Frances Tiafoe vs. Alexei Popyrin Full Match | 2024 US Open Round 4

[Applause] 59 39 poer says that when he was a kid he was a real hotthead he used to throw stuff not Furniture but his racket he'd lose it he'd show his emotions he didn't show his emotions after beating jokovic till it was [Applause] over Francis on the other hand he's going to let these people in this is his favorite place in the world wow a clean opening game four first serves all directed at the forehand and all to the good gotten comfortable here the last 5 years big fo is on his vas Ben shelter 5 the other day he pointed to the ground on this court and said this is my house this is my house he's been saying that for for a while now I just watch that on he is looking incredibly composed there's a quiet confidence about him as a just been keeping an eye on him that Opening Service game Mary he's just prowling around the Baseline with that quietness but it's it's a Steely determination making it sound like he's not going to be bothered by all the fans here and of course got to give a shout out to my fellow country as well nille Godwin Jim who shares the coaching responsibilities with uh saier malise throughout the course of the year with Alexi and uh I thinkone was a little surprised when he won monreal even Neville but he did say that he has been practicing so well so for a while they've thought the game is there uh he just needs to free himself up on the match court actually and one two very different styles of play poin is very much a front foot player looking to thump serves thump forehand there's good old Neville that's that's actually not Neville that's it's okay that's okay he's in there he's in that box somewhere um but poin wants to pop the serve he wants to pop the forehand he wants to just basically be dominating and not defending Francis has got a little more variation in his game Francis he'll slice you he'll dice you he'll crush and rush you he'll get to the net he'll sneak in and that's what the Aussie is going to try and counter that one he's going to try and keep TFO at Bay and keep him off of the net and I suspect because he's got tennis Australia behind him and they have a very very healthy data analytics team that gives very detailed scouting reports he's going to serve a lot at tfo's forehand with his first serve tonight first game he served all of them at his forehand and we we noted the other night that TFO is very very good better than average at making Returns on his backand and the reverse is true the forehand is so elaborate such a long swing that he misses a lot more Returns on that side than most players thir left will keep him honest especially with the scoreboard up and he'll he'll hit it at the back cand but I would be really surprised if if uh we don't see more first serves at least going into the forehand wing of Francis TFO tonight there's more free points available there by and large had to get out of his own way to make that for him 30 15 not a shot you practice the shove that back that was amazing he's like he's playing ping [Music] pong full D5 what you're talking about already got four aces it's just his second service game yeah leads two games to one for mosy over to his chair yeah fourth round US Open amen Robbie I'm just curious is as well your thoughts on how pin might T tackle the tiao second serve which is typically very kick heavy but speed light you think he'll stand in like that and try and redirect it pound it take it early I think he will I think he's got the height to negate the bounce 100% and perhaps already the effects of attacking the first one Jim there love the how much has David R how much has his coaching helped Francis TFO it seems like quite a bit cuz he just joined the squad and The Season's looking pretty good sure it is his lost here his loss here last year really knocked the stuffing out of him for a long time results 15 1 but he seems to have recovered from it now L for service 15 [Applause] py St T down 1540 poing prowling on the Baseline looking to pounce on this second Ser return jeez n c screwed up his next shot there Francis Sha's mom girlfriend next to him and father up top you all know the story he helped build the junior tennis Championship Champions Center in College Park Maryland that's where Francis and his twin started playing good idea that body Ser it's one of the areas he's been pretty effective in so far this week Mary break points saved yeah saved to 70% of the ones that he has faced TI ninth on the serving numbers this week as Francis and he's needed that right here right now yeah two gam sold for six an article where Francis was asked what's the best advice he'd ever been given he said it's never as bad as it seems It's Never As Good As It Seems so stay mellow and don't get too low the worst advice he's ever been given to be realistic he doesn't want to hear that [Applause] 59 oh the world that these players inhibit is very far from The Real World the highs are so high the lows can be so Soul crushingly low when they lose and then you have the whole social media World amplifying both the positives and the false negatives so where reality sits is where you choose to spend your time this guy's spending his time watching some tennis I hope he opens his eyes there's some good stuff about to happen he's famous I just don't know who he is so apologies Mary that's Hopper on Stranger Things thanks Mary but you know what I mean right real world is is the world that that these players not to go too deep but you know you got to pick your and pick your sources and your news sources and your information and people around you very carefully so you stay calm because you've got to be the eye of the storm right when you're Francis TFO at the open everybody wants a piece of you you go into the City the hotel people want pictures you go to a restaurant people want your time which is amazing it's a it's a privilege it's awesome but youve got to also know that you got to guard your energy for when you need it most he's played four hours and 3 minutes he needs to be fresh and ready to give his heart and soul to win this contest here good jot here SP your time on live reading what people are saying about you yeah full T15 that's not a good use of time but I from what I understand it's awfully difficult not to do we're too old to understand it but apparently they can't help themselves and it's you know not a great use of time better to focus rest watch stranger things see