Clara Burel vs. Sloane Stephens Full Match | 2024 US Open Round 1

it does look like it's a kind of serve you can snack on yep and commitment there from son the very first point it to start from her with her intent and her movement and her willingness to step forward to her forehand it's her big weapon there and there's been matches where just hasn't been wanting been willing to use it claraa Burell had a good Junior career didn't she two major finals here and at the Australian Open she was a world's number one in 2018 and she said last year her goal was to get into the top 50 well she's done that this year playing here at 42 I started the year right around 60 in the world and always looking to just try to improve a little bit every year 15 14 okay that's a sweet start isn't it first game that's good movement from Sloan that's the other indicator you got to look when Sloan is playing how quick is she Off the Mark she's one of the fastest players out on tour when she uses her speed and that just underscores a uh the whole idea that if she uses her speed she gives herself those for hits fifth unseated player in the open area to win a major Sloan had come back from she was sideline that foot injury took almost a year out of her career in 2017 after she won the open the WTA named her the comeback Player of the Year Salon Stevens to when she came back at 957 in the world at Wimbledon even she was a little surprised she'd come so far and that year when she played Wimbledon may she really wasn't ready to play but she wanted to just get back out on tour and get some matches she missed the tour lifestyle and seeing her friends and playing matches and she really thought it would be until 2018 where she would kind of hit her stride little did she know it'd be about four to six weeks later EX shot what what a sliding the little forehead finding a great angle in the short Court she's got a lot of time out here and first loan when she does have a lot of time it's normally a good thing she doesn't like to be rushed and Clara barell early on here is just trying to make shots in at 305 45 G Stevens Stevens leads two games of love for set son's been busy off the court hasn't she she's just announced that she's got a new body care brand uh she's happy with that her Sloan seens Foundation it's based in Compton California this Foundation of hers it's obviously for the underserved Community the kids in compon and it's now in 20 different Compton schools they play Saturday tennis as well as uh School tennis over 100 kids have played for the Salone Stevens foundation and it's a nice sign seems like she's going to hang around the game even after she retires and her mom do a lot of work with her foundation and trying to grow the game and trying to expose the game to a lot of different kids that otherwise might not have the opportunity y let it's really hard to imagine how the 23y old Burell is going to create any tension in this match it starts with getting on the board kind of getting that nerve the nerves out of your system she's in an unforced erors m and zero winners so she's kind of playing tight making shots but trying to make shots but making errors at the same time 304 free love already night match at the US Open Steven Le ringing out for first set all right so we've talked about who you think is going to win on the women's side on the men's side he said who do you think your favorite is and I didn't really get to finish there please finish please forgive me I thought you were you were going Sabin I I think so okay but you want to see the other half of the draw play tomorrow first or I guess so yeah so many question marks around raka and her health has not been good I believe she only practiced one day canel her practices the other four or five days leading into the tournament she broke up with her coach she announced that a lot of us were happy about that but certainly given the form that sabalenka showed in Cincy she looked back to how she played in Australia she's been able to win two majors there so I think you are going Sab was abely right you I'm I I'm thinking she's the best hardcore player in women's tennis I mean as much as shant is clearly the best clayt player in women's tennis you know s lers won two Australian opens and I think she can win the US and the men really Le I believe alarz but to be determined to be I don't think I have to say it at seven 30 on Mond no I think I think you should we like commitment here you don't copy me again oh you don't okay then I'll go you know yeah I was so happy to see him win yeah wanted that more than anything worked so hard all right back inside Ash Sloan Stevens three love lead not 15 15 all what do you do M if you're in the situation that parella is in right now she's clearly overwhelmed out here yep yep and it makes her game look underwhelming 135 it's not like Sloan Stevens is coming in with a lot of confidence she had opening round losses in Washington and in C coming into the open yeah chose not to play in Cincinnati just recover and regroup for New York [Applause] 143 these fans here would love to see Sloan make another run so tough Mar when you come in though unseated Stevens Steven Le four game winner of this match plays the winner of Azarenka and staro DOA aarka has been struggling with a shoulder injury for the last couple of months is down an early break in that first set could be some room here for