the world number ones.

Still that huge dichotomy in terms of second serve points won. That

counts for nothing now. Kubot has left us briefly. Not because his

partner served that double fault in the tie-break! Are you sure? You

would never have walked out on John McEnroe, would you? Constantly! It

gives everyone a chance to have a little breather. I tell you what,

the pair who are breathing easiest are these two. They were looking

down the barrel of a big, powerful weapon, had they been 2-0 down.

Now they can... Not relaxed, that is the wrong word. Yes, relax, settle

in. Pump themselves up almost. Say, right, we are in this. Now we can

just go for our shots without having to worry about being Conservative.

Looking at their selfies, perhaps? Dressing up to come to Wimbledon.

How nice! The other doubles semifinal is also

1-1 between the Croatian partnership of Nikola Mektic and Franko Skugor,

and the Austrian partnership of Oliver Marach and Mate Pavic. Kubot

is back. Well, the next four games perhaps

could be crucial here. Let's see if all four players come out with some

solid serving. Henri Kontinen couldn't have played

that point much better. A nice chip return, a throwback. Very much so.

Oh, yes! Kontinen is much more in the groove with his returns now.

Right in the pocket. 117 mph is not quick enough to overpower a player.

You have got to place the ball better.

Especially given they lost that tie-break having been ahead, an

important hold for Melo, 15-30, and a lovely exchange year. -- lovely

exchange here. All four players are seeing the ball, moving well, quite

confident in what they are trying to do out there. This is about the best

patch of the match in terms of this standard that both sides are

showing. The curse of the commentator always

works. Praise them all Andy Dunn son easy forehand volley into the net.

-- and he dumps and easy forehand volley into the net.

Well, they are challenging here. This will be really important. 0-30,

they feel they have a great chance to break. Calls on the baseline have

not been very good of late. Of course, the balls are coming very

fast. Peers and continents did well to get

back into that rally. -- Peers and Kontinen. That is a forehand volley

he would like to have back. Three errors have gifted three break

points. Well, that time they outfoxed him.

Kubot perhaps expecting Peers to move across. He did not.

He got out of the way of this body serve quickly. And boy, did he thump

it? Regaining the ascendancy in the match with the early break in the

third set. WHEN you hit the ball that hard, the

margin for error is very slim. Probably only past eight or nine

inches over the net. A little short of the box, the

second serve. Plenty of pace, 140 mph, but Peers had time to get onto

it. -- 114 mph. That is plan A. If you are returning

serve, try and get it low and into the alley, forcing the volleyer to

try and get it past your partner at the easy to do. -- your partner at

the net. Not easy to do. Good second serve. Very near the

sideline and it kicked laterally. Peers well out of court.

UMPIRE: Game. New balls, please. Kubot Melo lead 3-0, one set all.

The momentum has shifted back in this partnership after losing that

tie-break. Kubot found his first serve just at the right time having

struggled with it in the first few points of that game. He is so fired

up for this one, Lukasz, isn't he? In part because he is playing so

well and celebrating after almost every point. It is a nice feeling to

have. You can't wait for the next rally to start. Melo just the

opposite sort of personality. As the name says. He is mellow. Very low

key. He is going to stay, I think. Yes. A

love game for John Peers. They look a little bit glum the

Kontinen Peers support group. How many tennis balls have we got

out there? There should be six. Oh, my word. Can we call that the

shank? Well, yes. The balance was very poor. We need it back, thank

you, Madam. At the US Open they are allowed to keep the balls.

It looked like there was a puff of dust behind the line.

Henri Kontinen launches himself into those returns of serve.

Unfortunately if the volley comes back to him, he is often a little

off-balance, and therefore has difficulty reacting to the next

ball. They have just gone a little flat. So energised after winning the

second set tie-break from behind. And now they find themselves

struggling to stay in the third set. Now it is time to dig deep. Just

down the one break, but they need it back now. They did come from two

sets to one down to win the quarterfinal. Yes, but I don't think

they would look forward to being in that sort of position against this

pair. These guys are seasoned and they are informed. -- they are in

form. They won their two grass court warm up tournaments leading into

this. They are confident. Tremendous slice on that serve. The

sixth ace from the team compared to their opponents.

