Priscilla Hon vs. Aryna Sabalenka Full Match | 2024 US Open Round 1

first hle semifinal again and then last year final one set away from the title l oh love [Applause] [Applause] you can see with Priscilla she likes to take her backand quite flat and through the court whereas the forehand has a bit more drive on it bit more spin on it prefers her backand as we mentioned [Applause] 154 [Applause] [Music] [Music] okay so Andrea what when you were in Cincinnati you sit you saw it click to make a lot of first servs we saw right away what happens when you have to play with a second Surf and we'll see if she can keep it up with her surf plus one as well because if she can very dangerous player on the hard courts maybe the most dangerous [Music] [Applause] 30 l [Applause] and I assume the Cincinnati Court speed was right in her wheelhouse huh that was very fast there it was maybe the fastest Court I've seen in a long long time 15 very purposefully the USA these courts are not close to the speed of Cincinnati they are in the regarded as the medium fast range and she does that well Priscilla H she is not afraid of the net has a good transition game Sam ster likes it former US Open champion of course 2011 I believe yes 2011 and no surprise uh Priscilla Hans said the two players that she most looked up too as she was coming through the ranks Justine enan and Sam stoer yeah interesting yeah both also like to attack the net or used to do that when they were still playing out 40 30 [Applause] [Applause] wow you can hear the crowd reacting and pil a hung in there for about five shots that was some incredible Pace from both players absolutely stunning sa Lanka you saw it in that point again it astounds me she gets down in that incredible squat position it gets so low to drive the ball yeah she's a very powerful player and it's not only about the ground strokes when we say that about people and sabala's case it's also how powerfully she moves around the court 15 L out 30 [Applause] L let's for ser oh out and this right here is the danger of sabalenka game when you need the second serve just those first two shots of the rally if you can somehow neutralize those you are in an okay position but she really puts the pressure on you from the getg go Han got good depth on that backand SAA thought too deep yeah we saw that a few times with players are not neica wants to see it to believe [Applause] it h hits a nice spot there soards behind the baselines and that's where the shot clocks are tucked up in the corners of those boards out love 15 have you seen a player so from what I would say thoroughly conquer the IPS as sablan has I don't think so I think she might be I can't think of one myself that's why I'm asking you yeah I very is one that has gotten it under control really well but maybe they are the only ones where you almost cannot find a trace of it anymore you only saw it with zalena and she came back with that shoulder injury after Wimbledon she had to skip Wimbledon in Washington DC she had a few more double faults in her first match but eradicated them right after fairly quickly Manan not the biggest of stature and she took a whack at that serve 15 she does that really well I watched her last qualifying round match and on the second serve she really goes up to the Baseline tries to take the ball early risks a lot on those second serves and I think that's a good play against zalena here for [Applause] how about that placement it's pretty good not that placement I'm talking about the serve and it's such a good point that you're making Ted that they are only five days apart so they've known each other since the junior years and you could see sabalenka here attacking the forand side of Han over and over and over again it is the shot that she struggles on at times looking pretty solid so far s and Sanka threw the game for 3-1 all right follow the lead I did this earlier tonight Download the US Open app to follow your favor players score stats match highlights and new this year live 3D views of all singles matches you can get it on the Apple App Store or the Google Play Store the US Open app please thank you oh 15 it's the first time I've seen Han live and my first impression me she she rips at the ball impressed seems like she had pretty good speed on the racket well it has to be said she had a really really terrible hip injury that took her out for an entire year which she endured during the pandemic 30 and has been struggling with injuries on and off since she's had that onee hip injury so that might have contributed to why we haven't seen her earlier because she has got some game that's for sure and that pointed about qualifying and now it's a $100,000 first round fee significant for a player like this she's never been inside the top 100 and persevering through the injuries as you talked about at 26 they still give it a shot 4 [Applause] [Applause] out 403 [Applause] last for [Applause] out out there's a hold for Hans so first game break of serve for saena holding up right now [Applause] 32 so looking think about it sitting here for so many years the historic Stadium out 15 l [Applause] wow yes she made that no reaction come on Anon let a rip he's like please move your legs this was not good enough and she just made the most coordinated move movement in tennis being with your back to the court and still finding it and he's like yeah move your feet please come on we're