someone to room to zoom yeah to zoom okay and a reminder you can uh Download the US the US Open follow all your players and your scores match highlights all kinds of stuff on the Apple store and Google Play [Applause] Store and erotic in the house 2003 US Open champion last time an American male won a major barell trying to work over the Steven backhand there it just got impatient he's got a fun podcast hasn't he you were on that podcast he's a funny guy you you you held you gave him the business it was great 1 15 Sloan's also one of the executive producers of a series uh that's streaming Top Class tennis have you watched it we were part of it a bunch of my son's friends yeah in it and and I saw them around the tournaments trying to give a glimpse on how tough it is it looks imposs possible I mean it uh I I recommend to to look for for it uh and Sloan was a big part of it it's called Top Class tennis and um following the lives of what is it four Juniors as they're trying to make that transition from the junior circuit to the pros correct and I'll tell you what it looks like a moonshot oh man it's going from bad to worse out here so far for Burell just feel like there's nowhere to escape when you're not playing well on this court no drama in this five games for the first five love in 16 minutes yikes e for time thank you sloon serving for the set now 15 oh she seems to have found that mix so far about being aggressive but also using her speed to make shots at certain times that's Sloan really at her best she when she one here when she got to the final of R Longos she was playing both offensive and defensive tennis very well at times it it seems like she's been confused which style to play she can she can actually do both so well and at age 31 Lindsay as easy as she's making this game Look Tonight is it a matter of dark doubt that she'll ever be where her game used to be never want to counter out but Bell that's the last word that's great speed from Burell great little get here from Sloan Burell saw that coming [Applause] 143 the question is does SLO want to get back there yeah maybe I should be directing that to her no but it comes from the effort and the energy and the willingness to do the work that is required these days to be a top 10 player [Music] snacks up that opening game in a [Applause] hurry 15 that first set was what 20 two 21 minutes important game for Burell here now 30 [Music] [Applause] 15,000 yes good y 13 14 game Stevens new boss please first game second set it's it's packed here tonight and yet it's very quiet because again there's no there's no tension in this match haven't we opened uh other us opens on Monday night with yeah bigger shows maybe or yeah yeah that didn't do that this year some dude start it feels like yeah it really is what a huge hit fan week was 20 was it 40,000 amazing fans came through the gates free admission used to be uh one of the best kept quote Secrets right with qualifying matches and players practicing now it's a it feels like an entire its own tournament it's it's a three-week event Now isn't it it's uh the has done an unbelievable job making fan week so special about 15 what do you do here if you're Burell if you're in her Camp it's rough I mean she's she can't hold Ser you feel terrible out there as well there's nowhere to hide N first stop image [Applause] 135 30 y 14 1 now again Stevens Stevens leads by two games to second set this is where you start pulling out all your nonsensical facts okay I love it we need one come on I think I'm going to tell you something about slen Stevens that you're not aware of okay she's married to Josie alador you know that s okay and you you know she's got a new body care brand okay just told me that she's a beekeeper what a beekeeper she keeps bees in her La home and you're probably thinking to yourself well how much honey has she harvested of course about 15 110 pounds in this her first summer Harvest and she jars it herself that's where this match has taken me how did you read that you don't believe it I do that's pretty amazing yeah she doing the bee thing I on the Beckham documentary he was doing it as well you watch that yeah I did say that like do you do the bee thing who doesn't these days the leech family does not the Lee family does not [Applause] 154 30 40 the first three kind of easy points Burell has been able to win oh got the net and stayed in Stevens Le three games to love second set but one set to slone is playing well but I mean she's playing it's absolutely drama free this I mean this is she's playing well but the the match is a s and that's too bad but what does that mean I'll tell you what it means more facts no come on my fact is that Novak jokovic the number two seed and fourth time US Open champion is very much warmed up cuz he's on this court next against the qualifier from mova R Albert I mean cuz this is this could be over in what 45 minutes man you said I mean it's certainly been a clean match from Sloan serving at almost 80% for the match first serves in she hasn't had to do much no she hasn't it's been playing out here in a night match in this Arena that just seem to overwhelm the French woman how long does it take to not be overwhelmed when you're when you play have to play on a court like this in front of this many people does it take a set normally before you I it also takes getting on the board right kind of settle the nerves but