He is guilty of the extravagant from time to time.

She did that well. That is an experienced Champagne open! These

days it is just as likely to be prosecco, isn't it?

Excuse me, Peter. They need someone to taste that and make sure it is

good enough for them. I will be back in a few minutes. Off you go!

Powerful, powerful return. From John Peers.

Kubot attended a spectacular crosscourt volley, trying to go in

front of John Peers. Perhaps it would have been wiser just to dump

it back deep and see if he could have defended Kontinen one more

time. Yes, 15-30, second serve, he really

needed to make that one. Perhaps subconsciously saw Melo moving to

exactly where he was wanting to hit the return. Maybe he tried to cut it

a little too fine. He got away with some safe volleying

there. What on earth happened there? It

looked like he took a full swing and miss timed it. The ball at the very

top of the frame. John Peers going through a poor spell there. He

certainly had chances to do damage, return on the volley. Head down just

a fraction. This was the last point. Excellent lob from Peers. He must

have taken his eye off the ball. He very nearly whiffed it. Sometimes

better safe than sorry and he went for the whole enchilada. Really wax,

a full swinging volley. He almost failed to strike the ball. So it

falls to Peers to try and keep this third set alive at 2-5.

John Peers seems to have gone into a funk. Second serve again, just set

up well. Melo jumped all over it. Oh, my word. Well, he is having a

nightmare passage. Two double faults. Well, they are

challenging. But I don't think they are very optimistic.

It is a break of serve. The double break secures the third set.

What a baffling turn of events, really. I mean, it appeared as

though they had a bit of momentum going in the second set tie-break.

They could not have played a much worse than they did just then.

Second serve points, one. Rolling in some serves that, to his credit,

Kubot especially was willing to jump all over.

If the ball is in his hitting zone, he gives it a ride.

Some sailing going on. On the Wimbledon Park Lake.

You might even say these two were capsized in the third set. You might

be right to say that. Henry Kontinen's backhand return is

money. His timing it beautifully now. It was notable, the statistics,

he made more returns in that set than Melo and's, but was still

totally outplayed. To their credit, Kubot and Melo did

a fine job of defending the net. Came in, been very solid, played

some clever shots away from the net. Such an important part of doubles.

There is a classic example of just that.

Since dropping his serve in the second set, Melo's served very well.

His partner is so active at the net, helping him. Another look at Marcel

's brother, Daniel. Interesting that Peers has changed

ends for serving. Perhaps the sun has bothered him.

Kubot did so well to put the return of serve back into play. Barely got

his racket on it. Suggesting he serves out wide. He

may well move. Wonderful reactions from Melo. Yes,

and wonderful instincts. Watch, after he hits this first volley. He

just follows the ball. Any old days, that was clearly a

double hit, it would have been a point against Melo, but now it is

allowed. You can have a double hit as long as you don't carry the ball

your racket. That last result will be a huge

relief to John Peers. Great serve, indeed it was. Pace and

accuracy. Well, all four players, sharper than

that. But Kubot and Melo, just that something extra.

What an athletic smash. That ball appeared to be well over his head.

What happened here? The service judge called the serve as good. But

it was called a fault by the umpire. Kontinen hit a superb return.

Ouch. Oh, dear, Mohammed. Not your finest hour. We will replay the

point. On serve, then. In the fourth set.

Kubot and Melo leading 2-1 in sets. Let's take you back to that incident

a couple of games go when it looked like there was a double hit from

Melo, on that shot. I'm not sure it was. It hit the net cord,

definitely. This might give us a better view. There is the net cord.

He hits it at the top and bottom of the frame. It was clearly a double

heat. When Peter was playing, when I was umpire, I would have been saying

it was a foul. I would have been cursing you out! But the rules have

been changed since then. The double-header is now legitimate. The

one thing you can't do is actually carried the ball on the racket. The

rule says it has to be one continuous swing. If you swing and

then tried to carry it back, that is illegal. But you rarely see any of

that. It makes sense. There were so many opportunities to miss it, or to

argue. It was just awkward. It is kind of like the let today. Get rid

of it! What's the point? It is a mis-hit and it has turned

into the perfect return. Pressure now on Kontinen.

