Second set: Radwanska* 4-6, 6-2 Lisicki (*denotes next server)
"Sabine's tabloid name in Germany," writes Michael Ferguson, "is 'Bum-Bum-Bine', pronounced 'boom boom beena'. There's a slight wordplay here too: 'Bine' rhymes with 'Biene', which is the German word for 'bee'. So watch out for Sabine's sting as well as her mighty thwack!" Has Radwanska drwan her sting, though, Michael, eh? She's certainly looking a little flustered while Radwanska is peaking. Lisicki double faults to give Aggie set-point, sends her first serve out, then tries an audacious cross-court winner after a tame second serve that booms out and the match is levelled.
Second set: Radwanska 4-6, 5-2 Lisicki* (*denotes next server)
Great hands and knees are the ingredients required to defeat Lisicki's power apparently and Radwanska is using them and her consistency to move Lisicki around the court and trying to force big winners. This game was carnage for the German, losing it to love.
Second set: Radwanska 4-6*, 4-2 Lisicki (*denotes next server)
First big smash from Lisicki brings her back to 30-all but she still concedes a break point with an unforced error which Radwanska wins with a pair of cracking squat shots.
Second set: Radwanska 4-6, 3-2 Lisicki* (*denotes next server)
Tracy Austin diagnoses a temporary lack of intensity from Lisicki as the reason for the swing to her opponent but her big swinigng forehand rushes her to 15-40 in this game, Radwanska's 15 coming from the most perfect backhand winner down the line but it's not enough to save her service game when Lisicki ups it and hits a volley winner at the net.
Updated
Second set: Radwanska* 4-6, 3-1 Lisicki (*denotes next server)
"This is a cracking match so far," writes Marianka Swain. "It almost feels like it should be the final. Are we in danger of peaking too soon, or will Bartoli be a strong opponent on Saturday?" It's really entertaining isn't it? I think Bartoli will be a worthy opponent this year, though. I fear that Lisicki's nerves will take time to conquer and Radwanska, is she makes it, will have had to do it the hard way and her quads will be burning. Another break point is earned by Aggie, who seems to be prepared to take risks now, but she nets when trying to hit a subtle stop-shot winner then Lisicki's serve swings it back her way. Radwanska, however, is reading her opponent's intentions at the back of the court very well and has bee anticipating her placement. Lisicki is depending on her serve to bail her out but it can't compensate for the number of errors she's making.
Second set: Radwanska 4-6, 2-1 Lisicki* (*denotes next server)
Apparently some of the British tabloids are referring to Sabine Lisicki as Doris "Boom, Boom" Becker for her nationality and power serve and, though she looks as if she's just wavering and making mistakes when she goes 30-0 down she fights back with a piledriving winner but Radwanska's recovery continues after manipulating her opponent around teh court from the baseline and then playing a forehand sliced winner as she approached the net for the first time on that point.
Updated
Second set: Radwanska* 4-6, 1-1 Lisicki (*denotes next server)
The prospect of ice calms Radwanska who wins the first two points with swerving, dipping return shots forcing her opponent into errors but when Lisicki, who is definitely having problems with her toss, finds herself 15-40 down, gets her special wide ace out to power back to advantage then completely wastes the opportunity to win the game with a misplaced forehand dink that annoys her so much she screams. Radwanska earns advantage with a backhand down the line and breaks back on the second serve down the line again.
Second set: Radwanska 4-6, 0-1 Lisicki* (*denotes next server)
"Mornin’," pipes Adam Hirst. "Now I know it ain’t your fault... but could this bit not be changed? I’m sure I’m not the only one who reads it all wrong. Couldn’t it be: First set: Radwanska 3-4 Lisicki (Lisicki Break Up); First set: Radwanska 3-3 Lisicki (With Serve). It wouldn’t take much changing, so not the extra work for you MBMers. Trying not to be one of the Complaining About The Terrible Service I Receive From The Graun Online Despite The Fact That I Don’t Pay A Penny For It types, just a little suggestion." I'll let em know Adam. I shall not be passing this way again, I don't think. Radwanska makes a proper Horlicks of her first service game of the second set, looking a little leg-heavy and is broken to love by the forceful returns. She's calling for ice to complement the heat pads on her thighs now.