Hopper he's watching you you should watch him 403 Francis would admit that when he had that great run a couple of years ago here he backed off he he bathed in the glow of his new Newfound Fame results he's back apparently three games stupid right there's only one way to play B for service 5 tell the best one strike tennis I saw was against Novak the other night the surf plus one was insane yeah he can pop that forehand after a serve can he just do so much damage I thing that impressed me so much was that dropping the return that short Alexi was pulling it off from Deep returns as well [Applause] for G careful had to get a little dirty get down in the mud and win that last service game that was squeaky clean from TFO there's his team David Whit down on the bottom left just added on Jordy arada just in the White Cap to our right from David who's bottom left physio he's got it he's got a great Squad they are a tight knit Bunch go in the white t-shirt looks like David gogins is he being bought onto the team 5 sure David Whit is you know he's experienced right Mary was Venus Williams for so long eight years yeah Jesse Pula helped transform Jesse into a top 10 player and he is among the most relaxed coaches in the business you want to talk about someone get too high or too low and got caught up in the adrenaline rush of it all David just goes with the flow that might just be what Francis needs at this time Wayne Ferrera was very chill too great coach that helped Francis and zavier mise who's part of the coaching squad for po also very laidback he had a fun game super talented do you think that's a conversation a player has with a coach was it a conversation you would have had with your coaches about how you want them to behave or how the coaches should behave yeah when you're playing a match I think it's a more important discussion these days given the interactions are are legal in match I think you need to be very comfortable with the communication channels now that it's allowed during matches I don't think it was a conversation that was necessary to be had earlier right I think it is an important part coaching setup if you want your coach to be out of the seat off every point in Jack up because that's what you feed off of you need that energy to feed off or if you want them to be perhaps like both of their coaches pretty relaxed you don't want them to get too emotionally involved in case that affects you so I think it's an important conversation these days as you say because of the cach Y and hopefully to marry with your emotions to get the best out of you [Applause] emotionally 403 [Applause] there's aier the X-Man wants him to stay a little bit up with his his chin for this serf don't fall down too soon worried about getting the ball over the net dropping too quickly you pull down pop it in the net just missing his Target there contion of s yes very sincere forehand advantage that was beautiful in its brutality Mary Ball does not deviate on its path game ball change please new balls lead it's four games to three first set opening set of this fourth round match came through and now he plays Taylor Fritz another American oh biggest news of the day was that Coco golf the went out to 23-year-old Emma Naro were you surprised Mary uh I watched I watched Emma beat her at Wilton but Co day I speak cillo I'll translate for you Robbie she was not surprised thank you this quicker answer nowhere near Del 5 [Applause] to never good when the chair umpire's on the phone I didn't hear anyone call for a trainer he might be calling his mother Mom I'm busy I'll get back to you [Music] 30 15 that's going to be an important chot for Tio to diffuse the power of poin he needs to in the backhand Corner poin like many including your humble broadcaster prefers hitting his forehand out of the backhand Corner he's more dangerous inside out or inside in less dangerous on the run to his forehand Francis has a phenomenal slider flat backand down the line he can change direction easily and effectively just like we saw before so we're all Lev four this match is heaten up four gam s for set yeah he's got a nice little slice down the line as well it's he got some gnarly bite to it it's ble will and truly join now asley poised Mark there in the back of francis's box of course a tournament owner of DC and the wh done a lot for tennis in this country owner of the the was Washington castles a world team tennis team back in the day was mock L second service love 15 [Applause] just a second W when poin made a first serve tonight poin 13 out of that was a vital one good Anticipation by the American to pick the forehand Corner earned himself love 30 he was looking for the forand understandably po crossed him up with the 117t the chess match is definitely on already eight Aces for the Aussie at least a shot from too is really hurting Copp isn't it here's the first great point of the match4 Tio this his first chance po had two earlier thank you dug himself out of the hole can the Aussie do the same he has the goods to do it if he can deliver A pounder of a serve please careful Francis Chapo will serve issue that's not these guys in the bottom [Applause] half 589 fastest of the night for the American his fans are just hotwired to his racket now aren't they set points for the 26y old American 4 [Applause] 45 [Applause] yeah the opening set six GES to full barely has put a foot long this is what 23 and half thousand people came 50 left [Applause] 39 tell you what that look 99% out that Ser from where I'm sitting I've got a good view of it and if it's 99% out Robbie it's 100% in man season started out as a little bit of a hangover for Francis TFO he invested so much in the US Open last year and Ben Shelton knocked him out in the quarterfinals it really knocked him for a loop as you mentioned too and he really was absent from a a passion standpoint from much of the and much of the first half of the year he had one bright spot made the finals of Houston where guess who Ben Shelton beat him made that win a couple days ago so much sweeter T started this season ranked 16th in the world 145 his ranking dropped as a result of the absence of results all the way down to 30 in the world but he really picked it up in Cincinnati that was a huge lift for him up to 20 and obviously if he can keep going he's defend points but makes a run the semi the finals or who knows lifts this trophy it's all moving North for him but more than anything the most important so much so