He missed it! What a golden opportunity for Melo. That would

have been two break points. And he knows it!

That's why he's number one in the world. Not afraid to man up in a big

moment. A new set of tennis balls being

brought out. Very quickly indeed, by the ball boys and girls.

It's that backhand return of Kontinen once more.

If you can get it down to defeat of the incoming server, you've got a

chance. Absolutely, not easy to do, though.

He middles that. He hits it so flat that the margin of error is tiny. He

just crushed that return. Self-preservation was the order of

the day there. Well, a good hold for Melo from

0-30. A little bit lucky on the last point. The angle of the ball, right

onto the line. We all know that if it hits these lines, the ball grips

on it stops. That volley was a bit special. I'm not even sure if it did

hit the line? No, almost another miss.

Peers, his form has fluctuated fairly wildly in this match. The

other three have been pretty consistent. Kubot has just been

outstanding. But, of course, Kontinen and Peers

are still in this fourth set. No doubt they have been in this sort of

situation many times before. So, not yet time to panic.

Well, that time, Kontinen was hoping that Melo was moving across. No such

luck. Pretty straightforward volley missed

by Kontinen. Too much of a swing on it.

To a certain extent, the form of Peers seems to ebb and flow with the

quality of his serving. A third double fault of the match

from Kubot and Melo. Kubot is the only man not to have dropped his

serve so far. It was a mis-hit return. Very

difficult for Melo to see immediately if it was going in or

out. Unlucky! He was right there and

struck it well. They are challenging, but I think

they are guilty of extravagance in the end. But he made it! He made it!

The break is secure, the match is wide open again.

Well, they had a little bit of fortune in that game, a mis-hit

return and this net court. Yes, he struck the return well and it was

going to be a very difficult volley. For Kubot, in any event. Still, he

might have shovelled it backhand who knows what might have happened? One

of those heartfelt apologies. Yes, exactly. I'm sure he will be paying

penance tonight. But of course, they were up a break. In the second set.

And immediately lost the break. If he locks in on that spot, that is

never coming back. For the first time in the match,

Kontinen and Peers put together a run of three straight games. And the

odds at the moment would be on this going to a fifth set.

So the rot stopped, but they have to find a way to break back. Deep

breaths for John Peers. So much now depends on him getting the first

serve in. Yes, this will be an interesting game. Because the

pressure is well and truly on John Peers right now. Can he make some

first serve is and follow it up with some solid volleying? As you say,

David, he has been up and down today. We have had some really good

tennis in the second set and almost immediately, he followed it up with

a shocking game in the third. First serving and quite a solid

volley, nothing extravagant there. Kubot ripped the return, but

Kontinen stayed at home. Two hours and 28 minutes they have

been out there, two sets all. Peers and Kubot off for a bathroom break,

Kubot follows. Do you have a good feeling as to who

will win the fifth round? Absolutely not. Absolutely not, it could not be

more evenly poised really. It seemed early on that Kubot and Melo had the

upper hand. They whipped the inform team. -- they were the inform team.

Henri Kontinen has played superb tennis off the returns especially.

And so it is just a matter of, can one of these teams serve up

something special? It will be decided I want break. Second serve

points won. Kubot and Melo sliding right down, 44%, down to 71. That

would have decided the break. Kubot and Melo had no chance. No break

points. Incidentally, the other Doubles

semifinal looks as though it may also go four sets. 2-5 down in the

fourth against their opponents. And obviously, what this partnership

can't afford to do is what they did in the third set, having got a

second, they played a sloppy service game, Kontinen losing his serve for

the only time and straightaway 3-0 down. In the third set. That is the

best thing, you watch the tennis and you have the Radio 1, you can keep

up-to-date with all the news. Very smart thinking. And I suppose there

is another tennis much going on at the moment. I suppose there is!

