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exactly what he went through probably had some family pressures put a put upon him as well didn't handle it to um kind of they were trying to maybe direct him into a a different vocation all all together um but you know he's now doing something that he loves and he's getting a a joy from it playing on this big stage for the first time 0 And1 lifetime in Slam main draws get a wild card to the Australian Open back in 2021 let's talk a little bit about his opponent tonight Carlos alar mentioned of course winning the title a couple years ago listen it it's not happened very often where he's lost consecutive matches but that's what we've got right now for Carlos obviously losing the Olympic final and then that tough loss to m in Cincinnati so much talk about the racket Smash in in that one I think we probably need to let him have a little bit of leeway there cuz considering he's been so emotionally mature over the years I'm going let that slide but first let's actually hear from from Leu and Nick curios right now pre-match interview I was feeling pretty good 5 minutes ago uh about 10 seconds as she counted down the nerve started kicking in a bit so yeah I'm just going to I'm looking forward to getting out there um and just one opportunity and just yeah give me it my all so I'm not too sure that many people know but you've you know blasted through qualifying three good matches under your belt do you think you've got what it takes tonight with the momentum to take down Carlos alarz it's a big question it's a big question you know I'm not I'm not delusional you know I know I'm not the favorite but you know what I'm just going to go out there try and give him three four five sets of hell and you give give him my best shot good luck out there thanks Carlos you had a bit of an injury scare earlier in the week but you've had so many good memories here are you excited to walk on to that beautiful Court one once again well uh yes obviously I'm so excited to to get out there once again you knowas not you know the best one in you know in all all sports so uh yeah I've been practicing while I think I'm I'm I'm ready to to play a good ten but uh yeah I'm I'm excited to to feel the the energy from the crowd in us once again so it's not always easy versing someone you don't know much about um he came through qualifying so what are you going to focus on out there today to get the best out of your game well uh yeah it's uh it's not easy you know to start the tournaments playing against someone that probably I've never watched it before uh but I mean he qualified from the qual uh winning great great matches I think you know he's playing a great a great tennis but I will try to to be focused on my on my own game uh obviously the first the first set I'll see how it's going to be you know his game uh his weapons you know his weakness uh and try to to be focused on on you know every s and uh but uh the main the main thing for me is try to be focused on myself good luck champ thank [Music] you so the walk-on begins to the tunes of the Bey boys seminal 1995 album ill Comm sabotage CL Henley handling the introductions tonight on Arthur as [Music] [Music] Stadium andace the 2022 US Open Champion Carlos alide so Carlos alaras heads out on to court I I made a hip-hop reference so I think it brings in Mark Lucero into the discussion a guy who loves The Hip Hop nearly as much as I do and Mark uh of course the Beasty Boys a New York classic and and you know Carlos aladas already a New York classic already in his fourth US Open appearance what does he bring to the table today and we heard Nick curios mention a little bit of an ankle tweak earlier in the week you know everywhere I look right now Mike there are people with their cell phone cameras out snapping pictures of Carlos alarz you know the fans come out for Stars this is a star driven City and the energy down here court side is electric and Mark listen when you have just that little tweak of an ankle as caral alarz had I think it was Thursday Friday in practice actually left a practice session early what have the last couple of days been like and and if you're the coach's shoes what are you kind of looking for the first couple of moments when he gets out on court tonight yeah you want to see if he's hesitant at all I think about last couple days they're probably trying to manage it and then maybe the day before test it just a little bit but you're going to take a look at how he gets in and out of the corners and if he's moving with no hesitation you're going to feel pretty good as a head coach Mark it's marck um hey Mark um you've been in this situation when you've had players go out onto this stage and they're coming up against a mar name the what were the words what words would you be using to try and guide lead to through such a match at the end of the day you want to make it about the tennis but you can't really gloss over the reality of what the situation is going to be for Lee 2 you talk about it you you pick his brain see what how he's feeling and I think one of the big things that coaches can do is making sure they get a few reps you know warm up on the court or maybe practice on ash before the match the day before just so that when you walk out there you're not feeling that feeling of paralysis do you think that as a coach and and he's here with Ben Milner who is uh his longtime coach from Adela as well do you think that they've discussed the idea of winning because we as tennis players when you walk out there the goal is to win the match but do you think to try to put it in perspective that that maybe you it is to just go out and use this as an experience for Lee 2 or do you think that maybe they you you would have spoken about actually how we go about beating Carlos alcara yeah I I think you have to talk about winning the match you have to talk about being the best version of lead to that you can be and if you execute certain tactics certain plays that might you know put alcaraz in bad situations then you have you're in a position to win the match but if you just talk about winning in a general sense then you probably put the cart before the horse Mark we're going to let you get settled in here because I know you just came off of calling deonar and and gon as well but I I'd be remiss if I didn't ask you while we have an extra second here Shelby Rogers uh later tonight you obviously spent a lot of time with her over the years potentially her last match tonight just talk about Shelby and what she's meant to you and and American tennis over the last couple of years you know she's meant a lot to me we shared a lot of experiences you know a lot of ups and downs together we went through a lot of things um I am excited to see her get the opportunity to play out here in her last US Open I'm going to stay for that match and she's been a professional in the way she's gone about her career and so I'm I'm super happy for her I'm I'm thrilled that she was able to make it back after her surgery in 2017 I mean this city of New York is you know it's where she had surgery it's where she did a lot of her rehab so it's a special place for both of us and you know it's just it's neat to be here all right Mark is going to be giving us that Courtside feel throughout the night for alcaras and two which is coming up in just a couple of minutes you are listening to us open radio presented by American Express [Music] [Music] [Music] get ready for the next unbelievable moments This Is Us open radio presented by American Express my mark Woodford Mark Lucero is Courtside Forest Gil gross is roaming the grounds as well as he is want to do he he does a good job of the the roaming he does kind of sneak in and and I see Prim was doing some a little early for us as well indeed yeah got a couple of Rovers for us this year on US Open radio presented by American Express listen we mentioned tanasi konakis what a win for him over sitas his best Grand Slam win another young man again I I talk about the four of them Leu Kubler konakis curios all coming out at the same time and I think we all kind of had that expectation they would all potentially be top 50 players konak is another one who's just been beset by injuries over the years good to see him have a big win here today it was awesome I just saw him in the in the hallway as I was making my way over for tonight's match and and he was ecstatic actually I didn't really talk to him about his match I was actually talking footy with him cuz he he he Barracks cheers for a different team than what I do uh and so the finals are happening back in the AFL in Melbourne so we were really discussing that and then I threw in oh by the way great job today was he okay with that of course he was yeah he's a competitive guy he does like his footy he's he's always got his eyes on other sports as well he does he does actually there there is it was a quartet there was a quintet there was a fifth player in that group as well and his name was Jay andrich and he never actually he stopped playing um qu earlier Lee 2 stepped out of the game y Jay andrich was hit with injuries unfortunately and he had a tremendous game that that fivesome that group of five boy they hit the ball really well at uh in their teenage years and we always talk about it just that idea of and listen we talk about with the Italians as well right how much they have all pushed each other the Americans of Tommy and Riley and Taylor and Francis how much they've all pushed together it's important I think to have that kind of group to work together it that that team mentality and you know even though there can be that a little rivalry but it's friendly nudging of each other thank goodness for me and that when I started traveling over in Europe that I was in a team if I had to do it on my own or with one other person I don't think I would have survived Mike it's just I think it's really important if if you have that opportunity in this sport to travel with a a buddy a friend um a doubles partner whatever that I would encourage that definitely Carlos alaras has has spent a lot of time with his brothers traveling with him over the last couple of years obviously as well as a massive team one Callos Ferrero trainers Fitness they they've got the whole group yes I mean you can fill an entire private jet with his his team family yes they do they're they're not flying on Delta anytime soon I don't think certainly not in premium economy I meanwhile I'm on the other hand premium economy are you kidding me lead 2 is going to be serving first here out on Arthur as stadium has never played a top 50 player in his life big step up in class here tonight serving from the near side both guys sleeveless numbers tonight we're ready for play here on Arthur rash Stadium two to serve serve is just long going T crowd just continuing to file in it is a mad house out there on the grounds of the Billy Ching King national tennis center second serve good alcarez back in to a two one-handed backand comes up short now two goes back into a volley alcarez into the corner two running forehand slips and it's into the net it's low 15 and already the professionalism of alare I'm not sure if he won the toss and elected to receive but it if that was the case smart move to uh have the Australians serve first well aware no doubt he may not have be of knowledge of how he plays but he knows that it's first experience on this court yeah definitely wants to apply pressure in the first couple of minutes and just see if the veteran here if the two of them can handle it second serve for two to an alcarez backand two backand alcarez runs around big forehand two forand to an alcarez four and cross two goes forand cross with depth rolled back by alcarez two foran inside out to an alcarez backhand cross two one goes to an alcarez backhand slice running forehand from two alcarez goes forehand up the line backhand slice from two into the bottom of the net and it's love 30 very quickly and a a heavy ball striking rally that we just saw and and that's the difference for Lee 2 tonight is not having played against a top 50 player he's recording that against top 100 is two wins six losses the ball is going to come back and back over and over serve is good to an alcarez for and cross who was a ser and volley and that's a clean return winner for Carlos alarz who has three break chances and interesting that on his left quad or hamstring adductor is still some tape for alcare even though it was his ankle that he had an issue with in practice correct it's a break chances two with the serve toss goes up serve out wide is a good one in behind it short forehand misses wide from Le two first po four points of the match go to caros alcarez a three seed with a one love break lead and if we can we'll bring in Mark Lucero there and and mark that seems to be kind of the worst case scenario for the Aussie doesn't it yeah I mean the challenge is can he keep up playing at this Tempo all night both guys were standing pretty close to the Baseline the tempo was fairly quick can Le to keep that up and in that game it looked like he had to do something really special just to win points from the back of the Court Le 2 does have Ben Milner a guy he's worked with for a long time his wife is here here as well Kim got married in 2022 and you know it's great for them to enjoy this experience together collectively after everything that they've gone through over the last couple of years and certainly aware of the challenges here tonight but yeah to be able to share this with family so important well all of the for for Ben he he has limited experience of of being in amongst this Grand Slam Tournament as well so new territory and hopefully it it doesn't uh well they they don't get blown away by this particular uh occasion The Experience yeah no doubt alcarez from the near side serving one love serve is just long trying to go body Pini and andrescu have just taken to the court over on Armstrong we're definitely going to be calling some of that one second serve alcarez good to a two backand alcarez four hand cross two goes big four and cross alcarez four in up the line to a two back in back up the line alcarez goes forand to the Corner chip backed by two alcarez in behind it drop shot two on the Run Red dropper is good and it's love 15 Lee two is on the board so important to get that just one point one game and just kind of get yourself into this match even down a break now building blocks you you start with you hope that you can win your first service game if it's not then you just start with individual points trying to build your confidence so L 15 forward the three seed little fist pump there as well two serve good to forand off of the Racket and somehow backwards for 15 all alaras this year 38 and8 titles in Indian Wells leros Wimbledon bidding to become the third man in open era to win roling gal Wimbledon and the US Open you want to take your shot at the two other men to do that serve is just long trying to go into the body two men in the open era one of them is jovic no are you sure you haven't got your glasses on second serve is good two is in behind it chip in charge and alcarez makes him pay the big forehand pass to hit the ground on a full dive stretch for that volley was a bit of a kamakazi approach wasn't it off the return of serve he was at least halfway in to the service line going to leave a little bit of in out there on the court quite literally there Lee 2 so 315 here as alarz looks up into the stands a little bit of crowd noise up there serve for Carlos is good two rolls a short for and alcarez crushes that into the dece corner for game points it's a black number for Carlos here tonight again a sleeveless tank with a pink and purple Nike Swoosh black shorts now this is his evening attire I believe he is one of the athletes that has a daytime attire I think you're right I I actually you know this goes back to something we were talking about with Arena sabalenka last night alcarez misses a first serve into the net Arena actually on Tik Tok did show both a daytime and a nighttime outfit pink and a black second serve up coming here for alcaras serve is good two with a backand into the net Carlos alcarez wins eight of the first nine points it is to love still haven't given me an answer I was trying to what's the score to love now see if he can hold Sur two two men have won Roland Geral Wimbledon and the US Open since open era in the open era in the open era open era I'm going to you know what I'm going to just can we give me another Well I'm going to get Mark Lucero in there CU I think he's going to give us a tip here serve from two just misses wide we'll get him after this point see if he can come up with an answer I I know Mark has got at least one of them good I'm sure of that second serf for two good alcarez forand to a two forand rolled middle alcarez backhand to a two forand again rolled middle but that misses long and Mark Lucero let's see what you got for us on this trivia question Mike is it the same year no oh yeah in the same year yeah all three winning the back three of the Year yes male player male player men's singles men's singles winning Roland Gros Wimbledon and the US Open serve is into the net from two is it belander no guys who's won the French Open for however many years b b Rafael Nadal Rafa won them same year yes 2010 it's pretty good that's pretty good and then and then another an Aussie has done it the rocket the rocket that's exactly right 1969 for that one Mark Woodford should know that he really should have I was going to say John yukim but he was pretty average on Clay nuke sorry nuke sorry guys that's love 40 yeah it's love 40 that's why we're talking trivia right now Mark Le two struggling here love 40 serve from two off the net and long and hopefully Mark might be able to give us uh just some comments on Lee's face as they change ends because I know that Markus sitting right there thankfully Lee holds or wins that point doesn't want to go and lose two serves