it's it's a different type of court it's much bigger than the normal tennis Stadium it's much louder than the normal tennis Stadium she's faced no break points Sloan Stevens and she's broken five times 15 I like the combination from Sloan and no in the house tonight Vang sitting next to her SL when she was in the top 10 and making runs at Majors it was the forehand there yes and at some point along the way she she stopped looking for it and I loves her tennis so does Vera yeah a lot of yeah we have celebrities mcky mucks biggie on the go on this opening night USDA Foundation has their big event I believe Monday night oh yes in the president's that's right box yep Chrissy Evert has been such a big part of that for years now I went right off off the line you got to try and get on the board here if you're Burell oh that's nice that's a best shot of the match there Here Comes her first chance to break [Applause] it [Applause] is come on give him a little smile a little wave was that I that was her first game point exactly exactly oh boy another reminder usopen.org Point BYO live scoring and highlights real time stats draws just go to usopen.org [Music] [Applause] head forer I have to admit that I've been watching on another screen where the 35-year-old Victoria as a rank of the 20th seed here has dropped the opening set of her first round match and she's needed she's in a bit of distress she's needed on the last change over she got looked at her blood pressure taken so we'll have to keep an eye on after she dropped that first set had the doctor out as well the winner of this match plays the winner of as a rank a match and right now is looking like the player who just might get through that one yeah exactly she's from Ukraine two-time finalist here is Azarenka two time Australian Open champ former number one that's a nice looking drive from Clara 30 y 3040 I go this it and Stevens another break Stevens leads four GES a one second set let me ask you let me ask you one more thing about not about this match but about Sloan's game it's that much different I mean the the big difference is that she was willing to move harder and use her forehead that's the S I mean that's get back aable or not I guess guess it depends on her definitely get back aable is that a word okay um it's just been a struggle for her and the motivation and I don't know if it is being on tour for so many years or just playing so many tournaments every year uh but we know that there's more in her and we know that we've seen her best and yeah it's impressive it French Open final as well against talb she's six points for winning that that was an unb that was a great match that would have been two majors in about what 10 months n months it's also married woman with a beautiful stepson at home you know there's a lot going on with her foundation be be not 15 go [Music] [Applause] yes 5 on that doesn't happen very often because Sloan first serve percentage has dropped a bit these last couple of service games at one point it was up above 80% now dropping below 70 normally gets very good margin and consistency on the serve both first and second just a little bit out of rhythm though right now with the first first and a 15 14 little opening here for Burell this would feel nice for her kind of any game you were able to get on the scoreboard at this point feels like a victory [Applause] Stevens leads four games to two second set May what do you think of the fans being l in after every game good love it you yeah I don't think there have been that many complaints so far there's got a taste of it also in the 1,000 event in Cincinnati yeah so the fans don't have to wait every other you know on the changeovers to take their seats uh the ushers of course will do their ushing make sure there's not movement during the points but I think it's it's terrific that's sure something the players have to get used to right y moving forward then it starts right with baby steps [Applause] 15 1 using more shots now feeling a little bit more comfortable with some of the field shots using her movement a little bit better e [Applause] this 40 30 the longest points of the match so far and Sloan gosh Mary she was there in plenty of time but ran forward with the slic grip in the one-hander if she wouldn't have been better off moving forward with the intent of trying to drive the two-handed back in she got caught though had no choice no options because of how she ran up to that short ball quick error there from [Applause] perau for [Applause] Advantage some nice stuff from the 23y old French woman that's a tough shot to hit this score line and with how she's played sl's Camp there just encouraging her to try and get through this as quick as possible is up the pace on the shots she's moving quicker feels like SL just as gotten just a little passive and barl just given a little bit more time here oh that's great start clar burrow the 23y old French woman has successfully complicated this second set second set time [Applause] [Applause] they [Applause] [Applause] 15 now down 39 14 L if you're wondering why we're doing a salute to claraa Burell right now it's because we've lost a little bit of power on this court I understand we're working on it FL has played a good game though she has okay that's good news and she needed that hold after being up set in 4-1 losing just a little bit of focus there and now back five games three