We have not got the screen for them to look at as happens in so many

tournaments. But I think he knows we are talking about him! Is it time

for tea? Yes, quarter to four. While we are still waiting for Kubot, put

the kettle on, will you, Peter? Exactly. Maybe you will run out and

get us some tea. No, I'm just heading out for some champagne. Good

for you! Kubot is back. It must have been a long queue!

They have to do so many things, the ball kids these days. But after the

towels, bring the drinks, take away the letter. I think they should get

double pay! Fantastic rally! Probably the best

point of the match, right up until the last shot. Henri Kontinen here

probably changing his mind. He did not commit. That is a fantastic

smash. So a nice love game. To get this

final set started. Lukasz Kubot. Always comforting to hold serve with

a winning serve. When the return doesn't come back. Get an extra

charge. Moving around the court. Interesting, Peers has changed ends

the game for serving, they obviously believe he should serve first.

A bit of fortune here. Melo struck this one off the frame. Well... No,

I suppose he did not, he just guided it up the line.

Well, Kubot left just a little early after the return. And they were all

over the place from then on. Well, we are having some great

rallies at the start of this fifth set. A deft touch from all the

players. As well as the power. We have the men's Doubles semifinal

which has gone to a fifth set in the other game.

What a pick-up! Great return of serve. Melo did so well the

half-volley back. The ensuing two or three shots were also difficult

returns. Just three points have gone against

the serve in the opening three games of the final set. No hint as yet as

to who will be inspired or who might just falter. At the crucial stages

of the match. Yes, exactly, we have no idea whether one team will become

inspired, as has happened several times in this match. On both sides.

All will some less fortunate player throw in some mistakes? And that is

what determines it. Let's hope for the former.

That was a great love volley. Kontinen threw everything at the

return. It was a long shot, to the least. -- to say the least.

Two and three quarters hours now and we can't tell them apart. Two sets

all, two games all, no tie-break in the fifth set of course.

Oh! Those are the half chances you really have to seize on.

Well, Henri Kontinen, timing his backhand returns beautifully. He

often has struggled to follow it up. With a winning volley. At that time,

he was able to keep the pressure on. Kontinen and Peers ending up on the

same side of the court, then. When you are into a fifth set,

sitting down and maybe having a chat, do you ever think, shall we

try something a little different? Try and get a break? Often, sure.

Often you do. You know, there are two is to win. You either play

better than your opponent or you make them play worse than you.

Either one is just as good. So, yeah, often you try to take your

opponents out of their rhythm. Often we would both stay back, returning

service. Stay with both of us back for greater lengths of time, and

then get to a tie-break, boom, both in because they haven't seen it for

six, eight, ten games. So, yeah, it's all part of it. If you show

them the same looks throughout, I think you are missing a trick.

Unless you are just romping them. Well, Peers has looked the most

vulnerable, but not that time. I think that record is ours today.

There are no lights on this court, we will have to come back tomorrow,

Peter. I just can't see where the break is

coming from. All four guys, in a nice rhythm on serve. Won't be easy

to break, that's for sure. Five double faults for the team of

Kubot and Melo. Well, nice volley. Deftly played.

Just dropped it right at Kontinen's fit. -- feet.

Fancy footwork, but then he is a Brazilian.

Words of encouragement from his partner. Nervous shuffling from his

brother. Well, he opted for a very difficult

attempt. Chose to stop on a dime and try to hit the slice. Not sure if

maybe if he kept on moving and headed up the half-volley, it would

have been easier. Kontinen's forehand return is not as

good as the backhand. He is going to award the point. He

has overruled and has awarded the point, saying it was a late call

after the ball had been struck. They are challenging. Kontinen was

already sitting down. He called it straightaway! John

Peers are doing if it was a late call or not. -- asking if it was a

late call or not. The correction was late, but the original call seemed

like it was right after the Serb landed. He called it as he hit the

ball, he called it very quickly. You corrected after. His one was before.

Yeah, but it was me hitting the ball. It impacts on that. That's

what it does. I was trying to hit the ball. I think you've got that

one wrong. I think you've got that one wrong.

All a question of if the call came before he struck the ball or not.