that he parted company with a man who transformed his game fera just the court and squirted that one crosscourt that's why he brings so many pairs of shoes onto the court and he says he also needs about 20 shirts he clams up nicely to be fair shirts don't take up a lot of space not a ton of material there that's think J could have pulled off the SLE I could not but where I want to go with this is can you imagine Jack Draper trying to bring 20 of his shirts which seem to be size Tri XXL brilliant [Applause] f j Temple and just to add to the confidence this man feeling was the fact that he saved match points against hul Guna in that semi-final and Cincinnati and we all know what that feels like it is just the most incredible sensation isn't it you're on the border of being out of the tournament and you get to compete in a championship match just 24 hours later almost feel Invincible when you're able to pull those kind of Victories off match against Lorenzo MTI 15 that was it was the first bit of an eye popping result I thought he was incredible in that match the energy the shot making anytime MTI looked like he was going to get a chance to get back into the match TFO shut the door in Cincinnati I wasn't calling that match I got to see a little bit of it on TV that was just the second round he was trying to build of course the bronze medalist and who's had a remarkable run a great run as well the grass at Wimbledon so a hot hand but yeah it's just got him he toughed out leka 76 in the third I mean those those were important important moments that have really set the tone for what he's been able to do here in New York that if you've seen as hard as it was for tiapo to miss the Olympics he was prepping for this he wanted to stay on hardcourts not the clay of roling Gus where is held and keep in mind all three of the men's medalists are out of the tournament here that's a big sacrifice for him it's paid off all three of the womens's are here in fact following this match we'll get a rematch gold medal contest that's right which you called wonderfully by the way enjoyed listening to you so it's veage and yeah the bronze medalist still going strong here in New York yep these for are flying aren't they Tios is playing a lot tennis here not a lot of winners you look at his statistics it's very small compared to the noisiness of Alexi poer a lot more winners and a lot more unforced errors coming off of Alexis's racket here but that's just fine who cares the only numbers that matter the amount of games you have he's there got him ohali didn't do quite enough TFO was running for this next shot immediately after he dumped it he knew he'd get a second fight of the Apple what a stinger backand that was for 405 things go back to Deuce that will take [Applause] Alexi with the Eraser the silencer the big first serve but poin second serve is not getting the job done TFO is dominating both when he hit second serves and when poin is hitting them he's winning so many of these neutral rallies oh we got it he that one was that the toothpick was that the screw was that the scissors part of the army knife was that I think it was all at the same time that is just new it's just going to light up any Crowd Oh man he's so fast and still in so much control I look look where that landed yeah give it up and the thiss that was another very clean return crisp making coer press isn't [Applause] he Cho yet to miss a return when he's seen a second serve and poin because he's been going for more on his returns against Francis his slower second serve is not made as many comes only he splashed that one this is another return that just melts into his strings clean as you like one for one on break point chances is tifo Here Comes number two [Applause] you got to give it up to PO for that what a clever play to hit the second serve right into the chest of Tio who did well just to get it back in play poin using his immense power and height and also the brain power to extract himself there not having a great night making a lot of first serves is the big Aussie so far around 50% set what a combination couple of the fans sitting behind me here I thought the first for in was going out that thing stayed in the air so long but adorned with all manner of spin to make it dip in Exquisite length on both you need security down there Rob yes not a bad little 118 mph serve but look how he just spits it back you know who else has this type of backhand return is a player turn broadcaster Nick curios curios it is Apex his backham return just like Francis is so Compact and so secure now very few free points coming out of either of those those Corners poin probably be well advised to try some more serves in the body or the forehand on the second serves as two6 up the middle that felt quicker [Music] [Applause] leads two games to one second sets start training again get back to loving this game willing to work for 50 certainly said he needed a rest I'm sure he's going to take one supposedly surfacing again for Shanghai Masters 1000 in China about a month's time so maybe that's enough time for him to hit the refresh button and be ready to go dig deep again against him if he comes back with passion yeah he won three Majors last year jokovic didn't get one of them this year but he got the one that he wanted the most which was Olympic gold true not saying he didn't want the others but uh he was sick in Australia he was injured in Paris he was still injured in at Wimbledon and here they wounded here that's sweet there for guy who doesn't drink no certainly looked hung over here right didn't he yes he did just an emotional hangover 35 then Stiller shows up a lot not just at this major he is a hard third core fan no question about he and Christine Taylor his wife they they travel they do and we love having him as part of our little circus that was a really really really good looking forehead Su land [Applause] [Applause] reference see if po poin can start making some progress here on francis's second serve it wasn't a great return but the passing shot in the lob combination gets him what he wants which is another breakpoint chance 0 for two in the opening set that's the perfect L isn't it a little too high to be comfortable not high enough to chase out a little Stinger love yeah and pu it in a beautiful multic combo special from the Aussie shot was phenomenal scrambled to do anything he could to get it in play but Po and closed the door by closing Court position there picking