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'I'm tremendously proud of being part of a little bit of history'

  • Posted: Jul 11, 2017
Wimbledon 2017 on the BBC
Venue: All England Club Dates: 3-16 July
Live: Coverage across BBC TV, BBC Radio and BBC Sport website with further coverage on Red Button, Connected TVs and app. Click for full times.

Johanna Konta is “tremendously proud of being part of a little bit of history” after becoming Britain’s first women’s Wimbledon semi-finalist for 39 years.

Sixth seed Konta, 26, matched Virginia Wade’s 1978 feat with a gutsy 6-7 (2-7) 7-6 (7-5) 6-4 win over Romanian second seed Simona Halep.

She has equalled her best Grand Slam run and will next face Venus Williams.

“Ever since I was nine years old I’ve believed in my own ability and dreamed big,” Konta told BBC Sport.

“I don’t give myself too much time to dream and more focus on the work. I just stuck to my true self.”

Konta was watched by Wade from the Royal Box on Centre Court, with the 1977 champion describing the Briton’s performance on Tuesday as “absolutely stunning”.

“Both players were so good but she had a tougher mind and was more aggressive,” Wade said.

“It’s fine to be the last British women’s winner to win Wimbledon, but it’s better to have plenty of British players to win. I’m just surprised it’s taken so long.”

  • Who is the real Johanna Konta?
  • Five reasons Konta could win Wimbledon
  • Konta stuns Halep to reach semis – report & highlights
  • Muguruza, Willams & Rybarkova reach last four

‘Konta never takes anything for granted’

Six-time Wimbledon singles champion Billie Jean King praised the way Konta handled herself both during and after the match.

“I love the fact that she talks about her ambition. Women are taught not to talk about ambition,” said the American, who won 39 Grand Slam titles across singles and doubles.

“We should be nice, be polite – she says it like it is. She never takes anything for granted.”

Konta, ranked seventh in the world, is the first British woman to be among the top 10 since Jo Durie in April 1984.

“She knows that every time she goes on court it’s a blessing,” King added.

“Great Britain should be so proud of her and she should be proud of herself.”

Konta dreams of Slam success

The way Konta fought back after losing the first set and held her nerve during a tense final set will surely have boosted her confidence before she meets five-time champion Williams on Thursday.

Though she is searching for her first grass-court title, Konta’s form on the surface has been impressive. She reached the final at Nottingham and the semi-finals at Eastbourne before being forced to withdraw with a back injury.

“I’ve dreamed of success in every Slam,” said Konta, who reached the semi-finals of the Australian Open in 2016.

“I think it makes it more special because it is home.

“I feel my opponents have pushed me, and I in turn them, and to create such a sporting excitement for the crowd makes it very special.”

‘Go JoKo!’ – Reaction to Konta’s win

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Murray & Hingis reach mixed quarters, Skupskis into men's doubles last eight

  • Posted: Jul 11, 2017
Wimbledon 2017 on the BBC
Venue: All England Club Dates: 3-16 July
Live: Coverage across BBC TV, BBC Radio and BBC Sport website with further coverage on Red Button, Connected TVs and app. Click for full times.

Top seeds Jamie Murray and Martina Hingis reached the quarter-finals of the Wimbledon mixed doubles with a rain-interrupted straight-set win.

Britain’s Murray and Swiss Hingis, who only announced their partnership last week, won 6-3 6-4 against Czech pair Roman Jebavy and Lucie Hradecka.

The match was twice stopped by rain before Murray, 31, and Hingis, 36, won in one hour and 11 minutes.

British brothers Ken and Neal Skupski reached the men’s doubles last eight.

They beat Marcus Daniell and Marcelo Demoliner 7-6 (7-5) 5-7 7-6 (9-7) 6-4 and next face fourth seeds Lukasz Kubot and Marcelo Melo.

Ken Skupski would face Murray and Hingis in the mixed doubles alongside his Britsh partner Jocelyn Rae if they beat 12th seeds Max Mirnyi and Ekaterina Makarova in their third-round match.

Both Murray and Hingis have a rich pedigree in doubles competitions and linked up when she approached the Scot after ending her partnership with India’s Leander Paes.

