Day 8, Part 2

:00:54. > :01:05.Beautiful reactions! Superb! Beautiful forehand. Nothing is

:01:06. > :01:55.stopping her now, is there? SUE BARKER: Its 33 years since a

:01:56. > :01:58.British woman, Jo Durie, played in the quarterfinals of Wimbledon. But

:01:59. > :02:04.today, Jo Konta will walk out onto court is one of the ten women in

:02:05. > :02:07.contention for the final on Sunday. After eight glorious days of play at

:02:08. > :02:12.Wimbledon, now I'm afraid the rain has arrived. We have only had about

:02:13. > :02:16.45 minutes of play. Covers have been going on and off in the past few

:02:17. > :02:19.hours. I think it's going to be a bit like that on the outside courts

:02:20. > :02:23.for the rest of the day. They are being very patient and waiting. The

:02:24. > :02:29.good news is that we do have the roof of the Centre Court. Hello and

:02:30. > :02:34.welcome to Wimbledon. Jo Konta has a stern test on Centre Court against

:02:35. > :02:38.the world number two, Simona Halep. But she has proved already that she

:02:39. > :02:41.can handle the pressure moments. She did it against Donna Vekic and again

:02:42. > :02:51.yesterday against Caroline Garcia. It promised to be a fantastic day of

:02:52. > :02:54.tennis. Venus Williams, the five-time champion, has overcome

:02:55. > :02:58.personal difficulties to reach the quarterfinals. But she is facing

:02:59. > :03:03.potentially her toughest test yet. Against the 20-year-old French Open

:03:04. > :03:10.champion, Jelena Ostapenko. She was just a few weeks old when Venus made

:03:11. > :03:14.her Wimbledon debut in 1997. Another French Open champion, Garbine

:03:15. > :03:17.Muguruza, was a finalist here two years ago and made the last eight by

:03:18. > :03:23.knocking out the number one, Angelique Kerber. Muguruza faces

:03:24. > :03:27.Russia's Svetlana Kuznetsova, who has been in terrific form this year

:03:28. > :03:34.and hasn't yet dropped a set at Wimbledon. Coco Vandeweghe by the

:03:35. > :03:38.24th seed but she's become many people's outside tip for the title.

:03:39. > :03:43.It is her second quarterfinal appearance here, and she says she is

:03:44. > :03:47.playing with confidence. And so is her opponent today, the unseeded

:03:48. > :03:52.Magdalena Rybarikova, who was also a convincing win up when the two met

:03:53. > :03:57.at Roland Garros this year. -- a convincing winner. Jo Konta is third

:03:58. > :04:02.on Centre Court was afternoon. The expected three is already building

:04:03. > :04:06.around the All-England Club and the atmosphere is sure to be electric --

:04:07. > :04:11.the expectation. A win for Simona Halep would also guarantee that she

:04:12. > :04:20.finishes the week as the new women's world number one. So much at stake

:04:21. > :04:25.today. Well, it is ladies quarterfinals day, with a bonus on

:04:26. > :04:29.Centre Court, a match that was played yesterday. Novak Djokovic

:04:30. > :04:33.wasn't happy, but he's out on court against Adrian Mannarino. Two sets

:04:34. > :04:38.up, Djokovic. Will join that match and of the moment. Then it is

:04:39. > :04:48.Williams against Ostapenko and later, Konta against Halep. Muguruza

:04:49. > :04:52.against Kuznetsova "Number one. -- on Court Number One. It is certainly

:04:53. > :04:55.a day when you are very fortunate to be scheduled on Centre Court. For

:04:56. > :04:59.all of the others playing on the outside courts, they will be looking

:05:00. > :05:04.up to the skies and wondering where is the rain. I'll hand over to

:05:05. > :05:09.someone who can tell us, it's Carol. Yes, indeed they will. We are

:05:10. > :05:12.looking at showers as we go through the afternoon. There is an 80%

:05:13. > :05:26.chance of catching a shower. In between them there will be be dry

:05:27. > :05:28.interludes. It looks like the rain will arrive earlier than we thought.

:05:29. > :05:31.It looks like 4pm, we can see the onset of that ring. When it sets in,

:05:32. > :05:34.it will be heavy and persistent. Under that rain it is noticeably

:05:35. > :05:37.cooler than the last few days. The rain will last into the evening.

:05:38. > :05:40.Heavy bursts in that. It's not until tomorrow morning, but early tomorrow

:05:41. > :05:44.morning, that it clears away from Wimbledon. Then high pressure builds

:05:45. > :05:50.on and things settle down nicely. There will be a lot of sunshine and

:05:51. > :05:54.highs tomorrow into the low 20s. Thursday's looking pretty good as

:05:55. > :05:58.well. Well, there is some good news. It looks like we will get about two

:05:59. > :06:04.hours' play before that rain. Maybe they will be moving the ladies

:06:05. > :06:08.quarters onto centre this afternoon, who knows. Novak Djokovic is on

:06:09. > :06:12.centre because of the four-hour 48 minute epic match between Rafa Nadal

:06:13. > :06:16.and Gilles Muller. This was match point, Gilles Muller polling of the

:06:17. > :06:20.biggest win of his career at the age of 34. Rafa threw everything at him

:06:21. > :06:25.but Muller stood tall. The are from Rafa meant that it is Muller who

:06:26. > :06:30.goes through to the last date here at Wimbledon. And it is another sad

:06:31. > :06:34.farewell for the two-time champion, Rafael Nadal. -- the last eight.

:06:35. > :06:39.Take nothing away from this victory, Gilles Muller served well and held

:06:40. > :06:45.his nerve, keeping the break points away from Rafa. And the crowd that

:06:46. > :06:50.were there gave a standing ovation for both players because it was a

:06:51. > :06:55.very, very special match. It had it all, drama all the way. And very

:06:56. > :06:59.sportsmanlike. Rafa waited for his opponent and sign autographs before

:07:00. > :07:08.the leading court, he is a class act as well -- before leaving court. Out

:07:09. > :07:13."Number one late yesterday. -- court number one. On Centre Court, Novak

:07:14. > :07:19.Djokovic has just taken the second set. This is how he did it in the

:07:20. > :07:24.second set tie-break. 6-5 up. Mannarino does challenge that serve.

:07:25. > :07:28.That is a big draw that tells you Djokovic means business on Centre

:07:29. > :07:35.Court. -- a big draw. It was challenged by Mannarino and it was

:07:36. > :07:40.good, Djokovic is 2-0 up. It is the early stages of the third set.

:07:41. > :07:44.Mannarino has held serve and Djokovic is serving at 40-30. Let's

:07:45. > :07:52.joint John Lloyd and John Inverdale for this one.

:07:53. > :08:00.COMMENTATOR: Well, the entertainment level remains high.

:08:01. > :08:09.Lots of little subplots here. Djokovic's unhappiness with the

:08:10. > :08:13.state of the court. Some really extravagant attempted drop shots by

:08:14. > :08:18.the Frenchman, some of which are more successful than others. And

:08:19. > :08:21.Djokovic two sets to the good, and what a piece in the third -- won a

:08:22. > :08:32.piece in the third. What was that exactly? Talk me

:08:33. > :08:37.through that, John? I thought he was going to kick the ball! You thought

:08:38. > :08:39.it was going out, then he suddenly thought, no it's not. Then he very

:08:40. > :08:55.nearly had to go to A! And it is the wonder of the scoring

:08:56. > :08:57.system in ten is that in 20 seconds suddenly 0-30 and this could be the

:08:58. > :09:38.game right here -- in ten seconds. Played that well. Entertaining. The

:09:39. > :09:41.shots that he's hit between his legs... They're not realistic to

:09:42. > :09:50.actually win the point, but it's fun to watch. He is thinking, those are

:09:51. > :09:56.the sort of shot I was playing a few years back.

:09:57. > :10:10.Well played. That is Novak in Grand Slam winning mode. And yet again,

:10:11. > :10:17.Mannarino under pressure on his serve. Two break points to the

:10:18. > :10:18.number two seed. Andre Agassi looks on. His expression remarkably

:10:19. > :10:31.unchanged. You wouldn't know if Novak was two

:10:32. > :10:42.sets up or two sets down by Agassi's face! That's fantastic! That's the

:10:43. > :10:48.raw of a champion. A 12 times Grand Slam winner. I'm 13 at Wimbledon

:10:49. > :11:11.this year. -- I'm 13. It's just outstanding, isn't it? The

:11:12. > :11:15.balance, how low he stays on this court, the way he gets down on the

:11:16. > :11:22.ball and still control it and the emotion he is showing today. This is

:11:23. > :11:30.a good sight to see. I is following, tracking the ball as it goes past

:11:31. > :11:37.his opponent. At last! Andre Agassi saying, yeah, not bad. That's all of

:11:38. > :11:44.the yoga and Pilates and everything else! But it is that players and

:11:45. > :11:51.your irate didn't really do. -- in your year rut didn't do. I'm being

:11:52. > :11:56.nice that! It's a different ball game now. It's been a strange match,

:11:57. > :12:00.he's had so many mixed emotions out here. The crowd have loved it,

:12:01. > :12:04.though. Nobody knows what to expect in some ways. I think we know what

:12:05. > :12:08.to expect in terms of the result, but the ways of going about it,

:12:09. > :12:11.we've all been a bit surprised. There's been probably ten shots in

:12:12. > :12:19.this match ten rallies that you would put in by, well, or the top of

:12:20. > :12:24.Wimbledon. Any show real, certainly, if you are advertising the sport.

:12:25. > :12:30.It's just been a riveting match, if now a bit one-sided, with Djokovic

:12:31. > :12:47.two sets and a break up and eyeing the quarterfinal tomorrow.

:12:48. > :13:05.And an ace on the second serve for good measure.

:13:06. > :13:15.APPLAUSE Beautifully timed. I'm not saying

:13:16. > :13:21.that big serving as isn't entertaining, but we've only had six

:13:22. > :13:23.aces in this match and that has been a contributory factor in it being

:13:24. > :13:36.such an engaging and entertaining contest.

:13:37. > :13:43.Big serving is kind of like, everything in moderation, isn't it?

:13:44. > :13:47.Exactly. When you get to the stage with some of the matches which we've

:13:48. > :13:51.seen where you're just going side to side and nobody touches the ball,

:13:52. > :13:55.then it's a bit tough. A mixture is good, but when it's one-way traffic

:13:56. > :14:24.it can get a bit... The same. Yes. GASPS

:14:25. > :14:28.Oh! I was about to say that the net for the first time today was an

:14:29. > :14:48.Mannarino's side, and then decided that it definitely wasn't.

:14:49. > :14:55.APPLAUSE New

:14:56. > :15:07.And almost there. I think the umpire is calling for the doctor again for

:15:08. > :15:13.Djokovic. He just said something in the last game. It's a bit of a

:15:14. > :15:23.strange time to call for one, really. Not far away from winning,

:15:24. > :15:29.you would think. Those are the questions for the press pack in the

:15:30. > :15:33.conference afterwards. You know, letter a, what's wrong, B, what

:15:34. > :16:02.about the court? Well, heeded welfare. -- he did well

:16:03. > :16:06.there. Just a couple of moments in that rally where he could have taken

:16:07. > :16:08.the ball coming in and he didn't. You have to work so hard to win

:16:09. > :16:21.every point. CROWD GASPS

:16:22. > :16:22.That's the first serve and volley, I'm talking about in the rallies,

:16:23. > :16:32.not serve and volley. You can see him looking up at his

:16:33. > :16:47.box. I told them that was a stupid idea!

:16:48. > :17:20.Djokovic was about to take off for this one and he slipped. Decided,

:17:21. > :18:04.no, not going to bother. APPLAUSE

:18:05. > :18:15.Terrific forehand from Mannarino! Hanging on in there.

:18:16. > :18:21.Enjoying the Centre Court experience, to court is really

:18:22. > :18:30.enjoying him, too. -- and the Centre Court. This is different now. This

:18:31. > :18:38.is the arm of Djokovic. Before it looked like it was just a headache

:18:39. > :18:43.or something, because he didn't... Didn't touch anything, just many

:18:44. > :18:46.differing around. I saw him do that -- just manoeuvring around. Hitting

:18:47. > :18:52.the second serve, he touched his arm. I didn't think much of it, but

:18:53. > :18:58.right away he called for the doctor and the physio to come out. That's

:18:59. > :19:02.not a good sign, particularly when you have to play back-to-back

:19:03. > :19:08.matches as well. If he gets through this one, which presumably he will.

:19:09. > :19:14.Yes, this may be one of those moments when the fact that an

:19:15. > :19:18.opportunity, maybe with a small O, to play this match last night, it

:19:19. > :19:24.wasn't taken, it may actually come back to bite all concerned.

:19:25. > :19:36.Mannarino is out, ready to go, Djokovic going back now.

:19:37. > :19:44.And Mannarino would have seen that and thought, well, you know, if he

:19:45. > :19:45.is 98%, if I can just get into this game... Maybe we're not done and

:19:46. > :20:02.dusted yet. To the untutored eye, that shot

:20:03. > :20:50.looked OK there. Oh! Some of these rallies have been

:20:51. > :21:09.just an absolute joy. They didn't stay any lower than they

:21:10. > :21:25.had to on these shots. How did he make that?

:21:26. > :21:40.You'd pay good money to watch Mannarino, wouldn't you?

:21:41. > :23:04.Well, Djokovic is like the marathon runner.

:23:05. > :23:08.Two or three minutes clear at the 24 mile mark and he just wants to get

:23:09. > :24:06.the last two miles done and dusted. And somewhere in the women's locker

:24:07. > :24:10.room, Venus Williams and Jelena Ostapenko you would think are going

:24:11. > :24:15.through a last few warm up exercises. They'll be thinking about

:24:16. > :25:31.that women's quarterfinal before too long.

:25:32. > :25:47.But Mannarino's going to keep him waiting just a little bit longer.

:25:48. > :25:55.STUDIO: Djokovic now just two game away from going through to the last

:25:56. > :25:59.date. They continue under the roof on Centre Court. I'm pleased to say

:26:00. > :26:04.that play is continuing out on Court Number One. No rain at the moment.

:26:05. > :26:09.It is all going Garbine Muguruza's way at the moment. 4-1 up against

:26:10. > :26:13.that Lana Kuznetsova. Muguruza is a former finalist here and played so

:26:14. > :26:22.well against Kerber. That match is over on BBC Two. But here on Centre

:26:23. > :26:28.Court, oh, it just looks painful. This is worrying for Djokovic bands.

:26:29. > :26:32.He needed some tablets in the first few games -- Djokovic fans. Now he

:26:33. > :26:38.has a shoulder in Drew. Anyway, we'll see. He's two game from going

:26:39. > :26:43.through. Ouch! I don't think I could do that! Anyway, back we go to John

:26:44. > :26:46.and John. COMMENTATOR: A medical time-out has

:26:47. > :26:51.been called now. Jelena Ostapenko and Venus Williams are going to have

:26:52. > :26:55.to wait a bit longer, come what may. That clearly indicates that it is

:26:56. > :26:59.perhaps a bit more serious than we thought. I'm not so sure that this

:27:00. > :27:02.is the same thing that he took the pills or whatever he did at the

:27:03. > :27:08.beginning, I think this is different. I saw him wince on a

:27:09. > :27:11.serve a couple of games ago. I think it's different, I'm not sure, but I

:27:12. > :27:16.think so. The bottom line is, this is not a good sign for him. Firstly

:27:17. > :27:20.he has to get through this much. And would not 24 hours rest, this, you

:27:21. > :27:28.know, is obviously a bedtime for him. We don't care how -- a bad time

:27:29. > :27:32.for him. We don't know how bad it is but he looks in a lot of pain. This

:27:33. > :27:39.is the postponement of the 24 hours, it really is. I was watching the

:27:40. > :27:42.Nadal- Mola game last night sitting next to a Serbian television

:27:43. > :27:47.journalist who wanted that game to go on and on and on committee said,

:27:48. > :27:52.because from a TV point of view in Serbia, I hadn't realised what a big

:27:53. > :27:55.cafe society Belgrade is, but apparently it was 37 degrees in

:27:56. > :28:00.Belgrade yesterday. He said, the late of the Nadal game goes, the

:28:01. > :28:03.later Djokovic is going to be on, and the more fantastic the audience

:28:04. > :28:08.figures are going to be. Every cafe in Belgrade is going to be out in

:28:09. > :28:12.big screens watching Novak. Of course, he didn't go out on court.

:28:13. > :28:22.This guy said, what's going on?! This is our big moment!

:28:23. > :28:29.Well, whatever the medical state of play that Novak is in at the moment,

:28:30. > :29:14.he needs just eight more points to book a place in the last eight.

:29:15. > :29:24.Slowed the ball up. Mannarino should have done a bit better with that,

:29:25. > :31:36.that passing shots really had a lot of time.

:31:37. > :31:45.Well, that second set tie-break may well prove to have been the key

:31:46. > :31:53.moment in this match. Mannarino led 4-2 in that when they changed ends.

:31:54. > :32:01.Three errors, a second set to Djokovic and potentially now a

:32:02. > :32:08.third. Although... Beautifully played. Yes, a volley like that from

:32:09. > :32:10.the Frenchman. You wonder why he doesn't come in more. That's a

:32:11. > :33:36.really good forehand volley there. APPLAUSE

:33:37. > :33:37.Well, he has hit some sensational winners in this match, Mannarino.

:33:38. > :33:56.Just not enough. Well, he really has hung in there.

:33:57. > :34:04.He played a bit of a strange game to lose his serve in the third set. He

:34:05. > :34:09.thought - well, I'll go away quite quickly after that. But he has

:34:10. > :34:12.enjoyed himself. Plus the sight of Djokovic getting treatment, it

:34:13. > :34:15.always helps you when you are playing someone and you see that

:34:16. > :34:19.going on, but for Novak Djokovic, this is a game where - although

:34:20. > :34:25.obviously very experienced, I'm sure he won't - but sometimes when you

:34:26. > :34:31.have an injury, you see the finishing line, you rush, you want

:34:32. > :34:38.to get off the court so badly, get the treatment and get off the court.