to love Yeah again how quickly this is moving two8 minutes in it's about to be three love as two looks over black top light blue shorts powder blue serf for two is good chip return from alarz misses just long little fist pump there from two yeah definitely absolutely sweating right now it is quite muggy here today in New York 3040 now for Lee 2 serve is good alcarez rolls a 4 to a two four and inside out that is netted Carlos alcarez has two breaks to the good and and yeah Mark walk us through this here because obviously Lee 2 you know listen you want to get one of those holds there just to be able to settle the nerves but I imagine those nerves are very high right now for Lee 2 there's definitely a look in the face of trying to sort of take a deep breath trying to slow down and you got to get back to basics coming out of this game obviously it's a kind of an uphill battle trying to break serve break the alcaraz serve to stick with the Beasty Boys a seres kind of a Sure Shot wow but you got to get back to business when it's your turn to serve again try to put some first serves in play find some forehands and put put some pressure on Carlos didn't think we were going to get a second Beasty Boys reference but I'm I'm absolutely here for it thank you so much Mark Lucero and I thought they were playing Beasty Boys for Nick cuos given that he was asking questions but it something tells me he's never heard the Beasty Boys you don't think no I really don't he's dressed like one of them he's dressed like a beast you think they could have had some decorum with you know interviewers he was wearing a hoodie uh with Kobe Bryant on it as that's again that's pretty much his style a Nike Bulls C but he played for the Lakers he didn't play for New York that's true that's true but I don't think he's going Patrick Ying or or Jaylen Brunson nowadays I don't think hey you know we've got a great women's match up coming here just about to get started on Armstrong and for a preview of andrescu and palini let's bring in Gil gross Gil just walk us through the particulars of this one these two women playing for a third straight slam they are they played at rol on Garis they played at Wimbledon Jasmine palini won both because she is in the midst of an absolutely stratospheric rise the number five seed medled at the Olympics in L semifinals at or final rather at Wimbledon and rangos and she's 1 and four in her career at the US Open this is just getting underway with palini serving andrescue a wild card outside the top 100 right now and of course former finalist in 20 former Champion rather in 2019 yeah very interested to see that one and we'll have Gil over there and also having him roam around as we've got some great action around the ground Sebastian Corda just came through in straight sets on grand stand over mutet six love in the third for that one beluchi and vinka in action right now and kind of one of my dark horses to make maybe a little bit of a maybe third fourth round type of a match zizu Becks over on court 15 you're going with the Belgium I big big zizu fan really yes I I think he has been right at that 100 level for the last couple of years and starting to have that R yes has been a major issue for him as Carlos alarz makes it 30 love here and and this is kind of the worst case scenario here in what we talked about was we were preparing for this one woody is you just want to see a good representation of for Lee 2 and we're just not getting it no and unfortunately for for Lee and he's still evolving and his game is just not he doesn't have that big weapon to come out and win cheap points behind the serve or he doesn't have a a big forehand that he can just stand around and and hit to the corners he he has a very balanced game and obviously this is a a very nervy start for him I think it's where the second set is where once he perhaps and hopefully he can start to settle in and maybe make some inroads ACE for Carlos alaras is his second already of the night as he gets it to 405 12 minutes in potentially for Love Waits patient not showing nearly as much sweat as Lee 2 so far gain points for him serve From The Far Side into the net not serving at a a great rate 50% right now actually for both players five of 10 for both second serve for alare toss serve is good two backhand is short alcarez punishes it easy forand power into to the dece corner and indeed it's for love Yeah and we saw the the return of serve Lee is trying to take the ball on he comes over the top of the backand I mentioned that he's got a a delightful looking backand but that's an issue when he's playing against someone as Grand as alare if you don't hit it sweetly if you mtime it it's going to sit there to be crunched by opponent and F Le probably that's where he's just going to have to understand I need to chip it back I just need to maybe come under the ball get the point started rather than trying to play a beautiful looking backhand Top Spin just comes up with a little improvised backhand winner at the net does lead to for 15 love watched him win a doubles title at a Challenger in Chicago this summer with Luc savl another fell from Adelaide yeah he's a great guy one of my out on tour we are we we are trying to spread around the globe I think he's he's you know he's he's a good one to represent you guys he is he is uh um a a year a year younger I think or maybe he a year older I think he might be a year older than I think he's yeah he's a little bit old tenasi and and Lee They certainly we had a great group of uh youngsters coming up short forehand for two puts it into the dece corner running forehand from alcar as is sprayed for 305 Luke Seville also a culton fan it's why I really like him even better which is my football team they just made the eight just an FYI mation they made the what the final eight of what the finals AFL again this is all you could be speaking another language right now thank goodness this is a global audience the Super Bowl are they in the Super Bowl it is like the super bow but they have the playoffs they've made the playoffs just say the playoffs no it's called the finals come on backand to backand we go for these two right now two runs around hits a big forand inside out and draws a backand error and a big fist pump from Le to towards his team as he has game points and this will be I I imagine a a bit of a celebration if he can hold serve here we've seen that each time that he's won the sprinkling of points so far it has been celebrated with a fist pump imagine what it's going to be like when he wins the game second up coming here for Lee 2 that is good to an alcarez backhand two goes one to an alcarez inside out forehand chipped back from two alcarez steps into a big Point inside out in behind it going to have an easy volley into the dece corner puts that away for 4030 and and Mark Lucero what are you noticing about that changing of pace and speeds out on court there yeah at the 305 point we saw the first pretty good slice from Lee 2 following up what Mark said he's got to use that slice he got the slice back from alcarez and that set up the big inside out for and he's got to find ways to get ahead in the point a little more consistently yeah that was in fact when I talked to Rohan Williams a guy who's obviously a well-known coach down in Australia has been working with Alex Bolt he said listen that backand slice is going to be incredibly important here today in this particular matchup serve up the T short ball for two up the line with the forehand lob alarz just misses long not by much one of those close calls Lee two asking for this Crow to get involved big smile on his face he's on the scoreboard but a lot of damage done so far it is 4-1 and you are listening to us open radio presented by American Express [Music] [Music] caros alar has three SE with an early 41 lead over Lee 2 inside Arthur Ash Stadium it's Mike Cas and Mark Woodford in the booth Mark Lucero is Courtside for us Gil gross keeping an eye right now on early stages of palini and andrescue I I believe they've actually traded breaks over there on Armstrong I take a look yeah they they did have opportunities over there but it is one all on Rescue with a couple of break chances definitely had some some looks but great to be with you here on night number number two on US Open radio don't forget you can also watch us this year which is tragic on my side but Woody deserves to be viewed waving to everyone right now as as he is want to do carinal sarz serving here for1 serve is just long trying to go into the body second serve upcoming for Carlos toss serve good to backhand alcarez goes forehand to a two for and rolled well long trying to keep up with the pace so I think he he'll come away from this match regardless of the result for the the young Australian understanding a bit more if he's to make inroads if he's to get inside the top 100 probably gets a firstand look at areas in his game that he needs to bolster these types of matches are are really kind of those points where you're able to kind of see what has to happen to get to that next level that's entirely true alcarez goes forand to a two chip backand alcarez big forand into the dece corner that was an injection of pace off of a backhand slice looking very calm and comfortable right now there are certain shots that probably Lee having spent M most of the last 12 months at Challenger level he won't he won't see those types of shots someone stand around or move around I should say and and crunch that forehand into the open court from alcarez trying to go team Miss is wide can 30 love here David farer is here Courtside as well in the Carlos alcarez box second serve for alcarez that's good to a two back in off the net and back onto his side really good second serve into the body there from alare it it it was well directed but once again we saw the Australian trying to come over the top of the ball it's tough to be offensive when it's into your body you're being jammed that's where you just need to take some Pace off of it get the ball back into play and reset so game points here 414 love first set serve from alcarez good 4and two alcarez goes for an inside out to a two backand cross alcarez backand cross to backand up the line misses well long it is 51 unfortunately kind of what we expected in this matchup 186 versus number three in the world and two trying to stick around here serving to stay in this first set Bianca andrescu did get an early break 2-1 lead over Jasmine palini we will likely head over to that one here after the conclusion of this first set can sense how quiet is inside of Arthur Stadium as well not a lot of drama yet similar to last night they they were a little distracted with that was a kind of a one-sided result as well jovic good chip lob return lands good from alcarez overhead from the Baseline lands good from two who now has a backhand slice alcarez run around forehand to a two forand cross alcarez forand rolled up the line two goes back in through the middle misses well long love 15 right now we're at a total points 23 to8 not ideal lops side yeah and so yeah as a result this crowd yeah just you know a little bit more about the atmosphere than than what's happening on court for them at the moment to serve into the net second serve upcoming at love 15 toss serve good alcarez back in up the line lob from two alcarez to the net easy finish just barely clearing the net but puts that into the stands and it's love [Music] 30 and he has obviously hit with players that are inside the top 100 top 50 potentially when the the summer of tennis in Australia begins in January he's hit with some Marquee players but practice is very different from actual match play isn't it yes it is especially in front of a crowd like this in the biggest stadium in the world love 32 serve good forand alcarez who now has a backhand slice to backhand slice crosscourt runaround forehand from alres just misses long trying to go big forand into the deuce Corner misses by a couple of inches it's 5030 and Mark is still watching there that was a an incredible backand sliced by Lee to so that the shot is there i' love to see him play it a few more times serve 1530 is good alcarez back into a two runaround forehand alcarez goes back in up the line two running forand cross alcarez forand up the line two has to chip that back off the backand side alcarez backhand meets it we reset the point forand to forand we go two steps in drop shot off the forehand side lands good alcarez R dropper two there with the volley lands good for 30 and that was a a well played Point by two matter of survival right now had to defend absorb a bit of pace and then just finishing with a volley into the Open Court yeah he's got pretty decent hands and you've seen him try to manufacture a couple of opportunities moving forward into the box to get up there and apply some pressure himself but just really and understandably against a guy like Carlos alcarez struggling to do so5 30 all serve two good chip return L short two puts that away into the de corner off the four inside and again again point for Lee two it's a lovely serve there just tucked into the corner went up the T the middle so it just didn't create any angles for alare backed it up with the plus one the forehand looking to put together a couple of holds in a row serve for two netted 4030 getting right at that 50% Mark for surf percentage second serve for two good alarz Shanks a forehand into the crowd that ball is not necessary we've got a ball change as well hopefully the fan keeps that one she looks very excited about that possibility but two gets it to 52 in the first set let's get an update from Armstrong this highly anticipated first round match up between Bianca and rescue and Jasmine palini for the update there it's Gil gross Gil Mike I think we're going to see a lot of breaks of serve in this match both of these women are impeccable baseliners uh their serves are getable and that's exactly what andrescu did on pini's second service game she's swinging really really big on the return of serve and she landed a couple in that service game to to uh get palini so she's up the break 3-2 right now at a change of events kicking off this Armstrong night session yeah and Gil I noticed um we have it on in one of our monitors as well Jasmine looked a little bit annoyed at a couple of moments early in this one we're so used to that incredible infectious smile but seems to be a a little bit of a struggle here early I agree and I'm watching that carefully because I think the question for palini uh watching her over the summer where everything almost felt gravy know she's north of age 25 she hadn't ever finished a season inside the top 50 uh she won the Dubai 1000 it was a complete surprise and it almost felt like there was zero pressure on her because she never expected any of this to happen and you could see that in her mental approach can she sustain that or is it going to start to change now that she's the number five seed coming into a slam yeah that expectation level is a completely different Beast no doubt about it thanks so much Gillan we'll likely be calling some of that here over the next couple of minutes right now Carlos alcaras trying to close out this first set and Mark Lucero I I just we just got a little bit bit of a look there's some strapping there's some tape around either the quad or hamstring for Carlos alcarez on the left side have you noticed that as well it doesn't seem like there's been any movement issues has there check in with Mark in just a couple of minutes alcarez here serving for 5-2 goad he he was wearing it at Roland gas at the back end of the tournament and for a number of matches at Wimbledon as well so an ongoing Issue forand four right now the first point of this 5-2 game and to dump sephor into the net that is that weaker side where you can see him kind of lose the plot from time to time this warm and muggy night in New York City going to be even more warm and muggy tomorrow temperature is going to be nearing 100° serve for alcarez 15 love serve good return short alcarez dropper is perfect for 30 love big first serve going into the body body foran and the return is just up the middle of the Court quite neutral and then alarv just plenty of time had options set points here for Carlos alcarez getting a missed return from Lee 2 for 4 love three set points 27 to 12 total points in this first set at the moment set point for acz into the net with his serve 11 winners to two unforced erors for Carlos so far second serve good two backand cross alcarez chips a backand to a two backand slice up the line alcarez rolls a forehand to a two backand slice back up the line alcarez forehand two goes back in across alcarez big forand with pace and now steps in forand through the middle two ins inside out for him to an alcarez backand cross to run around for an inside out alcarez has to chip that swinging volley from two misses well long and Carlos alcarez takes set number one 62 Mark Lucero this is one of those listen the atmosphere in there from where I'm at seems very flat and understandable with this type of a match do you see anything that gives you kind of hope for Lee 2 to really get into this match at all it's so hard because a player like alcarez doesn't let two get away with anything any ball that's left short alcaraz is so quick up to short balls and he's punishing anything that's not you know really a world class shot there's just enough variance like in the in the two shot quality that he just like I you know said before he has a hard time getting ahead in points or staying ahead I'm curious actually what Mark thinks you know have you seen many players that get up to short balls as quickly as alcarez no that's it's a good point isn't it he he swiftly uh moves onto that short ball and there's no breathing space generally against some players that there's that little out isn't there mark but not so against alare and uh yeah for Lee too he's probably feeling like he's just played three sets already yeah and it's uh