The pair have instantly struck up an understanding and looked at ease – smiling after virtually every point – as they cruised past 16th seeds Jebavy and Hradecka.

Murray won the mixed doubles at Wimbledon in 2007 alongside Serbia’s Jelena Jankovic, then went on to claim the men’s doubles titles at the Australian Open and US Open last year with Brazil’s Bruno Soares.

Hingis has won five Grand Slam singles titles – including at Wimbledon in 1997 – 12 Grand Slam women’s doubles and a further five Grand Slam mixed doubles competitions.

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Beyond The Numbers: Sampras Serves Up Wimbledon Success

  • Posted: Jul 11, 2017

Beyond The Numbers: Sampras Serves Up Wimbledon Success

Jul112017

Infosys ATP Beyond The Numbers shows how Sampras dominated on grass with this shot

Does Pete Sampras have the best first serve of all time? 

Sampras finished year-end No. 1 in the Emirates ATP Rankings for six straight years from 1993 to 1998, dominating with pinpoint accuracy, and often backing it up with some of the finest serve-and-volley points our sport has ever seen.

An Infosys ATP Beyond The Numbers analysis of Sampras’ first serve shows it has no peer when compared to other players who also ended the season ranked No. 1 from 1991 to 2016.

Infosys Nia Data identifies that Sampras’ best season behind his first serve was 1998, where he won a dominant 83.0 per cent of his first-serve points. The following table shows how consistently good Sampras was during his reign as World No. 1 compared to other players ranked No. 1 at the end of the season from 1991 to 2016. 

Pete Sampras: First Serve Points Won

 1st Serve Ranking vs. Other No. 1s (1991-2016)

Year

First Serve Points Won

1

1998

83.0%

2

1996

82.9%

3

1995

82.9%

4

1993

82.1%

5

1997

81.6%

6

1994

80.8%

Sampras won Wimbledon seven times from 1993-1995 and 1997-2000, with his first-serve win percentages being a major reason why. 

Pete Sampras: 1st Serve Points Won / Wimbledon Ranking

Year

Result

First Serve Points Won

Tournament Ranking

1993

Won

84.3%

2nd

1994

Won

86.7%

2nd

1995

Won

85.9%

3rd

1996

Quarters

81.7%

6th

1997

Won

86.6%

4th

1998

Won

86.8%

2nd

1999

Won

87.7%

3rd

2000

Won

81.8%

9th

Serve-and-volley was a favourite strategy for Sampras behind both his first and second serves, with this specific tactic being first recorded at Wimbledon in 1997.

Sampras defeated Cedric Pioline 6-4, 6-2, 6-4 in the 1997 Wimbledon final, serving-and- volleying a massive 81.1 per cent (516/636) of service points for the tournament. He won an impressively high 75.4 per cent (389/516) of those points. The following table breaks down Sampras’ serve-and-volley performance at The Championships from 1997 to the last year he competed at SW19 in 2002.

  Pete Sampras: Wimbledon Serve & Volley Performance 

Year

Result

Percentage of Serve & Volley

Win Percentage

1997

Won

81.1%

75.4%

1998

Won

82.1%

76.6%

1999

Won

50.0%

57.1%

2000

Won

48.3%

57.2%

2001

4th Round

80.3%

72.6%

2002

2nd Round

80.0%

64.8%

–

TOTAL

70.3%

67.3%

Sampras’ first serve motion, accuracy, and what immediately followed it was magical. If you are building the best player of all time from separate components, you would do well to pick Sampras’ first serve as the ultimate first strike weapon.

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Pat Cash… Remembering 1987 Wimbledon

  • Posted: Jul 11, 2017

Pat Cash… Remembering 1987 Wimbledon

Jul112017

Thirty years ago, Pat Cash left no stone unturned in his pursuit of the ultimate prize. With exclusive insight from Cash and his closest friends, James Buddell of ATPWorldTour.com recounts how the Australian lifted the Wimbledon trophy.