that volley off so he has a lead now for the first time with a break in hand reminder go to usopen.org to catch up on all the News and Views and results from today on all those platforms that particular return so very forehand cross score from the juice side popn here on the back end I'm wondering if he jarred his ankle at all he kind of came up a little funky ankle looked fine but he did seem to walk off whatever happened there don't know if his ankle might have been knee he knows we don't tell you what people might have said all the depth control and the volum was outstanding from poin Frances wasn't expecting it to be that deep and it just rushed him just that fraction enough that he couldn't have time on the ball like he wanted subtly brilliant volley that wasn't a winner the placement was outstanding 3 15 45 [Applause] Crow trying to urge back into this game par is grab momentum into the set here's for 4-1 yeah that's what it is apparently it's four games to one second set this is thumping good match was about 120 in the world and made a great move he won a title on the clay in umag last year 50 and finish the year inside the top 50 so that set him up for some success and but the the first half of this year was a struggle for him he didn't play particularly well Mary he was playing Sub sub 500 ball going into Canada his ranking had drop back down to 63 in the world he had 14 wins against 15 losses and then out of the blue he went six consecutive matches and 1,000 ranking points and now his rankings up 40 spots to number 23 in the live rankings he wins this one tonight he going for the first time it's unbelievable when you speak about the Ed I think he's he's gone at a master 1,000 event the likes of Gore Fe who's been around forever he doesn't even have one right Cho's won three titles in his career but all those at the 250 level he's made the finals of Tokyo that's a 500 of a 1,000 in Cincinnati just a couple of weeks ago but he's never lifted a trophy of the stature that poin has poin sort of leap frogged a lot of people five top 20 wins I think if memory serves yeah and one of the guys who wasn't in the top 20 was Thomas mahut we know where he is right for service he's running his short shorts into week two with the US op what he's doing you know it gold medalist with the mixed doubles with sakova he's having himself a year so it's a quality field that he's been able to beat in Montreal quality players too many gimmies there mahot beat subcord at the 16th seed and then just kept going and now he plays the 25th seed Scott Draper in the fourth round you that's tomorrow Jack Draper Jack Draper sorry yeah here's a question for the both of you after this game I'm holding fire right now okay [Music] fair news if Francis tiao loses has he had a good tournament Mary yes I still think he has just because his his game is back his form is back he won't thinks he won't think so that's that was more my question will he think that this is a success Robbie no he won't he won and and if poin loses this match will he have considered this tournament a success yes Robbie no okay what are you say I agree with Mary okay cuz he beat Novak here and he's not familiar with the the second week of Majors okay so if Mary and I are right Robbie I think that what we think you're wrong what well that's that's okay that's we know you're wrong I'm kidding but you know the reality is perception matters right so poin if that is true if our hunches are correct up here in the booth he's playing with less pressure less Stines oh no question right T's got the crowd he's got the hype he's got a bottom half of the draw where Sasha ver the fourth seed is certainly still around but Gregor demitro is lurking for the winner of this one got the burden he's put on himself I get what you're saying right so if you had told him irrespective of who he was playing he'd have a chance to play tiao around of 16 at the US Open mhm would you take that and he would have bitten your arm off that's a golden opportunity I think both of these guys this match is a golden opportunity and whoever loses it irrespective of the context it's going to be a a tough one to swallow because of the magnitude of the opportunity and I'd almost argue more so for Alexi disagree with you there okay that's okay but I still love still oh you took the W still love you brother don't worry and Po and loving his serve right now 5 aces in the second set 40 love to sit down with a 52 lead he's he's a guy in rhythm in set too lead 52 lead five G to two LED for service [Music] love 15i poin nine winners TFO nine winners this how about poin with three unforced errors and TFO just two high level CLE clean tennis on the scoreboard and an adjustment from p on that second serve turn location stood very deep for it t gave him an even slower serve than normal in response and asked him to generate his own pace look at that speed just 76 that's something that he's not great at he can generate with his risty forehand action his backhand a little stiff tougher to create Pace off of nothing so P's going to stand back in on top of the Baseline here 7 [Applause] 15 darn near tried to saber that he did he got in so tight attack yeah and look how far back he is on the next point the opposite he's ambling in for this second serve return this is a weird game from him he's doing different things Robbie the slice back return positions what do you make of that yeah I don't mind it think he's got his nose out in front if he is going to try anything TR when you've got a bit of a lead oh ohle it's not the type of game that you see a lot of top players play when they're getting close to close a really sloppy strange game for po now he's got to snap back into his normal mode can he do it or did he Shake himself out of it we all find out together that was really unusual it's the kind of game that I've seen players throw themselves way off rhythm with things like that and not be able to find it again when they just need it we'll see if Po's exempt from that 50 it's all different now that was effectively a first serve as a second serve and he had a ace at 110 mph his average second serve speeds right around a 100 look how much better he's doing yeah in the second set second service but he hadn't been serving like that that's again an outlier this guy's got the dice in his hand and he's throwing him hot I'm trying to contextualize that what you discussed with me previous game you know did he do it to try and