he's got a couple more to go we'll see if he can turn things around we're going to go to a break and when we come back we'll go inside Armstrong for andrescu and Pini here on us open radio presented by American Express [Music] [Music] [Music] mation Mark Woodford over to Armstrong for andrescu and palini Mar Lucero Courtside for us and we'll keep us updated on alcaras and two as we come inside Armstrong in the midst of a dece game on the serve of Bianca andrescu who leads 32 and has the advantage over the 5c Jasmine Pini amazing to think about the fact that Bianca and rescu only 24 years of age feels like she's you know just how long she's been around over the last couple years the impact she had again 2019 that range feels like she should be 30 at this stage exactly that is surprising to me 2 four forand from andrescu to a runaround forand palini andrescu goes back in rolls it to palini Big forand into the de's corner you hear the Roar from Jasmine palini as she gets things back to [Music] [Applause] Deuce just on our screens uh cameras have moved on to her coach Renzo fan fine player in his own right and uh he is the one that's been guiding Co medalist of course at the Olympics on the double side Pini on Rescue serve up CLE as an ace second of the night for andrescue and Mike you mentioned earlier when we came over and and had a an early look at this match and you're talking about Pini and how she has to you know the expectations now and it's moved from hunting to being hunted the same has actually gone through experience for andrescu No Doubt yeah yeah that so that they could have a healthy conversation I bet they could yeah that 2019 run where she won Indian Wells seemingly out of nowhere then later in the year winning Toronto in the US Open and then all of a sudden she's at the top of our Consciousness and again yeah very similar up and and that year started for her in Orland she actually came through qualifying and made it all the way through to the final I'm not sure if she won the tournament I was there commentating uh but but it was a surprise packet but that was the Turning moment for her obviously you know the success that she enjoyed later in the season and you you know we're going to be left to wonder as we haven't been able to see her really go through a full season since then with all the various injuries that she's had and it's talking in pre-tournament press about the fact that she wants to give everything she can to tennis because she realizes the impact she can make make off of the Court specifically in some of her mental health initiatives her serve is good Pini rolls the forehand to an on Rescue forehand rolled Pini steps back big Inside Out forehand andrescu goes forand into the dece corner running forand for palini volley from andrescu will miss wide into the at corner we go back to Deuce we are 25 minutes into this one with andrescue leading 3-2 here andrescue already with 11 unfor STS to seven winners three winners five unforced stairs on the Pini side but certainly anticipate that andrescu is going to be the one taking a few more chances we mentioned they've already played twice this year Pini winning at Wimbledon six and one and winning at Roland garos earlier in the year six love in the third Deuce once again serve good from andrescue palini back into an un rescue forand into the net Pini is going to have a break chance this is the second of the day for her obviously 0 for one so far the Tim one opportunity in front of her I don't even know what color to call that outfit maybe a little bit of pinkish salmon is somewhere along that line would he big fashion guy Mark Woodford serve is just long from andrescue second serve upcoming need talk talking to herself as she awaits this return serve from andrescue into the net breaks have been traded and we are at three all after that double which is the fourth of the night for Bianca andrescu and Woody when you have a player who just hasn't been able to keep up a very healthy full year it's hard to play in in spurts and starts and stops and just really can't get a lot of Rhythm and momentum yeah and I and I think that's again you would talking about Pini she was talking to herself seat movement stilling the the crowd there trying to get to this match uh but Pini is probably aware that andrescu is you know up and down in and out with her playing days and it's those moments where you falter key moments back in from Pini just completely m for love 15 pretty unusual as well to play the same person three slams in a row early in the tournament it's one thing if you think about say I don't know you have a couple of players you know are going to meet later in a tournament but meeting the same player three times in in three slams early in tournaments yeah pretty rare I actually played Leon hu five consecutive weeks in a row kidding yeah and it was not a good result for me but on the fifth one yeah when he thought that he was it was going to be a breeze that's when I inflicted defeat upon all right one out of five is not bad we'll take it I know it I mean that's uncanny isn't it it is started at the beginning of the year in Adelaide in our hometown and uh and and then for the next 5 weeks I wasn't happy not good that's why they randomize things in theory rescue just missing on a forehand side for 1530 now in the Pini serve I wonder for andrescu and through these periods where she's been in and out with her game and handling injuries Mike whether her game now has changed from when she arrived in 2019 and that fantastic year winning slam here at the US Open to wonder what if you put two Andrus against each other if there was any variation second big return missing just long was well inside the court yeah that's a you know obviously aggression such a big part of her game but I would imagine the movement is not as sharp as it was pre- injuries again it's been ankle back pretty much every part knee shoulder you're just not going to be able to play at the same tempo that you were early in her career off the net and long on the first serve of palini second serve up coming for Jasmine three all 30 all second serve good and rescue goes back in with depth but too much of it 14 13 so game point here for Pini looking for a lead after being down a break for the last couple of minutes got much more depth on the points right now on Armstrong serve into the net from Pini second serve upcoming she serving just 42% so far actually 40 after that Miss eight of 20 second serve good no just long double fault number one were it Deuce so I think you know some tension between these two ladies obviously knowing each other uh from the two previous Encounters this year but tough moment at that seventh game three all locked in at juice but no doubt Pini she can hold here and then get around and have a crack at andrescu serve this return from andrescu into the bottom of the net good body Ser there from palini she grabs a game point here toss goes up here from Pini is off the net so she'll get another opportunity here despite that out call from the electronic line calling again first serve here 30 minutes into this one that one definitely netted andrescue for the first serve standing right on top of the Baseline might take a step or two inside of it for a second serve indeed she does gets a back in goes up the line clean winner for andrescue back to Deuce de timed it nicely very ominous with the positioning inside the Baseline but what I loved Mike is that when as she was ready to strike the ball her weight was still moving forward up towards the other end of the Court the general direction just to add a little velocity to the return return winner of the night for R rescue dece number two serve long from palini definitely some alarm Bells going off with these missed for serves from somebody who doesn't go for too much on the first serve second is good andrescue forehand with good depth palini tries to block it back this is long it's a great chance for andrescu who's one of one so far here tonight got the black Nike visor does unrue light purple number for her serve Pini into the net again below 40% for the night second serve for Jasmine Pini on this break chance on Rescue serve good and rescue back in net it about 3 ft inside the Baseline got up a little bit on her but just an inexcusable Miss there 5 minutes and 36 seconds into this game back to Deuce yeah given that she's had a good rip at the last two points with second serves returns were high quality serve good out wide ship return into the net really good slice serve there from Pini for a game point serve for pal toss is good backhand return just catches the line for ad rescue who steps into a for an inside out clean into the ad Corner as we go back to dece once again oh the last four points really the the return of Serve by the Canadian one not cleanly struck but the intent was there very deep return and able to put Pini on the defense immediately number four backend returned to a palini backend andrescu back in Cross palini tracks it down goes back in Cross andrescu backend rolled middle and Pini responds with a missed Inside Out forehand it's going to be another break chance for on Rescue for third of the night right now Woody the average rally length in this one 2.45 and well maybe that's the the game plan of andrescu is really to not allow any rhythm to build up in the the Italians game serve off the net and long he's very tightly wound Nets this year the 2024 US Open second serve on the break point good to a forand for rescue palini forand middle into the net and you hear from both women as andrescu has gone back up a break 43 into a ball change on Armstrong it feels like it's a little bit of a different match over on ash is were early in the second set there mark Lucero is Courtside for us and it just feels like it has a a little bit more competitive feel in the second set yeah Le to has seemed to really settle in he looks more relaxed visibly he held serve twice we're on serve it to all this game he actually had a love 30 on the alcaraz serve it's funny as Leu has relaxed it looks like alarz has relaxed too he started to spray a few balls and he's not quite playing with that same tempo as he was early in that first set and Mark I I did notice it during the last change over uh I don't know if you were able to hear it but Lee and Carlos bernardes the chair umpire with a little bit of a joking around as well it just feels like a a different lead to in this second yeah he started to look just get used to the speed of alarz he's changed his positioning up he was playing a few points further back from the Baseline and he's getting more consistent depth early in the points which I think is extremely important yeah no no doubt about that but good to see Lee two into that one as we move back over to Armstrong here andrescu retied the shoes she's got some new balls coming her way as well Sam sonova the 16 seed with a two and five win over hang of China again lots of great action we've still got a slew of Courts still in action 13 courts in play right now into our second night session Christopher OK Connell another Aussie four and three so far two sets to the good of over niik jari that would be a stunner to see oconnell come through yeah given that Chris has uh really struggled this this preparation with a shoulder injury of course your friend I know that you absolutely have a high level of thought for his coach marinko movich I spent some time with Maro before he went into the wilderness and he did actually literally go into the Wilderness but again that that is a book that needs to be written the career and life of Maro i' I've tried to encourage him to move into some media but he he has drawn a very firm line again about doing not doing any media yeah he needs to we need more I I think we yeah we just need to loosen him up okay I'll get them on my podcast and we'll we'll see I think I might if you're able to you would be the only person that that has successfully done that Woody over here knows that I ball kitted for maros once and that was quite a night he he and that would be a chapter in his book about how you ruined his game at being a bull kid I heard some words that day forehand from on Rescue to the bottom of the net it's 3015 here in this 4-3 service game a little bit of a look there from Bianca after a wild Miss for her yeah the unforced STS here and again we're in game number eight she's at 16 my math says that's two unforced sors per game on average at this stage but again with the lead she'll take that that's part of the aggressive style yeah with the the negative six so if she can keep that space keep the the amount of winners going oh my goodness unbelievable touch there even pini's impressed on Rescue comes up with a no look off the ground backhand volley that goes over the net and Spins back wow so here's my theory on a point like that I mean where now being able to look at the replay I firmly believe that someone a player and I'm not saying that Bianca doesn't like being up at net M but a point like that generally happens when a player just stabs at the ball they're not that they have no idea where the racket face is they just kind of put it there and because a real voler I don't think would have actually been able to execute the that that point I I does that make sense completely yeah that's some that's something you're you're going to be able to do that with skill knowing exactly what you're trying to do she did not try to do that just has to Hope yes yes I understand but we see points like that time and time again that back Spinners and they're kind of like I mean I could a real volia it's really hard to hit an absolute back spinner when your legs going north and your right leg's going south 4 30 right now back in to back in now palini stepping into a forand running forand from andrescu is netted it's another Deuce game but also think the value it's it's a a volley like that winning a point the Umpire should say that is is worth two points I agree yeah or at least you can have the game now but then we'd start to have players who actually try to do it to win two points yeah maybe you should create your own tour with trick shots just get bu and then you can start from there Nick curios will join as well dece now in this 4-3 service game for on Rescue From The Far Side serve T good short return andru goes backand to a Pini forand rolled andru forand rolled to a backhand here for palini She Goes cross andrescu back in up the line to a running forand palini cross andrescu forand cross stretch from palini throws up a l andrescue big swinging volley into the at corner as she grabs a game point there's a bit just fought off a break chance back to there bit bit more willingness of the Canadian up the her end of the court to just go for a bit more there's more weight of shot Pini at this stage being behind a service break is just trying to get the ball back with height and depth but uh it's providing an opportunity for andrescu to consolidate the break now 11 shot rally that is the longest so far of the night here on Armstrong Ser andrescu good Pini backhand up the line running forehand from andrescu missed into the bottom of the net again just a fantastic Target from Jasmine palini back to Deuce we go yeah t a a time where a moment right now in this match that Pini just needs to rely upon being two-time Grand Slam finalist try to use her experience her big match experience that she has tasted this year and a gold medalist don't you forget that sir yes sir from andrescue Do's good and return to and rescue for it palini goes back in up the line to and Rescue forehand kind of lost her balance her right foot just kept sliding and that ball misses into the bottom of the net break chance now for Pini and you could hear that frustration there from andrescu tapping her racket onto the ground in frustration shaking off her right hand as well might be a little bit of sweat as well on this humid night in New York the night this is the third break chance for palini she's one of two so far serve from andrescue is off the net and good another one up coming that bright yellow frame on the andrescu racket on yellow one of the colors of the open this year bracket as well serve good Pini forehand misses the return into the net her frustration towards her team as she goes back to deuce and with just had glimpses of this first set but already it seems to me Mike that Pini is just struggling with the pace of the court that she just hasn't made those adjustments again the weight of shot seems like it it lies with andrescu serves good into a back in palini andrescu for in up the line she pushed that one wide it's going to be another break chance forini you got this 7 minutes on this game right now multiple extended Deuce games already in this first set as Pini bouncing around waiting for this return one of three so far on her chances in the set serve from andrescu good Pini back in through the middle rescue rolls a forand with depth Helen steps back inside out forand to an and Rescue backand palini back in Cross andrescue back into to a palini back in middle andrescue rolls a forand good now steps into a four goes inside in it's perfect into the deuce corner from Bianca andrescue as we go back to [Applause] Deuce another heavy ball striking rally andrescu the first one to pull the trigger on a shorter ball offered to her by Pini it's her 12th winner excuse me 13th winner of the night six of them have come off of that powerful forehand she's up against the serve clock here down to five just starting her motion three two toss goes up with 1 second left serve just long trying to go t second here for andrescue good palini back into an andrescue backand palini steps into a forign cross andrescue matches palini rolls for him into the net off the forehand side rescue with a game point Andre so the team for underc saying he loves that 4 and wants to get into that matchup in particular here tonight against six winners off that forehand side that does come with nine unforced airs on the