The game moves on. 3-4 in the final set.

Kontinen made the difficult volley and then missed the easier one. It

wasn't easy. There he goes again. Really

extravagant choice of shot. I think it was an two minds, wasn't sure if

it would drop in or out. We move into the fourth hour of the

match. The sort of returns that Kubot was

producing at the start of the match. Exactly.

Melo did really well to put that return of serve back into play.

A couple of deuce games, but still we await the first break point of

the final set. 76 more service holds to go.

Caught one on the side of the head, but they build them tough. Second

serve, right onto the service line. He's been aggressive throughout. Hit

the second serve with a bit of venom.

There was a little variation, there was that block return.

Again, a big first serve. Kontinen Lucky... Or, well, did well to put

the return back into play. But he blocked it again? Exactly.

We are now at the stage, assuming this pair continued to hold serve,

their opponents are constantly having to serve to stay in the

match. We commentators say it is a huge psychological advantage to be

serving first. Is that how you see it from the player perspective? Huge

advantage might be overstating it. But a distinct advantage, yes. That

pressure continues to mount. So at four, five, six, seven, eight, it is

an insidious little pressure and it eats away at you. You get to ten,

11, mentally you are more fatigued than the opponent. As we saw with

Rafa against Muller during the week? Exactly right.

Perhaps Melo saw Peers moving to his left, he knew that there was a space

there. Did well to guide the ball into the open space.

Gosh, this is going to be a big decision by Hawk-Eye. 0-30 or 15-15?

Missed it! First serve is going AWOL again.

Doesn't want him to cross, wants him to cover the line.

That was a chance that wasn't so deep in the court. But it looked as

though it kicked off the surface. 5-5 in the final set in this

semifinal. In the other, it is for- four in the final set. Mektic and

Skugor against Mate Pavic and Oliver Marach.

Got over his head very quickly. A total mis-hit.

A good return of serve. I think John Peers perhaps play the following two

shots a little too safely. Magnificent effort from Melo and

Kubot to stay in that point. They shouldn't have been allowed to.

Again, they defend the net expertly. He needed every inch of his six foot

eight to get up to that bounce ball. He certainly did.

He loves the backhand. Anything in the middle of the court as his.

John Peers just didn't quite have the nerve to get across quickly.

Held his ground, thinking that Melo would go down the line. He didn't. A

good position for him to slot it away.

Melo doing so well to hang onto that service game. Down 15-30. There were

really having to defend the net. Yeah, once Kubot and Melo

established themselves at the net, on a couple of occasions, both

Kontinen and Peers missed ground strokes that almost appeared as

though they thought the task of hitting a passing shot was just a

little too daunting. Henry Kontinen has gone off for a break. Here he

comes. A very quick one. Allow to do that when it is your serve to come.

Not when your opponents are about to serve, because you might disrupt

their rhythm. You can tell how much the crowd have

enjoyed this one. The players are doing a nice job of

putting returns into play. Difficult to par lederhosen to break points.

-- difficult to turn them into break points.

Doesn't really get hold of that smash.

Almost as though when John Peers is back and the other two are at the

net, he runs out of ideas. I think Kontinen is pretty glad that

was a let. Two points for 6-6. A reminder, no

tie-break in this set. You can tell the ball boys and girls

are so good, we hardly ever notice them. Because they don't make any

mistakes. That is why they make the big box! They wish! -- the big

money. New balls, 6-6, final set. Brett on the line. -- right onto the

line. Yes, just good solid defence of the net once again. It is not

rocket science. So this set lasting 53 minutes so

far, the match now up to three hours and 20. A nice love game for Kubot.

Once again, the pressure on the other team, especially John Peers.

At 6-7. You were saying what? 145 games to go? Yes! I'm up for it, how

about you? Yes, you know, I might nip out for a Sandwich and leave you

to do a couple of games. Fair enough! And you can nip out. Bring

me some adult beverages back! When John Peers puts the first serve

interplay, the other guys really have had very little joy. It is when

he misses the first served that things start to go pear shaped.