:34:39. > :34:43.But, it is an old cliche, but he has to take it one point at a time.

:34:44. > :34:50.Well, Djokovic has been in this situation so many times for more

:34:51. > :34:56.than a decade now. A big match, on the biggest stage. One time step

:34:57. > :35:18.required. -- one final step required.

:35:19. > :36:49.He's been a real road runner today, Mannarino.

:36:50. > :36:55.Well, we've had a cocktail of headache pills, manipulation,

:36:56. > :37:19.arguments with the court, but ultimately, match point.

:37:20. > :38:12.CROWD GASPS CROWD GASPS

:38:13. > :38:20.UMPIRE: Mr Djokovic challenged the call. At the baseline, the ball was

:38:21. > :38:31.called out. Well a fabulous rally. I have a feeling it was in. No, just

:38:32. > :38:35.missed it. Mr Djokovic has two challenges remaining. So, two match

:38:36. > :38:52.points have gone abegging. Mannarino hanging in there.

:38:53. > :39:01.But he will curse not getting that ball back in play. So, for the third

:39:02. > :39:02.time, here's Novak Djokovic, serving for the place in the Wimbledon

:39:03. > :39:18.quarterfinals. UMPIRE: Mr Djokovic has challenged

:39:19. > :39:22.the call. The ball was called out. Well, he is still man overing his

:39:23. > :39:27.shoulder. There is clearly something wrong there. But he's going to have

:39:28. > :40:03.to fire down at least one more serve before he can get it seen to.

:40:04. > :40:12.UMPIRE: Game, set, match, Djokovic. Well a hugely entertaining match.

:40:13. > :40:16.3-0 sets. And Tomas Berdych awaits and Roger

:40:17. > :40:23.Federer lurks in the bushes and Andy Murray is on the horizon. And

:40:24. > :40:28.there's a long way to go before Novak Djokovic reaches the top of

:40:29. > :40:32.the mountain once again but he is still climbing and he'll have his

:40:33. > :40:44.39th Grand Slam quarterfinal tomorrow.

:40:45. > :41:04.And there's a lot of work to be done, clearly, for Novak between now

:41:05. > :41:12.and that quarterfinal with Berdych to. A lot of work on that shoulder.

:41:13. > :41:16.So fundamental to a tennis player's armoury. Here he is, he has been

:41:17. > :41:21.centred throughout the match of various states of parts of Centre

:41:22. > :41:27.Court and drawing the umpire's attention there to, well, not

:41:28. > :41:32.exactly a molehill but clearly an indentation that the ground staff

:41:33. > :41:41.will want to do something about and even more than that, the baseline at

:41:42. > :41:46.the far end, the royal box end, has caused concern for the former

:41:47. > :41:51.champion here, as the players leave the court and if a lot didn't know

:41:52. > :41:55.much about Adrian Mannarino before today, they'll take away very fond

:41:56. > :41:59.memories. He played his part in a hugely-entertaining match, that

:42:00. > :42:01.lasted for two and aurt quaer hours. Great counter-punching from the

:42:02. > :42:07.baseline and great dexterity at the net as well on the odd occasion when

:42:08. > :42:09.he found his way there. But ultimately, his first Grand Slam

:42:10. > :42:24.quarterfinal has eluded him. And Djokovic, after the mandatory

:42:25. > :42:26.programme, cap, ball-signing, and also a few selfies with the Chelsea

:42:27. > :42:38.Pensioners. And he is smiling as well. Novak's

:42:39. > :42:42.PR machine is very good but actually he really does get the requirements

:42:43. > :42:49.of a top tennis player and certainly to see, to spend a week, not exactly

:42:50. > :42:53.in his company but aware of his existence at Eastbourne a couple of

:42:54. > :42:57.weeks ago, you realise the huge charm offensive that he is engaging

:42:58. > :43:01.in at the moment, but also, he can be very, very charming and

:43:02. > :43:04.entertaining company and a lot of residents at Eastbourne couldn't

:43:05. > :43:08.believe how much time he willingly gave to them, to engage talking

:43:09. > :43:14.about tennis but not just tennis, other things as well. So, while the

:43:15. > :43:19.Centre Court crowd disperse and,back for the two women's quarterfinals

:43:20. > :43:24.that are going to take place this after, first up it is Venus Williams

:43:25. > :43:26.up against, Jelena Ostapenko and then Jo Konta against Simona Halep,

:43:27. > :43:38.there is confirmation of the score: Two hours and 15 minutes. Novak,

:43:39. > :43:44.after the frustrations of yesterday not being able to get on the court

:43:45. > :43:49.it must have been good to get off over in a straightforward manner? It

:43:50. > :43:51.was a long, tough day today for both of us, waiting for

:43:52. > :43:53.over in a straightforward manner? It was a long, tough day today for both

:43:54. > :44:02.of us, waiting for an entire day for us to get on the court. It is what

:44:03. > :44:07.it is. We got on to court today. I'm glad we were at least scheduled it

:44:08. > :44:12.play on Centre Court which meant that even regardless of, if it rains

:44:13. > :44:20.or not, we are going to finish the match. I am glad it is all done, and

:44:21. > :44:24.looking forward to the next one. It appears you are continuing in had

:44:25. > :44:30.rich vein of form that we have seen over the last few weeks? I have not

:44:31. > :44:35.dropped a set on grass yet, Eastbourne and here. I am' feeling

:44:36. > :44:39.good on court and I'm motivated to get as far as I can in the

:44:40. > :44:42.tournament. It is one of my favourite tournaments in the world.

:44:43. > :44:45.Hopefully I'll be able to maintain the rhythm. We saw you have

:44:46. > :44:51.treatment for your shoulder. How is it? Is it a concern going forward?

:44:52. > :44:56.We will see. It is something I have been dragging back and forth for a

:44:57. > :45:00.while now. But, I'm still managing to play, which is the most important

:45:01. > :45:05.thing. Tomas Berdych next, you have a fantastic record against hirges 27

:45:06. > :45:11.matches played, won 25. How do you view that obviously he can play on

:45:12. > :45:17.grass, he reached a final here. Well, that year he beat me in the

:45:18. > :45:20.semis, I think. I think it is one of his most preferred services. He

:45:21. > :45:26.looks grass, a big game, a big serve and forehand. He plays very flat. He

:45:27. > :45:30.has been around for many years, he is an established top ten player. He

:45:31. > :45:33.understands and knows the occasion of playing big matches on the big

:45:34. > :45:37.courts. Matches are getting tougher and tougher. There are no clear

:45:38. > :45:42.favourites. I'll try and give it my best. Finally a word on the court

:45:43. > :45:48.and how it is playing, I saw you point out to the umpire it is

:45:49. > :45:53.cutting up a bit. Is that a worry? Well, during the match I mentioned a

:45:54. > :45:57.hole in the middle of the court, below the service line. And well, he

:45:58. > :46:04.just asked me to show him and I did. You know, he was not very pleased to

:46:05. > :46:08.see that. Courts honestly are the not that great this year. You know

:46:09. > :46:13.many players feel the same but it is what it is. The weather also affects

:46:14. > :46:20.the grass. The grass court, groundsmen, I'm sure they know their

:46:21. > :46:25.job, the best in the world but the grass is probably the most complex

:46:26. > :46:33.surface to maintain. It's not easy. They are trying their best. But, you

:46:34. > :46:45.know, I've played on Bert courts. We wish you well in the next round. SUE

:46:46. > :46:50.BARKER: Well no sooner was he off court than the ground staff were on

:46:51. > :46:54.court filling in that. And coach, Agassi will be anxious to get that

:46:55. > :46:58.over. He probably lost a lot of nervous energy yesterday waiting.

:46:59. > :47:02.But he was out here today and he wanted a straight sets win and he

:47:03. > :47:08.got T Djokovic is through. Now the buzz, we turn our attention to

:47:09. > :47:13.ladies quarterfinals day and we have Venus Williams up against Jelena

:47:14. > :47:20.Ostapenko in a moment. Martina is here. How many titles in total at

:47:21. > :47:24.Wimbledon? 20. Just the 20. I was trying to count how many doubles and

:47:25. > :47:29.mixed and everything and John Lloyd is with us. First your opinion on

:47:30. > :47:38.Novak and his form? He has been fired up. He had to get the fire

:47:39. > :47:45.back. As I said before, tennis is a fiery sport. You have to have the

:47:46. > :47:50.fire in the belly to react to the ball and be passionately involved in

:47:51. > :47:52.the game. You cannot go for a nice little meditation during the match.

:47:53. > :47:58.It doesn't work. Actually I did meditate for a while. I had to stop.

:47:59. > :48:04.I was too peaceful. I had to stop that. You have to be fired up and

:48:05. > :48:09.Novak has that fire in the belly again. It is great to see. There

:48:10. > :48:14.were some mighty roars for that. I loved that. As Martina said, we need

:48:15. > :48:19.to see that, we need more of that. It has been flat. It is not his

:48:20. > :48:25.game. It is mental that caused him the problems. He has been flat.

:48:26. > :48:33.Maybe all the wins he has had. When you see him like that, going a bit

:48:34. > :48:38.crazy at times, he loves t the crowd loves it, it shows he is back and

:48:39. > :48:44.complaining, that's not bad either. At least he has the purpose to win

:48:45. > :48:50.the title. I'm just hearing the ripples now. You can probably here

:48:51. > :48:55.the players are out. Venus Williams and Jelena Ostapenko on Centre

:48:56. > :49:00.Court. What a lovely match this is to look forward to. So much

:49:01. > :49:05.experience with Venus Williams five times the champion here. But for the

:49:06. > :49:08.third match in a row, up against the youngest player left in the

:49:09. > :49:12.tournament. Very exciting, fearless, Ostapenko. We'll talk more on that

:49:13. > :49:19.in a moment but, John, briefly, his comments on the court. That will not

:49:20. > :49:22.please the organisers. Well you know you have a problem when winners are

:49:23. > :49:25.complaining, when losers are complaining, you can say - whatever.

:49:26. > :49:29.You can see it. You can see the problems on the baseline. That is

:49:30. > :49:36.sort of normal but now it is inside the court and even in the service

:49:37. > :49:42.box. There are definite marks as you can see here. It is not good. We

:49:43. > :49:44.have a lot more days left in this tournament. It is worrying. The

:49:45. > :49:48.grass sometimes gets slipped on as much, but nowadays the players don't

:49:49. > :49:51.dive ni. It is like they hit a 5-iron off the surface. Several

:49:52. > :49:57.players that have been winning have been saying it to me. It is a

:49:58. > :50:02.pattern. Not sure what is going on and why, but it is worse. They claim

:50:03. > :50:05.they are not doing anything different. It has to be the weather.

:50:06. > :50:11.I was whoppedering how long we before we get to the weather. We

:50:12. > :50:19.moan when it rains and when it is too hot. We just love moaning. John,

:50:20. > :50:22.before we go, a word on Jo Konta. We have all played here at Wimbledon

:50:23. > :50:25.under the pressure of being a British player. She seems to be

:50:26. > :50:28.handling it so well. I was worried about some of the comments before

:50:29. > :50:32.Wimbledon, where it looked like she was getting edgy. The turn around

:50:33. > :50:37.for me was when she won that epic match. The crowd loved her. I think

:50:38. > :50:44.she'll turn a corner and Mr Play now. It took time for her to love

:50:45. > :50:48.this place but now I think she's happy. She has come through a couple

:50:49. > :50:51.of big matches. She's handling the pressure. The crowd now, it is

:50:52. > :50:56.difficult to play when they are moaning when you miss a shot but

:50:57. > :51:02.when they are with you and going nuts when you hit great shot, she

:51:03. > :51:06.has embraced that and using it to her advantage. Well thank you both

:51:07. > :51:08.very much. We turn our attention to Venus Williams against Jelena

:51:09. > :51:09.Ostapenko. Venus, so much experience, playing here at

:51:10. > :51:15.Wimbledon since 1997. COMMENTATOR: What a lovely moment it

:51:16. > :51:44.is. It really has been the most

:51:45. > :51:48.incredible journey, hasn't it? Even in 1997 she bounced on and was

:51:49. > :51:52.winning matches from the word go. Five years ago, we didn't think she

:51:53. > :51:56.would still be playing. Here she is getting to the finals of the

:51:57. > :52:01.Australian Open and a good chance to win here. My hat off it Venus, every

:52:02. > :52:05.time she found out about her syndrome. Auto immune system Yes,

:52:06. > :52:09.you can't fix it but you can try to manage it. She obviously has been

:52:10. > :52:14.managing it but emotionally to deal with that and get out there every

:52:15. > :52:21.day to keep trying and now she could win another Slam, it is amazing.

:52:22. > :52:27.What is it? Nine years ago was the last time she lifted it. She has

:52:28. > :52:32.only been number 1 for 14 weeks in her career but won so many Majors.

:52:33. > :52:35.This is her favourite surface. She is serving big and playing better

:52:36. > :52:37.with each match. And dealing with everything happening back in

:52:38. > :52:45.America, with the car crash that happened, where the gentlemen died.

:52:46. > :52:49.She's able to focus on the court For tennis players, when things are

:52:50. > :52:55.going well you want to play tennis because you feel good and if it is

:52:56. > :52:58.not, this is great escape. We have to compartmentalise, and all the

:52:59. > :53:03.champions do that, you have to put your mind on the moment. Venus is a

:53:04. > :53:08.champion that can do that. Such a big serve, a weapon here. This last

:53:09. > :53:14.match, she was firing and winning a high percentage of the serves. I

:53:15. > :53:20.think she's 59 off 70 coming to the net, which is astonishing. I would

:53:21. > :53:25.like to see her get there more. One step and shes' there and she has the

:53:26. > :53:31.best swing volley on the game. Great to see her winning. It is. And how

:53:32. > :53:35.exciting it see her owe poent, Jelena Ostapenko. Lima Kenzie has

:53:36. > :53:37.been charting her journey from Wimbledon junior champion, right

:53:38. > :53:51.here to the last 8. As a younger, Jelena Ostapenko had a

:53:52. > :53:57.big reputation. In 2014, she won the Wimbledon Junior Title. COMMENTATOR:

:53:58. > :54:05.She's got it. It was amazing, to win the Grand Slam in the juniors. I did

:54:06. > :54:10.it here. It feels very special to be back and to play again. It is

:54:11. > :54:13.incredible. Looking back at the pictures yesterday, you look so

:54:14. > :54:20.young and you still look so young. How much do you think you have grown

:54:21. > :54:26.as a tennis player and a person since then? Quite a lot. I was also

:54:27. > :54:31.watching those pictures from 2014. I really look like a baby there. Yeah,

:54:32. > :54:36.I think I've changed a lot. But in June this year, everything changed.

:54:37. > :54:39.She started the French Open a relative newcomer and finished a

:54:40. > :54:42.Grand Slam champion. The first unseeded player to win Roland Garros

:54:43. > :54:47.since 1933. I realised I won the French Open. It feels really nice. I

:54:48. > :54:52.have more confidence but of course people are expecting more from me

:54:53. > :54:56.now but I need to focus and get ready for every match. Ostapenko's

:54:57. > :55:03.form has transformed from clay to grass. Reputation meant little as

:55:04. > :55:08.she despatched the big names on her way to the quarterfinal. Of course I

:55:09. > :55:15.have a little pressure but I'm going to take one match at a time and I'm

:55:16. > :55:20.just going to prepare for, as I said, for every match. I like it

:55:21. > :55:23.play on grass. I think it suits my style well. Like so many young

:55:24. > :55:26.players, Ostapenko grew up idolising Serena, today she faces Venus,

:55:27. > :55:32.someone who is playing at Wimbledon, the same clear that Jelena Ostapenko

:55:33. > :55:39.was born but that won't inhibit the latest Grand Slam winner. It seems

:55:40. > :55:46.that nothing does. SUE BARKER: It is an incredible

:55:47. > :55:51.journey. You think in March this year she was marked 71 in the world

:55:52. > :55:56.and won the French Open and new here. It has been meteoric. I like

:55:57. > :56:04.this about her, feisty, firy and fearless. And it paid off French

:56:05. > :56:11.Open. She gets upset with herself but then is ready for the next

:56:12. > :56:17.point. I like what she said, after winning the French Open - OK I've

:56:18. > :56:24.done a good job but now she's backed it up with getting here. I look her.

:56:25. > :56:29.The 42 winners, she hit against sell Lena, Bishop, bash, Bosch Yes and

:56:30. > :56:33.she is a great defender. She can match up against anybody. It will be

:56:34. > :56:37.interesting to see if she can atake Venus. And take her opportunity in

:56:38. > :56:43.the match. You don't think she'll be over awed by this, do you? Not at

:56:44. > :56:47.all. She'll embrace it. Been there, done that. She loves it. Loves being

:56:48. > :56:50.on centre stage and played her best tennis under enormous pressure at

:56:51. > :56:52.the French Open and keeps winning three-set matches. A great

:56:53. > :56:58.competitor. The players are getting ready. Thank you very much for

:56:59. > :56:59.Martina. She has to go she'll be calling this match along with Nick

:57:00. > :57:16.Mullins. NICK MULLINS: Appearing on these

:57:17. > :57:20.lawns for the 20th year. The oldest player in the draw, playing the

:57:21. > :57:24.youngest player left in the draw, Jelena Ostapenko. What does this

:57:25. > :57:30.contest hold in store for us? 11th in the world. Seeded 10th in the

:57:31. > :57:34.absence of her pregnant centre, who I'm absolutely sure will be watching

:57:35. > :57:39.somewhere back home in Florida and we're still in the greenhouse.