couple of chances here she has a chance to break for the match and a chance to serve for the match [Applause] 15 up yeah y [Applause] y 1 up [Applause] break down the barell game for strokes it seems like I have to she's playing a much better second set we got to we got to give her her props she's hitting bigger she's moving better and some pressure on sleep Stevens here now was a complete route now at 6054 can Stevens serve it out mayor can we even see Stevens in the next game we'll find out [Music] [Applause] [Music] much much [Music] from [Applause] who no no we're having a great time have a great time up here there all right again we're trying to work on whatever's happening go see SL now hey wait a minute we have a slow sting yes this is good Sloan Stevens the same camera man I know I'm just trying to you know add a little Zing to this thing let's see if she can get out here in this last in this game get off the court jokovic up next this starts to get a little bit more interesting [Applause] now really here to play came up with a couple of great shots there Mary couldn't see it but ended with a great backand up the line I used to do a lot of coaching uh when I was when I was younger and I used to tell kids if I if I wanted them to learn something from a a certain player I'd see watch how they move just watch one half of the Court just watch one slide well that's what we're doing here [Applause] oh that's the backand eror May and all of a sudden can you believe it we are a point away from this second set being all square at one point we were wondering if if Burell was even going to get a game yeah I'm it's over an hour now it was [Applause] 90 G seconds 90 Steven serving 3015 up a double break and cruising to what could have been a love and love Victory and Burell a lot of credit when she started when she got on the board mayor she really settled down yeah and now she's playing the tennis that we knew she was capable of hey this is a better shot here we go see we're back and just in time this is done now starting to get a little bit of a stress time for Stevens is her aunt and her mom watching this get complicated where'd you go we knew for a while there we couldn't see her but now that we can see her just flat footed just not Dynamic enough huh it's all nerves right you haven't w a lot of matches and you don't come in with a tremendous amount of confidence and the lead Slips Away you start hoping t [Applause] 135 go [Music] 14 15 go no can hear Stevens Tamp telling her good change giving some variety to Burell trying to draw some errors right now as aranka has leveled her match Mar after looking like she might not continue she won that second set 61 yeah about this Le six games to F second set first set [Music] Stevens go you boy we were talking about how Novak jokovic has to be warming up in the locker room ready to go I'm not so sure that was a crazy change M from again 90 603 to 6041 to now being down 56 and just playing nothing like what we saw in the first part of this match she let Morell back in didn't she closing the roof rain is on its way right there is a big time little cell C ploud coming through and going to be arriving and yes they have started to close this roof they will play as the roof is closing that is it's so high the RO it's really right theyed it down yeah I know it's uh it's so high up that it does really bother any of the sight lines of the players thought we're going to get through day one with no rain there but it looks like we're [Applause] not thank you ladies and gentlemen about 15 really seeing the kind of craziness of the emotional part of this Sport ohow and he hits the line the two worst feelings right being down so badly you just are embarrassed Burl fought her way back and then having a lead like sl's had and watching it go away 6041 to are we going to have a third set it looks like possibly oh man and Lindsay you've heard me use this expression time and again you some players just have fangs you know they don't let stuff like this happen but it looks like stuff like this is just about to happen set points for verell Wow [Applause] yikes now 15 yes 15 on that for 15 what do you do here May if you're in the Stevens Camp how do you kind of snap her out of this first service it's become such a flat match from Sloan that I mean if they wanted to coach her they could she could hear them easily I mean we we keep hearing Bell's coach let's see if hitting out a little bit helps in that first set Stevens had five winners only six games 21 minutes I believe set number two 12 games just six winners just stop swinging stop going after her shots small fist P from sow first game the final sense I just feel like there are matches where she grows too calm like I got this under control and you thinking are you sure honey right yeah doesn't show a ton of emotion no if I could play like her I would be emoting all over the place but again she she led in that second set uh as it grew longer she allowed Burell to take the offense and she as you say that that combo player of offense and defense that H her win the US Open in 2017 she's lost that mixture but a nice break to start the third it's got to help about 15 you can hear them telling her work yeah I think that was her mom yeah it sounded like s trying to encourage her [Music] that's a good foot speed there from slow getting up to what could have been a tricky short ball she's