forehand as well game point for andrescue serve good palini back in middle rescue forehand is netted and that is kind of the trade-off you're going to get the UPS you're also going to get those Downs yep yeah again that the the winners to unforced errors ratio 13 from Andre to 18 in the unforced era so she's still in that within that half dozen range which is acceptable only three winners from the Italian drue again taking her time she is right up against that surf clock every single motion with one she throws up her toss at deuce the net and long second serve up coming 45 minutes into this one she's serving 72% on the night as well second serve for Bianca good Pini forand rolled short andru inside out forand behind it palini backhand pass just misses on the cross that was the ninth net point for and rescue on the night seven of nine very good percentage there trying to continuously apply pressure she grabs a game point there you go ready for ball three here come on ready for ball three typically you think about ball two right that first ball off the ground interesting like the serve the return all three serve good forand rolled by palini on Rescue big forand to a palini rolled forand that misses long so andrescue does get the hold and extends the lead to 53 get lots of great action around the grounds here will come back into Armstrong in a couple seconds but I think we'll bring in Mark Lucero here first and Mark did I see a cheeky little underarm serve from lead 2 a few minutes ago your eyes were not deceiving you Mike that was on a game point for Lee 2 was a very difficult hold the crowd actually really liked it uh no smile from Carlos alcarez he looks like he's ready to try to put his foot on the gas pedal right here and it seemed I did I also see Leu apologize to Carlos after the game to boot yeah I think he was picking up on The Vibes coming from the alcara side of the Court what are you seeing tactically that Lee is doing a little bit differently here in the second set to keep things competitive it's alcarez serving two3 yeah he's moved off the Baseline I think he's given himself a little a little more time cuz his speed of ball when he's taking the ball early is just not enough um he's drifted from the Baseline just enough to have time take a little more swing Mike he's fighting for his right to hit that inside out forehand all right thank you so much Mark Lucero keeping us updated on alcaras and two on ash we've also got one we haven't talked about yet just in terms of one of the Highlight matches here tonight a really good one on grand stand ranu and Kennan let's go to our own Gil gross Kil and Mike so far the score line is surprising it's Sophia Kennan up a double break 4-1 in this opening set I say it's surprising if you just look at recent form for the two ruko has won multiple matches at each of her last four events that's Nottingham eastborne Wimbledon where she made the fourth round and Washington which is the last event she played won a couple of matches and lost in the quarters Sophia kennan's had a tough year she has seven and 19 in 2024 so just based off of that Ruku comes into this one the favorite but she's down 41 all right thank you so much Gil who will be keeping us updated on that one our incredible Rover other scores from around the grounds that I think we're keeping an eye on beluchi 64 45 on third with Stan binka I I think we should send Gil over to 13 13 I wonder why go on and maybe uh have him give us see if he could get some comments from marinko as a way of introduction introducing I should say marinko into this media kind of mind that we're talking about so marinko mosovich coach for Christopher okell Who's down a break to niik jari in the third set but up two sets to left Mark Lucero says he also was a ball kid at one point for Maro vov marinko would have been trying to I'm sure hit Marx lucera as he was trying to hit you as you were the ball kiding his match okay so so by the end of this fortnite we're going to get marinko in here but but wouldn't that be exciting to see how marinko what he how he responds to Gil like Gil to please Mr matovich can can we just have an update in the middle of the match on the change of ends okay yeah we'll we'll see if we can make that work let's go back inside Armstrong because as we pop back in it's actually set point for Bianca and rescue how serving here 35 now [Applause] 3040 rescue actually bent over here for a second trying to grab some air Pini serving set point down Z from Jasmine to the anide good rescue forehand to a palini rolled forehand off the Baseline and good rolled back by andrescue palini for and cross no coming back on that one that is clean from well behind the baseline from palini to dece we go there's been some big forehand in this game from palini she opened the game with a massive forehand crosscourt and this one certainly was another big one crosscourt having to play it up above head high Pini do good underc for into a palini for it up the line into the ad Corner two straight forand Warners from Jasmine palini need to grab a game point and there's the difference of the first serve for the diminutive Italian been able to get her opponent off the court and then utilizing the forehand into the Open Court one of the most basic plays you can have that serve out wide and into the Open Court game point for palini Ser good back in from andrescu up the line is a great one and palini just missing with her forehand response back up the line we go back to deuce so not a bad serve that well placed into the body but the return of Serve by andrescu just catching Pini a little flat footed and that's where it did to me it stands out that she's just not able to she's not comfortable with the pace of the Court she's not reading the ball can return from andrescue misses well long that jam couldn't do anything as it got into that left hip so game point here for Pini in all of these games despite the fact that we're still under three shots for the average rally length the games are lengthy we're getting into a lot of deuces in this first set here Pini the game point serve is long back to 50% for her serve percentage about a 20% difference in her winning percentage first serve versus second second serve good andrescue 4 in through the middle palini for into an andrescue 4 in Cross palini has to roll a for to an andrescu backing up the line palini for and cross andrescu has to chip that back lands good palini 4 and cross andrescu again squash shot misses well long and Pini gets the hold the first set's going to be on the racket of Bianca andrescu we come back on us open radio presented by American Express a [Music] [Music] the United States tennis Association is proud to bring you live coverage of the US Open presented by American Express we are at the Billy Jean King national tennis center and just seeing that Billy Jean King herself has arrived she's keeping an eye on alcar assen 2 Carlos has just gone up a break in the second 43 Mark Woodford joining me here inside the broadcast Booth Mark lucero's court side for that alcarez two match Gil gross ran the grounds as well what when are you going to get a an arena named after you I mean listen I've been to the Australian Open why not what is it Court two is that right Court two or three the one that's right in the shadows of yep yeah that would be a perfect court for you guys the the Woody Court the Woody Woodies Court yeah doesn't really we got we got to figure out okay we'll work on it but I I think that's that should be in the works okay thank you Doctor you're very welcome doctor Spies Like Us you ever watch that one exactly love that movie hrcu serving 54 I'm going to guess we might be the only ones in this entire building that have watched spice like us classic I I don't think so I mean our crew behind for sure have watched it second serve Miss from andrescue that is double fault number five as she's trying to close out this first set yeah and just taking a couple of deep breaths right now on drcu try to just calm herself moving quickly to this second point of the game love 15 serf into the net and a serve that really there was just no height at all she came down on it pulling it into the net first second serve is good Helen Back In misses long that's a bad Miss considering the moment yes High kicker did get above the head yeah and regardless of the outcome of this particular game I wonder whether palini we might see her just take a few steps back to return the second delivery of andrescu te all serve good palini back in is short rescue forand in behind it no she Retreats and gets paid yeah it's a tough one for her palini goes for and cross under rescue there volley from Pini into the open court it's clean it's 1530 a little bit of hesitation moving forward there from un rescue and and she got caught yep she did she had to retreat quickly and allowed paign to come forward and what a just a a well timed move forward and the volley so cleanly executed around the service line into the open court and a huge fist pump there from Pini as well Ser from andrescue misses long she's missed three of four in this game second serve up coming adjust the visor ready to go with his second toss serve good Pini back into an un rescue forand rolled Pini forand cross into the net shrugs her shoulders that is a g really disappointing Miss for Jasmine Pini that yeah it's a really tough one for her because she's been given the opportunity in this potential closeout game of the first set 30 all two points away from the set is on rescu serve netted second serve so missing four of five in this game for Bianca second serve for her that's good Pini back in middle rescue back in middle Pini goes back in Cross rescue digs it out Pini back and Crosses into the net not quite in the slot but a very makeable effort this has been a disappointing game here for jasman palini and andrescu with a set point at 4030 yeah that three key misses by Pini adding to her disappointment and having to draw upon her experience now see if she can fend off the second set point toss serve good Pini rolls a forand lands good on Rescue forand to a Pini forand cross rescue for in Cross palini goes for in Middle rescue for in cross palini again for in Middle rescue inside out for to a palini back in Cross and rescue backing up the line to a Pini forehand andrescue forehand middle palini Inside Out forand andrescue backand cross catches the line no just missed very close there we're going to take a look oh my by the thinnest of margins 1 mm out in our longest rally of the night at 14 shots back to Deuce major surprise one that the longest rally is only 14 shots between these two ladies but second one was how close that was love the fact that they have the replay behind the courts instead of up on the jumbo screens don't have to Crane your neck juice serve into the net or andrescue really poor on the serve here in this potentially close out game second serve up coming for Bianca for Deuce first set action on Armstrong second is good palini back into an andrescue for and in behind it love from Pini lands good short little ball for andrescue puts it into the corner set point number three [Applause] upcoming Andre eight of 10 at the net Woody that's really good good numbers and I think the the success rate there is based on the the weight of shot that she's coming in behind she's not giving a a lot of time for palini to really load up for the attempt of passing shot making a some of the first volleys for andrescu deep breath here for andrescu who serves with the set point good palini back in up the line perfect return winner wow just took her time the Italian not rushed with the return would have just slide that up the line feels like every game right now on andrescu serve is going to multiple Deuces it's a lot of work in her service games right now dece number two at 54 serve for andrescue good to a palini back in inside out andrescue for and up the line to a palini backand cross andrescue backand middle palini rolls forand middle andrescue Inside Out forand catches palini leaning out to that dece corner clean winner for andrescu and another set point number four Andre our into this one now but what a shot here from andrescue to go big inside outer yeah off of a a ball that was she was Pini trying to neutralize her just up the center third of the court but she's paying the price the Italian when she is trying to keep the the point going trying to build that Rhythm andrescu that's able to pull the trigger serve good palini rolls the for hand to an under rescue backend cross palini backand middle andrescue forand cross decides to stay at the Baseline she goes forand cross palini forand cross andrescu forand cross palini forand middle andrescu goes up the line with the forehand misses by the thinnest of margins again this time long this time a little bit more space regardless points same it's dece now smk on the face of Bianca andrescu as we go to dece number three updates from Mark Lucero and Gil gross coming here as there's been drama in both Ash maybe not so much drama on Grand St we'll get to it 54 Deuce once again Hour 2 minutes into this lengthy first set on Armstrong serve from andrescu good palini running for him to an andrescu block off the forand what depth on the return from palini she grabs a break [Applause] chance Pini one of four on the night well I I I wouldn't want to be giving her too many uh opportunities see if the can come up with another quality return of course andrescu wanting to find the corner of the box here with the first serve starts about 10 ft behind the Baseline serve is good the return through the middle and rescue forand rolled Pini steps back inside out forand and rescue forand into the net we're back level break for palini gets us to five all all right let's get you caught up on these other scores in a bit of drama over on Arthur Ash it's been really a bit of a turnaround there Carlos alcarez went up a break but Mark Lucero walk us through how Lee 2 has gotten himself back into this second set Lee 2 played an excellent return game he broke back to get to four all he had a beautiful one-handed backhand pass and then played an excellent game on his own surf and he's played Just well enough to start bringing some inconsistency from alcaraz midst of a a love 15 point on alcarez the serve right now and two has gotten it to love 30 Mike that's three points in a row that two has won when alcarez has approached to that one-handed backand he's really started to dial in and during that change over two sent two rackets to the Stringer he's planning on being here a while interesting nine of the last 10 points have gone the way of Lee 2 and he's two points away from the second set alcarez would want to be careful trying to approach into the two backand of 30 toss for Carlos alcarez serve good to forand through the middle alcarez Yanks a backand two backand slice alcarez run around forand into the dece corner running forand two good alcarez back in Cross good lob from two alcarez at the net little dump two gets there but can't come up with it that was a terrible volley from Carlos alas just kind of popping into the court as opposed to actually find a Finish Well I'd be curious to to ask Mark do you think that it's two that has lifted his game or is it a mix of alare losing his concentration Mark I I think a little bit of both I think alcare is certainly relaxed enough to help give to just a little bit of breathing room um at the end of the change over I was also looking at the alcarez camp to see what their reaction was and there were a couple guys standing up looking like they wanted alrass to pick up his intensity so alcarez forand to a two forand cross alcarez forand up the line to a running backend slice from two that lands good alcarez inside out forand took an extreme angle at that from the ad corner and he misses into the net lee to has set points and and and this is what I think that those of us that follow the sport for alcarez it's he's had these moments he where he just loses his way and it's I mean he's got to be coming up with some quality points to fend off these two set points Mike so alar has a lot of worry right now serving from the near side all black serve into the net from alcaras you can hear the Buzz In This Crowd right now inside Ash second serve on set point for lead two tosses up serve good two in behind a backand wow he tried to rush that second serve and just misses it long got into his body my word a kamakazi type of a return again Mark is that sitting Courtside was that did he have enough time to try and chip that return back I that was a pretty good second serve you know I don't mind the idea of an aggressive play on the set point but I think you like what you said you got to make that return yeah well he has to get the ball back into play this set point the Australian 40 serve good to for him to a chip backand from alcarez at lands good two Inside Out forand alcarez backand cross two backand slice alcarez run around inside out forand two slice alcarez in behind it Vol into the dece corner good we a deuce both set points fought off and and and look up called a number of alcar matches at Roland garos and at wimon and at the Olympics and these are the moments where his team led by Juan Carlos David FZ sitting there as well but the communication there is constant chatter from them providing him direction that he it's at times he becomes undisciplined this is really unusual to see alcar we would never see that with Nadal jokovic federa Murray they don't lose their way as we've seen alcar do this year in certain matches has a backand cross two running throws up a lob alcarez has to retreat for this lob that lands good resets the point with an inside out forehand two forand to an alcarez forand middle two goes forehand cross it lands good alcarez forand on the run two backhand slice in behind it alcarez pops it up with the backand two backhand volley is good alcarez though right there and he goes big swinging volley into the ad corner and