:57:40. > :57:43.They've kept the roof shut. As much as they are playing on the outside

:57:44. > :57:47.courts, there is the threat of rain, so rather than go through the

:57:48. > :57:55.rigmarole of opening it and closing it again in 45 minutes, they remain

:57:56. > :58:05.under cover for this women's quarter final and Ostapenko won the toss and

:58:06. > :59:22.invited Venus Williams to serve first. UMPIRE: Ready play.

:59:23. > :59:33.She has achieved so much. We know she has, fairy-tale match in France.

:59:34. > :59:38.We will forgive her a few errors. Her very first quarterfinals match

:59:39. > :59:40.at Wimbledon against Venus Williams. It's as terrifying as it gets, I

:59:41. > :59:55.think. This could be better or worse,

:59:56. > :00:00.depending on how you were looking at it, if she was playing Serena

:00:01. > :00:05.Williams rather than her sister. Serena was her hero, that is who she

:00:06. > :00:08.watched play the most. And here she is against Venus Williams, the

:00:09. > :00:19.five-time winner here. A tall order indeed. UMPIRE: The ball was called

:00:20. > :00:28.in. I'm pretty sure it was in, I'm not sure why she is challenging.

:00:29. > :00:38.She has still got two left. The umpire is from Croatia. Quick

:00:39. > :00:51.serving from Venus Williams, three aces. It sends a message. Her mum

:00:52. > :00:56.and sister. Five times the single champion here, pitching for a sixth

:00:57. > :00:59.now. In 2008, she beat her sister in the final, pushed into the

:01:00. > :01:04.semifinals last summer when she was denied another hour on the court

:01:05. > :01:09.with her sister by Angelique Kerber. Continuing to defy the march of time

:01:10. > :01:10.with that extraordinary run to the finals in Melbourne again at the

:01:11. > :01:37.start of the year. That's what she does! She doesn't

:01:38. > :01:41.hang around. Well, we talked about the power. She moved so well to take

:01:42. > :01:45.that ball to be able to hit that forehand and controlled on the line.

:01:46. > :01:46.That was a very good return from Venus Williams. Ostapenko in plenty

:01:47. > :02:06.of time. No warm up here, going all out from

:02:07. > :02:08.the get go, three aces at the start of the match. That is amazing,

:02:09. > :03:05.actually. Well, she ain't going to get a lot

:03:06. > :03:13.of time of my close Williams returns. Exactly, that second serve,

:03:14. > :03:17.55 mph, she is going to have to get the first serve in all go off like

:03:18. > :03:23.the second serve. Xie Hao Ostapenko will attack Venus's second serve,

:03:24. > :03:25.but I think Venus will do the same here. Venus's second serve is better

:03:26. > :03:43.than Ostapenko's second serve. Three balls into the net. Venus

:03:44. > :03:48.hitting the ball pretty hard. Ostapenko just not getting under the

:03:49. > :04:02.bold enough. Break point already. -- under the ball enough.

:04:03. > :04:20.Venus's mum watching bad, Prydie happy. -- pretty happy. Blazing

:04:21. > :04:54.start for Venus. That is her sister. Latvian sport's hottest property

:04:55. > :04:58.right now, provider of one of the sport's stories of the year so far,

:04:59. > :05:07.out of the blue winner in Paris last month. Trying to jog around on the

:05:08. > :05:13.baseline, anticipate where that serve's going to go. Venus has been

:05:14. > :05:18.using the body serve very effectively. Then you get older, you

:05:19. > :05:24.get wiser, and you use it more and more. -- when you get older. You

:05:25. > :05:25.don't get aces that way, but you get weak replies. Hit on that second

:05:26. > :05:49.shot. She hasn't really got going yet. A

:05:50. > :05:52.face that was wreathed in smiles not so long ago just a little bit of

:05:53. > :06:34.puzzlement on it at the moment. A glimpse of a Grand Slam winning

:06:35. > :06:35.shot. The big step for Ostapenko is to get into the rally against Venus

:06:36. > :07:01.Williams. Killing it! Yes, she has a break and

:07:02. > :07:05.she leads 3-0. SUE BARKER: Looking very composed

:07:06. > :07:10.out on Centre Court, Venus Williams racing to 3-0. We will be right back

:07:11. > :07:16.with this, but let's show you what's happening over on Court Number One.

:07:17. > :07:21.Garbine Muguruza, the former finalist, is a set and a break up

:07:22. > :07:24.against that Lana Kuznetsova. She just started playing at the

:07:25. > :07:26.beginning of the year much more freely and reaching the

:07:27. > :07:30.quarterfinals of the Australian Open. She is playing in the same

:07:31. > :07:34.manner here, and when she's like that she is always dangerous,

:07:35. > :07:39.Muguruza. She has the advantage out on Court Number One right now. A

:07:40. > :07:45.couple of results to bring you. Good news for Britain's Jamie Murray and

:07:46. > :07:54.his partner Martina Hingis in the mixed doubles. They came through in

:07:55. > :07:59.straight sets today. 6-3, 6-4. They offer. They are very much the

:08:00. > :08:03.favourites to win the title. Martina Hingis the winner of 17 Grand Slam

:08:04. > :08:08.doubles titles. Of course Jamie, the former mixed doubles champion here,

:08:09. > :08:11.two-time men's doubles Grand Slam champion, everybody loving that

:08:12. > :08:18.victory out there. Oh, Judy and Carol! Well, she just gave us the

:08:19. > :08:22.weather and she has hotfooted it down to court number do. I'm sure

:08:23. > :08:27.they were talking all things Strictly while they were watching!

:08:28. > :08:33.That was on Court Number Two. Of an court number three, this is a big

:08:34. > :08:41.upset. The Brits are through. Ken Skupski and his brother, Neal, are

:08:42. > :08:49.through. They are through to the next round. That's what's been

:08:50. > :09:02.happening elsewhere. Back we go, and it is 15- 02 Ostapenko. -- 15-0.

:09:03. > :09:10.COMMENTATOR: Talking about Venus Williams making her Wimbledon debut,

:09:11. > :09:16.a Elaine Ostapenko was a fortnight old. 15 days to be precise. Born in

:09:17. > :09:23.June the 8th 1997. How many hours by Lexmark that is funny. I ran into

:09:24. > :09:32.that at the end of my career, it's just peculiar when that happens.

:09:33. > :09:36.Ostapenko, you know you are old when you are older than your opponent's

:09:37. > :09:43.mother, or about the same age! A lovely touch from Ostapenko. You can

:09:44. > :10:01.see that backspin. It looks like Jelena will get on the board here.

:10:02. > :10:11.Dominant play from Williams. Then immediately behind the return of

:10:12. > :10:14.serve. Venus's shot selection has been excellent going forward when

:10:15. > :10:37.she has the time. Not too much, just enough. Outstanding so far.

:10:38. > :10:48.And that was not a bad serve. She needs to put a bit of slice on it.

:10:49. > :10:53.When Venus moves towards the ball, she is deadly, she loves to be on a

:10:54. > :10:58.stretch, one step ahead. She needs to make her body move away from the

:10:59. > :11:01.ball. It's tricky, though, if you don't hit that body serve just

:11:02. > :11:17.right, you're a sitting duck, pretty much.

:11:18. > :11:26.I love the way she plays. On top, Martina, she kind of plays without a

:11:27. > :11:30.care in the world. She hits every ball like it might be her last. She

:11:31. > :11:35.doesn't let life pass her by when she's on the court, does she, she

:11:36. > :11:39.takes every opportunity. Every point, and she's ready to go. You

:11:40. > :11:46.can see her mum there with the blunt her. You can tell that mum. -- with

:11:47. > :11:48.the blonde hair. With her coach, it's been a great partnership so

:11:49. > :12:13.far, I have to say. Anabel Medina Grigar is on the left,

:12:14. > :12:21.a former top 20 player, only we simply retired, three years ago. Mum

:12:22. > :12:28.Jelena. -- only recently retired. It is a Slavic thing, to name your kids

:12:29. > :12:36.after you. It's quite common. It can get confusing, though. Great serving

:12:37. > :12:39.from Venus Williams. I have another question about Slavic names, but we

:12:40. > :12:44.might leave that until a little bit later. It's to do with what we

:12:45. > :12:52.really ought to call Jelena Ostapenko. You're looking a key

:12:53. > :12:57.statistic on the board, what's catching your eye? The percentage of

:12:58. > :12:58.Venus serves, she has 64, but their deadly when they go in. Winning

:12:59. > :13:11.eight out of nine points. Of course, it's not how many double

:13:12. > :13:15.fault you hit, but when you hit them. You can't throw away a second

:13:16. > :13:39.serve, go for more. Williams 4-1 with the brakes, first

:13:40. > :14:02.set. So, there's Jelena, or is it?

:14:03. > :14:07.Because we found out over the last couple of days that actually her

:14:08. > :14:15.family and her friends have always called her Aliona. Which is what

:14:16. > :14:19.everybody in Riga calls her, back home. It is what her mum Jelena

:14:20. > :14:23.calls her. Mum and that wanted to give her a name which had its roots

:14:24. > :14:26.in Ukraine, which is important to the family. But you can probably

:14:27. > :14:30.explain this better than me, Martina, but they wouldn't have been

:14:31. > :14:34.legally recognised as a name in Latvia because they have what is

:14:35. > :14:39.called naming days, can you explain that? Yes, I think France does it

:14:40. > :14:45.too. There are improved names that you have to give your kid to go with

:14:46. > :14:48.your heritage. The Soviets of course are very big on rules. There was a

:14:49. > :14:56.certain amount of names that you could get. My mum gave me Martina,

:14:57. > :15:00.there were no Martinas, it was accepted but it was an unusual name

:15:01. > :15:04.back then. You have to give an approved name, but then you can call

:15:05. > :15:09.your kid whatever you want. It's fascinating study if they had a

:15:10. > :15:13.choice, they would have named her Aliona, but they were not allowed.

:15:14. > :15:17.The umpire yesterday called her Aliona. She said, it's the first

:15:18. > :15:22.time in a match and umpire had called her Aliona, and she was

:15:23. > :15:39.filled with it. -- she was thrilled with it.

:15:40. > :15:46.And just to finish that story, Martina, the Latvians have been so

:15:47. > :15:55.taken with what she's achieved in recent times that from henceforth

:15:56. > :16:03.on, August 18 will be Aliona day. It is an official name now. It will be,

:16:04. > :16:10.brilliant. Yes, because every day has a name attached to it. So if it

:16:11. > :16:14.is your name day, you celebrate it. Suburbs you get a take and some

:16:15. > :16:23.sweets. You get your birthday, and you get a name day. -- sometimes you

:16:24. > :16:24.get a birthday take. That's heavy duty stuff. I wonder if she will

:16:25. > :16:39.change her name officially or not. Venus will always be Venus. And

:16:40. > :16:43.she's always been that good! Yes, she pounced on that short ball.

:16:44. > :16:50.She's inside the baseline for the second serve return. She is ready to

:16:51. > :17:26.spring forward, as she did there. Hard enough, but a little short.

:17:27. > :17:45.Ostapenko perhaps finding her bearings here little bit. Holding

:17:46. > :17:48.on. Interesting to look at the speed that Venus Williams is returning

:17:49. > :17:55.that serve, an indication of how much harder she's hitting it today.

:17:56. > :18:00.That is a big difference on both serves, 5-6 mph. That is a good

:18:01. > :18:02.chunk of change, always coming back much, much quicker. You'd better be

:18:03. > :18:19.ready after that serve. You know, when I was standing on the

:18:20. > :18:23.court with Sue, I've played on this court with the roof closed, but it

:18:24. > :18:28.didn't occur to me that this is the only indoor court without lights on!

:18:29. > :18:33.I mean, you don't need lights during the day, you get enough light coming

:18:34. > :18:38.through the roof, it's very peculiar. It's a funny sensation.

:18:39. > :18:43.It's not as funny as watching tennis on this court with you! It feels

:18:44. > :18:48.like I'm watching tennis in your back garden, it's your court,

:18:49. > :18:53.really, along with one or two other courts! I don't mind sharing it with

:18:54. > :18:59.a slew of other greats. It's just nice to be part of it. Venus does

:19:00. > :19:03.not like to challenge, she has to be pretty sure she's right before she

:19:04. > :19:10.challenges a call. No throwaway challenges for her.

:19:11. > :19:17.Ostapenko not moving forward at all on that ball. Perhaps too much

:19:18. > :19:19.respect for that Williams serve. She usually stays inside the baseline

:19:20. > :19:41.also to return that second serve. Venus's coaches, David on the far

:19:42. > :19:48.left has been with her for years and years.

:19:49. > :19:58.APPLAUSE UMPIRE: New balls, please.

:19:59. > :20:03.He will be extremely satisfied with what he's seen thus far, Martina.

:20:04. > :20:10.Venus is just dominating when she gets that first serve in. Six

:20:11. > :20:15.winners, six and forced, she's forced a lot of errors, but most of

:20:16. > :20:19.what she's getting on top of the Ostapenko second serve and starting

:20:20. > :20:24.the rallies really well. Did you hear Novak Djokovic talking after

:20:25. > :20:29.his win 15 or 20 minutes ago about the state of the court, Martina,

:20:30. > :20:32.about the divots and the holes and a lot of conversation about the state

:20:33. > :20:36.of the courts all over this wonderful complex over the last week

:20:37. > :20:42.or so. Here on Centre Court, the worst he could ever remember,

:20:43. > :20:45.Djokovic, he said to us afterwards, it's been a tough old job for Neil

:20:46. > :20:51.Stubley, the head groundsman. Normally the court gets worn out

:20:52. > :20:56.into that he ought yellow dead grass and then it's dirt, but it is still

:20:57. > :21:00.steady and flat for the most part. But these divots, I've never seen

:21:01. > :21:04.the grounds people so busy after the match replacing the divots. I mean,

:21:05. > :21:08.you just don't get divots here. There's got to be something that's

:21:09. > :21:13.going on. The weather affecting it all the grass. I guess it didn't

:21:14. > :21:18.change the composition of the grass... Alastair Cook. He had no

:21:19. > :21:24.worries about the pitch on Lord's at Sunday, finishing in double quick

:21:25. > :21:29.time against South Africa. Ostapenko serving to stay in this first set. I

:21:30. > :21:33.wonder what the court would be like if we have the old serve and volley

:21:34. > :21:38.game, it would be dug up that much more, especially around the service

:21:39. > :21:43.line. It's tricky out there. Some holes in the court that shouldn't be

:21:44. > :21:47.there, you feel like you could almost bring your ankle when you

:21:48. > :21:55.step into it. That's dangerous at that point. -- sprain your ankle.

:21:56. > :22:01.Yes, I know that the grounds folk like lots of people will have been

:22:02. > :22:04.up and down the country on Sunday pending the lawns, doing what they

:22:05. > :22:21.can do to put water on it. They've got their hands full this year.

:22:22. > :22:27.The youngest remaining player in the draw. She came through some is the

:22:28. > :22:31.key matches to reach the quarterfinals. There nearly beaten

:22:32. > :22:38.by the Canadian qualifier Francoise Abanda in the second. She needed

:22:39. > :22:39.eight match points before seeing of the fourth seed, Elina Svitolina,

:22:40. > :22:54.yesterday. That was an impressive win. She was

:22:55. > :23:01.one of the favourites at the French Open. Ostapenko won the whole thing

:23:02. > :23:06.there. A much admired player here, Ostapenko beat her in the second

:23:07. > :23:12.week of a bold. I think it was the first, second week. To lean as well.

:23:13. > :23:13.Isn't that great, lots of names for occasional tennis folk to conjure

:23:14. > :23:27.with now. They've known about this woman for a

:23:28. > :23:32.while. Yes, she's hitting that second serve return. Again, you're

:23:33. > :23:36.better really stretching her out wide. One step Venus is a dangerous

:23:37. > :23:54.Venus. Four out of 12 on second serve for

:23:55. > :24:41.Ostapenko. That's not good enough. Nicely done. She did well to get up

:24:42. > :24:45.to that ball. She has a pretty flat ground strokes, when the court is

:24:46. > :24:48.short for her she has two either find the net or hit long because she

:24:49. > :24:53.just has so little margin of error with that ball. She would much

:24:54. > :24:54.rather be hitting the ball from just behind the baseline them in front of

:24:55. > :25:18.it. Smart play by Ostapenko. A little

:25:19. > :25:23.smile on her face. Is that the first we've seen of the match? That will

:25:24. > :25:26.calm the nerves in the box as well. And it means that Venus Williams

:25:27. > :25:55.will have to serve for this first set.

:25:56. > :26:03.She has another challenge. Is she going to? It was out, I probably

:26:04. > :26:07.wouldn't be challenging. She's pretty steady out there. Of course

:26:08. > :26:09.Venus has three challengers left. I would just calm myself down by

:26:10. > :26:25.challenging, but it was well out. Oh! That's what I mean. Fantastic

:26:26. > :26:31.return. Venus did really well just to get the ball into play. Not only

:26:32. > :26:37.did she get it into play, she got it low and short, the great hand from

:26:38. > :26:54.behind her foot. Ostapenko can't roll it up to clear the net.

:26:55. > :27:02.She really should be 0-30. It changes the whole feel of the game

:27:03. > :27:03.for Venus Williams. Instead she goes for the big serve, breathing much

:27:04. > :27:30.easier. We've been on court for very nearly

:27:31. > :27:34.half an hour. Ostapenko has wrestled her way more and more into this

:27:35. > :27:39.contest. But it might have come too late for this first set.