Well, it is at the far end from us, but that second serve must have been

as deep as deep can be. Really nice reaction, that serves,

109 mph. Right into the body and Melo did well to get out of the way.

Oh, how about that?! Lovely reaction! Just crushed the return.

The umpire was in the rough -- the umpire's voice, seven all! How many

more? ! He must be thinking, not me a game! Deja vu! Mohamed Lahyani.

Successive love service game is for Kubot and Melo, which just ramps up

the situation a bit more. Because Kontinen and Peers have hardly

finished serving and they have got to do it again. Well, exactly. And

the longer your service games go on and the shorter your opponent has

their games, the pressure mounts as the set and stews. Look at that, the

other semifinal also deep in the fifth set, six all. I guess there

will not be any physical advantage for the two winners. Yes! Men's

Doubles final. Played on Saturday after the lady Singles. -- the

Ladies' Singles. A lot of biffing going on in that

rally. But that is what happens to Kontinen

when he takes the pace off the first serve. Yes, that first serve just

105 mph. If he is going to take the pace off, he needs to play it

better. Kontinen hoping to challenge. Mohamed Lahyani saying,

no, you can't challenge after you have missed the ball, you had plenty

of time to challenge before you hit it.

What a second serve! He has come through a couple of times in that

situation. Remind me never to play Henri at poker! He wins the gambles.

The game, he took the pace off the serve. The first break point of the

final set. The first match point. A unique celebration from Lukasz

Kubot! That is what it means to be a Wimbledon finalist.

What a fantastic points to finish it on as well. Henri Kontinen did so

well to stay in that rally. And it was a succession of powerful drives

from Lukasz Kubot and Marcelo Melo that finally finished them off.

Three hours and 32 minutes. And boy, have the Number 1 Court crowd

enjoyed their first Match of the Day! Nice to see them waiting for

their opponents. This was at class matchup, two

inform teams who both played superbly at times in the match. Ebbs

and flows. In the end, Robert Blake Kubot and Melo with a better pair --

probably. SUE BARKER: What a match on Court

Number One, 9-7 in the fifth and what a celebration from Lukasz

Kubot! Divided that, I would have to call for the trainer! What a match

and the crowd loving it on Court Number One. In the build-up to this

year's championships, I have been talking to many of Wimbledon's rates

fall than 90 years of the BBC and it was interesting to find out where

they are now and what they are doing. When I visited Chris Evert in

Florida, guess what, she was at the Chris Evert Academy. How are you?

Good! Lily, nice going! That was the right shot. What a set up you have

here! How many courts? Don't as glue that, 31! Clay and hard. Two

dormitories. Kids from all over the world, about 70, 80 full-time

players. This is my brother 20 years ago. He started it out? Yes, it is

all him, yet he bugged me won years to begin an Academy. He is

responsible for the success and he figures out what makes a great

Academy. You must be so proud of what the Evert family have created.

Yes, carrying on the tradition. My dad was the professional, at a

holiday park for 50 years. In those days, there was no Academy. That was

the mecca of Academy tennis in the United States and Florida.

If you are going to commit and poach, you go in, don't go sideways!

Cut it off and go in. It is creating an environment where

they can reach their goals and be the best they can be. It is about

grounding them and making them into well rounded student athletes as

well, not just tennis players and tennis machines. To really give them

the tools that they can benefit in life after tennis also.

I come out here every day and I love it. It is something that helps me

get out of bed in the morning. You just need to have something to look

forward to even when you are not a professional and not playing on the

pro tour and raising kids. You still need something at this stage in my

life, it is really a good thing I have this.

How lucky those kids are to learn from the greatest match player I

ever played against, that is Chris Evert, at her Academy. And hopefully

she will be joining me later today. We have more tennis for you now and

this is a match involving Gordon Reid, of Britain. He was facing

Stephane Olsson in the Wheelchair Singles, and this is a repeat of

last year's final. You can see he has struck the opening set, Gordon

Reid, serving 4-3 up in the second set. The commentators, Peter Norfolk

and Nick Mullins. He has lost the last three games, he

was 4-3 up. This is a big game for him. I love Gordon, but if he

doesn't stop the rot... Gordon is on the ascendancy.