he's pumping his fist trying to get this crowd and we get a Vos from Carlos alaras as he's got a gain Point well brilliant to way to to finish the point alare with the forehand and finger to here he wants to hear it from the crowd but we saw his camp and Ferrero has the Stone Face yep he is not happy game point here 13 shot rally just a second ago serve for alcarez with this game point toss serve good for hand return through the middle alcarez for and cross two forand goes middle catches the Baseline and alarz can't come up with it we go back to do great depth on that forehand from Lee 2 yeah that was a bazooka forehand very flat catching the back of the Baseline 5 minutes 45 seconds on this game for alcaras in this set lead 2 has won 34 points to 30 for alcarez 20 net appearances for Carlos as well so far in this match dece number two from the near side alcare serve into the net serving at 66% in this set dramatic Improvement here in the second serve into the net though on the second it's a double fall for him and another break chance slash set point for Lee two and that double fault might be caused by Le 2 trying that kamakazi move forward on a second serve trying to take it early move in it's extracted the double fault that point again too ready for it alarz serve misses long trying to go t lead to Stepping inside the Baseline right on top of it here for this second serve one foot in one foot out second serve good to backhand through the middle alcarez rolls the forand to a two forand rolled middle my goodness the depth there from alcarez just enough of the Baseline draws the error out of Lee 2 Lee is absolutely shocked looking for that close call I don't think he's going to get it since the out call came on his shot that has to be a millimeter in maybe if if that yep that was a quality return again that number three seed survives the smallest of margins dece number three for Carlos alcar 45 at Deuce serf just misses long trying to go body which is the serve he's used quite a bit on this du side here on the night second surf at Deuce into the net it's another double another set point as a [Music] result and that time clearly the intent by two was to take the ball early on the rise and just bu it and move [Applause] forward so set point number four for two alcarez the serve good at the T rolled back by two forand alcarez two goes forand middle alcarez inside out forand good sliced back from two another inside out for him in behind it he's not going to have to come up with a volley Carlos alcarez two can't come up with it we go back to deuce and Mark Lucero court side it feels like a completely different atmosphere inside Ash than it was say half an hour ago it's very tense down here right now you know guys what I can see the alarz toss is all over the place couple feet into the court 6 to 12 in you know behind the Baseline on these second serve misses in the net I don't remember seeing a top player like this lose that toss that significantly interesting thanks Mark and should point out a tie break right now for andrescu and palini will get over there in a moment serve alcarez into to the net again two straight doubles into this du sign you can hear that groan from the crowd two is inside the Baseline again second serve good two with a backand decides to retreat to the Baseline forehand from him alcarez goes back in up the line he misses that wide my word the shot selection there trying to keep things to the two forehand but a wild Miss and another set point yeah I think we we're getting glimpses of caros alare and reminding us that he's only 21 and some of the shot selections you it's not you don't associate with someone that's won four grand slams and point serve into the net for alarz what does two want to do here one foot inside the Baseline one foot just behind it for the second serve from alcarez which is good two chip back into an alcarez back in cross two goes back in up the line good good alcarez lob is going to miss wide Lee two grabs the second set from a breakdown against Carlos alcarez best of five to best of three my goodness what a moment for the 28-year-old from Adel Mark Lucero Courtside what is the mood like right now in there I mean it feels like a heavyweight fight now it feels like there is a Major League match on our hands I've been keeping an eye on Coach Ferrero after what Mark was saying and he's not even looking at alar right now the other guy is in the box trying to get his attention make eye contact coach ferrero's looking around I think just frustrated and stunned Mark 18 unforced errors in that set from Carlos alcaras I'm sure it felt like that from your Vantage Point as well is just the shot selection quality not there from the world number three just spraying balls is really you know and Mark talked about it earlier it's one of the things when you think about alcarez his Highs are so high but his you when he finds these valleys you know that's why he's I think struggled with consistency in some ways thank you so much Mark Lucero will be Court siden will obviously be bouncing around a little bit right now as we've got the drama in the first set tie break over on Armstrong Bianca andrescu won the first two points of that tie break palini won the second two points it's two all on the Pini serve forand to forand right now andrescu rolls a forehand good depth on it now has to step into a backhand middle palini stepping in forehand cross into the dece corner Jasmine palini has a three2 edge on serve in the first set tie break it's amazing isn't it that three two the seeded player being able to survive set points responding from 35 down in this first set and now this tiebreaker is so important for on tresu she is able to survive the the first set and uh obviously still in with a chance but you would think that if Pini can squeeze by this first set then andrescu maybe some wounds will appear up her end of the Court still ways to go in this tie breaker 2 three he given a little bit of leeway there definitely went over the serve clock steps into a forand inside in palini running forand will miss long to three all but definitely went over that 25 second Mark there a little extra space I wonder whether the chair umpires are just being you know conscious of the conditions out there obviously today the very humid conditions a couple of seconds extra for players but then well paulini it's not like she's been uh looking at the Umpire and kind of pointing towards her watch so three all at the turn and on Rescue you mentioned it the conditions hot and and humid the temperature right now as I take a look is it's comfortable it's about 75° but the humidity is very high and rescue went to her chair during this change over here and immediately took I believe you called it the Hoover the reverse Hoover where the air is blowing out as supposed to in last night but yeah she immediately got that cold air on her face to cool temperatures down an hour and 15 into this first set so and rescue now switching sides three all from the near side service into the net drcu looks like she is not suffering in these conditions but certainly sweating a whole lot more than the cool demeanor of the Italian at the other end second serve good Pini back into andrescu for an inside out palini back in Cross run around forehand for andrescue palini back in middle is going to miss long I I think it does need to be say though this set much more crucial for andru than Pini I don't think there's any question about that they did split in one of their prior meetings this year that at Roland garos and again Pini won that third set six love she serves here three four Far Side serve T Ace number two on the night for all Sarah arani her Devil's partner is watching this one from the box another gold medalist partner gold medalist 100 milph on that serve for Pini this one misses long and wide trying to go out wide to the deuce corner Twirls her racket does Pini before this crucial second serve at four all on the breaker serve is good to a back in out rescue middle Pini back in middle andrescue back hand Way Long right in the slot a very comfortable rally ball and it's not even close to the court Pini to 54 it's a bad Miss for andrescu who's bouncing around right now and these are the moments that for for Pini that throughout this year she's experienced tasted and survived more often than not hour 18 into this one now 45 serve good up the T backand from andrescue up the line palini chips it back into the net it's a really good Surplus one for Bianca andrescu to five all has missed out on a couple of set points both on palini serve and on her own serve has andrescue in this set now going to the deuce side in this five all moment long deep breath for it now ready to go andrescu serve into the net trying to go body blows on her hand again trying to dry it off on this humid night for andrescu second serve good hini back in middle unres res backand middle Pini back in Inside Out rescue Retreats for a forehand that lands on the Baseline now an inside out for him in behind it La Pini swinging volley good Pini can't come up with it and andreski will have another set point I thought maybe the tactics of Pini she drifted back further behind the Baseline just giving herself more time to sight the ball but in the end it was the willingness of andrescu to move forward CAU Pini leaning in the wrong direction it's the 13th net appearance for andrescu in this first set winning nine of those 13 points set point number five for her Pini serving 56 serve good andrescu for into a palini rolled for in middle that misses long Bianca andrescu on her fifth time screaming come on to this crowd and they're into it she takes set number one 7 in the breaker had to have it and eventually gets there and it looks like we might have a shoe change for her on this sweaty night we'll give her a little extra time in between sets one and two so incredible drama around the grounds including over on grandstand it was a breezy first set for Kenan in the first and a turnaround now in the second let's hear from Gil gross yeah absolutely 61 to Sophia Kennan in the first set and then they exchanged breaks early in the second ruk kanu has just gone up a break 32 you know Kenan on one hand she played spec she's played spectacular tennis for the first hour or so of this match on the other hand the composure has not been there that last two all service game it was 15 all ruk kanu hit a net cord winner it trickled over for a winner horrible luck for Ken and you could just see her reaction she actually slammed a ball against the back wall it was not her only show of uh frustration outward frustration in that game uh so you have a strange ju position Kenan is really somewhat in control but seemingly not of her emotions so far all right thank you so much Gil this is what the first couple of days of the US Open are all about we've got drama everywhere and we're covering it all here on US Open radio presented by American Express [Music] [Music] [Applause] [Music] a welcome to the 2024 US Open the next chapter of [Music] spectacular Mike and Mark Woodford here on night number two just some incredible action around the grounds we're down to eight courts keeping an eye on some of the the ones on on the outer stages for those of you know me and how much time I spend at the The Challengers and getting to watch some of the lower ranked players some of these matches I listen Gap Dio right now is is on court number eight he's got a two set to one lead over haime munar of Spain and a break in the four set that is a guy who is a late developer out of Canada yep big player played at the University of Kentucky still doesn't quite understand what he's doing coached by Martin loo who's been around for a very long time Gap dialo is a guy who I am very confident is going to be seated at slams in the next couple of years o whether this is his breakout tournament is yet to be seen but that's a guy who's got the capability of pulling a major upset because big serve plus one type of a game and he's one to watch on court 8 right now yeah he has an offensive game doesn't he and uh the the more opportunities to represent his country and I when you play Davis Cup and you have he successfully won his singles Canada have performed very well in Davis Cup competition it's those experience he's to be able to translate it into tour events now but he does have a highly offensive game and uh it's nice to see that he against Muna who's that's tough opposition but two sets to one and an early break in the fourth that's fantastic for Dio I also told you last night about MAA beluchi a guy who is incredible Talent he has a two sets To None lead with an opportunity against stand vinka over on Stadium 17 yes it I think maybe the conditions as well maybe not that helpful for vinka I would agree but I beluchi is a talent that is a guy who you did you did mention beluchi I was you were not sold I was conf I was confused I actually I thought all Mike's a little tired is he talking bartini or is he talking about amaldi one of the 8,000 Italians that are in the top 100 now went through qualies but had had the rankings been set on Monday let's just say they changed he would have been in the main draw he's inside the top 100 now he's got an opportunity also with a two sets to one lead zizu BS of Belgium over pavl Koto that match over on court 15 again conditions probably for kot off not that helpful although or listen early in the in his career zizo be's a guy who really struggled with humidity you saw it at the Australian Open this year was starting to put a charge into a match against CPAs and then just truly melted uh almost literally okay I wasn't aware of that one but but Bergs is dangerous player what about court 14 what what uh this pushed into the fifth set there yep Maran serving for the match there against one of the qualifiers from Seria movich serving at 54 out there and Christopher okono your Australian mate on court 13 down lost the third set to Nico Jerry the 26 seed but we're going to be keeping an eye on that one just for Mark Woodford if if nothing else on Christopher oconnell I'm still hoping that we can get an interview with Maro with Maro let's just say Gil I know is listening right now we'll see if we'll see if he can get over there if Christopher ok wins that to grab minko just just for you maybe he maybe marinko can put on the headset talk to you well it would be fantastic if we had a camera as well that we could film it as well as have audio you're asking a lot right now W all right let's go back go with audio let's go back inside Armstrong Jasmine palini grabbed a break to start this second set serving one love 15 love big swinging volley to get it to 30 love and not surprised to see Pini from the jump here in the second set the little spark plug getting it done early no and and andresco is probably with great relief that she took that first set so not to say that it's given her time to just relax but it's the bonus of taking that first set back in to back in right now now andu with a big forand Crossing Pini missing the ensuing for him for 35 but yeah a lot of energy spent therefore on Rescue to close out that first set and that often can have that big drop off early in the second mhm certainly that's what you're worried about from her standpoint well you throw it up the other end that Pini has had that challenge of fighting back from an early breakdown pushing it to a tiebreaker but you know can she play another two sets at that level which is what is is needed for her so andrescu maybe not unusual to see this set to potentially just slide by and see if she can resurrect some form in set three but look we're only one game into it game point for Pini and she gets it to get it to two love8 to three points so far in this set as we get to two love alarz and two at one all in their third set so much incredible t going on around the grounds here in night number two as it's a packed house inside Armstrong right now take your seats please at the back of the players thank you and rescue is waiting for those fans to get seated now ready to go hour and a half into this one and it's two love in the second again andrescue pulls off of her service motion waiting for the crowd to settle back in I thought it was continuous oh it is but you're given a little bit of Lee Wave It's directly behind the player behind your opponent specifically the the north south entrances that's where you have a just a little bit of of leeway backhand rescue rolled catches the Baseline now she has to retreat back in again rolled off the Baseline forand palini back in from andrescue goes middle and Pini goes inside out for him punches that into the Ed corner for love 15 much better start for Pini here four winners one unforced error so far in this second set she's on the right side of things there plus two for the night 19 winners 17 on four stairs serve andrescue good palini back in Cross andrescue back in middle palini forand through the middle and rescue forand catches the Baseline good now has a forand cross that doesn't misses wide and this is coming off the tracks in a hurry for Bianca andrescu it's love 30 at love two it's a big swing momentum for the Italian the last eight eight of the last 10 points takes a long pause and again up against it with the serve clock serve good Pini for in Middle andrescu can't come up with it barely even able to make a step to her left to track that down I'm actually a little bit worried about the physicality for her right now there was Zero movement there break chances three of them for Pini Sur for on Rescue good up fa te coming in behind it gets punished there that was a huge return into the body did well just to redirect that ball into the court palini missing the ensuing backand but this feels like an onslaught right now from palini maybe just totally relaxed palini the ball seems a bit more pop off of the face of the racket 1540 pulls off of the service motion again does andrescue now serves long trying to go body I mean listen with un rescue