:27:40. > :28:14.A little shake of the head. A quizzical look back down at the

:28:15. > :28:19.court. But it's what happens on grass. You sometimes don't get the

:28:20. > :28:25.bounce your expecting. Williams has won the first set 6-3. Exactly, the

:28:26. > :28:29.ball bounced straight up, that is grass court tennis, that's what

:28:30. > :28:35.happens when the ball hit the line. What a fantastic set from Venus

:28:36. > :28:42.Williams. Solid as a rock serving. 16% of the first serves in. Winning

:28:43. > :28:47.80% of the points. It's hard to find an opening. Ostapenko only got to

:28:48. > :28:51.30, that was it. A break point. But she kind of clawed her way into the

:28:52. > :28:58.match, holding her serve three times. She has to find a way to get

:28:59. > :28:59.into the Venus Williams serve. Big serve, big returns, big strike of

:29:00. > :29:08.the ball. Let's have a look at some numbers.

:29:09. > :29:14.We've mentioned one or two already, Martina.

:29:15. > :29:20.First serves in, and obvious disparity at the moment from a

:29:21. > :29:25.Latvian point of view. Exactly, the unforced errors are not too bad for

:29:26. > :29:28.Ostapenko. She has been in the plus for the tournament and Venus in the

:29:29. > :29:33.minors. She has been winning the points and backing up the second

:29:34. > :29:37.serve. That has been Ostapenko's and he'll is healed, not getting enough

:29:38. > :29:44.first serves in and losing too many points on the second serve. Order of

:29:45. > :29:49.the day number one, hold serve. Order of the day number two, and try

:29:50. > :29:54.to find a way to break Williams's serve.

:29:55. > :29:57.And that's why trying to get into the semifinals of Wimbledon is a

:29:58. > :30:15.devil of a job. Second round in 2015. First round in

:30:16. > :30:57.2016. Quarterfinalist in 2017. There are some players who hit it

:30:58. > :31:02.hard but it fizzles out when it comes over the net, like in

:31:03. > :31:03.Badminton, it goes fast first but then it slows down, hers carries

:31:04. > :31:57.through the court really well. The half-volley off the baseline. It

:31:58. > :32:03.is a dangerous proposition. You are not going to get a true bounce. So

:32:04. > :32:05.you are really taking a chance. Better to back up and save some

:32:06. > :32:28.time. Do you know, we batter you with lots

:32:29. > :32:33.of stats and statistics these days but the most astonishing stat or

:32:34. > :32:37.statistics to come out of Roland Garros last month was she was

:32:38. > :32:41.hitting, on average, her forehand, faster than Andy Murray was. That

:32:42. > :32:47.says everything about the shot. I think she has the fourth hardest

:32:48. > :32:51.forehand, period. I think Nadal, Del Potro and one other man hit it

:32:52. > :32:58.harder than she was, in front of Andy Murray and anyone else in the

:32:59. > :33:06.field. That was a great shot. I thought Venus hit a winner there.

:33:07. > :33:12.She gives it a wallop. A big swing on the return of serve and it is

:33:13. > :33:16.hard to adjust to the bounce. The fall was short and slow for Venus'

:33:17. > :33:21.first serve but that big swing, hard to control.

:33:22. > :33:30.It is one of those statistics you talk about when you go down the pub

:33:31. > :33:40.at night, isn't it? They are the best.

:33:41. > :33:46.Well, this woman, the sliced forehand return. She's thinking out

:33:47. > :33:53.there. Whether she is thinking about changing it up, but she has the

:33:54. > :33:56.ability to do it. Putting in the spin and drawing the error from

:33:57. > :34:49.Williams. Well t sounded like a rock

:34:50. > :34:54.conterrorist, battle of the drummers underneath the roof on Centre Court

:34:55. > :35:00.right now and she's got break point. - a rock concert. Great foot work.

:35:01. > :35:03.Just little stutter steps, getting into perfect position. The fist

:35:04. > :35:35.break point of the match for Ostapenko.

:35:36. > :35:42.When it comes off, you break, when it doesn't, maybe going for too much

:35:43. > :35:55.but that was just a fantastic evident from Venus Williams.

:35:56. > :36:03.And what is notable about the best players at points like that,

:36:04. > :36:05.Martina, they don't take a step backwards, they take a step forwards

:36:06. > :36:18.Exactly. I've not seen Venus hit the ball

:36:19. > :37:12.this hard in a long time. Venus plays fast. Jelena also plays

:37:13. > :37:15.fast. This is when champions strike right back, when they escape,

:37:16. > :37:56.somehow, for some reason, that next game, you see a lot of breaks.

:37:57. > :38:35.Venus Williams is covering the court beautifully today.

:38:36. > :38:41.She needs to develop more spin on the ground shots, Martina, to

:38:42. > :38:48.challenge long-term here, do you think? That certainly is the next

:38:49. > :38:53.step for her. It is a must. Of course, she's 20. Plenty of time.

:38:54. > :38:57.She has to negotiate three break points against her name here,

:38:58. > :39:21.however. 37 Venus. The oldest player to get

:39:22. > :39:26.this far at Wimbledon in a Grand Slam for 23 years, Martinia. The

:39:27. > :39:44.oldest player since... That would've been me - '94. I would have to say

:39:45. > :39:49.that Venus and Serena said - we'll never play in our 30s and here they

:39:50. > :39:52.are in their late 30s, really dominating. Serena became pregnant

:39:53. > :39:58.while number 1 and will no doubt be coming back and Venus, I think,

:39:59. > :40:14.could get to number 5 if she wins the tournament. Absolutely. I don't

:40:15. > :40:20.need to tell you this, you know this, Martina, beat Novotina that

:40:21. > :40:28.day. There is Max Whitlock, the gymnast who just got married.

:40:29. > :40:34.Congratulations to Mr and Mr Whitlock. We are constantly trying

:40:35. > :40:40.to put what Venus Williams is achieving, is still doing, into some

:40:41. > :40:46.kind of perspective. And with a break of serve, here she is, and

:40:47. > :41:54.having won the first set, 2-1 up in the second.

:41:55. > :41:58.And frustration starting to boil over here. She can't get the racket

:41:59. > :42:09.near it. Venus seems to be playing even

:42:10. > :42:16.faster between points, not letting Ostapenko breathe. The combination

:42:17. > :42:18.of the Williams' power and Paddington stares across the box

:42:19. > :42:42.from Ostapenko. The average speed of Williams' first

:42:43. > :42:57.serve in this match has been 107 miles per hour. The average speed.

:42:58. > :43:03.She moved up to another level yesterday and is keeping it up

:43:04. > :43:06.today. She has her confidence, feeling the rhythm. And when you

:43:07. > :43:42.have it, use it. What a wonderful scene. Strr court,

:43:43. > :43:45.under the roof -- Centre Court, under the roof. The greenhouse

:43:46. > :43:51.effect, given the dreadful weather forecast around these parts today.

:43:52. > :44:54.And we are nice and dry and warm here on Centre.

:44:55. > :45:03.Ah. 40 years since Virginia took tea with the Queen. Jo Konta on next

:45:04. > :45:21.guest Simona Halep. 1984, Jo Durie. She's starting to feel at home on

:45:22. > :46:20.this Centre Court again, Ostapenko. Finding her rhythm.

:46:21. > :46:27.One of the things we've always admired or certainly over the last

:46:28. > :46:30.12 months about Jelena Ostapenko, are the fast feet that were

:46:31. > :46:33.developed on the dance floor she tells us. She took ballroom dancing

:46:34. > :46:37.lessons for about seven years. It was only recently she decided she

:46:38. > :46:44.wanted to be a tennis player rather than a dancer. She is still only 20,

:46:45. > :46:51.we have to keep reminding ourselves. She will appreciate that, Darcy

:46:52. > :46:55.bustle on the left-hand side. It is all about developing skills as a

:46:56. > :47:01.world class dancer. It is interesting, isn't it? I know you

:47:02. > :47:04.talk a lot about this, about how the transferrable skills from one

:47:05. > :47:08.discipline can be brought on to a tennis court. Well the biggest thing

:47:09. > :47:12.you get in dancing, you have to know what every single body part is

:47:13. > :47:15.doing, so complete body control. And that can transfer into whatever

:47:16. > :47:21.technique you need in a tennis court. In tennis, it doesn't matter

:47:22. > :47:27.what the body is doing, as long as the contact is right. But if you

:47:28. > :47:32.have good technique, it helps. Ostapenko knows all about the body

:47:33. > :47:39.control. Once you tell her, what she has to do, I think she'll be able to

:47:40. > :47:42.do it. Other than the quick feet, that can make a huge difference, of

:47:43. > :47:54.course. Well she overcooked that volley a

:47:55. > :48:44.little bit. I think we should just do away with

:48:45. > :49:05.the let, just play the ball. There is an event in Milan in

:49:06. > :49:10.November where they are going to do away with the let calls and

:49:11. > :49:18.experiment with one or two things as well on the men's tour. A little bit

:49:19. > :49:21.of on-court coaching. The let call is just an outdated rule. There is

:49:22. > :49:56.no reason for it. The quality of the ball striking

:49:57. > :50:02.from both has been exceptional. Hitting the ball pretty clean, both

:50:03. > :50:05.of them. Ostapenko with a little more power. Just so clean in the

:50:06. > :51:08.middle of the racket. Well, well, well. Her coach and her

:51:09. > :51:14.mum watch none admiration. The other mum, a little less so. The first

:51:15. > :51:18.hiccup there from Venus Williams. She's been improving on her serve.

:51:19. > :51:25.Just one break point the whole match. The Ostapenko position, I

:51:26. > :51:29.think just gave Venus pause on that second serve. She's trying to be

:51:30. > :51:33.brave on the service positions and working hard on the anticipation.

:51:34. > :51:35.Not taking it for granted that Williams will dominate. So back on

:51:36. > :52:03.serve in the second set, 3-3. Snr is there anyone smarter on

:52:04. > :52:19.Centre Court today? That's a touch of genius. That's the

:52:20. > :52:26.touch of a very special player Yes, she doesn't seem to want to be at

:52:27. > :52:29.the net but when she gets there she has the confidence it get

:52:30. > :52:31.imaginative. And this is great hands there. She's in trouble - she got

:52:32. > :52:56.out of it. Venus Williams is backing up a

:52:57. > :53:22.little bit on court. Now the openings are bigger for Jelena.

:53:23. > :53:55.She is flat bang in the middle of this scrap, Jelena Ostapenko.

:53:56. > :54:03.SUE BARKER: And when the youngster gets momentum she's hard to stop.

:54:04. > :54:10.We'll be right back. But on Court One. Garbine Muguruza took her place

:54:11. > :54:14.in the last four, defeating Svetlana Kuznetsova. Wonderful tennis out on

:54:15. > :54:20.Court One. More power play from both sides of the net. Coach, Martinez

:54:21. > :54:24.delighted with Muguruza who goes through 6-3, 6-4. Although she had a

:54:25. > :54:31.dip in form after winning the French Open last year, she is really back

:54:32. > :54:42.to her best again. She will be back for the semifinals,

:54:43. > :54:50.Rybarikova or Vandeweghe. That match is on BBC Two. We'll keep you

:54:51. > :54:54.up-to-date on BBC One as well. So back to centre.

:54:55. > :55:11.NICK MULLINS: Where are we Martina? Are we seeing a significant shift in

:55:12. > :55:19.the tides here, or a temporary one? MARTINA NAVRATILOVA? It's hard to

:55:20. > :56:33.tell. I think it could be temporary. We'll see what happens.

:56:34. > :56:37.A nice comfortable hold for Venus, it put the pressure back on

:56:38. > :57:00.Ostapenko. Serve at 85 miles per hour. Given

:57:01. > :57:16.the treatment by the Latvian. That serve a little faster, 113. Won

:57:17. > :57:43.her the point. Won her the game. Hard to tell from the Williams' camp

:57:44. > :57:49.that she is actually winning this match.

:57:50. > :00:09.UMPIRE: Miss Ostapenkochallenges the call. The ball was called out.

:00:10. > :00:18.You have to admire her spunk. She's fearless. Fearless tennis.

:00:19. > :00:51.Big swings across the service line, but she makes it.

:00:52. > :00:58.Not by much. UMPIRE: Mrs Ostapenko has one

:00:59. > :01:17.challenge remaining. UMPIRE: Game Miss Ostapenko. She's

:01:18. > :01:25.moved within a game of squaring things up set-wise. Unforced errors

:01:26. > :01:30.and winners, Ostapenko is 20-14 positive. Veens 12 winners, 14

:01:31. > :01:36.unforced. On paper, Ostapenko is winning this match. Just looking at

:01:37. > :01:39.that number. She needs to get a few more first serves in. But she's

:01:40. > :01:46.picked it up in the second set. Average net clearance as well. #

:01:47. > :01:51.She's gambling a bit more. That's how she's playing. She plays very

:01:52. > :01:58.low over the net. So that window is very shallow. Particularly when

:01:59. > :02:11.she's inside the baseline. She's always walking dangerously there,.

:02:12. > :02:14.The girl who created Latvian tennis history at Roland Garros. Up against

:02:15. > :02:16.somebody who has been creating tennis history for much of her

:02:17. > :02:28.career. She's not on her own. He is safely

:02:29. > :02:33.through to the men's quarter finals. He beat Adrian Mannarino in three

:02:34. > :02:40.sets, in the rescheduled match that started at mid-day here onEr isser.

:02:41. > :02:42.-- here on Centre. The main business of the day is the women's quarter

:02:43. > :03:49.finals. All of a sudden things get much

:03:50. > :03:57.closer for Venus Williams than she would like. Comfortably ahead now,

:03:58. > :04:21.she's just three points from the possibility of losing the set.

:04:22. > :04:27.98mph second serve comes back with interest. Ostapenko really picking

:04:28. > :05:27.tup here, the last three games. Played here for the first time in

:05:28. > :05:32.1973. How did you deal with matches like this early on in your career,

:05:33. > :05:35.when you were the second favourite? What was the approach? It's great,

:05:36. > :05:46.there is no pressure. I'm supposed to lose, so I can go all out.

:05:47. > :05:52.Everybody's got different pressures. For Venus, how many more times will

:05:53. > :05:53.she be in this position. It's when you know your time is running out,

:05:54. > :06:00.it becomes very precious. Ostapenko could be here 15 more

:06:01. > :06:52.times. That's the way she plays. He coach

:06:53. > :06:58.knows that. Her mum knows that. Her mum used to be her coach.

:06:59. > :07:10.A joint coaching team now. It's working pretty well

:07:11. > :07:19.What a great job she did bringing that break point down. No sign of

:07:20. > :07:30.nerves there. S Now forcing the error from Ostapenko.

:07:31. > :08:11.UMPIRE: Game Ms Williams. Venus Williams bouncing around inside the

:08:12. > :08:25.baseline, taking control of this quarter final.

:08:26. > :08:32.I feel like the net is getting in the way too much for Ostapenko. She

:08:33. > :08:35.hits such a low mile. When you get nervous you decelerate a bit. She

:08:36. > :08:40.hit three balls into the net. She's not happy.

:08:41. > :08:45.20 unforced errors. It isn't her coaches hitting the

:08:46. > :08:55.ball into the net. No. They're the ones who bear the brunt of it. Two

:08:56. > :09:07.solid games from Venus Williams, back to the wall a bit there.

:09:08. > :09:11.Displayed really solid tennis. 15-30 and three first

:09:12. > :09:16.30-30, Ostapenko missed that return that would have been a winner. She

:09:17. > :09:20.miss today wide. That's all she wrote. Now Venus Williams serving

:09:21. > :09:26.for the match and a place in the semis once again.

:09:27. > :09:32.At a time when a lot of us would have thought she'd have been beyond

:09:33. > :09:36.it, she's still pushing for Grand Slam semifinals, Grand Slam finals.

:09:37. > :09:55.Here she is once more serving for a place in the last four of Wimbledon.

:09:56. > :10:28.What a serve. 98mph. A lot of slice. The ball stayed low. Ostapenko that

:10:29. > :10:35.big swing, will never catch up. Where did this end up? Right by his

:10:36. > :11:34.nose. The ageless Venus Williams at the

:11:35. > :11:52.age of 37 for another Wimbledon semifinal.

:11:53. > :11:57.UMPIRE: Game, set and match Miss Williams.

:11:58. > :12:06.A month on from Paris, there will be no London fairy-tale for Jelena

:12:07. > :12:12.Ostapenko. But Venus Williams continuing to take care of business.

:12:13. > :12:17.CHEERING AND APPLAUSE What an athlete. What a performer

:12:18. > :12:22.and what a champion. Maybe a champion again on Saturday. She is

:12:23. > :12:26.in there shaking her fists. She's the only one that's done it before.

:12:27. > :12:32.That really pays off. Ostapenko has done a good job here getting into

:12:33. > :12:36.the second week. Not sure whether the umpire is telling her to wait.

:12:37. > :12:40.Don't know if she knows the protocol. Venus Williams has done it

:12:41. > :12:43.before. Nobody else in the tournament has won Wimbledon before.

:12:44. > :12:51.Until you win it the first time, you don't know whether you can. That

:12:52. > :12:54.kind of doubt can when you're on the court and Venus Williams here for

:12:55. > :12:58.the sixth time. Whatever happens between now and Saturday afternoon,

:12:59. > :13:02.she'll be back in the world's top ten on Monday, when the rankings are

:13:03. > :13:09.out. Denise Lewis amongs those in the Royal Box lending their support.