not here for fun oh what a great play and I really like this Advance she is making here Han to take those second serves early sneaks in she starts right behind the Baseline and then sneaks in to try and take the ball early 4 15 [Applause] [Applause] sitting here trying to think about you know the great tennis history of Australia of course deonar is made himself a top 10 player this year on the men's side we know Ash bardy would be at the top had she not retired right now there's only one Aussie in the WTA top 100 oh wow which stunned by that darus savel who's not playing or sorry she has not played yet here darus savil is 97 right now only player in the top 100 out so you see Sam stoer sitting over there she's got to be thinking all right we got to we got to work on that here man she is so knowledgeable in the world of tennis Sam ster both the great singles and doubles player she has a lot of experience to share with these young players [Applause] out shot 1 15 [Applause] on [Applause] 14 [Applause] 15 now Priscilla Han has found her footing after the first game yeah absolutely she's doing a really nice job in trying to change the paces and The rhythms and I really like her service motion it's nice and quick very hard to read you can see right there that's perfect timing so again the difference right now is the break by sabinka in game one Arena sabinka has uh had to climb up the ladder to succeed in Majors out one set away last year 15 and so the obvious Focus for her this year is this the year and she clears the hurdle here [Music] good defending from Han but T that's what I really like and admire about sabalenka that she's never shy to talk about her goals she always talks about her aspirations and that she wants to win the title and I think I think that sends out a nice message to the rest of the field why she came to New York 1 15 [Applause] [Applause] out 4 15 [Applause] [Applause] continues to make strides on those second serves of sabalenka Priscilla hor it's the same Play We referenced how far inside the Baseline was she there GES three and that's what sabalenka does so well she's able to up the pace on her serf right she can surve safe but she saw oh Priscilla is coming in she's taking my second serve early I have to do a bit more and she put a bit more kick on it a bit more pace [Applause] L out 15 only the ninth Grand Slam match in Han's career we just saw somebody play his first and and push a top player 153 [Applause] [Music] out 15 40 [Applause] 30 40 [Applause] there was sabalenka for the finish so sabala breaks in the first game and then the final game of the set she takes the first 63 three semis and one quarter that's across the four slams that's impressive very impressive and that quarter that she lost she was very sick that was earlier this year this year right at rang garos at six of the last seven she's been at least in the semis yeah absolutely out 59 [Applause] and then again we you think back it's it's not that many years ago when that was the question was she was so good except she couldn't have it happen at the major she thrown that out the window now there's the classic subena big serf first shot plus one exactly I do think that she has worked on her all Court game a lot more more you will see her incorporate the slice appear at the net have a few more angles she will always be a very powerful aggressive player but those little details of an all Court game they just give her a plan B in case she doesn't have the best day in case she is missing a lot of first serves or ground strokes so she will just get better with time game first game second set all right first game took about 45 seconds and put a stamp on the second set and we saw or we spoke rather in the first set about what this means for a prahan just being here being able to qualify in it's also this only the second top 10 player she's ever played played SPID Alina six years ago in a match I was talking about Aussie women I think pcel Han is from Brisbane which will be an Olympic city in eight years so Olympic tennis will be there in eight years nice you've got to believe in Australia they're thinking all we need to make sure we have some players because we all know what a home country Olympics means kind as I very quick aside you of course Rec calling Olympic tennis yourself in Paris and the reaction of jokovic I think it's impossible to doubt its sincerity in any way what it meant Oh AB to bring that abely not for him but for his country I think anybody who has ever doubted that tennis players don't care about medals if they saw not only Novak chin when absolutely everyone I think you just saw it also how devastated Carlos alcaras was afterwards exactly well said yeah I think there might be players who don't want to go to play there it's not as important to them and they maybe weren't there but everyone who was there really left their heart out on the court that is a job well done by Han to manage to get to the net with somebody playing so aggressively as sabalenka is doing she's really showing her money's worth here Han and that she belongs on this kind of stage more frequent well that's a nice first response for Han after saena blasted through her game yeah to it [Applause] now 15 [Applause] [Music] left 30 l [Applause] and just beautiful footwork when it comes to adjustment steps those are the little steps you need to get yourself into a perfect position so