you're always just a little bit concerned about the physical ality considering these Last 5 Years serve good Pini back into an andreski for and up the line palini backing cross andrescu has to block that back drop shot from palini andrescue there running forehand good up the line and into the corner a little fist pump from her two straight points now to 30 40 well a decision by Pini has to be made last minute but maybe the drop shot to Direction shouldn't have gone over to the forehand side been better placed over on the backand side andrescu almost like was reading that leaning towards that drop shot already third chance Pini three of eight on the night serve good back in Cross and rescue goes back in up the line running forand palini forand and rescue roll to a palini back in middle and rescue forand to a Pini back excuse me forand cross she now has a forehand through the middle rescue forand inside in pulls it wide Jasmine Pini on a dead Sprint to the chair as she gets it to three love two breaks to the good for the Italian what a turn around quickly here in this second set we've already mentioned it but a big turnaround in the second for Emma Raku our former Champion let's go to Gil gross for an update on grand stand G excuse me Gil Mike uh Sophia Kennan takes a lot of risk off of the ground on a regular basis and in the first set it was finding the court in the second set I will give credit to raducanu there have been some very impressive defensive displays she's absorbing uh the the the big blows of Kenan very well but Kenan is making a lot of errors in these extended exchanges and Ruku now up 53 in this second set look to force a third and looking for her first win since winning the title here in 2021 she lost first round in 2022 to Alis coret and then she did not make it to New York last year because she was recovering from surgery yeah that's that's wild to think about Gil especially for for somebody with with that kind of success to not have won one here in the last couple of years that's that's a pretty crazy stat how do how does she look mentally right now does she look engaged and and really there I I think that is kind of one of those things that a lot of fans especially over in Great Britain that what they look for with Emma right I think she looks great mentally she's been very levelheaded there's been positive displays of emotion she does look to her box quite often for instruction I'm not saying that's a negative thing but it's certainly something I've noticed far more than most players and she's had such a carousel in her coaching box uh so there's a lot of Engagement there that was a beautiful backhand down the line winner that you heard the crowd react to and roduku has three set points here at love 40 against the kenon serve all right thank you so much gills we'll take you back inside Arthur Ash Stadium it's two all right now on the serve of Lee two at one set a piece Mikan Mark Woodford Mark Lucero is court side I'm checking on social media as Gil was giving us that report from grandstand there there's a lot of love right now for Lee 2 and just the joy with which he's playing in in this match after he kind of settled the nerves early in the second set he misses a forehand here inside out and alarz has an opening here at L 30 and and Mark Lucero who's Courtside and that that's so important for these underdogs and these big if you will mismatches on paper to to kind of play with that Joy isn't it 100% I mean usually like the biggest thing in a match like this is what kind of belief do you bring to the the court with no belief you know it's really difficult to execute anything you want to do and then the match can start going really quickly and all of a sudden you're in this whirl pool of hurt he's really done a good job taking his time settling down and taking advantage of you know some mistakes from alcr in that second set yeah and that's something we were talking about last night I know Mark you were on other calls last night but for Woody and I we were talking about the fact that Radu albot that first opportunity to play Novak jovic last night and wasn't able to play with that joy and freedom that on a day where Novak was definitely not sharp rol return from alcarez two goes big forand to an alcarez forand up the line that is missed wide it's 30 all now so Lee is 28 years of age so 12 years ago he was in a member of the junior Davis Cup team and I I was the the captain o of the team it was tanasi konakis Lee 2 and andri and there were times that that I felt with Lee and and again I've hit with him since he was 12 13 years of age but the the smiles that we are seeing throughout this match and yes it's a way of calming your nerves or perhaps masquerading your nerves he displayed that at at times in practice and I actually came down hard on him and I said you know listen you're representing a austalia you don't need to be you know making fun of being on the practice court here this is actually this is real stuff you need to get a hold of yourself and you know if you make a mistake it's not all laugh it off and you know you you need to just pull yourself together he he actually wasn't happy that I came down hard on him but uh I I just I just hope that look it's he's going to be overjoyed that he's won a set here he's at facing break point now on this particular game M has a forand inside out to an alcarez backand up the line that misses into the net that's another unforced error for Carlos alarz as we get to do so it's it's nice to have that you know to be all Smiley and happy and calm yourself down but he's going to realize right now is an opportunity th this is reality is you you've got alare that is playing way below his best you you know it's not all happy smiley let's see if you can you know just because you're ranked 180 you don't get a free pass here is that too harsh no I I I think that's right it's it's listen the one word we use a lot in this sport is balance and that's where you have to have that balance between the joy and the enjoyment of the opportunity but also buckling down when it needs to be there he's got a game point misses his serve into the net second serve upcoming for Lee 2 at two all serve good alar has backand cross two picks up that backand but misses wide that's a great return with depth and back to dece I mean even in the the early part of this third set been keeping a an eye on it on the variety of screens in front of us and there's alcare is still not playing his he doesn't have to play his best tennis but he is very scratchy out there and this is where Lee you know if he can just you know thread points together he's obviously got to keep his nose in front by holding serve here but he was going to get opportunities the way alare is playing right now he's just lost his Focus after that Breezy first set game point here for Lee 2 after a missed return for Carlos alaras we should point out that Jasmine palini has gone to five love three breaks up in that second set so that is going to be headed towards a third third set here one set a piece game point Lee two serve is into the net second serve for lead to with this game point serve is good alcarez back in through the middle two four and right behind alcarez who misses the ensuing backand Le stays out in front we are on surve and set number three Lee 2 leads 32 on US Open radio presented by American Express [Music] oh [Music] [Music] mation Mark Woodford in the booth Mark Lucero is Courtside and we've been talking about that that balance for Lee 2 in terms of realizing now that the opportunity is there and and mark Lucero Courtside what are you seeing in terms of that balance yeah it's been noticeable Mike and mark the last 30 minutes or so the game face like Lee 2 has the game face on you know first set was a little Smiley for my liking as well Mark but it was noticeable you know after winning one of those big games walk into his chair the game face was on good to hear good to hear it it uh you you know this is a a moment for for Lee that you want to embrace you want to take on you don't want to just walk away think okay well you know I'm I'm far away from this level I mean if you're going to be a professional tennis player this is the level that you need to be shooting for yeah it's it's on top of it you think about what the points would mean to him at this stage of the career the opportunity to get to a new career high the money that comes along with second round here is not going to serves 15 love and I guess it goes back to what how we were introducing that the match as well does lead to walk onto the court with the the guidance from his team around him with the belief that he can win or is it do you set set him up to like or I can win a set yeah or or are you just happy to be there right alcarez exploiting the backand of lead to in that moment for 30 love should point out that Raku did take that second set 63 did finish it off there has a one love on serve in the third set with Kenan andrescu just got one of the three breaks back 51 on Armstrong gab Dio just failed to serve out his match against haime munar alcarez served good backend returned to a backend slice from alcarez into the net and he just immediately knew he missed it interesting thought you know listen Juan Carlos Ferrero that that coaching relationship a lot has been made of it over the last couple of years is this the point where he starts being a little bit more vocal well some of the camera shots that we've seen that yes I think he has tried to provide input throughout that most of that second set gets a free point on the serve I feel like he he wasn't counseling his uh his player like that maybe he was like okay if you if you want to do it your way let's let's see it so now that uh you know he's dropped that second set it I feel like Ferrero is giving a bit more input and Mark will be able to keep a close watch on that at court side forand here from alcarez to a forand cross two alcarez up the line with the 4 and two back in to an alcarez inside out for him with some Pace to three all Mark court side you know on Mark's Point piggybacking Juan Carlos Ferrero didn't say much until after one of the games alcarez kind of chirped at the Box you know he threw up his hands with like a Hallelujah after he had an easy hold and said something to the team and then Ferrero started getting very engaged was it an Engaged positively or or more coming down a little bit harshly on alares no I I think it was positive but it was finally like okay you ready to listen like now let's listen interesting okay Bianca and rescue trying to hold to get to 52 as two goes big serve up the te caught the line 15 love and right on the te's we approach the 2hour mark for this one 15 loves Ser at three all good through the Middle with the return for hand two alcarez matches backand from two through the middle big from alcarez to blocks it back alcarez inside in forand two forand up the line to a backand cross from alcarez two backand cross alcarez goes backand up the line running forand two alarz running for and up the line to a two backand middle alarz backing up the line to a two four hand cross catches the line chipped back by alcarez short forand inside out from Two and alcarez can't come up with that one two puts his hand to his ear wants to hear from this packed Stadium as he gets it to 30 love what's most notable for me on that is we got a picture of the lead to box and you could just see Ben Milner as coach a massive smile on his face he's enjoying this moment right now amazing stuff right now for Lee 2 three all 30 love toss goes up here from Lee 2 serve is good blocked back by alares drop shot from two is not a good one alaras there easy for him into the ad corner for 355 had a little am ambition ambitious choosing to attempt a a drop shot that landed on the service line nicely it's not great no especially after he just you know said to the crowd look at look at my big forehand serve is good up the tea alcarez rolls a return to a 4and two alcarez forand up the line to a backhand up the line from two alcarez forand cross two tracks it down short alcarez inside out forand clean into the at corner Here Comes car alcarez to 30 [Music] all still very stoic isn't it team alare yeah one of his brothers is in the box tonight believe what he's he has one brother who's playing in juniors right now what 13 13ish 14ish I believe so the one that's here is generally gets on the court and has it and warms him up hits with him is that the the scenario yeah Alvaro with him here but yeah just just does give him a little bit of hit from time to time Inside Out 4 and from two in behind it has a short volley and it misses it does lead two Carlos alaras with a break chance yeah that was a missed opportunity yeah the team for Lee 2 realizes he's had openings here they're telling him just to Simply back himself in this moment alaras three of 11 on his break chances tonight 3040 in this three all service game yeah not surprising to hear that time violation given really did take some extra moments here before this massive Point serve well wide not even close to the doubles alley there from two in this 3040 moment second serve on this break ch hands serve good alcarez backhand roll to a two Inside Out forehand alcarez backand cross two backhand middle alcarez forand inside in running forand two is short alarz inside out foran in behind it and not going to have to come up with the volley that was a missed opportunity for Lee 2 from 30 love to a break and alarz in control now of this third set break lead 43 on US Open radio presented by American Express [Music] [Music] mation Mark Wood up in the booth Mark luo's Courtside back inside orash stadium Carlos alare in a battle with Lee 2 it's 4 three now in the third set Matia beluchi just took out Stan vinka straight sets four six and three over on Stadium 17 I warned you about that one warned you about it Woody you did you did that that's why there are streamers and celebration going on in our booth ride now but gavello has a match point in his match with haime munar alcarez just comes up with a brilliant forehand on a Sprint for 15 love you could you could actually have a a home run here look Baluchi's won M Gabby Dio has just won M and and Bergs Berg is going to be headed to a fifth set fifth set so I mean you could did you go with Chris o Connell that one I I I I I'm surprised he's out in front in a fourth set with a two sets to one lead against could for three with the others that would be that' be pretty impressive for me and I probably would shut it down at that point and head back home and and not do another night here on US Open raid if if that were to happen just just know do you do a phantom draw by any chance before Oh no I never you know what I never actually pick matches ever because I want things to just unfold so that I don't have a preset thought that's just my way of approaching things okay 15 all in this 4-3 service game brilliant body serve there from Carlos alcarez to 3015 I know my half of the draw today has been decimated with some of these results that we've seen which one really got you who was the one that you had Peg to go late into the draw that is not faaa I thought that he would uh actually go deep as well as cus which is unusual for me not to go with an Australian and a fellow adelan but I I actually thought Cy pass might be kind of ripe to go even though his record here at the open I know is disastrous right he's just I guess backed it up again today with the result I just my concern was obviously with all of the drama with his dad over the last couple weeks I just didn't know if his his mind was going to be in the right space that was the concern yeah know tanasi was saying in there was mentioned before the match and I think maybe Stephanos actually tried to tag him with one of the balls at late in the match okay I'm sure it's on social media somewhere yeah kind of that Greek glove love love is is a word that we'll use it here 53 is aarz was able to come up with just a little block winner off the forehand wing and consolidates and gives himself a little bit of space face here in this third set Le 2 is actually coming back to the chair caros bernardis conversation with him and they're they're laughing they're giggling right now oh he's asking where the serve clock is he does have a Time violation already right but he was asking again first match on a court like this where he where he can look to know when to kind of speed things up in his motion so it's Lee 2 serving to stay in this set 35 this is his first serve T well long Dio 75 in the fourth impressive win there serve good back hand from alcarez two goes back in Cross alcarez backand middle two inside up forand misses long it's love 15 love 15 2 hours 7 minutes on the clock for this one Bianca and Rescue by the way did leave the court for full wardrobe change needed to get away from the court 81 minute first set 30 minute second set over there love 15 serve for two is good alcarez back hand catches the Baseline four and two alcarez running for and Crosses into the net it's 15 all [Music] 15 alcarez saying to himself get into the court body momentum into some of these swings a little bit more defensive from him than we would have expected heading into this match can 35 15 all set a piece two serving From The Far Side Ser good alcarez back in roll middle two inside out forand to an alcarez backing up the line two running forehand alcarez forand middle two goes 4 inside into an alcarez 4 cross two 4 in Cross misses long it's 1530 alcarez within two points of the set it's interesting I I feel like the weight of shot from to the end of the court has actually picked up in the first set it just seemed like he had no way of matching the power o of alcare and I'm not sure whether it's it's now that alare has maybe lost his you know concentration a little bit maybe his pace of shot has has wavered but perhaps Mark Courtside might be able to give us some input yeah I totally agree it looks like two is really