:13:10. > :13:14.A quick word for Ostapenko. She's not going to win this one, but we

:13:15. > :13:18.saw enough out there to underline again the talent that she has. She's

:13:19. > :13:23.20 years old. She's just getting started. Fantastic win at the French

:13:24. > :13:29.Open. She needs to shorten up some swings for faster playing grass and

:13:30. > :13:33.improve her second serve. Sky's the limit for that woman. She has a good

:13:34. > :13:41.attitude. She knows what to do on the court. We'll see her again. But

:13:42. > :13:48.it is Venus who moves on to Thursday's semifinal. She's won it

:13:49. > :13:52.6-3, 7-5. SUE BARKER: What a performance from the five-time

:13:53. > :13:56.champion here, Venus Williams through to her tenth Wimbledon

:13:57. > :14:00.semifinal. Looking for her first title for nine years. I tell you, if

:14:01. > :14:04.you would bet against it, after that match, like all great champions, you

:14:05. > :14:08.need to pace yourself through the draw and get better with every

:14:09. > :14:12.match. She certainly is doing that. She's dismissed a very difficult

:14:13. > :14:17.opponent today in the big hitting Latvian, Jelena Ostapenko. So Venus

:14:18. > :14:24.Williams takes a bow on Centre Court here at Wimbledon, through to the

:14:25. > :14:28.last four again. Venus and Jelena leave Centre Court. There's a buzz

:14:29. > :14:32.around here, next up, guess what, it is Britain's number one against the

:14:33. > :14:35.world number two. # You don't have to be rich to be my

:14:36. > :14:59.girl... # Simona Halep certainly knows what it

:15:00. > :15:05.is to play a quarter final in a Grand Slam. It's the first Wimbledon

:15:06. > :15:10.quarter final for Johanna Konta. How will she deal the pressure and

:15:11. > :15:16.expectation. We've been looking at her journey right the way through to

:15:17. > :15:20.the Wimbledon last eight. Johanna Konta was born in Sydney to

:15:21. > :15:24.Hungarian parents. She started playing tennis at eight years old

:15:25. > :15:28.and by her early teens, she'd decided to make her pastime her

:15:29. > :15:34.profession. She moved to Barcelona to develop her skills and then at

:15:35. > :15:38.14, her family relocated to the UK where together they could chase her

:15:39. > :15:42.dream of becoming a professional tennis player, the hobby became a

:15:43. > :15:47.job. The dream, a reality. First time I met her, she was playing an

:15:48. > :15:51.ITF junior tournament. She was very sweet, very caring and very kind.

:15:52. > :15:58.She cared about her parents an awful lot. She was always a little shy and

:15:59. > :16:05.reserved. I wouldn't say there was anything different that made her

:16:06. > :16:08.stand out from everyone else. Really great posture, carried herself

:16:09. > :16:11.extremely well and looked athletically as if she was made for

:16:12. > :16:16.the game. There was one time I came in from the courts outside, it was

:16:17. > :16:21.freezing cold. She had six layers on, outside, on an artificial clay

:16:22. > :16:26.court and her enthusiasm, my word, I just thought it was great. I said to

:16:27. > :16:36.her father, this is top 5% in the world material. I remember the first

:16:37. > :16:40.time that I really saw Johanna play, the girl was quite unknown. She came

:16:41. > :16:44.on court and she showed me this attitude like OK, I'm Johanna Konta,

:16:45. > :16:47.I'm very confident in my game. I'm confident in myself. I was impressed

:16:48. > :16:52.by the mentality she showed out there. In 2012 Konta became a

:16:53. > :16:57.British citizen and that same year, she made her first appearance at

:16:58. > :17:03.Wimbledon as a wildcard. Ranked 212 in the world, she lost in the first

:17:04. > :17:08.round to American Christina McHale. Fast forward five years and Konta

:17:09. > :17:14.started Wimbledon ranked seventh. On the court she's very focussed,

:17:15. > :17:19.intense, hard working, kind of perfect in a way. We all knew she

:17:20. > :17:23.could play well, but to now become a top-ten player, the person she is

:17:24. > :17:28.and a Grand Slam contenders, she's just separated herself from the

:17:29. > :17:30.rest. I think a lot of that is down to commitment off court as well,

:17:31. > :17:37.working on the mental side of the game. That's been huge. Now she

:17:38. > :17:46.seems a lot more relaxed and not as maybe stressed as she used torb on

:17:47. > :17:51.the court. COMMENTATOR: Jo Konta Wimbledon

:17:52. > :17:59.quarter finalist. Expectations are high this year. So far she's

:18:00. > :18:03.controlling her emotions on a very positive way. I think it's a result

:18:04. > :18:09.of all the mental hard work of the past. She's gone on record as saying

:18:10. > :18:12.she wants to be number one in the world. I have no reason to believe

:18:13. > :18:20.that will not be possible. She's good enough. Here she is through

:18:21. > :18:24.into the Wimbledon quarter final for the first time, Jo Konta against

:18:25. > :18:29.Simona Halep. They'll be on court in a moment. Kim and Mac are with me.

:18:30. > :18:33.Pretty impressed with Venus in the last one? I was surprised she hasn't

:18:34. > :18:37.been called the favourite for a few rounds. I mean, with her credentials

:18:38. > :18:41.here as well, she's played most of the year. As comfortable as she is

:18:42. > :18:45.on the grass, so while I think Ostapenko is going time prove and

:18:46. > :18:48.win more -- going to improve and win more grand slams, it was nice toe

:18:49. > :18:52.see the old master give the youngster a lesson. She looked as

:18:53. > :18:56.though she was getting back to her best, after a few years where she

:18:57. > :18:59.wasn't. Yeah, she is. With the health scares that she's had, it

:19:00. > :19:03.took her a little bit of time to adjust. But to see her so motivated

:19:04. > :19:08.and so passionate for the sport is incredible. It's some serve, that

:19:09. > :19:13.break point in the second set, to bring out the ace in the corner,

:19:14. > :19:17.it's a weapon. Her first serve is, I think she's hit the hardest serve in

:19:18. > :19:21.the history of the women's game, close to 130mph, the one she hit.

:19:22. > :19:25.It's nice to get out of trouble. The second has been an issue. When she

:19:26. > :19:29.can get that going and has confidence, she's going to be

:19:30. > :19:33.difficult to beat. No question. Onto this one now. Jo Konta, so much

:19:34. > :19:36.British expectation, everybody talking about it. There's an

:19:37. > :19:40.atmosphere here. Big match for her up against a very tricky opponent. A

:19:41. > :19:44.very tough opponent. An opponent that will keep fighting until the

:19:45. > :19:47.end. Has dealt with some emotional issues after losing the finals at

:19:48. > :19:53.the French Open, but seems focussed again. It's a very interesting one

:19:54. > :19:57.coming up. Johanna has looked consistent, even when she lost the

:19:58. > :20:01.second set yesterday against Garcia, she doesn't get stressed about it.

:20:02. > :20:07.She keeps focussed on what she has to do. That impressed me the moment.

:20:08. > :20:10.Against Vekic and Garcia, she had moments where she could have got

:20:11. > :20:14.tight, but she didn't. It's a little of both. She's got tight, but she

:20:15. > :20:17.handled it better. She's done that better and better through her

:20:18. > :20:22.career. It's nice to see a bit of a late bloomer. But this is a real

:20:23. > :20:25.emotional test for both of them. I was going to say particularly Halep,

:20:26. > :20:30.I'm not sure, I think it's both of them. Here's Konta, who's stepping

:20:31. > :20:35.it up in front of a home crowd. Then you've got Halep who was devastated

:20:36. > :20:40.by the loss at the French. A little bit from my own experience, if you

:20:41. > :20:45.lose a match like that, in the French final, there's nothing better

:20:46. > :20:51.than coming back here and being able to forget about that nightmare. But

:20:52. > :20:55.her game is more defensive. She uses her legs more. She counterpunches

:20:56. > :20:59.more. It's going to be important for her to try to step it up and be more

:21:00. > :21:03.aggressive when she has the opportunity. Konta will win more

:21:04. > :21:09.free points on the serve. It's like the last few years she's been the

:21:10. > :21:14.Lady in Waiting, Simona Halep. She's been looked as a favourite in a few

:21:15. > :21:18.tournaments. That's not the case today. Konta is the big favourite. I

:21:19. > :21:23.think she feels she's the underdog that might help her emotionally as

:21:24. > :21:24.well. OK, well, here they come. Big cheer for both players.

:21:25. > :21:41.CHEERING AND APPLAUSE Jo's certainly got her game face on.

:21:42. > :21:45.Not even a wave to the crowd. It seems like, when she's coming

:21:46. > :21:50.through these tough moments in matches, it's almost like she's

:21:51. > :21:55.prepared mentally for it. It's almost becoming a habit now of

:21:56. > :21:59.playing well in these big moments. The way she talked about baking her

:22:00. > :22:02.muffins and how she was learning from each batch, that led me to

:22:03. > :22:06.believe there was a similar thought the way she plays tennis. There's

:22:07. > :22:10.sports psychologists involved in all this. She's clicked into something

:22:11. > :22:13.that made her more comfortable and calmed her down and made her a

:22:14. > :22:20.better player. That's extremely important that she's been able to

:22:21. > :22:23.keep the mind somewhat at ease because it's impossible, certainly

:22:24. > :22:27.it was for me, to keep my emotions in check. I can imagine what these

:22:28. > :22:33.two are going to go through right now. It's going to be a roller

:22:34. > :22:38.coaster. You know her coach well. He makes her recite the tactics to him

:22:39. > :22:41.before she goes on, so he knows she's aware of what they are. For

:22:42. > :22:46.sure. What he does well too is try to keep her calm. He's in the a very

:22:47. > :22:50.outspoken coach, not very aggressive like that. He keeps her calm. He

:22:51. > :22:55.will make sure the routines are on point and that's what you need

:22:56. > :22:58.before these kinds of matches. You don't want too much distraction

:22:59. > :23:03.going on. There is Jo getting ready for the warm up. We will be

:23:04. > :23:06.discussing this and looking forward to it in a moment. First, let's hear

:23:07. > :23:13.from Jo, she's been talking to Claire.

:23:14. > :23:16.COMMENTATOR: Jo Konta Wimbledon quarter finalist.

:23:17. > :23:19.People talk about the crowd and the impact and the adrenaline it

:23:20. > :23:25.creates, did you feel it make a difference out there? It's something

:23:26. > :23:32.that I've always dreamed of to be playing in big matches on big

:23:33. > :23:36.stages. Obviously a home crowd is that much more emotionally invested

:23:37. > :23:42.and that much more, I guess, living and dying with your points. The

:23:43. > :23:46.support I felt out there was quite frankly phenomenal. Quick question

:23:47. > :23:51.on Simona Halep, she's quick. Played her twice this year. The last time

:23:52. > :23:55.she got the better of me. I'm really looking forward to again playing

:23:56. > :24:01.against someone who's playing so well and to be part of a match that

:24:02. > :24:05.will be very challenging for me. SUE BARKER: Every match is very

:24:06. > :24:10.challenging at this stage. But Simona Halep she runs every ball

:24:11. > :24:16.down. She's going to make her work so hard. She's going to know she's

:24:17. > :24:22.been in a match today. She's a road runner. It's not as if Konta's not

:24:23. > :24:26.fit or moves well. The big edge that I think Johanna has over Halep is

:24:27. > :24:30.how many points she can win on her first serve and how many better her

:24:31. > :24:35.second serve is. It's less attackable. Halep is a tremendous

:24:36. > :24:40.returner. She goes after it. And she can back it up with her speed and

:24:41. > :24:44.her foot work. But this is going to be about nerves more than anything

:24:45. > :24:49.else, in my book. Absolutely it is. Looking at the stats, Jo Konta when

:24:50. > :24:55.she's been in trouble in matches, she ramps up the first and second

:24:56. > :24:59.serve by at least 5mph. It's like she's being positive then. She

:25:00. > :25:03.definitely goes for them. She doesn't get nervous. Even in her

:25:04. > :25:05.previous match, that second set, beginning of the second set and the

:25:06. > :25:12.third set there were close games. She came up with aces, really good

:25:13. > :25:15.second serves. That's a sign of a player who's really confident. That

:25:16. > :25:21.win in Miami earlier this year helped her to even believe in her

:25:22. > :25:24.chances more than ever. That was a big breakthrough, Miami, winning a

:25:25. > :25:30.big tournament, a title. Against her opponent as well. That obviously is

:25:31. > :25:37.a huge, the biggest one. Now this is a whole new league. Forget nigh

:25:38. > :25:41.yamy. Now it's nice that you -- forget Miami. Nice to get that under

:25:42. > :25:44.your belt. This separates the champions, the true greats, from the

:25:45. > :25:50.contenders. This is an unbelievable opportunity for both. Halep went

:25:51. > :25:54.through an emotional bummer. Huge. A match she should have won. This is

:25:55. > :26:00.the best thing she can do to forget about it. Best way to deal with an

:26:01. > :26:05.emotional bummer, absolutely. But to win a big title, she lost at the

:26:06. > :26:08.Australian open, into the semis. To win Miami, which is considered just

:26:09. > :26:13.under the grand slams in some ways, to beat the top players, that surely

:26:14. > :26:17.proves something to herself. I'm going to answer it the same way I

:26:18. > :26:19.answered the last time you asked me the same question.

:26:20. > :26:23.LAUGHTER I didn't, I phrased it, about the

:26:24. > :26:28.mental side not about beating the players. It helps with the

:26:29. > :26:32.confidence. It certainly can't hurt. This is a different animal, Centre

:26:33. > :26:37.Court at Wimbledon. It is, but I'm trying to find some crumbs here.

:26:38. > :26:47.Fine. I get what you're trying to say. Thank you, Kim! Help me out

:26:48. > :26:50.here, Kim. As far as, you know, for Jo, the weapons, the big serve,

:26:51. > :26:55.forehand, every year she's improved something hasn't she? And her return

:26:56. > :26:59.as well. The way she steps in even on Garcia, she's a great server,

:27:00. > :27:02.stepping in on second serves, going for the side line straight from the

:27:03. > :27:06.beginning of the rallies. That's something she's going to have to do

:27:07. > :27:09.today, really try to be aggressive from the first shots. What advice

:27:10. > :27:15.would you give to Jo if you were in her corner? Jo's done a great job

:27:16. > :27:20.getting to the quarters. Me personally, when I go out there, I'd

:27:21. > :27:24.advise, thinking the way I play, is don't beat yourself. Play

:27:25. > :27:27.aggressively, but give yourself some margin especially early. She's

:27:28. > :27:31.learned how to handle her nerves better, you can't tell me these two

:27:32. > :27:35.aren't nervous right now. Please don't say they're that well

:27:36. > :27:39.programmed and you go out in such a big match. I advise go strong. She

:27:40. > :27:43.will have a lot of looks at the serve to go after. Don't for

:27:44. > :27:47.outright winners. It's difficult to forget where you are and what you're

:27:48. > :27:51.playing in. It is, but she has started each set off very well.

:27:52. > :27:55.Broken the opponent straight away. That's the cream start. If you want

:27:56. > :27:59.to be on this -- that's the dream start. If you want to be on this

:28:00. > :28:04.court, you want to be in front and she's done very well so far. We'll

:28:05. > :28:08.see if she can do it today. Halep, you know you can't even let her in

:28:09. > :28:12.once, can you? She'll pounce. She's going to give off the vibe in the

:28:13. > :28:15.sense that if you miss some serves, I'm going to be a bit more

:28:16. > :28:19.aggressive. You can't get the ball by me. She's going to try to put the

:28:20. > :28:23.ball in positions to dare Konta to go for too much, to get easy games.

:28:24. > :28:27.Guys, they're sitting down. We'd better get away from here. I know

:28:28. > :28:36.you've got work to do. Thanks to Mac and Kim. They're on their way to the

:28:37. > :28:42.commentary borchl to join Chris Bradenham.

:28:43. > :28:47.COMMENTATOR: A wonderful moment as Jo Konta stepped out onto Centre

:28:48. > :28:54.Court. 33 years the waiting, for a British woman to contest a quarter

:28:55. > :28:58.final here. Jo Durie the last in 1984. It's a tough task that faces

:28:59. > :29:03.her against Simona Halep, that's for sure. Konta won the spin of the coin

:29:04. > :29:06.and chos to receive. -- chose to receive.

:29:07. > :30:38.APPLAUSE An expectant crowd.

:30:39. > :31:01.If she can get serves over 100 mph, it will make life easier for her.

:31:02. > :31:13.APPLAUSE Smiles already. Those shots right

:31:14. > :31:31.out of the middle. That is why she could be number one

:31:32. > :31:34.in the world after this match, Halep, because she plays some

:31:35. > :31:54.serious defence. That was a great return.

:31:55. > :32:00.A huge match, obviously, for Konta. How big is this opening service game

:32:01. > :32:04.for her just to get on the scoreboard early? It is always nice

:32:05. > :32:06.to win that first service game, but they both seem to be hitting the

:32:07. > :32:47.ball already. It's not natural, but it's tempting

:32:48. > :32:49.to try to steer your returns towards the centre because they are are some

:32:50. > :33:26.tough hops there. The support is louder with the roof

:33:27. > :34:19.closed. That is a mistake were Halep forced

:34:20. > :34:23.her to overheat it a little bit. She has to hit a very good shot try to

:34:24. > :34:39.win, because if you don't, she will take a passing shot.

:34:40. > :34:52.Wow! That is worrying from a British perspective. This is the hardest

:34:53. > :35:00.serve she has hit in the game. Arguably, she caught it a little

:35:01. > :35:01.late, but if you aim toward the centre,... No, I hit that just where

:35:02. > :36:29.I wanted it. I don't think I can remember a

:36:30. > :36:35.player who has played more long rallies and then immediately stepped

:36:36. > :37:02.up the line -- up the line and barely seems be breathing hard.

:37:03. > :37:06.I don't think she has a big enough weapon to break through the wall of

:37:07. > :38:04.Halep. It will be a huge bonus if Halep

:38:05. > :39:39.serves as well as she has so far. She is not tall.

:39:40. > :40:06.Nicely done. A chance to get back on serve.

:40:07. > :41:14.The mini battle at 3- 04 Halep, break point saved. -- 3-0 for Halep.