The Climb. Everybody in the tennis world knows it, and those old enough vividly remember their surprise in witnessing the unique celebration. Now a staple of any finals day at a major championship — 14 players since 1987 have scaled the architecture at The Championships — and those triumphant few at Wimbledon pay homage to Pat Cash, the original climber to his family and friends. The Wimbledon champion, who dared to dream and delivered 30 years ago.

Having punched away a forehand volley — his 52nd winner on the world’s most famous lawn — to beat World No. 1 Ivan Lendl 7-6(5), 6-2, 7-5, Cash turned to his team and raised his arms to the sky in celebration of the ultimate prize. After a period of thought on his courtside chair, Cash ran 16 steps across Centre Court and deep into the crowd — a standing-room only area. “For a moment, I had stared at them and waved,” says Cash, 30 years on. “I almost chickened out for a minute, because I could see people lining up already and the presentation party getting ready.” But up the Australian went, and as he drew closer to a television commentary box, below his family and friends, doubts started to creep in.

“I joke about it that I beat three top players to win the Wimbledon title, but all people remember me for now is going up into the stands,” says Cash. “It was pre-planned, but I didn’t think about it too well. I didn’t want to jinx it, so I didn’t think about how to get up there or who to hug first.”

Ian Barclay, his coach for the past 11 years, watches on in horror. “I didn’t know anything about it,” says Barclay, a coach for 50 years. “It frightened the hell out of me, as there was a 30-foot drop, as that area was a standing room only area.” Darren Cahill, who had practised with Cash prior to the semi-finals and final, and has returned to the locker room after losing the mixed doubles final with Nicole Provis, recalls, “I remember thinking, ‘What in the hell is he doing?’ Like everyone, I suppose. But it was great, spontaneous and emotional… very similar to the way Cashy has always lived his life.”

A phoney ‘priest’ with a dog collar, who isn’t of the cloth, but has got through the Doherty Gates and blagged his way onto Centre Court, watched Cash’s climb through his camera lens, taking photos on a polaroid. Cash climbed onto the shoulders of the ‘priest’ to the next level. Shortly after the spectator gave his snaps to Barclay, who, despite the polaroids fading over the past 30 years, treasures the photos to this day.

“When I got there, I didn’t realise there wasn’t any seats to stand on,” says Cash. “It was standing room only. I was regretting it midway up, but I thought I was going to make myself the biggest fool of all time. I was thinking about turning around, going down and back onto the court. But I knew I couldn’t do that, so it took me a while to test out the strength of the commentary box roof.”

Meanwhile, His Royal Highness The Duke of Kent, had left his wicker chair, before walking down the Royal Box steps and out onto the sport’s cathedral. He stood beside the trophy, perched on a table covered by the Union Flag. You can set your watch to the time between match point and the start of the trophy presentation. Since first awarding the trophy to Rod Laver in 1969, no presentation of the Duke’s had been delayed. ‘Buzzer’ Hadingham, in his fifth year as the All England Club Chairman, a man of considerable personal charm and a first-class communicator, was getting twitchy.

The wait is almost over.

Dick Enberg, now 82, was commentating with the late Bud Collins for NBC from the commentary box in 1987 that Cash climbed onto, then over a ledge to the friends’ box. Enberg remembers, “During the course of the final, our NBC director, Ted Nathanson, had trained a camera on Cash’s father sitting in the stands. The rugged-looking character, wearing a cap, reacted by clenching his fist whenever his son made a brilliant shot. When Pat Cash junior and senior bear-hugged, it was a manly embrace — every son hugging their father.”

“That’s what it was all about,” admits Cash. “I had this team. They were really important to me and my Dad, who managed the business side with IMG, was everything to me. Afterwards, the chairman came up to me and said, ‘Enjoy the moment, but promise me you won’t do it again.’ He said it because I kept members of the Royal family waiting.”