letting the forehand go a lot more than he did in the first set misses the backing into the net does need two so Carlos alaras will have couple of set points he is one of three on his break chances here in the set four of 12 for the night math checks out to 33% yeah and Mar I know when when you played when you got tight how did that affect your game was it the weight of shot or did it affect your legs legs first then the way of shot but I I think a big reason why two is able to have time to really release on the forehand Al isn't taken away as much time as he did earlier in that match right interesting big serve there from two up the T to get a cheapy a free point on that set point for alaras 3040 [Music] now Spaniard with an opportunity 46 minutes into the set serve from two into the net five of 16 on his second serves in this set serve is good alcarez backand that's a really aggressive second from two the return misses long we're a dece now got 35% second serve success for Lee 2 and that's not surprising considering Carlos alcarez second on tour in terms of his joy in second serve returns yeah two from s two serve will miss long trying to go te there but at the same time that it's providing opportunities for alare and he's only four of 14 on break points in the match that out forehand from him and two misses the ensuing backand misses it well long it's another set point for alarz see if he can improve the stats here breaking for the fifth time the number three seed and the crowd getting pretty engaged here they love drama they want their big names to get through set point number three serve T good chip return land short to Inside Out forehand in behind it into the net the back Wing Carlos Al two sets to one3 in the third and a fourth set is upcoming you're listening to us open radio presented by American Express [Music] n [Music] la back on us open radio on night two with the 2024 US Open gilr here on grand stand where we have a high stakes first round match between Sophia Kennan and Emma raducanu the 2021 Champion we're in a third set Emma raducanu or actually Sophia Kennan just held serve to knot things up at two a piece her father looking on in the Box maruku is set to serve in this fifth game of the third set the crowd mixed here on grand stand Ruku popular from that Championship run and Kenan of course the American Mike all right thanks so much Gil who will be talking to the winner of that one after the conclusion of that match Lee 2 has left the court good think a wardrobe change so let's go inside Armstrong just for a couple of minutes because it's a pretty pivotal moment for andrescu and Pini the start of the third set and again Bianca andrescu went down five love down three breaks was able to claw one of them back and made it a 62 second set Miss return there from palini on induced point but Woody you can speak to it when you're down five love everything going against you and you're just able to get a a little bit bit of momentum even though you know you're going to lose that set yep you just get something back so you're able to get a little bit of positivity into a decid like this exactly it was it was imperative for andrescu to at least get on the board uh in late in the second set as you say just to be able to get that kind of momentum or at least draw a line in the sand and start aesh in set three second serve for under rescue is long and this game obviously will have a level of importance for the Canadian sixth double fault for her she essentially squats down to try to just loosen up those muscles there and again really looked fatigued early in the second set after that lengthy first dece number three serve good Pini back in through the middle and rescue goes back in Cross comes up clean winner into the corner for a game point and that's a a smart first serve really just slowed it down made sure that it was into play caught Pini by surprise and the return was short andrescu swept on the ball striking it into the open court so the game point for andrescue serve good palini forand andrescue rolls a forand with death Pini picks it up and rescue forand middle Pini forand cross and rescue forand to a Pini forand Middle with death and rescue blocks that back now has to run for a forand cross palini goes forand up the line but it's into the net a big hold there for Bianca andrescue and again has won three of the last four games it's on serve early in a third but again you'll take momentum at this stage for Bianca and rescue she gets it to one love Carlos alar right now as again mentioned that Lee 2 has gone for a very lengthy wardrobe change alcarez joking around with his team right now meanwhile Bianca on Rescue you can hear her there she actually accidentally sat down after game one of the third that's not allowed chair said something she apologized but just kind of shows the so andreski is asking for an ice towel there so clearly the physicality and the humidity bothering her as she starts this third set and again is trying to stretch right now she's about to return Pini serve she'd been trying to to control her breathing late in that first set even was noticeable at the uh how she was profusely sweating compared to Pini at the other end blocked return from andreski with a l sweep volley from the baseline from Pini and she misses wildly for love 15 a little bit baffling there really good body serve into andrescu palini serve From The Far Side good andcue back in middle palini for and cross and rescue digs out of for and cross palini running for and good andrescu lob forand palini has to retreat forand Jo andrescu forand cross palini chips that squat shot andrescu for in up the line in behind it and she's got it to L 30 as she got Pini stretched bit of a clunky point but again manufacturing something is the Canadian and not giving any territory at all playing most of her tennis around that Baseline know to when she does play offensively and willing to take that risk taking time away from Pini love 30 moment here on the palini serve that serve is good chip return L short Pini Inside Out forehand clean winner 1530 again Back to Basics in that key moment Le 2 has come back out on court fourth set has begun there on ash and in such a a rookie moment as well as he came back onto the court he could see alare out there waiting to play and and he kind of apologized sorry I had to go change my gear and I took a little long for him to forand and alar actually yeah just really powering through a couple of forehands right now but on Rescue here inside Armstrong grabbing a couple of break chances still breathless yes it doesn't feel like it's comfortable physically for her right now 1540 serve palini good under resue for and netted 1 14 so 3040 second look for the Canadian getting a lot of encouragement from her team right now can't see the dog Coco yet I haven't seen Coco Koko usually arrives at most matches here Koko is here within the vicinity 3040 serve good under rescue for and misses long two Mis Returns on those two break chances dece now yeah there's no question in my mind would he that physicality I give Pini the advantage in this third set and it's definitely showing here should point out as well that Kennan has gone up a break in the Third on grand stand Gil gross is there waiting for a postmatch interview servant juice is good andrescue for to a palini for and sprayed Inside Out andrescu shaking her racket towards her team as she grabs another break chance third in this game very rare hush In This Crowd inside Armstrong break point number three palini the serve it's good andrescu backing up the line running for and palini forehand from andrescu is missed long and again just feels like she's a step slow right now that doesn't mean she can't find way but it feels like she is a step slower at the moment ear hold for alarz in that fourth set one love rescue did you see that s that motion she just made to her team I'll get to it in a second palini missing the first almost like she was saying should I go cross cross yeah think is what I took out of that second serve for pinia do good and rescue big for him missed into the net that's a massive swing yeah look at it that the concept yes you go out after the slower paced second delivery of Pini but you've also got to Mo keep those feet moving get that weight going into the return of serve it's like her her feet just stopped moving and she just tried to use her arm dragged it into the net King Point Pini sered T good rolled return palini inside out for hand andrescue tracks down the back end but misses long and it is one all those three missed opportunities and Pini actually with a smile on her face I think she understands here that the opportunity is there again they played three sets earlier in the year Pini won that one six love in the third she has to see that andrescu is struggling a bit physically and she knows that that is a massive advantage in this third set so one all yeah so how how does Pini go about that if you up the other end you notice your opponent may be St struggling a a little bit to you try to keep the ball up the middle of the the court that is risky because andrescu then can actually start to take advantage create her own angles or in a true European style does Pini go from corner to corner to keep andrescu off balance this first serve there for andrescue trying to go te 2 hours and 11 minutes into to this matchup second serve into the net it's another double fault for andrescue believe that's number seven love 15 quickly should also point out Christopher oconnell the Aussie serving for a pretty big upset against niik jar 5-3 in the fourth set Kennan maintaining break lead 43 in their third set on grand stand drue at love 15 one all serve wide there was not a lot on that first serve second serve for her here that is good Pini back in through the M miss long andrescue I Woody I'm I'm concerned about her ability to get through this third set and finish this match I mean she miss palini misses the return and andrescu takes a couple of very sluggish steps trying to again get those muscles moving and it's just not there one Al 15 Al serf for andrescue good palini back in inside out to andrescue forand palini for and cross andrue forand just rolls it over now it tracks that down big lob from her Pini swinging volley in behind it and gets the winner yeah it feels like this could be a Runway train right now can oncue survive 1530 yeah that's a an incredible swinging foram volley certainly for for me I would have played it more of a traditional volley or even helping guiding a player maybe play a less risky forand volley but Pini executed it to Perfection for in from andrescue to a palini for and cross andrescue forand middle Pini goes forand middle backand andrescue to a palini backand middle andrescue backand to a Pini rolled forehand andrescue steps into a back in Cross but pulls it wide and nearly collapses into the court well she is struggling to get back up Woody this is this is bad she struggling to move back to the Baseline here it's 1540 she's asking for the physio so the trainer is going to be coming out here after this game we get a a look at it here but she immediately after missing the back end nearly collapses I can't tell you exactly what it is a foot issue maybe cough I feel like that was it maybe a game ago that she was stretching that she was that right Cal could be a cramping situation regardless break chances for Pini serve good palini through the Middle andrescu with a four and inside out in behind it swinging volley good Pini there with the back end volley andrescue Pini can't track that down well handled there from un rescue 3040 now and again bent over in pain is on Rescue so this might test out the time between points yeah she's going to be really close although they just turned off the serve clock on court interestingly she's at the line though she just shakes her head towards her team again we've how many times over the last couple of years have we seen this for Bianca it's heartbreaking to watch 3040 serve for our rescue near side serve is good up the te palini rolls a forehand short ball andrescue misses the uing forehand and again nearly collapses into the court near tears right now for Bianca andrescue she hasn't left the court Pini looking at her Pini has the break okay it's 2-1 andrescue a slow walk to the chair palini I I think you know happy to be out in front here but with a little bit of concern for Bianca andreescu's physicality I I think we all are just as it's the story of her career o over the last four years is just the health of Bianca andrescu so again some physicality issues will'll keep you updated on that one but let's move back inside Arthur Ash stadium and Mark Lucero is Courtside for that one and and Mark it's it's been all Carlos alarz here in this fourth set walk us through this three love lead for the three SE yeah guys it looks like the physicality of the match is finally starting to catch up with Lee too I've seen some grimaces on his face I've seen him start to shake out his legs especially that left leg it's kind of wandering a little slowly these last few points that was like you mentioned from your court from Armstrong it was a slow walk to the bench over here after that last game yeah that's that's tough to see so we'll stay here on Ash and we are keeping one eye on Bianca andrescue who looks again hate to say it cuz she looks like she's nearly in tears here because this has been the story of her last couple of years getting ice on Both calves so makes me think it is a cramping issue potentially with the humidity yeah yeah well maybe look on the previous change we we we saw her asked the chair onire can we get the ice tows I need to to get ready you know for the next change of ends but she's obviously upset that she's lost her serve there but she has sat down and not used any of the ice towels that she's requested clearly she is distressed and she needs to cool off the the train has come out they've spoken to her it looks like they've given her some electrolyte drink to to try and um give her a bit of a boost but again you know if you're overheating take care of yourself her mind is absolutely elsewhere at the moment so I I don't really see her surviving this match right now and I think that's the case for Lee 2 as well as he just dumps a serve into the net a second that is just woefully undercooked there love 30 in a love three game for Lee 2 toss serve good alcarez rolls a backand to a forand inside out for two alcarez inside in forand missed into the net it's 1530 and two again trying to get his muscles activated we should point out that cannons within one game of moving on as well 53 over Raku and most importantly for my tag team partner over here Dr Woodford Chris oconnell into the second round four sets over Nico Jerry 63 in the fourth that's a that's a notable upset yeah that's it's a solid win for for Chris uh definitely given some of the injuries that that he has had to shoulder in particular it has been his shoulder well well he has to carry marinko around as well so I mean that heavy luggage maro's going to I'm going to send a clip of all of the times you you've taken maybe just a little shot at Maro through the day that it's I I like to you know return return of serve was one of my fores and so I'm just returning a few back at moringo for what I had to suffer when I was coaching him love three 30 all four hand for two into the dece corner chipped back squash shot for alcarez two for him in behind it but alcarez coming up with the pass no didn't miss by much there but Le two with the game point here 4030 and again I think right now he's mentally trying to convince himself that his body can go to a fifth gain point for two serve good alcarez back in two chips of back in to an alcarez backend slice two stepping in backend slice up the line is into the net it's Deuce well it looked like he just did not want to put any pressure on that right leg lead to don't know if Mark is noticing any uh signs of of cramp serve for two at dece off the net and long second serve up coming for Lee two that is good to an alcarez backing up the line backand slice from two to an alcarez forand middle two forand cross catches the line rolled back by alcarez two steps into a backand but misses into a net this is what we will call a virtual Match Point here for Lee 2 can't afford to go down a second break in this fourth bouncing around trying to move relatively quickly here break chance alarz serve good alcarez backand to a two backand cross alcarez backand cross sliced back from two it's into the net full left Mark Lucero your court side tell us what you see in terms of that drop off in physicality right now for Lee 2 these last couple of games yeah really no push on the serve you could even see him when he was I don't know if the broadcast had him skip into his towel but very little pressure on his right leg I actually meant his right it was my left his right and just you know not the same amount of flexion all the the typical stuff you know looks visibly tense from here all right thank you so much Marcus alcaras for love Bianca andrescue has gotten back out on court it's an ace for Carlos alarz here but Pini leads 31 and rescue serving over there six a of the night for caros alar serve for alcarez into the net second serve for alcarez is Good Ship return alcarez goes big Inside Out forehand and Woody it feels like he knows this one is is done and just a matter of just getting to that finish line and I I would think both players know that this match is done 30 love at four love serve good two with a forand through the middle alcarez back in cross two throws up a lob alcarez Retreats overhead good into the deuce corner and game points have two just again a a really good showing through sets two and three but out of energy and alaras comes up with a another Ace as alar to Five Love here in set number four we'll come back for the conclusion of this one inside arthat as you're listening Us open radio presented by American [Music] [Applause] Express