got a nice preset Rec of late Sloan she's won five of her last six she's 10 and five in three setters here get these New Yorkers back on your side so something to cheer about like that last forehead there the last time she played a three set match was an early May a couple of thre Setters in Madrid seems to have rided the ship here early in this third set Stevens leads two games to love final set get and look to get forwards okay come on active with your feet here we go coach encouraging Sloan to look to move forward that's where she was playing her best tennis in this match M she hasn't really done that in the third Burell maybe that break between the second and third sets kind of threw her off a little bit and move your feet he said that's the thing when she doesn't play well she looks like too relaxed right you want to see the giddy up F out that was a more forceful point for SLO that was not the case in the second part of that second set [Music] [Applause] [Applause] Clara Burell has become much more active stev final she's moving her feet she's staying close with Sloan Stevens in this final set okay so claraa Burell had wrist surgery in 2019 in the springtime in May and it ended her season these days with the aggressive two-handed back hands and the grips it could be either wrist that that blows yeah I had problems in with my left wrist and you're righty yeah but I used my left wrist quite a bit on my backand Believe It or Not unlike you and yeah so why did that take the whated the no I don't know almost had surgery and then instead casted it up for two months wow and I ironically actually got better a became a better player during that time because I practice the whole time what do you practice running around trying to use your forehand more had a lot of time spent on my Ser lemonade out of lemons yeah absolutely and then what happened when you came back did you start winning matches yeah I and my backend got better I I mean my my wrist got better luckily the back was a natural shot so got to try and do your best with the injuries that we saw Dominic team really never recover from his wrist surgery right never was the exactly the same as he was before no and the Wild Card lost pry easily today didn't he and I think he might play one more tournament in Austria but um I think his Grand Slam career is over yes for sure 15 point s was a great example of SLO not really moving with any urgency served and took one big step to try and fight off a deeper turn Dominic team winner here four years ago with the US Open that really nobody saw exactly no fans good stuff from from clar BR Allen team said he gave a nice obviously after he lost he was still interviewed he said I had my greatest success of my career on this court he said when I won it in 2020 none of you were here because it was a covid year so I'm glad I can spend the last match on this court with you to say thank you for all of you F out [Music] now remember when I thought this match could go 45 minutes look at this look at the clock there that was it 21 minutes after that first set not much more after a three love lead [Applause] yes 15 14 [Music] hand flies on her she she gets a little flat footed and things could go wrong final seconds [Applause] red first service goodness Mary y she had a couple of different shots there that maybe she could have put away Burell doing a nice job of scrambling staying in Sloan does not like to hit overhead she almost always goes to the swing volley there went to the overhead Mir we probably won't see another one of those no yeah 5 on here go 15 [Applause] 1 four nice energy here from Sloan after losing two games in a row though but couple of opportunities here to get back up a break in this third set 1 14 [Applause] imploring SLO to get this point right some energy Stevens leads by three games to two final set no no no I don't think so [Music] water [Applause] good time [Applause] thank you let's see if Sloan can Digger in here there and take advantage of being up a break she has been up a break numerous times in the second set and the third set service numbers got way down [Applause] 39 so just jumping on that short she just feels more locked in BR than Stevens doesn't she at least mentally up 14 [Applause] second serve Mir just going in the middle of the Box short just over 70 mil hour has to kick that one more got to really accelerate on contact go yeah that Miss deserves a throw wasn't much of a throw that throw didn't have a lot of follow through St now up for two okay here we go come [Applause] on so when you're in the locker room Lind and some not there anymore but okay you're in a locker room and a match is dragging on yeah and it's not the highest quality thing you've ever looked at but and you wanted somebody to win but now they've complicated things do you just Che I mean do you just want the match to be over you sto cheering for your friend waiting to play yeah you're waiting to play do you turn on your friend who you wanted to win the match if it meant you were going to get on ear or is that two person I mean you know me probably I was so hoping you'd say I was so hoping you'd tell the truth nice I mean I'm not Novak jovic had any skin in this match I'm going to guess a hard no but he just wants it to be over at this point that's what I'm guessing again just too casual on a shot that well struck by barell [Applause] 1 15 I think also when