<a href='http://www.atpworldtour.com/en/tournaments/wimbledon/540/overview'>Wimbledon”></a></p> <p>The 11-year journey, since Barclay had first begun coaching Cash at Heatherdale Tennis Club, founded by Harry Hopman, was complete. “Mr. B, one day do you think I can win Wimbledon? Will you stick with me?” asked the young Cash, very single-minded and always dedicated to what he was doing.</p> <p>Cash was always different. “It’s always the one who was the last on the court and wanted to keep practising that eventually makes it,” says Barclay, who coached five national champions from the club in a 14-year period. “You needed a tractor to pull him off the courts. When other guys had had enough, he’d continuously say ‘Let’s keep going.’ You have to want to do the work deep down. You have to have tunnel vision over what you want in life. Pat never needed to be encouraged.”</p> <p>On a trip to Italy in 1981, sponsored by members of the tennis club, Barclay took five youngsters, including Cash, across to Italy, where seven of the eight quarter-finalists, including Stefan Edberg, Guy Forget and Emilio Sanchez, would later make it into the world’s Top 10. “I don’t remember seeing that quality in a junior tournament in 50 years of coaching. When Pat won the singles title, beating Edberg, I can remember walking away and saying to my wife, ‘This guy’s going to win something super one day. He’s just an incredible competitor.’</p> <p>“He was just a kid, but he was a super athlete, super strong physically and mentally. As a result of this dedication Pat won the Victoria Hard Courts at 16, the Australian Hard Courts at 17 and his first Davis Cup match at 17 beating ‘Flossie’ [John Lloyd], who’d been runner-up in the Australian Open. Incredible, he was a baby.” Fitzy [John Fitzgerald], when he would partner Cash, would often say, ‘I’m playing with Superman.’”</p> <p><strong>Go To Part 2: Continue Reading…</strong></p> </p></div> <div id=

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Andy Murray column: My first Wimbledon, the Lions, and learning from boxing

  • Posted: Jul 11, 2017
Wimbledon 2017 on the BBC
Venue: All England Club Dates: 3-16 July Starts: 11:30 BST
Live: Coverage across BBC TV, BBC Radio and BBC Sport website with further coverage on Red Button, Connected TVs and app. Click for full times.

When I first played at Wimbledon I ate pizza before my matches and was staying in someone’s basement, so I’ve come a pretty long way.

I didn’t actually know that I was through to my 10th Wimbledon quarter-final until someone told me after Monday’s match.

This is the tournament, and Centre Court is the place, where I’ve played my best tennis, and I guess that consistency proves it.

I lost that first quarter-final in 2008 in straight sets to Rafael Nadal, and I must admit I don’t remember that much about it now. I must have played about 600 matches since then and it’s the very earliest ones that have really stuck in my mind.

I played juniors at Wimbledon in 2004 and then seniors for the first time in 2005, and I have much clearer memories of that whole experience.

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I can vividly remember specific moments of my second-round match against Radek Stepanek, and the third-round match against David Nalbandian on Centre Court I’ve actually watched back quite a few times – I don’t know why.

I know I was nervous but I just had no expectation to do well, so it was completely different to the kind of nerves I get now.

When I went to speak to the press I just said whatever I was thinking, whatever was on my mind. There was no filter, no concept of everything else that goes on at an event this big.

Of course I knew it was important but in truth I was not really aware of how big a deal Wimbledon was, and how much focus there was on this event. I was so young, I just wasn’t aware of it. I’d been playing tiny events just a few weeks before that.

And, yes, I was enjoying pizza for dinner before facing some of the best players in the world.

I was staying in the basement of a house in Wimbledon village with my mum, my brother, and Kim stayed there a little bit. We just walked down the hill to the All England Club most of the time.

I do remember fairly clearly that I didn’t eat well. With things like diet, we just didn’t know any better and I was very naive.

‘I’m always keen to learn something where I can’

I chatted to the boxers Carl Froch and David Haye when I was walking back to the locker room after Monday’s match – it’s always flattering when other athletes come and watch you play.

I know Carl and David quite well, and it’s one of the perks of the job that I get to meet people from across loads of different sports and chat to them about what they do.

It depends on the sport, but there’s often quite a bit you can apply to your own. I’m always keen to learn something where I can.

I’ve followed boxing since I was quite young, so I feel like I have a little bit more awareness of what’s happening with it than some other sports, and I’ve watched quite a lot of boxers train.

There are lots of boxers I’d like to spend a bit of time with. I met Manny Pacquiao, but it was just to say ‘hi’ and take a picture with him when I was in the Philippines.