:41:15. > :41:17.SUE BARKER: A great start from Halep, who has the added motivation

:41:18. > :41:23.that she will be world number one if she wins. We will be right back to

:41:24. > :41:35.that. This is the sorry scene on Court Number One. It is 6-3 to

:41:36. > :41:40.Rybarikova. They are back in the locker room. We hear that quite a

:41:41. > :41:44.bit of rain is heading our way. Look at this, they are playing outside,

:41:45. > :41:48.so maybe they just took them off Court Number One a little too early,

:41:49. > :41:51.because play continues on the outside courts. We have heard that

:41:52. > :41:55.heavy rain is coming, and it is likely to be year in the next half

:41:56. > :41:59.an hour, so maybe that match will be completed under the roof on Centre

:42:00. > :42:05.Court. Some nasty clouds around here at Wimbledon. We're so grateful to

:42:06. > :42:15.have roof. Back to live played between content and Halep. -- life

:42:16. > :44:34.Even know Halep is 3-0 up, for Jo, she must be like she is in the

:44:35. > :44:41.match. They are having great rallies. If she can get on the

:44:42. > :44:58.board, that will relieve some tension.

:44:59. > :45:05.They look a little anxious. When she beat Garcia, she sank to her knees.

:45:06. > :45:17.Our hands went ahead, tears in her eyes.

:45:18. > :45:51.Contact on the scoreboard. -- Konta. Smiles all round again, for most.

:45:52. > :45:53.She is the first British woman in 33 years to get to the quarters, and

:45:54. > :46:31.you don't want her to show emotion? Anxiety and tension still in the

:46:32. > :46:49.body of the back, for sure. -- still in the body of Konta.

:46:50. > :46:57.Wow! That's her trademark. She seems determined to try to hit through

:46:58. > :47:25.Halep. That is where I would direct most of

:47:26. > :47:31.my serves if I were Halep. She has gone big so far, Konta, from every

:47:32. > :47:41.return. I don't think she can do much else.

:47:42. > :48:04.With a backhand, it's a little easier because you automatically

:48:05. > :48:26.rotate both shoulders. The forehand is harder.

:48:27. > :49:28.It's almost like when she has a little more time, she thinks it.

:49:29. > :50:01.This is the biggest moment she has had in her career.

:50:02. > :50:16.Second time, break point saved and the holed from Halep. We should give

:50:17. > :50:21.credit to Darren Cave Hill -- Cahill. He almost walked away after

:50:22. > :50:29.the Miami match, saying, I can't take any more. I think it got Simona

:50:30. > :50:35.thinking, you know something? I had to change emotionally, do better and

:50:36. > :50:39.give a more consistent effort, not get negative. She was taking it out

:50:40. > :50:46.on him. I can't recall anyone else he has coached, besides Leyton

:50:47. > :50:54.Hewitt and Andre Agassi, so you have the think, he has some serious

:50:55. > :51:00.credentials. Given what happened at the French, mainly it is a credit to

:51:01. > :51:11.her, Simona. A pretty strong effort to get herself in the mix. Sean

:51:12. > :51:13.plays a big part in that too, getting her mentally ready. I spoke

:51:14. > :51:19.to him and he knew she was really struggling after that loss. He also

:51:20. > :51:21.knew that this was the perfect way to try to get rid of that and do

:51:22. > :52:11.well here again. You had better time that shot just

:52:12. > :53:00.right! Wow! It is terrific when you see

:53:01. > :53:06.quality points being won. She is staying on top of that baseline, not

:53:07. > :53:42.giving Halep the time to recover. The first love hold of the match. It

:53:43. > :53:51.is interesting, because neither player really has a slice from their

:53:52. > :53:54.backhand. Very rarely do you see it. I would think Halep would be more

:53:55. > :54:03.inclined to mix up the pace of her shop is and the spin. -- of her

:54:04. > :54:07.shots. I don't think she should be going toe to toe with her. It is

:54:08. > :54:26.hard when the ball is this deep and fast, to chip it.

:54:27. > :55:03.Konta is making a move on the Halep serve again.

:55:04. > :55:28.The luxury of three in a row. -- three break points in a row.

:55:29. > :55:41.Eight points in a row for Johanna Konta. Back on serve.

:55:42. > :56:05.We've heard the role of Darrin Cahill, in helping Jo deal with

:56:06. > :56:12.emotions. She is ranked outside the top 100. She choked in matches,

:56:13. > :56:19.plain and simple. This process has become crucial for her. I believe

:56:20. > :56:23.the win in Miami a few months ago helped a lot with building

:56:24. > :56:26.confidence, which doesn't mean that she is not going to have

:56:27. > :56:30.difficulties finishing matches here, but it will help getting to the

:56:31. > :56:37.tournament and knowing that she is capable of beating the best. The

:56:38. > :56:41.muffins has become a good sideshow. There has been more talk about that

:56:42. > :56:53.than about winning Wimbledon. May be shoe should -- she should bring

:56:54. > :57:47.some! She is back on track in this set. New balls, 3-4.

:57:48. > :58:04.That is the type of shot I think Halep should utilise. Until this

:58:05. > :58:16.year, Johanna Konta has played on pristine grass courts.

:58:17. > :58:24.She needs a firm base under her. That is why a hard court has always

:58:25. > :58:29.been her preferred surface. The way that she moves, she has a natural

:58:30. > :58:44.way of moving on grass. This suits her movement very well.

:58:45. > :58:54.That is this serve out why that she likes to use. -- the serve.

:58:55. > :59:07.Averaging around six aces per match in this tournament.

:59:08. > :59:26.UMPIRE: Mess Halep challenges the call. -- Miss Halep challenges the

:59:27. > :59:38.call. I don't think there was any doubt about that call.

:59:39. > :00:00.Then many battle is now going to Konta. -- the mini battle.

:00:01. > :00:10.This is an important game now for Halep.

:00:11. > :00:18.Does the roof up favour either one? It favours the better server and

:00:19. > :00:30.that's Konta. But I think Halep is serving harder than normal

:00:31. > :00:37.Not having to worry about the sun or the wind. You may have the guts to

:00:38. > :00:48.go for more on the second serve, as she did there.

:00:49. > :01:13.Bring that back tomorrow. Isn't it wonderful they've got a British

:01:14. > :01:52.woman to get behind now too, in the back end?

:01:53. > :02:06.UMPIRE: Game Miss Halep. Back on the scoreboard Halep. Just over half on

:02:07. > :02:10.hour and the nerves, well, they seemed to have gone for a while.

:02:11. > :02:14.There's been so much talk about who handles the nerves and pressure

:02:15. > :02:19.better for this match. You both have academies. How much time do you

:02:20. > :02:23.spend on that side with your younger players compared to backhands and

:02:24. > :02:28.forehands and so on? Let's just say when it gets to the professional

:02:29. > :02:32.level and the intensity of a quarter final at Wimbledon, it becomes more

:02:33. > :02:37.into play. When they're little kids, they don't even know what language

:02:38. > :02:42.you're speaking. In practice, I don't think you can teach them. This

:02:43. > :02:46.is something that needs to be by playing matches, whether at a low

:02:47. > :02:50.level or playing players you are supposed to beat at a low level any

:02:51. > :02:56.way, you can't really practise it. The best way to learn is going

:02:57. > :03:01.through the tough matches and the tough situations in tournaments.

:03:02. > :03:06.You're constantly trying to figure out ways to make yourself feel

:03:07. > :03:10.better about what you're doing. And trying to make it as difficult as

:03:11. > :03:16.possible for the person you're playing and whatever way that takes.

:03:17. > :03:21.Thinking about the previous tournament, you do it.

:03:22. > :03:36.Konta serving to stay in the opening set.

:03:37. > :03:43.I believe she's missed one serve. 21 out of 22.

:03:44. > :04:33.UMPIRE: Miss Halep is challenging the call. The ball was called in. It

:04:34. > :05:19.wasn't far away. But she's on the money with her serve so far.

:05:20. > :05:28.Incredible serving exhibition, as this set's gone on.

:05:29. > :05:35.UMPIRE: Let, first service. She did that previous well in her previous

:05:36. > :05:36.matches. Against Vekic, she was 0-30 down and she would come up with big

:05:37. > :05:54.serves. Another one on the line. First test

:05:55. > :07:05.for Konta, passes with flying colours.

:07:06. > :07:22.Three double faults a match the average for Halep this tournament

:07:23. > :07:25.I think Darren helped Halep playing more aggressively, stepping into the

:07:26. > :07:40.court. APPLAUSE

:07:41. > :08:46.It's relentless from Konta. Just going back to that point you

:08:47. > :08:50.made in the French final against Ostapenko, did Halep become a little

:08:51. > :08:55.passive towards the end with Ostapenko going for it so much? She

:08:56. > :09:02.got negative. She was up, I remember she had three break points I

:09:03. > :09:05.believe. I remember thinking at the time why did she do what she did.

:09:06. > :09:10.She sent a message of hope to Ostapenko that she wasn't quite so

:09:11. > :09:17.sure of herself. Lo and behold she loses the set. She gets up 3-1 in

:09:18. > :09:21.the third and loses that. I think here at Wimbledon, this has turned

:09:22. > :09:25.out to be a blessing in disguise, because if you call a weakness in

:09:26. > :09:29.her game, her serve, it helps, the grass helps her serve. It becomes

:09:30. > :09:34.more effective. She's done a nice job, I think, mixing things up and

:09:35. > :09:39.going for a little bit more on the serve. It's paying off. She's

:09:40. > :09:47.starting to like this surface a lot more than she did at any point in

:09:48. > :09:52.her career. To be able to get over that loss as close as she was,

:09:53. > :10:02.that's the second time she was in a final. The first, OK, Sharapova,

:10:03. > :10:06.maybe people expected. But that one she was supposed to win, for sure.

:10:07. > :10:41.Second time Konta serving to stay in set one.

:10:42. > :11:17.Just let that ball drop way too low. She couldn't decide what she wanted

:11:18. > :11:24.to do with it. As you said, Kim, doesn't change that grip.

:11:25. > :11:31.Every forehand is almost the same, which is great if it's going well. A

:11:32. > :11:58.little variety sometimes helps as well.

:11:59. > :12:45.Oh. Even with Halep, after that previously long rally. She walks

:12:46. > :12:49.over to the other side of the court and doesn't, she's not even puffing.

:12:50. > :12:57.She just looks like, ah, yeah that was fine. Felt like a two-hit rally.

:12:58. > :13:00.Konta ceptionally fit as well. That's one of the first volleys I

:13:01. > :13:12.can recall her hitting. In the tournament she's 51 from 65

:13:13. > :13:24.at the net. Good odds. Ellie Goulding. Do you know her?

:13:25. > :14:05.I've heard of her, yes. That's the second serve she's missed

:14:06. > :14:23.in the entire match. First serve, I mean.

:14:24. > :14:30.UMPIRE: Game, Miss Konta. At the moment, it looks like Johanna Konta

:14:31. > :14:36.has played a number of Wimbledon quarter finals. They are really

:14:37. > :14:40.bringing out the best of each other. Women's tournament has been

:14:41. > :15:20.fantastic this year. Quite a first set.

:15:21. > :15:36.I think Halep was complaining about the proud.

:15:37. > :15:38.UMPIRE: Please wait till the end of the point before cheering, thank you

:15:39. > :16:24.very much. Oh, it's in. Or is it? Either way it

:16:25. > :16:32.will be challenged. The linesman called it in.

:16:33. > :16:36.I think it's been called out. I think she's asking if she got it in

:16:37. > :16:43.one bounce. That is in. Unbelievable point.

:16:44. > :16:47.Guessed right. She's breathing heavy now. Yeah a

:16:48. > :17:47.couple deep breaths. Darren Cahill is leaning forwards a

:17:48. > :18:39.little more after that double fault. Aren't those balls tougher to hit in

:18:40. > :18:43.the air than if you let the ball bounce. Seemed like there wasn't

:18:44. > :18:48.much on it. Forces your opponent, I see most the men and women take it

:18:49. > :18:53.in the air. I know I'm old school. It seems like there, you don't

:18:54. > :18:58.practise that shot from there, or do you, that off the someone I used to

:18:59. > :19:08.practise every warm up. All over the court? Yeah, because I wanted to use

:19:09. > :19:11.that one. Did you practise that with the bounce too or just take it in

:19:12. > :19:20.the air? Probably take it in the air.

:19:21. > :20:46.She's the quickest wall that Konta's ever played.

:20:47. > :21:16.That's a magnificent tie-break from Simona Halep. Konta's got to do what

:21:17. > :21:22.she did in Miami and come from behind to win. SUE BARKER: A couple

:21:23. > :21:26.of costly points in the tie-break. Jo serving so well going into the

:21:27. > :21:32.tie-break. 93% of first serves in. But only 50% in the tie-break. So no

:21:33. > :21:36.cheap points there. We'll be back on Centre Court. This is the sorry

:21:37. > :21:41.scene outside. Everybody under the brollies. But still watching the

:21:42. > :21:44.match unfold on Centre Court. They are die hard fans here. Thoroughly

:21:45. > :21:58.enjoying the tennis. Nothing to watch on Court No 1. The other

:21:59. > :22:02.ladies quarter finals. They are waiting in the locker room. This

:22:03. > :22:06.looks set in for the day. There is an outside chance they will be moved

:22:07. > :22:11.onto Centre Court. We wait to hear from the referee's office. Even in

:22:12. > :22:16.this weather they're still enjoying their tennis here at Wimbledon. Jo

:22:17. > :22:20.Konta fighting so hard on Centre Court. What a match we are watching,

:22:21. > :22:24.high quality tennis. We said at the start Simona Halep was going to be

:22:25. > :22:31.such a tough competitor. Two of the best competitors on the tour head to

:22:32. > :22:40.head on Centre Court. Let's rejoin Centre Court right now. John, Borge

:22:41. > :22:46.- Who? Regards as one of the quickest. Kim who was the quickest

:22:47. > :22:56.in your era. What is it like thinking everything is going to keep

:22:57. > :22:59.coming back? To me that was Justine Henin. She had that slice that you

:23:00. > :23:05.were talking about. She was able to mix it up. Just make me make errors,

:23:06. > :23:11.because I was trying to go for too much. Borge once he said tired in a

:23:12. > :23:15.match. It reminds me a little of Halep, when she plays these 30-shot

:23:16. > :23:18.rallies, steps right back to the line.

:23:19. > :23:46.Konta to begin set two. She was thinking about the one that

:23:47. > :23:51.she swung at and missed in the tie-break, decided to play this old

:23:52. > :23:57.fashioned volley. Butchered that too.

:23:58. > :24:01.Her serve has tailed off slightly in the tie-breaker. That allowed Halep

:24:02. > :24:23.to make her work harder. Or not to be thinking about what she

:24:24. > :25:07.just lost right now. That's why Halep is looking to jump on it.

:25:08. > :25:10.Also the way she served, the first serve, that's going to be hard to

:25:11. > :26:03.keep up. Super. Is that a message? Well it's

:26:04. > :26:08.a sign, it's the way she plays. She likes to step on top of the baseline

:26:09. > :26:12.and take the ball early and as soon as the ball comes up, she likes to

:26:13. > :26:24.move in forward. We saw that drive volley she missed earlier.

:26:25. > :26:30.Interesting if the self-coaching has gone on. The solid volley as opposed

:26:31. > :26:33.to the drive volley. I like because she had missed one of those earlier

:26:34. > :26:53.and sticking with that aggressive approach.

:26:54. > :27:09.That's strong from 0-30. Nods of approval all round.

:27:10. > :27:19.Outside, it's raining. This is the Hill. Ed Sheeran headlined at

:27:20. > :27:24.Glastonbury this year, the song of a castle on a hill. If Konta keeps

:27:25. > :27:38.going deeper into Wimbledon, she might get part of the estate there.

:27:39. > :27:44.Renaming might become needed. Poor henman. Trying to take away his

:27:45. > :28:28.little dash of wibble dob. -- Wimbledon.

:28:29. > :28:35.Fascinating watching Darren Cahill, so far so good, when you see him

:28:36. > :28:37.using the back of the chair. Neither camp showing a lot of outward

:28:38. > :28:45.emotion. It takes something to walk away from

:28:46. > :28:48.a player. A high profile player, the coach saying we're not part of a

:28:49. > :29:19.team any more on the same course, I'm done.

:29:20. > :29:24.Cahill walking away and most players would have said to hell with him.

:29:25. > :29:28.You know, there's plenty of people who want to coach her and the

:29:29. > :29:38.wherewithal, maybe he's right what he's saying. And I want you back.

:29:39. > :29:43.I think she called him up and said I'm sorry. I need you on my team. I

:29:44. > :29:48.don't want to go through this without you. I saw it in the first,

:29:49. > :29:52.when she lost the first point of this game, she was looking over to

:29:53. > :30:07.Darren a little bit more than she did at all in the first set.

:30:08. > :30:19.Another chance goes on the hour mark.

:30:20. > :30:33.Taking a little time out. Trying to slow Halep down a little.

:30:34. > :31:01.Not the fastest serve, but very well-placed.

:31:02. > :31:08.The first signs of frustration from Konta. She has been on court around

:31:09. > :31:12.two hour was longer into this final. There is a lot of emotion attached

:31:13. > :31:17.to it. It is all too much for that gentleman!

:31:18. > :31:39.Maybe he had a bad night in a tent outside.

:31:40. > :31:41.LAUGHTER I guess that is what you would call

:31:42. > :32:30.neutral. Denise Lewis, she has got over a few

:32:31. > :32:41.hurdles in her time on the way to gold.

:32:42. > :32:52.It must be fabulous for people like Denise Lewis and others in the Royal

:32:53. > :32:59.box to be totally relaxed and then just watching how others handle

:33:00. > :33:18.pressure. That is one way of looking at it!

:33:19. > :34:38.A low percentage shot, there. There is no question that her ability to

:34:39. > :34:48.track down inexorable or two weighs on the mind of her opponent.

:34:49. > :35:05.-- to track down a ball or two. UMPIRE: New balls, please.