you can strike the ball as hard as sabalenka does with enough safety and margin on it she does such a great job with those tiny little steps right before she hits the [Applause] ball man that's got to be you see [Applause] 15 that's a great question Ted and I've watched so many and called so many matches of her that I've made out a pattern and it's either the first strike players who play very similar to sabalenka like rakina or the players who are able to change the pace on her and Outlast her in the first two shots like the Coco gos the Shion karolina mova who has beaten sabalenka before twice I think even and they are able EA shch and C both have that heavy forehand that gets a little bit out of her Strike Zone there you go mova has the slice right and then rakina just can match her in the surf power in the first shot could AA Peno AA Peno she doesn't have a good enough serf I think to just hang with her as easily of course she can OA Peno can do anything I think anyone who has followed her knows that also obviously in the other half of the draw so that would eliminate the potential [Applause] here chin W also has that heavy forehand which is potential quarterfinal here and that's why I'm really admiring how KH has appeared on the court today because she has the right game plan in place she's trying to change the rhythm she's trying to change the height above the net the pace but when sabalenka is playing well on hard courts I do think she is probably the best hardcore player of all the women on tour right now [Applause] oh wow yeah Han hung in there at that point I mean it is you watch this kind of thing it's like watching the boxing I know how many body blows can you absorb you take yeah well if you remember last year's final that was exactly how Coco goof got that title she was running everything down until sabalenka and that's the only thing which makes her very good as well but that's her only sometimes little weakness she has no patience she wants it now and she wants everything at once and then some sometimes she rushes in those rallies saan and just when you think there isn't an extra gear sabalenka hits that shot saan leads games yeah it's a very impressive performance Priscilla Han is playing a very good match and it's all sabalenka [Applause] 15 [Applause] ow [Applause] 151 oh out 1 15 [Applause] oh 14 15 has incorporated that move a lot more this season sabalenka the transition to the net worked on it in the off season with her team you can see the roads diverging here a little bit yes yes you can out 40 30 [Applause] man this is I have to say mesmerizing to me and this humidity that she's playing without wristbands Arena she never has wristbands on that's good point yeah again the roof has been closed for this entire match there's a chance of light rain outside I can't tell you if it has because we're inside [Music] de oh sabil Lanka was certainly paying attention to the last match while she was awaiting and she knows don't want to give anybody hope [Applause] out de [Applause] from now the first serve is still what you'd expect she's lost four points on the first serve no oh yes nice he's making the most of it great hand there on the St strch take let's take another look yeah well done and this is where you can see that sabalan is not quite yet a natural net player otherwise she would have been much closer which leads me to the question that she have to be does she have to be a natural does she have to be a net player she doesn't know I think it's important for her game to have those transitions to the net because it will be much easier against players like Shion like G who moves so well to to end points MH without having to play them over and over again and you can see here what I was talking about earlier sabalenka sometimes loses patience and starts to rush in rallies and that's what she's been doing in the past few points something to keep an eye on it can she bail herself out whoa the first break point of the match and Hong Cashes in still alive sets and by one set to [Applause] line well let's see if priscillah H could back it up here and I'm I'm watching that point again your moment ago comment I'm watching Priscilla hun running things down staying in there yeah like you said a g that's the one thing that sabalenka needs to figure out for herself how not to how to apply controlled aggression what does that mean not rush wait for the right P right ball for the right shot to pull the trigger and sometimes she tries to go for too much from positions that are high risk and low percentage and against the best players in the world that becomes a problem or against the best movers in the world and Han is doing a really great job in hanging in there as you're rightfully said Ted now that was the perfect example there was not a shot to go down the line on it was very low it was off the court the angle was not there for it it was above the highest part of the net and that's just impatience let second Zone 14 15 [Applause] 43 that was a return winner all right that qualifies hard to believe she's only had two [Music] perfect absolutely perfect Well Done by both players really great point from Priscilla Han as [Applause] well and here she showed some great patience abanka and some great hands to go with it well this was 40 love [Music] and sabinka it's like 4 left said what the heck I'm just going to crush this and she's crushed a handful of