Updated
First set: Radwanska* 4-6 Lisicki (*denotes next server)
Lisicki again attempts to go wide for an ace but goes too far wide and allows Radwanska back in at 15-30 but wins the next point on her second serve by curbing her instinct to go to the net and waiting instead to play a gem of a forehand volley winner. Radwanska, though, is not going to go a set down without using everything she has and from the baseline shifts her opponent all around the court to take a break point which Lisicki holds then wins the set 6-4 when the Pole hits her return back to the service court but wide.
First set: Radwanska 4-5 Lisicki* (*denotes next server)
I believe pigeons or smoke signals would be an improvement on this system. Sorry. The smoke could be provided by the stuff coming out of my ears. Radwanska wins to stay in the set.
First set: Radwanska* 3-5 Lisicki (*denotes next server)
The speed of Lisicki's serve hits 122mph in this game and she moves to 40-0 ahead with a top-spin cross court shot that again gets a fortunate net court and rounds it up with a very powerful wide ace.
Updated
First set: Radwanska 3-4 Lisicki (*denotes next server)
Just as I thought we were heading for tie-break territory, so dominant have the service games been despite Lisicki's last one going to deuce, Lisicki here takes a 0-40 lead to have three break points but each time makes an unforced error to let Radwanska off the hook. Having fought her way back up the mountain Radwanska concedes another break point and loses it after a very flukey net cord ruined her shot.
Updated
First set: Radwanska* 3-3 Lisicki (*denotes next server)
Lisicki's serve does the business, getting faster and faster so that it enables her to serve and volley to devastating effect to go 40-0 ahead but then messes up to allow Radwanska back in but ends with an ace.
First set: Radwanska* 2-2 Lisicki (*denotes next server)
A lovely rally won by Lisicki moves her 30-0 ahead during which she made Radwanska cover the court, mixing power with finesse, but the German's unforced errors begin to mount allowing Radwanska to level at 30-all but Lisicki goes to the net having forced her opponent into the back left quadrant to earn game point and goes to advantage off deuce with a powerful forehand winner before wrapping it up.
Updated
First set: Radwanska 2-1 Lisicki* (*denotes next server)
Slight technical issues there. Sorry. Radwanska plays one of those lovely backhand squat shots to take the game to 40-30 and wins the game when Lisicki hits into the net for a second time in this game. Everything with serve so far. What a player a hybrid of both of these styles would make.
First set: Radwanska* 1-1 Lisicki (*denotes next server)
The nerves are definitely there for Lisicki and she's not happy with her ball toss on the second serve but she recovers quickly going to the net and moving to 40-0 with a deft forehand pass and serves out at 117mph to take the second game.
First set: Radwanska 1-0 Lisicki* (*denotes next server)
Lisicki begins with a pair of unforced errors, a looping forehand after a 10-stroke rally that flies wide of the line then she goes long and Radwanska ties up the opening game confidently with Lisicki looking uncharacteristically skittish but it is early.
Lisicki is the darling of the Centre Court, says A Question of Sport's Sue Barker. Good lord. Radwanska has both thighs so heavily strapped they look like John Eales's legs. I didn't get the email that says we are to call her "Aggie". But I will now.
Have you read Marina Hyde on the BBC's montage epidemic? Or this onthe Mailier than thou's censure of Andy Murray? Here's some sounds and pictures, too.
Preamble
That was quick. Afternoon all and welcome to coverage of the women's second semi-final between Sabine Lisicki and Agnieszka Radwanska for teh right to play Marion Bartoli on Saturday. The first semi was the biggest anti-climax since … well … er … a moment you've savoured like, say, tipping the crumbs from the crisp packet down your throat was curtailed by being engaged in conversation – crispus interruptus – but this should be a classic. In which case Katy Murrells, a bona fide tennis expert, has been the victim of a dreadfully raw deal. Any way, while tennis is hardly my forte, perhaps it's appropriate for Wacko Wimbledon 2013. It should be an intriguing contrast of styles with the big-serving Lisicki, conqueror of Serena Williams, and her power pitted against the athletic dropshot queen Radwanska, she of the squat shot and the stunning winner below. I'll be back for the toss, still hoping they do it with a racket like they did for Martina Navratilova v Claudia Kohde-Kilsch 30 years ago.