you're dealing with night matches and starting times it's the end time that starts to really kind of spook some of the players yes so if you're not starting till 10 or 11 you start panicking about finishing at 1 or two that go one well you see that you see Bell's coach he's got a hat he wants the match to go on he see that see that it says papou I this match has been so bizarre I actually looked that up I Googled it it seems like it's a a skin care line developed by The Rock Dwayne [Music] Johnson papa is what he's called his daughters and Tu is what his grandfather used to call him there you go I kind of want that now that you've got granddaughters may I think Moana 2 and the live action Moana are coming out I know you'll see him as Maui yeah exactly right and I could be Mama to goes on there's [Applause] Papa Games three final set you [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Music] there we're in for an exciting ending out here of the rest Stadium Court opening night bring it Lind keep going come [Music] onak jokovic awaiting to take the court waiting in the wings that gold medal final he played that gold medal match against alcarez it was unbelievable a guy who who won three Majors last year I see this kid figures this match is almost over he wants to get that that big tennis ball of his this is when the kids start moving down they think it's over are you sure Novak hadn't won a tournament this year after winning three Majors last year and then he won the one that me that means the most to him the gold in [Applause] Paris thank you 15 sure that Novak was going to be able to do it after getting injured at roling garos needing surgery humongous feat of getting to the final at Wimbledon but when how he lost to alcarez no one was sure could he switch back to Clay yeah what effect would that have 15 on by the way 20th seed Victoria Azarenka after looking really distress in that opening set she looks good now yeah 5-1 in the third for [Applause] her 15 1 [Applause] Sloan has been told we can hear from her her box that she's being told to mix it up mix it up but that one wasn't enough of a mix high but shortell is is moving quite well out here lengthening these points 30 [Applause] 3040 and his fans are pleading pleading [Applause] that's the one she's waiting for a bit advantage [Applause] The Clash for four games on the final [Applause] ATT 20c via Azarenka off the court a winner 35-year-old can still play some good tennis [Applause] again the winner of this match May yeah will take on as aanka in round two about 15 biggest noise of the night coming right there now 30 yeah barell opting for the drop shot may but Steven so quick Off the Mark that beautiful fast First Step able to get forward in plenty of time after get forall barell first backhand error double fall misplay drop shot and Sloan chances to get up a break [Music] again 154 [Applause] one more game slow finish this up no offense to clar Burell but the length of this match has exceeded its entertainment value [Applause] [Applause] [Applause] go [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] time [Applause] [Music] [Applause] so bring it home SL serving for the match uh it's a good thing the roof is closed because it's raining on the outside courts [Applause] 59 that's good again the great speed from slow getting up to the drop shot but Burell able to reflex that back in play [Applause] [Applause] 15 1 watch [Applause] oh wide is some speed around the court from claraa barell 154 [Applause] one of them there 30 40 and again that serve just at 96 it's been a struggle to break a 100 tonight for Sloan of course it's [Applause] 51 five games on Final set hey hey [Applause] hold up [Applause] 15 now go 13 out he [Applause] forell done a masterful job of turning this match completely around but not only in the second set but also in this third set this would be your first lead of the whole match 65 in the third embarassed after that first set in the half Lindsay and now look at her um 6041 down two love in the third down 42 in the third down 54 yeah break in the third she now is one game away from winning this match this is going to be a a tough loss to take if you're slown if she does indeed lose either this next game or the tie break yeah give it give it up for the 23-year-old barell who was able to [Music] [Applause] acclimate this match now over the 2hour mark But now she's got to close that's a different ball game and slan has struggled with that pressure tonight let's see how how barell handles [Music] it tell you what papouille has to be [Music] [Music] prep time [Music] we'll be getting some energy from the crowd at this [Applause] [Music] [Applause] stage Clara Burell has broken surf seven times can she do it for an eighth time four La [Applause] 15 four that's not the shot to go for 15 that stage after winning so many points in a row is that seven or eight points in a row just missing a second serve return not making Stevens play there Burell might regret that one St may this was a player that was a deer in headlights yes after about 30 minutes down 90 heck of a mental effort to be able to turn this one around Let It Go [Applause] 154 after 2 hours and 5 minutes it's a match point for cloud oel of [Applause] France second he says to one 5 6 75 [Applause] 75 look who showed than oh boy that's a big moment for clar barell we're in a mix of shock and sadness for SLO