these second serves four straight points and now a chance to break [Applause] and does it second serves Five Points I believe four of them were second serve returns yeah four return winners of the [Applause] ground man how do you shake that off of your hot from 40 love help [Applause] [Applause] out this might be the way sinka gives it back to you yeah she's had some weird momentum swings where she runs away with eight points straight and then just plays three four very loose ones not [Applause] 1540 [Applause] [Applause] 30 can't you do it again I I'm just sitting here thinking no way no way but with that serve percentage [Applause] de w oh that one see that one fly H her oh Han has a fourth try [Applause] [Applause] [Music] de [Applause] why in capital letters that was a brain freeze right there from sabalenka had the entire court open and built the point so well stayed so nicely in those crosscourt rallies until she had the short one de [Applause] [Applause] she just as every so often Andrea she just swings it a like I say I've had enough of this that's what it feels like watching it like that come on yeah and stop this yeah that makes for great points and it makes for games one after being down for the love but it also makes her go down for D Love in the first place oh [Applause] out well that was some combination she broke from 40 love and help from love 40 don't see that [Applause] often y Priscilla Han has had some moments in this second set where you thought you had a chance to be in the match and the two games that were just finished love stand apart from most others Han was serving at 2340 love and dropped her serve and then saano serving at of 40 and wind up holding for 5-2 5 again these moments have been so rare for Priscilla Haner 26 years old she didn't get through qualies in any of the three Majors earlier this year including her home country and she won her way into this main draw for the first time as a qualifier and she really showed why she showed some great tennis out there overpowered by sabalenka at times but really showed some all Court game tried to come to the net nice serving he trying to change the pace and Rhythm and she has done so successfully at times well you played sabinka said I'm gathering from your reaction it wasn't terribly pleasurable no she destroyed me in practice and matches no hard feelings Han gets the hold so now sabalenka has thees Clos to fall onto her serve trying to get the first of what she hopes are seven down pet goes pick 15 [Applause] oh out 30 [Applause] l oh 45 [Applause] there's the finish for sinka had to wait a while and then took care of her [Applause] business that was a up and down performance at times but mostly very solid and as powerful as we are used to from arena sabalenka for me personally the favorite favorite P go pick pet go pick that's what we called it and I think I think Ted I wonder what you think I think she really wanted to get this over quickly and that's by at time she was rushing yes I would totally agree understandable it is quite late and she won't be sleeping for the next 3 four hours that's for [Music] [Applause] sure and what a great match and what a great tournament for Priscilla Han here showed some real quality tennis and maybe a foreshadowing that we will see her more often on this stage oh that would be a hope and for sabalenka First Step again there are some really good players in her way but we're going to hear from her in just a moment thinking ahead you you look at that little draw Madison Keys potential fourth round Arena first round matches can be tricky especially when you're playing a qualifier who's coming in with matches under her belt what positives are are you taking away from this performance tonight well I think even though I didn't play my best tennis I think I was fighting for every point and I was trying to use the um kind of like any Strokes what which was working today and I was just trying to use it all and um yeah I'm happy that even though I didn't feel my best on court today I I was able to win this match in straight set especially against some her very tricky player um she played really aggressive great tennis today and uh yeah wasn't wasn't easy facing um her in the first round you had a shoulder issue earlier this summer and then got right back on the horse winning in Cincinnati was that time away helpful in terms of coming in fresh I mean yeah definitely there was much needed for me and I I take I took everything I could from that little p little little kind of like rehab time and um yeah hopefully it's going to it's going to play well for me and of course thank you guys for staying that late and uh thank you so much for all the support uh yeah it was really amazing playing in front of you all thank you Arena before we let you go the team Tick Tock game started well about a day ago you guys were in the gym getting some work done I need to know some more details who is the creative director who is writing the scripts and what can we expect the rest of this two weeks I mean um my Fitness coach definitely my fitness coach Jason is the creative one I mean guys obviously of course me I'm pushing them so hard I have their passport and if they're not going to do it I'm not going to give their passport back so that's the deal all right well we're following you on the court and on Tik Tok as well let's hear it one more time for arena saval Lenka