:35:06. > :35:14.I think that is also why it is so important to get a 40-0 lead. You

:35:15. > :35:19.can arguably play a couple of loose points but you're still in the

:35:20. > :35:22.driver's seat. In the men and women, I would like to know what percentage

:35:23. > :35:31.player loses the game from after being up on Serb 40-0. I'd bet it is

:35:32. > :35:38.extremely small. Sometimes we dwell on the break point opportunities,

:35:39. > :35:43.which would seem to be more crucial points, and they are, but if you can

:35:44. > :35:46.get up ahead early in a lot of games, it takes a lot of the

:35:47. > :35:52.pressure off so that you can execute more easily when it does matter.

:35:53. > :35:56.Just look at that - the aggressive shots, so heavily in favour of

:35:57. > :36:06.Konta, but it is breaking through that wall. It is a huge mental task

:36:07. > :36:12.of self belief. They both looked to have been doing an excellent job of

:36:13. > :36:16.that so far. I think it is a funny statistic - aggressive shot. How do

:36:17. > :37:27.they measure aggressive shots? Going back behind Halep is working,

:37:28. > :37:57.but she's got to start making more of those.

:37:58. > :38:09.Love hold. Whisper this quietly, but for the second Grand Slam in a row,

:38:10. > :38:15.it happened in the French Open, Ostapenko's average for Hans Bede

:38:16. > :38:19.was quicker than Andy Murray's. Konta is the same at Wimbledon. You

:38:20. > :39:08.keep picking on Andy! Her intention, Konta, one round at a

:39:09. > :39:57.time, I will give of my best. You can't argue with that.

:39:58. > :40:14.The first double. Just the eighth of the tournament.

:40:15. > :40:36.If you think of how aggressive her serve is, that's not many.

:40:37. > :40:42.It is one of these 40-0 situations you talked about. Exactly. He knows

:40:43. > :41:08.what he's talking about! It went long. If she had gone behind

:41:09. > :42:34.again, it would have been a winner. You are both parents. Most parents

:42:35. > :42:39.will say to their kids, just give of your best. I know you have got a few

:42:40. > :42:47.more to look after, John, but what else can you ask for as a parent? It

:42:48. > :42:53.sounds easy to say, too, but in this sort of environment, which the line,

:42:54. > :43:01.it is easier said than done. It is the greatest quality and athlete can

:43:02. > :43:05.have -- an athlete can have - the ability to go out and act as if

:43:06. > :43:11.every point is the last you will play. You can have the biggest

:43:12. > :43:17.serve, a great forehand volley, but nothing matches that, and so, if you

:43:18. > :43:25.can come close to that, you've established something and you gain

:43:26. > :43:28.respect quickly. Both these girls have that. They have it in practice

:43:29. > :43:34.and in their matches, and I think that's what makes them so great.

:43:35. > :43:40.These are perfect role models for young girls and boys to look up to.

:43:41. > :43:54.That attitude is what a lot of the kids can learn from.

:43:55. > :44:02.That just sped through a little, a lower bounds will stop -- a lower

:44:03. > :44:19.bounds. You will get a few bad bounces,

:44:20. > :44:42.tufts of grass that have been ripped out.

:44:43. > :45:03.Close... UMPIRE: Miss contact is challenging the call.

:45:04. > :45:52.CHEERING AND APPLAUSE UMPIRE: Replay the point.

:45:53. > :46:12.Brilliant! Great hands. A tremendous point. Halep gave that shot away a

:46:13. > :46:14.little too soon. That gave Konta the time necessary to hit a beautiful

:46:15. > :46:41.drop shot. That keeps the pressure very firmly

:46:42. > :47:52.on Konta. How did she get that return back?

:47:53. > :48:05.Brilliant serving. Still above 80%. And she's not holding back.

:48:06. > :49:14.That's another very confident hold. It is. She has had a very easy

:49:15. > :49:20.service game so far in this set. She is serving impressively. She did

:49:21. > :49:24.that very well in her previous matches when it got close. It is the

:49:25. > :49:37.service shot she is relying on a lot. You are launching a new book,

:49:38. > :49:42.John, if Jo Konta was releasing one, it would be about how she has

:49:43. > :49:48.improved. She will just have to play a better match at the moment.

:49:49. > :49:52.Tactically, emotionally, obviously in great condition. Total focus.

:49:53. > :50:02.Technique- wise, it has all come together for her. Like him said at

:50:03. > :50:08.the previous changeover, it would be something to try to aspire to, and

:50:09. > :50:13.to follow a similar path, because she has gotten so much better. Is

:50:14. > :50:24.winning a match as tough as that Cuban? I tried, and I gave up. There

:50:25. > :50:43.has got to be a trick to that. -- that cube.

:50:44. > :50:57.What's your book called, John? Thank You For Asking. But Seriously...

:50:58. > :51:19.Strange Name For A Book. That's easier said than done. A

:51:20. > :51:23.trusted move. It's a good move. Take that, move in. Did not do enough

:51:24. > :51:54.with the volley. She seems to have taken it up

:51:55. > :52:13.another notch, Konta. The backhand crosscourt gets past

:52:14. > :52:30.anybody when she hits it like that. It is two break points.

:52:31. > :52:49.One from five so far. It has been an issue.

:52:50. > :53:41.Great defence by Halep, to track that return down.

:53:42. > :53:53.That looked to be well in. Sometimes, when you lose a break

:53:54. > :54:01.point, you start to have little doubt as well. Halep was like, I

:54:02. > :54:46.think Hawkeye is wrong. She went wide with the second serve.

:54:47. > :55:16.That is only part of the game plan. That is a big game. 15-40. I am

:55:17. > :55:19.surprised at how calm their support teams are staying. They must have

:55:20. > :55:37.taken sleeping pills or something! Calm on the outside, freaking out on

:55:38. > :56:01.the inside. Too goad! Responding so well after

:56:02. > :57:08.the opportunity is gone. -- too good.

:57:09. > :57:57.That is a tall order for Halep to do much if anything with that return.

:57:58. > :59:11.You think how aggressive Konta has been, Halep has made five unforced

:59:12. > :59:15.errors in this match so far. She is coming up with the goods again at

:59:16. > :59:19.the crucial times. The truth is, we are getting everything we could hope

:59:20. > :59:28.for in this match, and this could be a little past the halfway point.

:59:29. > :59:33.This could go deep into a third set, and it will be at some point a

:59:34. > :59:37.physical test. Right now, it is more of an emotional and mental test.

:59:38. > :59:42.Both of these two are passing with flying colours. And they are hitting

:59:43. > :59:50.the ball hard. They are forcing each other to run extensively, and as

:59:51. > :00:00.quickly as possible, so eventually, if this gets into a third set, we

:00:01. > :00:10.will see if either the links. -- if either one of them blinks. At times,

:00:11. > :00:16.you had to act calm and Serena, no problem, no pressure. It is a gift.

:00:17. > :00:18.Halep and Konta are on the Oscar Trail at the moment in this match.

:00:19. > :00:32.It has been terrific. They're both using that backhand

:00:33. > :01:00.down-the-line very well, these last few points.

:01:01. > :01:07.Halep has been proactive, given the opportunity, aggressive. She's

:01:08. > :01:08.gotten a short ball and that's helped her get into this winning

:01:09. > :01:54.position. I love how Konta just even, you know

:01:55. > :02:12.it's 40-0 to Halep and she goes and hopped around positive.

:02:13. > :02:59.I think this is where the crowd could really come in handy. You can

:03:00. > :03:22.feel the energy. They're ready to explode.

:03:23. > :04:21.Halep firing herself up a little bit there.

:04:22. > :04:27.She's playing so quickly now. It's called nerves. Speaking of which.

:04:28. > :04:52.It's a nice reaction from Konta. Almost accepting that very fact.

:04:53. > :05:06.That's out. She's challenged it. Perfect play.

:05:07. > :05:17.That is unfortunate. UMPIRE: Game Miss Halep. A

:05:18. > :05:22.centimetre away from a double fault to give set point. Then that - A

:05:23. > :05:26.very strong hold from Halep, because you could feel that she was starting

:05:27. > :05:34.to get a bit frustrated at times, communicating with her box a little

:05:35. > :06:08.bit. It's the energy of the crowd, intensifying things further.

:06:09. > :06:38.It hit a line, which one? UMPIRE: Miss Halep challenging the

:06:39. > :06:41.call on the centre line. The ball was called in.

:06:42. > :07:26.Maybe both? That's tremendous tennis. She's so

:07:27. > :07:31.good Halep at running onto the ball. She is. You have to stay really

:07:32. > :07:36.focussed because every ball comes back. If you start doubting yourself

:07:37. > :08:15.a little bit, that's when she can create some easy unforced errors.

:08:16. > :08:23.Totally fooled her with that off-speed backhand.

:08:24. > :08:37.She thought she'd lost the game already, Halep. She was walking over

:08:38. > :08:54.to her chair. UMPIRE: Game Miss Konta. Still holds

:08:55. > :09:14.firm. They both do. Did you both learn to love these

:09:15. > :09:22.moments, these situations, love trying to get the job done? Or did

:09:23. > :09:30.it take a while? Well, it took a while for me. You love it and it's

:09:31. > :09:34.also extremely stressful. It feels like you know when you're trying to

:09:35. > :09:40.pull it off, there's nothing like it when you do, but there's nothing

:09:41. > :09:44.like it when you don't. Yeah, for me too, there were moments where I

:09:45. > :09:47.absolutely hated it, when you lose those big maments. But then again,

:09:48. > :09:51.when you get over the loss and you want to give yourself another

:09:52. > :09:56.opportunity to be in that situation, so you can try to have the enjoyable

:09:57. > :10:03.moment of it. That's what you do it for. When you lose the big moments,

:10:04. > :10:07.the big matches, they've been more Antosch inspiration to me to try --

:10:08. > :10:13.more of an inspiration to me to try to not let it happen again. Well

:10:14. > :10:16.done for those of you on the Hill, creating your own canopy. Nervous

:10:17. > :10:23.people, they can't even hold their umbrellas!

:10:24. > :10:27.An hour and 40 minutes played. Halep for the second time serving to stay

:10:28. > :11:01.in set two. Halep has had an excellent serving

:11:02. > :11:26.day. In case you hadn't noticed. I'm sure Konta has noticed. Exactly.

:11:27. > :11:34.Just amazing. Moving onto the ball, full range, she's exceptional. She's

:11:35. > :11:51.better than anyone out there still in the women's draw.

:11:52. > :12:02.UMPIRE: Game Miss Halep. Tie-break it is.

:12:03. > :12:08.SUE BARKER: This is a tense match of the highest quality. A second set

:12:09. > :12:12.tie-break. We are staying with the tennis here at Wimbledon. If you're

:12:13. > :12:17.tuning in expecting to see the Six O'Clock News soon, that will now be

:12:18. > :12:21.shown over on BBC Two. So the Six O'Clock News will shortly be over on

:12:22. > :12:30.BBC Two. We are staying with this story here at Wimbledon.

:12:31. > :14:40.Raced into a 3-1 lead in the first-set tie-break.

:14:41. > :14:47.UMPIRE: Let, first service. That looked like it was about six inches

:14:48. > :14:49.over the net. That's what she explained about in the first point

:14:50. > :15:28.of the tie-breaker I think. APPLAUSE

:15:29. > :15:42.That was a point that Halep desperately wanted.

:15:43. > :15:45.More in this particular way to end the set, you need. You need a

:15:46. > :16:02.tie-break. Still nods of approval everywhere,

:16:03. > :16:09.her handling of this pressure. Both still going for it. But still the

:16:10. > :16:14.success for contact going back behind Halep. That's the only way

:16:15. > :16:34.she's going to be able to win a match, to keep on with it.

:16:35. > :16:45.UMPIRE: Miss Halep challenges the call. That is a big one there. Or

:16:46. > :17:03.nothing with the call. -- all or nothing. That's good on. Wow! I knew

:17:04. > :17:28.it all along! Kadir is like, Wow! Impressed.

:17:29. > :17:39.APPLAUSE The return is just a little bit

:17:40. > :17:41.short. Had enough behind it, and you see Konta just immediately grabbed

:17:42. > :18:00.the opportunity to go for the winner.

:18:01. > :18:36.APPLAUSE These moments are great.

:18:37. > :18:41.You know, when I was playing, you always just try and hang in there

:18:42. > :18:45.and be positive and give yourself the opportunity that window opponent

:18:46. > :18:59.is dropping a little bit, you get a chance. -- when your opponent.

:19:00. > :19:08.APPLAUSE She got it! And a set point with it.

:19:09. > :19:25.People are starting to stand around Centre Court.

:19:26. > :19:53.CHEERING Oh!

:19:54. > :20:05.Most are standing, look at that. One hour and 50 minutes, somehow Jo

:20:06. > :20:24.Konta has forced a final set. It is one set all.

:20:25. > :20:31.SUE BARKER: Oh, what a fighter she is. Such brave plate from Jo Konta,

:20:32. > :20:35.she has levelled this quarterfinal match at one set all. There is

:20:36. > :20:39.nothing between these two players. If you are tuning in expecting to

:20:40. > :20:43.see the 6pm news, that is now on BBC Two. Because there is a big story

:20:44. > :21:14.brewing here at Wimbledon. COMMENTATOR: Amazing scenes. The

:21:15. > :21:20.slow Mo in these pictures, it's far from slow row in their minds. What

:21:21. > :21:24.sets of tennis we have had. It typifies the ladies tournament so

:21:25. > :21:28.far. We have seen two incredible sets of tennis. It's almost, the way

:21:29. > :21:32.they've been playing, it's fair enough that it is one set each,

:21:33. > :21:40.because, you know, both sets could have gone either way, and this match

:21:41. > :21:45.definitely deserves another set of high-level tennis. Jimmy Van Allen,

:21:46. > :21:50.the man who invented the tie-break about 45 years ago, he thought, how

:21:51. > :21:55.can I add to the drama of a tennis match? If there is any question, he

:21:56. > :22:00.succeeded. Whether or not you argue that there should be a final set

:22:01. > :22:06.tie-break, that's another issue. I believe there should be, because you

:22:07. > :22:09.can feel it. I mean, I don't have a vested interest in who wins this

:22:10. > :22:13.match, I'm sitting there and feeling for both the players, how well

:22:14. > :22:19.they've handled it, how tough it can be when it slips away. You can taste

:22:20. > :22:25.it, if you are Halep, a couple of points away from winning it, and

:22:26. > :22:32.then you can see the emotion shift so quickly from positive to

:22:33. > :22:37.negative. It's not easy out there. But it's extremely rewarding. And

:22:38. > :22:41.when you pull it off... Kim, there were a few moments when Simona Halep

:22:42. > :22:45.was just starting to make some negative gestures, if you want to

:22:46. > :22:49.call it that, back to Darren Cahill and son. Did she blinked towards the

:22:50. > :22:55.back end of that second set more than Konta in the end, or was it the

:22:56. > :22:59.quality of Konta's play? I think a bit of both. Little doubt in the

:23:00. > :23:06.might of Halep. Especially with what happened in Paris as well. It's

:23:07. > :23:11.still very fresh, that loss. We saw nothing of it until, you know, it

:23:12. > :23:15.came very close in that second set. That's when the little bit of

:23:16. > :23:21.negativity that she has at times came out again. In Miami it was two

:23:22. > :23:24.hours and 31 minutes. Halep came within two points of beating Konta

:23:25. > :23:31.in that match and didn't win it. That could maybe rear its head too.

:23:32. > :23:35.I think that will certainly play a part, no question. The French Open,

:23:36. > :23:39.I'm not totally comfortable with her just sitting there, she is giving

:23:40. > :23:43.them more time to sort of build up some negative anger. Add to start to

:23:44. > :23:48.think about those. Perhaps you would be better off to go off the court

:23:49. > :23:56.too, change. It happens all the the bathroom breaks. Because it seems

:23:57. > :24:01.like an opportune moment for her to do it, especially considering who

:24:02. > :24:04.her opponent is. Konta has been so impressive this tournament so far.

:24:05. > :24:07.She had some really tough matches where she could have gone very

:24:08. > :24:10.negative at times, because your opponent started playing a lot

:24:11. > :24:16.better. She studied playing a little bit less. And she hasn't, she just

:24:17. > :24:19.starts every rally, every point with a positive attitude. That's what's

:24:20. > :24:25.made her win this second set tie-break. She started playing on

:24:26. > :24:33.her own. We want to stay positive, of course we do, but these toilet

:24:34. > :24:37.breaks, there's been a lot of talk of years... It's completely

:24:38. > :24:44.outrageous. Just keep in mind that Konta won that's that. She didn't

:24:45. > :24:53.lose it. -- that set. In anyway... What's happening here? She doesn't

:24:54. > :24:56.want to talk to him! I think he's basically saying, don't hit any

:24:57. > :25:00.service because these are the match balls that are in play, if you want

:25:01. > :25:09.to hit balls, we'll give you practice balls. Halep is itching to

:25:10. > :25:16.go. He's just following the rules. Of course! Well, he's got a great

:25:17. > :25:21.voice. The best voice. An argument for smoking cigarettes if ever there

:25:22. > :25:25.was one! With the roof closed, it resonate even more. As the support,

:25:26. > :25:32.too. I mean, the noise must be deafening. They should give her some

:25:33. > :25:37.other balls if she wants to de-stress and call herself off.