keep himself loose and not be too tense just with the understanding that he's probably not going to break oh did he do it actually out of nervousness he comes up with a first Ser second serve like that on the first point wow he didn't look nervous to me he looked too relaxed yeah that's how some people deal with their act nervous exactly but he's worked his way into triple set point so he's had the right methodology apparently help in the last couple of points but misses that one still a pulse for big foe [Music] oh [Applause] full D13 [Music] [Applause] oh go 41 is now dece wow yes have a lot of pace but adorned with all manner of spin that was a phenomenal return from Tio but is pressing hard on his up register speed trying to finish this thank you a lot to play points he wants quick results a chance to get back on Ser advantage shffle [Applause] so this is where if you're you go for your favor serve right and this is way you make them CL you got to get the return in got make him hit shot after shot after shot and see if he folds cuz he's definitely nervous please [Applause] and back on Ser cin played a timid game trying to close out this opening set lead five G to four thank you poin again has made a big change here look how deep he's returning the serve from he's back there in Rafal land just the kind of R he needed to find sort of sort of Rhythm from the back of the Court good one to win [Applause] up [Applause] 5 [Music] up they're both so capable of breaking open what looks like neutral rallies with cold hard winners [Music] 3 15 [Applause] here aggressive cover [Applause] [Applause] Ser gave him his for hand Smart Serve when Puffin so deep to return ball out wide opens up the court and TFO walks right through that open space and puts himself a point away from five a piece good comeback from two5 Led for service [Applause] G CLE how much more disciplined is Francis Cher five against thing that I like the most Mary is that his concentration has been far more consistent because they were lapses that cost him a lot earlier in his career and especially against Ben Shelton he he stood strong there and didn't disappear after a disappointing third set tiebreaker went the other way yeah Francis he puts the work in it's more just about maintaining the focus in matches that as times has challenged him yes and he revs high yeah he does it's kind of fun when he revs I kind of like it but we need to need to keep the revs in check time he's got's got T of right now is deflating just feel the momentum from 40 love in the previous service I'm telling you rob wow he should not have played that game at 52 the way he did it it I feel like that took him out of uh of his normal routine it's not like he can't put it back in in the mode that it was in but it was just so disassociative for how he'd been playing but even at 4 love the Knicks game I mean he's had his looks has he the first that second serve Ace the first next in the next game was is bizarre too pressure it might be a privilege but it's also it's it's a prickly pair at times of course it is 15 to [Applause] 15 he's had 14 Aces Alexa poin but what a rotten time for his fourth double fault [Applause] advantage of being that tall is access to that location with Pace right nearly 120 M an hour on a big flat wide serve over the high part of the net much tougher for talo even at 6'2 to achieve the same poing using what he's got when he needed it was a little casual and Clos than certainly what I thought given the body language now maybe it was my side view that was a bit more deceptive he had it well covered [Music] game late six games to five second sets J first set Je [Applause] 15 left [Applause] can't tell you often I see players getting burned coming in Cross cour Four to forand if you're two right's players are just so dangerous when they hit the four and on their own and on this occasion poin stay at home we we got to get one of those ice towels on Robbie's neck he's running hot right now cool you down there 3 15 Francis is trying to just get heated up here though for this moment 15 Calm before the storm potentially of this tiebreaker which she's trying to get into [Music] I think if your opponent beats you off his weak weaker wing with a shot like it you got to say too good patner plays the correct one ask the toughest question for set TFO won four out of five net points it's been a coin flip in set two they're both serving in the low 50s yeah a lot worse than their average that's for sure oh what a get an absolute gift 143 up beating himself with his weaker shot rather than rallying crosscourt and trying to get forehand to finish don't understand that and ke up 31 TI TFO has the momentum now and poin for me it's interesting he he's trying so many different things now I'm not sure he has the clarity that would benefit him the most the Simplicity of his game you'd love to see that rise to the four right now fall into what you trust the most when you need it the most T's got better ownership of his game at this moment than poin does that's clear might not be the decider though you just don't know Po's he's is he one Z it's double tble well you just get the feeling that I certainly do if T goes up two sets to love here this match is done and dusted my estimation given that he's had 5340 love one serve I think at that'll break him mentally if he loses a set he saw TFO moving that way out of the corner of his eye and he's just over result [Applause] [Applause] Tao is just sweating so much I think to C the court up make sure that it's safe for players but it's it is the player who himself is actually providing the moisture to the court it's muggy out there ain't no bones about it he turns tennis into a basketball game doesn't he yes might be a little this is my house in his mind right now and he's certainly making it that was insane how good that was he just poetized the strings on him manipulating him look at this whipper cross jeez how do you like that uhoh 31's on the board and the roof is still intact let it blown off that ball landed on the [Applause] line not sure why he backed off so much there he's in a good position Tio just put a little asterisk along alongside that point [Applause] Mary nice Fran TF for r in the house yeah is it is it shaking down there where you are Robie I mean this place exploded as this for man was struck giving his foes fits this [Applause] summer great bounce back ability after the previous point thank you [Applause] please full