There are loads of other athletes I’d like to meet if I knew I could give them a bit of a grilling, ask them whatever I wanted and guarantee I’d get a reply!

‘Lions game was great but a slight anti-climax’

I watched the final Lions Test against New Zealand, but I didn’t play rugby when I was growing up – which is strange in Scotland, because it’s a pretty big sport there – so I don’t know loads about it.

I understand the rules but rugby is one of those sports I just watch hoping that whoever I’m supporting wins.

I wasn’t shouting at the screen on Saturday morning but it was pretty tight at the end, and New Zealand were only a couple of metres from scoring.

It was a great game but just felt like a slight anti-climax at the end because it finished in a draw.

The players didn’t know whether to celebrate or not, but that’s sport sometimes.

That’s one situation we don’t have to worry about in tennis – I know I won’t be walking off court after a draw on Wednesday.

‘I’m hitting the ball and moving better’

I might be through to my 10th quarter-final but the nerves don’t disappear, you just learn to handle them better.

Sam Querrey will be a tough opponent and I can’t afford to play too many loose service games because he’s got a big serve and is tough to break.

The good thing is I was hitting the ball better on Monday, was more aggressive and was moving better, all of which gives me confidence.

I just need to prepare well, work on a gameplan with my team and make sure I avoid having pizza for dinner on Tuesday night!

Andy Murray was talking to BBC Sport’s Piers Newbery

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Despite Loss, Nadal Soaks In Wimbledon Atmosphere

  • Posted: Jul 11, 2017

Despite Loss, Nadal Soaks In Wimbledon Atmosphere

Jul102017

Spaniard bows out to Muller in fourth-round thriller

Although Rafael Nadal was disappointed to lose his fourth-round match on Monday against Gilles Muller, he was able to recognise how special the Wimbledon atmosphere was for their classic battle. 

The crowd cheered at full volume for his winners in the latter stages of the 15-13 fifth set, and Nadal encouraged them to get involved by roaring in their direction and throwing his arms in the air. In the final games between Nadal and Muller, Court No. 1 resembled an arena rock concert more than a tennis match.

“It was a great feeling. Great atmosphere. I put everything on the court. I played with all my passion and the crowd normally appreciates that,” said Nadal. “Just thanks for the support. I tried. I’m sorry for the crowd that were supporting me, but it was great to feel all their support.”

You May Also Like: Muller Stuns Nadal In Wimbledon Classic

But for Nadal, looking back at his missed opportunities provided less of a positive feeling. The Spaniard produced high-level tennis on the day, hitting 77 winners to 17 errors. However, he hit only 17 winners in the first two sets as Muller often dictated the rallies. Nadal also went two for 16 on break point chances, including four break points at 9-9 in the deciding set.

Although he wasn’t happy with all aspects of his tennis, the two-time Wimbledon champion said he was pleased with how he competed for the nearly five hours of play.

“He played well. I think I didn’t play my best the first two sets. I made a couple mistakes that made me then play against the score all the time, and that’s so difficult against a player like him,” said Nadal. “So well done for him. Especially in the fifth set, he played great. I was there and fought until the last ball with the right attitude. It probably wasn’t my best match, but at the same time I played against a very uncomfortable opponent.”

More: These Players Could End The Big Four’s Wimbledon Reign

After a nearly flawless clay-court season that saw him capture his 10th crowns at the Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters, Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell and Roland Garros, it was somewhat expected that Nadal would experience a letdown at some point this season. His success at Roland Garros has been followed by surprise losses at the All England Club in recent years, but it appeared that Nadal was in position to reverse that trend this year after cruising through his first three rounds without the loss of a set.

Nadal made the second week here for the only the second time since 2011, but also made it clear that he expected far more from himself this fortnight.

“I lost in the fourth round. That’s not the result that I was expecting. It’s true that I played some good matches, but at the same time, I didn’t want to lose that match. So it is tough to analyse that in a positive way right now,” said Nadal. “I won matches and played better than other years. But at the same time, I was ready for important things, so I lost an opportunity.”

<a href='http://www.atpworldtour.com/en/tournaments/wimbledon/540/overview'>Wimbledon”></a></p> </p></div> <div id=

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