:25:38. > :25:48.Listen to this reception. CHEERING

:25:49. > :25:53.Well, this is a tall order for Halep now. Especially considering what

:25:54. > :25:58.happened recently. Easy question for you both... Who is winning this

:25:59. > :26:13.match? I can't answer that! But if I had to pick someone, it

:26:14. > :26:14.wouldn't be the one serving. No, neither me. Halep to begin the final

:26:15. > :26:28.set. It has to be hard to serve right

:26:29. > :26:35.now, you know. She's been waiting around and didn't hit a serve. You

:26:36. > :26:42.know, you wait for five or six minutes after such a strong second

:26:43. > :26:46.set. She wasn't allowed to serve. But why didn't she asked for the

:26:47. > :26:55.practice balls? Maybe she did and the guy wouldn't let her. Second

:26:56. > :26:57.serve ace. Konta being gone so long took a little energy out of the

:26:58. > :27:36.crowd. That's true. So you think she should have let

:27:37. > :27:40.that one bounce, Halep? I do. I also think she should have let it

:27:41. > :27:45.bounced. You can force your opponent to move, you know. And then if she

:27:46. > :28:49.guesses right. GASPS

:28:50. > :28:50.APPLAUSE That's a very important hold for

:28:51. > :29:11.Simona Halep. She's got to feel good about the way

:29:12. > :29:15.that she's played. The level isn't too high, she's done a lot of good

:29:16. > :29:23.things, including, as you mentioned, holding there. Maybe she, after what

:29:24. > :29:27.happened with France, she thought, it can't get any worse than that.

:29:28. > :29:32.It's a fine line between knowing that you're playing great, but

:29:33. > :29:38.still, it's so close, so she has to keep that level up to try and, you

:29:39. > :29:41.know, even play better to try and win this first set. New balls in

:29:42. > :30:30.play. Konta 0- one, final set. It's like everyone's having a

:30:31. > :32:50.breather. Konta cannot afford one. GASPS

:32:51. > :32:58.APPLAUSE The shot has been put away.

:32:59. > :33:05.She could hit an overhead, she's done quite a few things other than

:33:06. > :33:16.that. Break point. One from one, remember.

:33:17. > :33:30.Oh, another mind. The goal two lines, I think -- another line, two

:33:31. > :33:36.lines, I think. So much on the line. If Halep wins this match, she will

:33:37. > :34:32.be world number one. Konta creates more British women's tennis history.

:34:33. > :34:41.CHEERING She is dictating from side to side.

:34:42. > :34:47.Eventually she is going to have to run out of gas. I can't say enough

:34:48. > :34:55.about how well these two are playing. What a quarterfinal match.

:34:56. > :35:33.Especially with the stakes you just outlined.

:35:34. > :35:46.Looking to the umpire first, the box second, he said no, no challenge.

:35:47. > :35:47.Venus Williams has got to be loving this, watching them beat up on each

:35:48. > :36:19.other, these two. She wouldn't let the ball dropped,

:36:20. > :37:04.take it before she could get back in position.

:37:05. > :37:28.She's not giving anything away. Both of these girls, it's very, very

:37:29. > :37:32.impressive tennis. She's still only six unforced errors, Halep. Six!

:37:33. > :37:40.It's over two hours! CHEERING

:37:41. > :38:29.Still, Konta keeps coming. She's been so aggressive with the

:38:30. > :39:09.short ball. That was a surprising choice.

:39:10. > :39:29.Just look at the reactions! The crowd are more exhausted than these

:39:30. > :39:46.two! They haven't had the ball yet! We may have another hour to go.

:39:47. > :39:59.Made it! What a hold! Break points saved. Just two game, final set,

:40:00. > :40:08.seems a lot more than that. It sure does.

:40:09. > :40:31.Is it possible that it's closer than the score indicates?!

:40:32. > :40:37.GASPS If you would take the names off the

:40:38. > :40:45.scoreboard, a lot of people would think it was John is playing Ivo

:40:46. > :40:47.Karlovic or something! -- John Isner. There has just been two

:40:48. > :41:57.breaks of serve. 22nd winner, Konta is up to 42. How

:41:58. > :42:07.many unforced errors does she have? 35.

:42:08. > :42:12.Ostapenko just about won that battle at the French Open, left it to the

:42:13. > :42:25.very end to win that battle. It also comes down to when you make

:42:26. > :42:29.the unforced errors. Let's say in this situation its 40-15, if she

:42:30. > :42:35.makes one now it's not that big of a deal. But if it's at break point,

:42:36. > :42:47.obviously an unforced error has a huge effect on the match.

:42:48. > :42:55.Keeps the pressure on serving first, final set, so often just having that

:42:56. > :43:01.advantage, if you get broken you can still break back. For sure. But on

:43:02. > :43:04.the other side, a lot of girls would prefer to return, actually. They

:43:05. > :43:12.feel a lot more comfortable returning. So, we'll see what will

:43:13. > :43:19.happen. Get the coin out and flip it, that might be as good or bad as

:43:20. > :43:22.any as to who or when. Normally the return is a much more vital

:43:23. > :43:29.ingredient in the women's game than it is today. That has been few and

:43:30. > :43:35.far between. Halep has done an Admiral job with her serve. I feel

:43:36. > :43:40.it's the best, all the times I've seen her she's been extremely

:43:41. > :43:50.consistent. Konta's serve has been, you know, the best that I've seen in

:43:51. > :44:00.Wimbledon, even better than Venus. Keep loose, if possible. Of these

:44:01. > :44:03.women must be really enjoying this match, they're both playing

:44:04. > :44:09.extremely well, playing without any hesitation, most of the time. At the

:44:10. > :44:14.end of the day, there's going to have to be a winner, but they'll

:44:15. > :44:21.leave the court feeling like, OK, I've played some of my best tennis

:44:22. > :45:30.out there today. Two hours and 14 minutes. Konta 1-2 in the final set.

:45:31. > :45:46.Halep just rolling her eyes a little bit. Hitting another line. And

:45:47. > :47:52.they've both hit their fair share. All players obviously extremely

:47:53. > :48:01.well-conditioned. Everyone played yesterday. The tougher match

:48:02. > :48:08.physically was Konta's. This has been a very physical match-up, to

:48:09. > :48:35.say the least. No signs of wear and tear from either yet.

:48:36. > :48:41.Well the first serve percentage, slowly but surely, there's more life

:48:42. > :48:43.in them as this has gone on. Certainly the tension has had a good

:48:44. > :49:03.deal to do with that as well. APPLAUSE

:49:04. > :49:07.Well, when she gets annoyed or tight, she starts playing faster.

:49:08. > :49:35.Speeding up. Kind of just grabs the ball and goes on.

:49:36. > :49:43.APPLAUSE P

:49:44. > :49:48.I honestly think it's the attitude and mindset that will make a

:49:49. > :50:48.difference in this set, match. Konta the first to break, the final

:50:49. > :51:03.set. APPLAUSE place

:51:04. > :51:12.UMPIRE: Miss Konta leads, 3-2, final set. A little energy. You know what

:51:13. > :51:16.they say, a crowd can make a difference between winning and

:51:17. > :51:27.losing. In that tie-break when the tension was at its highest, you saw

:51:28. > :51:35.how Halep she was. And part of it was because of the crowd and part of

:51:36. > :51:40.it was why she just got broken, because you could just feel it get

:51:41. > :51:44.into, seep into her bones. Obviously most of it was Konta but that

:51:45. > :51:49.combination's pretty rough to deal with if you are Halep right about

:51:50. > :51:53.now. It is extraordinary, the journey she's been on Konta, from

:51:54. > :52:00.those days when the tools where there. Yes, the forehand I proved a

:52:01. > :52:06.lot. The forehand was in place but couldn't handle any pressure. The

:52:07. > :52:09.serve has improved a lot as well. Very, very successful but the

:52:10. > :52:27.attitude is what has impressed me the most so far in this tournament.

:52:28. > :52:34.She has come close against ling. She -- come close to losing. Then

:52:35. > :53:44.started off playing very positively again.

:53:45. > :53:53.The perfect example of putting your upper body into the shot.

:53:54. > :54:23.She's putting everything into it. Everything you've got. Sure.

:54:24. > :54:56.Thank God she's at least breathing hard.

:54:57. > :56:08.The nerves. They know the camera's on them. Oh, yeah.

:56:09. > :56:46.She consolidates the break. Extends the lead. UMPIRE: Miss Konta leads,

:56:47. > :58:04.4-2, final set. UMPIRE: Miss Konta leads, 4-3, final

:58:05. > :58:10.set. That must have been the quickest she ever held serve. She

:58:11. > :58:16.does have thep tendency to push the pace in the envelope when things

:58:17. > :58:21.aren't going as well as she'd like. In this case, maybe put the pressure

:58:22. > :58:30.back on Konta just a little bit to try to serve this out. Wouldn't it

:58:31. > :58:36.be nice to be able to look inside her head and see how much she

:58:37. > :58:42.actually believes right now that she could win this match? I don't know

:58:43. > :58:46.if she... I don't know. At times I wonder if she believes... Which one

:58:47. > :58:53.are you talking about? This one. Seriously. Like, you feel, you feel

:58:54. > :58:58.the doubt a little bit. Her shots are dropping a little bit short. OK,

:58:59. > :59:04.not the last game but so far, you know when Jo went up 4-2. You could

:59:05. > :59:09.feel the shots are getting a bit shorter. And you know, the body

:59:10. > :59:15.language, as well is a little bit off. Well, two more service games,

:59:16. > :59:18.Konta, she'll be in the semifinal of Wimbledon. Here's the first at 4-3,

:59:19. > :00:56.final set. Well, a little weary, mentally. Or

:00:57. > :00:59.physically, but whatever's happening mentally is getting to her. The

:01:00. > :01:37.doubt is intensifying as we speak. Impressive hold. A wonderful

:01:38. > :01:43.message, a love-hold. A game away from the semifinals. UMPIRE: Mrs

:01:44. > :02:01.Konta leads, 5-3, final set. It's getting quicker and quicker

:02:02. > :02:51.between points now. That's usually not a good sign.

:02:52. > :03:06.Three in a row. Well, the serve it out question is asked. Let's just

:03:07. > :03:10.get to that. She had 3-1 in the tie-breaker h a good opportunity to

:03:11. > :03:14.take 4-1. It didn't happen. Wasn't she at 5-4 in the tie-break, a

:03:15. > :03:22.couple of points away? Yeah. Is that right? And from that moment forward,

:03:23. > :03:26.she hasn't quite been the same player. She's tried to overcome the

:03:27. > :03:30.negative part of what her brain was telling her. You remember that match

:03:31. > :03:40.she just lost at the French - what about that one in Miami. She just

:03:41. > :03:46.can't get over the hump. She's going to have to find another - dig deeper

:03:47. > :03:55.than she maybe has ever had to dig right now, to get out of this. What

:03:56. > :04:00.a moment for Jo Konta, with Virginia Wade looking on, the last women's

:04:01. > :04:04.semifinalist, 1978 when she lifted the trophy, in the Jubilee year.

:04:05. > :04:11.Even Virginia has loved to the end of her seat right now.

:04:12. > :04:53.Konta serving for the match, 5-4, final set.

:04:54. > :04:59.APPLAUSE Well, if you are Halep, that's how

:05:00. > :06:15.you wanted that game to start. UMPIRE: Ladies and gentlemen,

:06:16. > :06:21.please, don't make any calls during the rally. Well, she is moving

:06:22. > :06:22.side-to-side until she has an opening and then really accelerating

:06:23. > :06:53.into the open court. Adrenaline must be pretty high at

:06:54. > :08:05.the moment. Oh my God, she stopped playing. What

:08:06. > :08:12.a shame. It's over. British tennis history has been made. It's been 39

:08:13. > :08:15.years since a British woman can say, "I'm a Wimbledon semifinalist."

:08:16. > :08:31.She's done it n front of the last woman to do it! Virginia Wade.

:08:32. > :08:40.A wonderful smile from a wonderful lady. A wonderful match from both

:08:41. > :08:45.women. An amazing win, an accomplishment so far from Konta. An

:08:46. > :08:52.amazing quarterfinal match. Bizarre last shot. Someone did yell out,

:08:53. > :08:57.unfortunately and it's too bad that it ended that way but the crowd

:08:58. > :09:02.obviously a standing ovation for both. And it's wonderful to see

:09:03. > :09:07.Simona Halep just pause to wait for Konta. It's a Wimbledon tradition.

:09:08. > :09:12.The match is over. They've given us their best. It's a wonderful

:09:13. > :09:32.tradition. CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

:09:33. > :09:39.Anne Keothavong there, a wide a smile as Virginia Wade. The Chelsea

:09:40. > :09:51.Pensioners, selfies. You've got to love that. They got one with Novak

:09:52. > :10:02.earlier. That was quite enjoyable. To see these two young ladies go out

:10:03. > :10:08.the way they did. Virginia Wade is, am I'm pretty sure, happy that that

:10:09. > :10:14.happened. And she is the sort of woman who would be delighted if Jo

:10:15. > :10:21.Konta went on to win. She loves to play. She plays at my academy all

:10:22. > :10:25.the time when she's in New York. 40 years was my first Wimbledon when

:10:26. > :10:28.Virginia won it. Here's Phil Jones. Jo, congratulations, what a

:10:29. > :10:30.performance, what a stage to do it, creating history, matching Virginia

:10:31. > :10:36.Wade, getting here, what 1978 and there in the box watching you? I

:10:37. > :10:40.mean, right now it's a little bit surreal just because it is quite

:10:41. > :10:45.incredible how things go in tins. Two minutes ago I was playing and

:10:46. > :10:51.now I'm here. Things happen very quickly. I'm definitely digesting

:10:52. > :10:55.things a bit. I'm sure you are, the tension out there today as well, it

:10:56. > :11:01.seems you had incredible focus, were able to do what you needed to in the

:11:02. > :11:07.krush moments. I definitely felt I felt very clear on what I was trying

:11:08. > :11:13.to achieve out there and regardless of whether it was going my way or

:11:14. > :11:19.not, I felt I really stuck to my true self and tried to crate as many

:11:20. > :11:23.opportunities as possible. I knew going into the match with Simona,

:11:24. > :11:31.she was not going to give me the match for free, so I had to create

:11:32. > :11:35.my own chances. I felt I did that. I feel fortunate enough I took a few

:11:36. > :11:39.of them. That second set tie-break obviously so vital. What has gone

:11:40. > :11:48.through your mind at the start of that? To be honest, the exact same

:11:49. > :11:53.as the previous I don't know how many games. I felt quite consistent

:11:54. > :11:58.in my approach and in my general being out there. Not much changed, I

:11:59. > :12:04.continued to trust in the fact that what I was doing was going to bring

:12:05. > :12:09.the good things. How much did the crowd help? What a support you had.

:12:10. > :12:11.They were incredible. A little overenthusiastic in parts. But

:12:12. > :12:15.definitely I can't complain with the amount of support and general good

:12:16. > :12:21.feelings they are wishing my way. A slight liqueurous end to the match.

:12:22. > :12:27.What was your take on it? ? I think there was a woman on my end

:12:28. > :12:32.screamed. I think she got overexcited about the deep ball that

:12:33. > :12:37.Simona hit. It was actually as I was hitting my ball. So I think it more

:12:38. > :12:41.affected me than necessarily my opponent, but it was I think it was

:12:42. > :12:43.just a lot of emotions running. This wonderful run continues. Now

:12:44. > :12:47.Venus Williams in the semifinals. What about her and what she's able

:12:48. > :12:51.to do as a 37-year-old and creating history of her own? Definitely. I

:12:52. > :12:56.don't feel age is a factor with her. She is a tremendous champion. I feel

:12:57. > :13:01.humbled and excited to share the court with her. Last time she got

:13:02. > :13:06.the better of me. We've had great battles. I hope we can' create

:13:07. > :13:10.another good battle. And let me talk to you about your coach, Wim

:13:11. > :13:15.Fissette, he said he saw there was a champion when he first saw you. When

:13:16. > :13:21.did you start believe there was a champion? Ever since I was nine. I

:13:22. > :13:26.guess if you speak to any - I guess I can only speak for myself but

:13:27. > :13:37.always believed in my own be ability and I've always dreamt big, but,

:13:38. > :13:43.again, I'm much more of a pressure mind-set person, I don't give my too

:13:44. > :13:48.much time to dream and just keep focussed on the work. The work is

:13:49. > :13:57.playing off. SUE BARKER: I don't know about the

:13:58. > :14:04.lady in the crowd but we were' all getting excited. She kept pace with

:14:05. > :14:10.the pressure on her young shoulders. She got winner after winner and held

:14:11. > :14:15.her nerve to book her place in the last four. Wow, Billie Jean King is

:14:16. > :14:18.with me. What a great advert for women's tennis, both players? Great

:14:19. > :14:19.for women's tennis, terrific for tennis and more special for

:14:20. > :14:20.everybody here in Great for women's tennis, terrific for

:14:21. > :14:24.tennis and more special for everybody here in Great Britain. How

:14:25. > :14:30.good was she today? She said it all in her interview. Listen to what she

:14:31. > :14:34.said. She said she had a game plan, stuck to it, kept believing in it.

:14:35. > :14:40.Dreaming believe since she was nine - I want to live. I love the fact

:14:41. > :14:45.she talks about her ambition. Women are taught not to talk about

:14:46. > :14:50.ambition, we have to be polite and nice. She says it like it is. She is

:14:51. > :14:54.so articulate and never takes anything for granted. You can just

:14:55. > :15:00.tell she knows every time she's on the court it is a blessing. I think

:15:01. > :15:03.Great Britain should be so proud of her. Jo should be so proud of

:15:04. > :15:09.herself. She stuck to her game plan. It got shaky there, off Onyedinma,

:15:10. > :15:14.but you knew it was most likely going to be a really, really close

:15:15. > :15:19.match with Halep and Jo had to be the aggressor. So you've got to go

:15:20. > :15:28.for it and live it www. It. -- live with it. I will stop you there. We

:15:29. > :15:33.have to leave BBC One. We will be back at 7.30pm on BBC Two. But what

:15:34. > :15:36.a match, what a victory and story. Well done, Jo Konta. See you

:15:37. > :15:43.MUSIC: Hoppipolla by Sigur Ros