two jeo certainly can't rest on your laurels if you're Tio po may have done just a little bit of that at 4 L 53 and that cost him he was nervous though tfo's confident now that's a difference and and he also has a clear mind and plan and poin seemed like he was fishing for one at a critical moment pin very deep to return again the wide serve very much available TFO tries to cross him up with the t- serve and here comes poppy up to the Baseline to attack well those are two confidence infusing points 52 TFO TFO for and eight of his nine winners have come in this set look at good mom time his fastest serve of the night for coer nine 53 one here and that's over the high part of the net out wide even more impressive typically your fastest serves come when you go right down the middle LED for service another one that's number six four of them in this set 63 je somewhere in the middle of the night probably in mon Carlo possibly in sovic is watching this and wondering where was that two nights ago thank you Ando a seven GES to six of this particular man they've helped develop 5 one of his coaches told me that the reason his Strokes are so funky like especially this forehand of his it's because he would just borrow rackets and they all play differently so he'd have to make adjustments at the last fraction of a moment we made it that went right into the photographer's pit on the Fly 550 no that's going to be some shot I'll tell you what's something unique to Francis his game is homemade it's his own style you know his backand looks like it could be in a textbook everything else is uniquely Francis and I I'd never noticed this I'd sat on the bench with him fortunate to be his Davis Cup captain for many matches teenager and I never noticed until Cincinnati I saw a slow-mo we recalling one of his matches for Tennis Channel and I watched his left hand and the way he takes the ball up I've never seen anyone do it before or since his palm is down you know they teach you to put your palm up to the sky and let the ball go watch his palm is down and he flicks the ball up and then puts Back Spin on it have you ever seen anyone do that before got to see that again it's you really have to know what you're looking for but you know just think put it this you you put your palm to the sky you gently caress the ball like you're releasing a bird into the sky he has his palm down to the court and he flips the ball up with his wrist releasing it pronating it and it puts backspin on the Serv he is a Great Ball Toss very consistent that's all that's all big F first game third six and many have tried to change H the left arm because it it folds oen for coin machines in the city watch poin bols it's traditional left arm straight Palm to the sky 50 Jim don't you think that's an important part of being a good coach realizing when something is very effective if you've got a good serve or good for and not tinkering too much with it no doubt no doubt about it if it if it's not broken don't fix it thir I have a look at a lot of the French players and in know they all play so differently I think that have a a great way of assessing imagine someone I would often imagine fabris Soro growing up in the LTA system if he had moved there when he was 12 you know very strong huge on technique the French have this ability certainly from from my eyes that some of their players most of their players play very differently and they're so good at recognizing what's a good fit and what's not it's a nation that is searching for their next major Champion like we are in the men's division here in the United States it's been a minute for them in the men's department too 45 you want to change something if it's limiting your player if it's not you can let it go it in coaching for the lake great Harry Hopman and I had only Juniors it and you're looking at you're looking at a grip that you think oh man this kid's never going to be able to volley with it yep but also you look at some funky forehand grip and you want to move it over but it's the kid's favorite shot that's that's the one he grew up with that's his best shot so do you do you don't you don't Tinker with it it's gosh you have to be so good and have you have to treat every young player differently no if they've got Steel in their spine that makes them stronger it makes them confident in their Strokes or if you know that if you push too hard you'll you'll break it you'll break it you could have believ that Coco go love 15 he's going to be thinking hard about the match he lost today with 19 double faults three of them in the last game and you know people like me we've been talking about our forehead and her sered for years now oh but when she keeps winning you she kind of gets gets away with yeah with her Strokes right got right schaz yeah I love this discussion Mary it fascinates me I think mental fortitude for me trumps all I'd like on that I think with could only have good technique or mental toughness Under Pressure i' take mental toughness with the average technique below part well there's some mental toughness required right now for tiao at love 30 got him in the chest not the nose sorry so good with a chance to get a little bit of good going in his Direction with triple break point L 14 yeah not enough width or depth for Francis Acres of space it's a more comfortable pass for the Aussie hold for leex papin leads two games to one needs a good start two sets love 15 look at that ball just knuckling down the line we talk about RPMs a lot who has the most spin on the forehands thead doal ande and TFO among the flattest ball Strikers off the backand and you just got to have perfect timing for that cuz Top Spin gives you the margin for error [Applause] 35 it's a Wimbledon US Open Champion right there world number one Hall of Famer Leon hwit current Aussie Davis Cup captain and my teammate alongside Todd Woodbridge in Australia for television for Channel 9 he is a phenomenal broadcaster what's he so good at he just sees the game knows the game knows and just he he not he doesn't tell the stories like you do Mary he just tells the viewer what they what they should be looking for within the match so it's a different skill set you guys would be great together yeah I like that guy yeah he's got a talented son who's playing tennis yeah Hugh 14 most of all Mary like you and like Robbie he knows how to pass the ball in the booth he a good teammate good Harmony game po one three now leads three games to one thir REM