Yes, quite likely, Olsson looking at the finish line when he got the 4-0,

big mistake if he did. And he was serving 45-1, that is the game he

was broken in. -- was serving for 5-1.

The serve looked borderline long. I guess it is the umpire's call. There

is a line judge. This has got the feeling of a really

big moment. Yes, big game, everybody is getting a bit twitchy.

Great serve out wide by Olsson, it gives him his sixth ace. Normally,

Gordon serves big and he's got no aces yet. Quite if you double

faults. Drop shot. -- quite a few double faults. That was not even

close, it was the bottom of the net. The improvement in form for Reid

just going into other areas. Nothing wrong with that. That is a

great forehand. Lovely toss, almost like a half-volley, so deep into the

corner, back behind Gordon. The aces have been balanced out by

the double faults. Yes, he is nervous, I mean, obviously, Gordon

is defending. Olsson is nervous. It's getting close to a big scalp.

That is a good shot. That is a very good slice. Olsson is sitting on the

baseline, Gordon is still behind, pinning it back behind Gordon.

Gordon has to try and take that away from Olsson.

Yes, that was a really big hold. And his reaction tells you that he knows

it as well. Those are the Swedish coaches. They will be well chuffed

if Olsson comes through this. So Gordon Reid, 12 months after

becoming champion here at Wimbledon, winning the inaugural Singles title

and making a little bit of history in the quarterfinals, serving to

stay initially's event. -- initiate's event.

Well, that is not going to help. Chucking in yet another fault.

That is a great return! I don't like it, but I admire it. Gordon, good

serve. You can see where Olsson is returning that. Straight back down

the line, not giving Gordon a chance to move from where he has served.

Yes, he took the pace off. Gordon took the pace off his serve. Olsson

returned it and he did it again, Gordon hit the ball back behind

Olsson. Yes. Excellent shot once more from

Olsson, and he has match point. It is the depth that he is hitting the

ball, because he is hitting it so deep, it is all about having to

react. Olsson attacking the second serve

for the match. Fantastic second serve by Gordon,

that was a bit scary. It elicited the error, he needed that. One match

point saved. It has gone. And there it is.

Revenge for Stefan Olsson, the man beaten in last year's Singles final

has knocked out the champion. Not this year for Gordon Reid, not in

the Singles, at least. He has still got the Doubles. But the defence of

his Singles title has ended at the first stage. Beaten by an

outstanding Swede called Stefan Olsson. 6-2, 6-3.

SUE BARKER: Disappointment for Gordon but revenge is sweet for

Stefan Olsson, going through in straight sets. It was ladies semi

final day today and on Centre Court, first was Garbine Muguruza against

Magdalena Rybarikova. And I'm afraid Magdalena Rybarikova was not playing

well, nervous performers from her, wonderful performance from Garbine

Muguruza looks back to her best. Her coach is a former winner here,

Conchita Martinez, a big smile from her because she knows Garbine

Muguruza displaying superb grass court tennis, big serves. And there

was a big smile because she knows that she had a chance of winning a

second Grand Slam title, having won the French Open last year. 6-1, 6-1,

one hour and five minutes. Then on the court, Venus Williams against

Britain's Johanna Konta, trying to become the first British woman

through to the finals since Virginia Wade in 1977. She was facing a

champion, a great champion, who looks to be back to her best, Venus

Williams, who was the winner in straight sets, 6-4, 6-2, magnificent

serving display from Venus and she does a little twirl on Centre Court.

First time in the final here since 2009, but is chasing her six title.

And after the match, she spoke to Richard.

Congratulations. Europe when he viewed at Wimbledon and your first

final since 2009. I have played lots of finals here. I could not ask for

more, one more win would be amazing. It will not be given but I will give

it my all. You are up against the big British hope, how well did you

have to play to win because of the crowd? The crowd was very nice to

me. Even more boy studies. I felt the crowd was there and I know that

the love Jo Konta. There was lots of pressure and I felt she handled it

well. You have got a lovely smile on your face when the match was over,