go to usopen.org you can watch live scoring you can revisit the draws the updated draws you can find out that demitro one in five sets today and he gets the winner of this match that Fritz dropped the first set to Casper Roode and one and four all that kind of stuff love 15 dialed in on that crosscore passing shot Robbie yeah he certainly is and again applaud Francis for asking the tougher question I like the patn of play and if they got be you off is weaker s too good but don't back down if you're Frances and if you're poing change a thing don't get funky with it keep it simple here he has momentum there's no reason to to mix and match just bread butter correct peanut butter jelly peanut butter jelly oh you know the assign been Alexa oh ah why' he do that with a swing by why he get poer a look Open [Applause] Water I'll tell you what he is shown us his full repertoire backand passes in this game couple of [Applause] crosscourt on a laundry line that final one [Applause] B 15 14 [Applause] 1 14 fastest of the night ffo won quicker than his previous that's [Applause] 132 and two break points have been erased one still on the table for po to grab a valuable Insurance break well well well I didn't know yanx made shovels digging himself out of a deeple there how often have we seen moments like this in sets and matches become turning points where the players on the brink of going up a double break pretty much think the the set will be done and dusted the other guy holds and breaks in the very next game and you're back on serve it's such a huge plot point in the outcome of a set what plac that serve ad pretty hard to yank a guy as tall as poern off the court like like that but he gave him that [Applause] forehand just saved this set for himself the leads three games to two third sets leads two sets we'll see if poer can stop the rot here and keep that break a serve in hand L 15 well you put that down as an unforced or a forced Miss by po forced that's an Fe that's an Fe as good as a winner 5 yeah I think m a little like assessing Aces and UNR returned first serves you can almost put them in the same category or carry equal weight the ball doesn't come back yeah nope 153 and PO is really needed to be bold in that second set that he lost track of and now here he's not bringing it his mind is muddled it's not it's not clear what he's trying to do all the time it's hard to be R this out there especially in a cauldron of pressure like this with opportunity on the other side of it [Applause] yeah you want things as simple as possible as a player so it's all about executing the shot not wondering which shot you're supposed to hit 143 the one spot that he does have Clarity is with his first serve he just knows I'm just trying to pick Corners off and win points and in Po in leads four games to two third and that will feel as good as the ace on the previous point no additional work [Music] [Applause] required look at the forced errors we've had our team do a little scribble grab on and you can see the impact that's a good reaction yeah trying to smile it off mhm I'll tell you the sound it made off of tiao strings when he hit it sounded awfully good so I'm going to say deserve to go over nice this is only the second time that Alexa poin has ever been on this court for his match against jokovic a couple of nights ago about 20 years before the actual match he walked out on here he said it was the first time he'd ever even been on the on Arthur rash just to get a gauge of how the stadium looked and how big it was now he's got a real good feel for the wheel people were cheering for him that night against jokovic very much cheering for this guy more now that one wasn't exactly melting into the strings 15 13 it's annoyed [Applause] off go really 15 14 he popping on these returns now [Applause] 52 leads five GES to two conf leads two sets to left [Applause] 50 left so at the stage of the set look at the top right corner time in the two hours 19 minutes about to go 220 likely to go into a fourth set now is when we wonder I wonder does TFO commit much energy into staying in this set here or does he does he just concede it save some energy considering he played four hours the other day and get ready to try and step on the throttle early in the fourth set I imagine if poin keeps making serves it doesn't really matter what he's thinking like that does have the the con but here we'll get a tell how much does Francis want to invest here full T15 [Applause] two game and F it po it in six G to two is on it way je two sets to one I called an awful lot of us opens with TFO will lead off with a two sets to one lead quarterfinals at stake for w the winner God I love this tournament [Applause] I'm growing fond of it myself tell you what if you don't like it you're pretty hard to please yeah let for service a let yeah I heard the L and I heard the machine go off so right no arguments there okay Tio learn his lesson from set three are the net approaches going to run through the forehand Corner this sad of poin cuz he paid a steep price trying to come in on the back back and 39 tell you what if he's having to make pickups like that it's a it's a tough choice [Applause] 3 15 that was a an absolute Ripper of a forehand great knee bend the hip rotation on that was magnificent coordination chain working magnificently 45 [Applause] G careful first game for set comes into this match with some very impressive serving numbers as TR for this week please [Applause] 15 so often the foundation of a game you serve well you play well TI for ninth and the tournament averages so far on serf service games one that is [Applause] the first two service games for both players in the set vitally important 4 remember was the second service game of tifo in that third set where he lost a little bit of focus got broken to love game in one g on for set Poppin trying to reach a quarterfinal at a major for the first time and if he does he's going to have some company there'll be another Australian in the quarterfinals Jordan Thompson will play Alex diar tomorrow and if he's able to join whoever wins that match that'll be the first time since 2000 with that two Aussies have made the quarters of a two males off of trying to join Taylor Fritz as a second American in finals there's a third American on play yonic Center tomorrow night that's Tommy Paul the 14th seed [Applause] work for everybody to do though to get there and isn't it our pleasure to watch these guys [Applause] work love it's not an easy backend return to execute down the line highest part of the net po done very well look at the last 20 points he's won 15 of them3 here comes a review right behind Francis to show that missed by couple inches but he got a good lick on that return did popper and he's seeing the ball well at the [Applause] moment and here's the the real threat he's starting to get a hold of the second serve Returns on taao struggled early with that wow Alexi would love to have this backand drop shot back France sword coming there so quickly got to the ball while it was still rising and he catches it right at the apex of the bound so he can be a little bit more aggressive with it bad choice by po and he doesn't have enough power on his his backand to intimidate TFO out of court position so TFO was still hugging the Baseline he stepped on the Jets and Clos the Gap quickly and closes the score Gap to 3030 [Applause] 43 bold stuff huh from TFO wow his first shot after the serve was magnificent to at least neutralize the point because it was a heck of a return from Alexi glued it to the Baseline again game careful ball pleas new balls carefully two games to one four sets and by by two sets to one good clean Vol there it it would highly entertain me personally to force Nadal to spend one change over in tfo's chair with all of that Madness around him can you imagine it might it might just blow his head right off he likes everything just so the bottles have to be turned perfectly that might melt him Robbie behave man oh a barely bounced 5 I mean this is fit a isk 3 [Applause] 15 21st Ace of the match for poern full T5 not only has poin got the height but he's got the width as well in his shoulders he is a very well proportioned tennis player get some nice talk with that shoulder rotation on the surve game puting didn't come in on too much foret po had plenty of time and the net cord helped him even [Applause] more very sincere apology sort of usopen.org we keep telling you this you can find out so much about what's going on in this tournament and what's ahead on all those social media 5 [Applause] love these shots aren't missing by much right small things can become big things in tennis make you nervous yes yeah Small Things become big things in your whole life but it's sure true in this [Applause] [Music] sport for Tempo momentum confidence shifts happen all the time that's a better approach 41 [Applause] never back three to two four sets and by two sets to [Applause] one you see you guys like strategery yeah that's what this look at this little dip and dive chip and then rushing up behind it knowing poin was limited with his options had to hit up on the volley and that was a well crafted first point of this game from francisk Alexi victimized with a short chip love 30 is that where did that come [Applause] from you think that first point he played helped earn him that second Point certainly added weight to the moment for poin who was feel intense 15 1 Francis guessed correctly he was in position for this shot and he didn't do what Po's done to him so frequently as of late and he knows it that should have been love 40 [Applause] normally a reaction after a double fault would be a soft second serve but you can't count on that with poer and he's been going big with his second at times this set Wow first roll on return to get that D and he was changed up 154 [Applause] 304 [Applause] [Applause] Co please after his 23rd Ace his eighth double F defitely it's four games to two and Francis chfo is in the [Applause] quarterfinal two double faults in that game he's indicating he's right this is is in in charge here and the the towel box just took a tumble cuz P just popped his foot picked it back up but he is flustered and feeling his chances slipping away in real time [Applause] ball missed by a whisker he's there oh he couldn't land the plan though lined it up perfectly Robbie well I tell you that's where the slightly quicker serve has bailed out the volley at Jim this ball at the last minute just skids enough to get out of the strike zone 3 15 it was subtle but I saw it right here in front of me only had to move an an extra inch or so [Applause] he didn't make it game point 15 two for 52 and this is when tiapo is at his most enjoyable this is what he likes best when he can follow his athletic and creative instincts thank you [Music] [Applause] please 4 [Applause] [Applause] and set it's five GES to two four sets and by two sets to one but here it is poin serves to stay in the [Applause] tournament love 15 [Applause] 50 no [Applause] 3 15 [Applause] full [Applause] T15 ninth double fault in this game 24th Ace in this game he's done some self harm in the set with that second serve as poin Tao meanwhile no double faults to set just one unforced error jez 10 winners game CH needs five G of three for six thank you please [Music] love [Applause] 15 David wit is just signal for a body serve here he got what he wanted 59 I popped up on the big screen that's a signal that's a signal for another one right there right into the chest he's calling for see if Francis saw him using his full skill 15 in that point wasn't scared to wits he's probably witz calling for another body serve it ain't broke don't fix it he thinks like it wonder what you ear nextx pointy what does that mean J it looks like he's Salt Bay and a stake to me but I think it's he's putting a little seasoning on but to explain it I'm not exactly sure but it is a signature move for him and he is at the moment now he's met the moment and here he is match points for the American saved by pin shaky on the volle there you get the feeling he wants that match to end up there into the body again [Applause] [Applause] pin's been generous in this set and at times of this match time for Francis to give a little there wasn't it there was a lot of deceleration going on on that backand J thank you [Applause] Advantage for pity [Applause] there's no question that these guys wanted but I believe the answer is both of them at this moment wanted to Too Much unable to deliver his pin with the very makeable pass his first break point of this set found the net who can forget the score and just play the the ball that's who's going to win this game great second s from T gives him a match point Advantage ch is this a one game s much who said 21 64 76 26 63 he's in the quarters you'd really like Francis if you got a chance to know him if only he would let us in God what a great man