e [Music] vation Mark Woodford in the booth court side is here's conclusion of this first round match up for Carlos alarz a very game lead two until this fourth set Bianca andrescue is competing we will go back to Armstrong there in just a couple of minutes lead two serving love five has a backhand slice off the line to an alcarez for and cross two forand cross is good alarz chips that back short it's good two with a back end up the line alcarez forehand cross two is done I I love the effort love has not played a five set match and and this is a moment where it kind of shows yeah yeah exactly the one time that he played at the Australian Open that he didn't have to play five sets and and it's a a different Beast Al together 100% yeah the idea of getting out there and you're playing the to the level you expect yourself to to play at a high level when you're facing someone like alare and we've certainly seen probably both ends of the spectrum for Lee 2 tonight return Miss there from Al as we get to 1530 so 1534 lead two love five serve goodz returned to a two four and off the net good alare four and cross two has to track that down but can't Carlos out has arrived at match point he'll have two looks I think the Applause for Lee two after this match is going to be pretty loud he serves here 1540 serve T good alcarez with a back end to a two back end up the line alcarez for up the line two L swinging volley for ALR no it's into the net 304 a little bit of laughter from his brother ano as well after his brother misses a swinging volley on Match Point Kennan 64 in the third over ranu Gil gross will have an interview with kenon coming up serve from two he's just trying to roll it in right now and get to the Finish Line second serve for lead 2 at 3040 Match Point serve is good alcarez backand off the net onto his side [Music] now two laughing he's he's on his last legs quite literally is that smile like I have to play another couple of points potentially another game I want it out so dece now would love five serve for two up the good alcarez backing up the line two backhand slice back up the line to a four-and cross from alcarez two forand to an alare for an up the line two lob alcarez Retreats overhead oh no he's missed another one Lee two is doing all he can just to get to the finish line and allow the opportunities the fans are stunned alarz is stunned Lee 2 has a game point and just not the same amount of footwork it's almost like he stopped [Applause] alar shaking his head he's got a little bit of a giggle to it as well so game point here serve is into the net yeah Lee is is ready to get some ice on his body second served good alcarez back end cross two with a back end up the line to a running forand alcarez running for and from two is L long I I do have some concern about Leu his right leg you can tell he's that's a that's a hitch in the gide up Deuce now in this love five game in the fourth set serve good T chip return L short two with a 4 in Cross and now can't come up with it a fist pump from Lee two towards his team and they're [Music] two that's not a boo that's a two and he loves it well we heard some I thought they were booze after he won the second set but perhaps that's what they were calling out was two the serve from him with game point just missing wide off of the net second serve good alcarez with the back end and misses has done it he's avoided the bagel listen to this crowd gese and and these moments for players like Lee are rare he has accounted very well for himself and deserves deserves that moment it won't be his match but he gets that moment return through the Middle alcarez with a backand two blocks it back volley from alcarez That's A Touch of Class drop volley is perfect for 15 lock 15 lock I think I heard Mark Lucero yelling too as well and and understandably so Mark pretty cool moment for a guy who's been through a lot lost his mom a couple of years ago that has been such a story for him serf he's a let to another first serve here at 15 love serve is good and a short forehand inside out for caros alarz for 31 yeah and it hasn't been a a plentiful season for Lee 2 either he really struggled in the early part of the the year not posting back toback wins for a period of time and a change of rackets on the Grass Court Season through the month of June July that brought about a a change of heart a change of form and well we've arrived at this stage experience that he'll never forget indeed but the Night Belongs to to with three more match points the toss the serve he is good it's an eight carlosz does survive the push from the Australian qualifier lead two and is thre in four sets 62 46 63 61 Carlos alcarez some very kind words there for Lee two who continues to hear it from this crowd but Carlos aarz pops back on into the court thumbs up to this crowd he's on to the second round here at the 2024 US Open Mark rero let's get your final thoughts from court side on this one and first of all huge huge props to lead to for bringing that level particularly after a first set that looked like this match might not even make the hour mark Carlos alcarez though in the end showing this physicality that he can take his game to and really challenging the qualifier lead to to see if he can match it Carlos alra has a chance to come back next round and play better you know you want to survive a day like today pick your feet up tomorrow get on the practice court and then come back on Thursday see what you got all right thank you so much Mark appreciate all your court side coverage here throughout the night and maybe have the Beasty Boys sending mark off um Le is about I want to stay on ash just because I want to hear this this crowd send off for Lee and we're in the midst of a change over on Armstrong so Lee is he's taking every second a lot of to him out out on court there and understandably so but it's it's going to be a pretty cool send off for him Carlos alarz is changing clothes and and getting ready for his post oh he's new new kicks those are some very nice sneakers that he's he's got out there it's going to throw the watch on as well but yeah pretty cool moment for Lee 2 still taking every second now he's got the bags and he's walking off let's hear this crowd support for Le 2 [Applause] [Applause] didn't think he was going to ever have a moment like that and he does so Carlos alz is through in four set so let's get you inside Armstrong as we get you back into this third set Jasmine palini has been able to maintain this break lead 43 now in this third set again andrescue physically really struggling right now but continuing to give it a go Pini from the near side 43 serve is good andrescu through the middle palini inside out forand love andrescue swinging volley from Pini good into the dece corner the cramping issues continue here on Rescue couldn't even make much of an attempt to track down that ball it's 15 love missing just long after the net cord there for palini so she'll give me another first serve upcoming here again 43 15 love serve good andrescu rolls up for him good Pini for and cross chipped back by andrescu drop shot from Pini andrescue there big swing palini chip andrescue missing the volley was there it's on the backhand Wing it's 30 Lu a lot of effort going into that point and that was unforced error number 12 although I'm not sure we would consider that an unforced error that that final volley Miss she was under a bit of [Music] duress you wouldn't see her look at her team just what it would have felt good off the face of the racket it only just missed clipping the top of the tape big return from unrc as a swinging volley of Peron and this time clean into the dece corner off the backand side 305 now you know I have to say Mike been watching you know this match as the way it's unfolded and the last time we checked in I mean she was really overheating wasn't she but she's been tended to over the last two change of Ends by the trainer and kind of given a almost like an ice bath it's like a rub down and she just looks a bit more engaged right now on dress scoop big return again off the backand side drawing an air from Pini I want to say I think that is one of the biggest things that the tours have done both the ATP and WTA allowing change over treatment for for players who are cramping it's not a medical timeout but somebody out there just to make sure there's ice on those legs so that we don't have some of the scenes we saw in years past with players collapsing on court it's been a huge change and I think it's a a welcome one big spot here 30 Al serve Pini good block back by andrescu palini for and cross andrescu tracks it down through the middle palini back in Cross andrescu there with a backand palini for and cross it misses long it's a break chance andrescu again nearly doubled over in pain but she's got the great chance right now 340 she is 0 for three on her chances in the set three of eight for the [Applause] night bent over at the waist right now as she prepares for this huge return 3040 Ser T just wide 2 hours 37 minutes in second serve for the five seat that is good andreski run around big for him through the middle Pini for and cross squash shot on Rescue volley Pini and rescue there Lo swinging volley for Pini andrescu back in Cross Pini blocks it back andrescu for and up the line Pini slices that back it's good andrescu rolls a forehand good Pini backand cross and andrescu has to stop she can't move so it's a backhand winner for Pini andrescue raises her arms to the skies begging for help she's not getting it right now we it dece oh I'm wondering whether andrescu thought that the last shot of Pini was going to miss she took it on the rise and it's it's almost like it just crept over the top of the net and really stunning andrescu these points have to be short right now for bian on Rescue she can't play past 10 shots serve off the net and long for palini serving from this near side second serve upcoming for the Italian incredible year she's had second is long it's a double for Pini just the second of the night taking a long pause here one double in the first one double now in the third for Pine 47 minute third set and rescue 0 for four now on our break chances here in the third toss serve for Pini good and rescue forand through the middle Pini forehand rescue big inside in Pini tracks it down cross drop shot on Rescue in behind it Pini pops it up on Rescue B it's go Bean Rescue level us four all in the third well that was calmly executed been able to push her opponent behind the Baseline and then her Court positioning was healthy forcing a drop shot followed up by a volley into the open court so back to four games a piece and now the tough work Mike this is where she's got to dig deep deeper andrescu she serves from The Far Side actually pulls off a little bit of noise in the crowd so now finally ready to go circuit cini backand just misses [Music] [Applause] long these two yeah digging deep is exactly right 2 hours 40 minutes you could just hear the team talking to andrescu right there trying to see if she can match their belief right now serve good Pini for an inside out to an un rescue back in middle Pini four to an un rescue for him mid Pini rolls an inside out forand andcue wasn't going to drag it down lands on the Baseline for 15 all she seems a bit surprised that that landed in Pini redirecting beforehand up the line line comfortably inside the Baseline and sideline so tension Rising once again so 15 all serve into the net for un rescue second serve caught the back of the line Cor in for andrescue cross palini tracks it down Chip Shot there from andrescue palini backing slice off the good andu back hand up the line she retreats to the Baseline palini squash shot good andrescu rolls a backand Pini backand cross andcue backing out the line into net way just missed the opportunity there had the opportunity to follow that backand in chose not to do it I just wonder whether she she just doesn't have that extra energy to move herself to take some of these shots out of the air Mike [Music] [Applause] and rescue again bumping up against that serf clock she's down to two toss goes up serve into the net so 1530 and a second serve again blows on that right hand sweaty right hand second good Pini backing through the middle and rescu has to roll for in short swinging volley palini is good andru for him Vol Pini yes absolutely what a reach from Jasmine Pini break chances for the Italian to get it right back4 oh mik I I really believe this is where the doubles activity for Pini is paying off be able to take that ball out of the air and move forward and the stretch volley that was the toughest volley the last one just had to open up the racket face and get it over the net successfully and rescue needs the surf plus one badly surf good palini through the middle rescue back hit cross in behind it l Pini will miss L that's just what the doctor ordered for [Applause] 344 so time for to vent a bit of frustration that was a a tentative forehand return didn't get the racket head going through the ball body and set yourself up here we body and set yourself up that was the call from the team for on Rescue who is again very close to the serf clock very close break point number two there it is serve at 340 long well long second serve for Bianca that is good Coran palini to andrescu backing up the line forand from palini oh my word are you kidding me with that shot unbelievable Jasmine palini lates that one up the line she breaks 54 and we serve for it in a moment on US Open radio presented by American Express [Music] [Music] [Music] my mark Woodford bringing you home here on Armstrong also getting you prepared for Shelby Rogers and Jessica Pula on ash still to come on Armstrong as well Tommy Paul lenzo Sono begs kotov still in action over on 15 as well Jasmine palini serving for the match against Bianca andrescu 5-4 serve good andrescu forand middle palini forehand misses well long love 15 15 very quickly to the line the Italian not going to worry about a time violation here no doubt serve for palini is good and rescue forand middle Pini forand middle and rescue forand inside out to a Pini backand cross and rescue backand middle Pini forand cross and Rescue tracks it down but it's into the net not going for enough early here Woody is on Rescue she doesn't have the capability of going more than four swings come on come on adjust adapt go after more yeah I think it's at that balance that she's you know right on the edge of exhaustion oh just physical presence is uh certainly compromised so trying to keep the point alive but also go for the first strike there's a return serve barely missing long Ed of exhaus okay then go for more this this is a time where balance goes out the window your back is against the wall you can't play more than three shots 305 don't understand it myself serve is good andrescu forand middle Pini forand middle andru foran inside in she just didn't have the ability to get to that short Ball Match points for the Italian CH that two looks let's the crowd settle back down Jasmine palini 405 serve good andrescu return is good palini 4 up the line running back in from andrescu into the net Jasmine Pini continu this remarkable 2024 campaign three sets over Bianca andrescue 67 62 64 andrescue saying let me get the next one please Pini three for three against andrescu all three in Grand Slams this year first it was Roland garos then Wimbledon and now here at the US Open well she's had so many matches under her belt this year palini 33 wins this makes 34 wins and there's just a lack of serious match play by Bianca andrescu and I think in these big matches these tense matches Mike it it ends up catching up with you Pini surviving and she's not just playing some of these matches on the singles Court you add in the the success that she's enjoying right now with sah arani on the doubles court and I think that's contributed to a victory today yeah no doubt and I I again I'm going to go back to it for Bianca andrescu this has been the story of the last four years for her can she just get to a point will she ever be able get to a point where she's able to play an entire season an entire half of a season where she's fully healthy and can make consistent deep runs again and I think as you hear this crowd thanking her for the performance tonight very game very competitive I just wonder whether she'll ever be able to even get close to that level that we saw in 2019 and that's going to be a question for another day right now Michelle U is bringing Jasmine palini out to the court for a postmatch interview with our winner here tonight Jasmine palini 64 in the third over Bianca and rescue Jasmine 2 hours 48 minutes first round match here in New York City on under the bright lights here at Lewis Armstrong stadium with this crowd describe your fight tonight I'm exhausted now no it was a really tough match she's she's a great Champion uh we played three times this year every time it's a battle um I have to say I really enjoy to play here in front of this energy this crowd unbelievable so thank you you for staying here for cheating for us because was an unbelievable atmosphere I think for fans that don't know what the kind of year you've had French Open finalist Wimbledon finalist Olympic gold [Applause] medalist have you embraced all the love that the whole world has now given you I'm enjoying you know um I'm doing the best job in the world so I'm enjoying playing tennis uh this year I play pretty well I have to say and I'm enjoying to stay on court to play in this big Stadium to with the crowd it's it's beautiful so I don't know I will try to to keep this level and to enjoy more I think you had one supporter specifically tonight in the match in your box area she was here Sarah arani your partner at the Olympics was supporting you what did that mean to you to have her here in the court it means a lot I mean uh she helped me so much this year playing doubles with her I think it helped my my tennis and I'm very grateful to her um I'm always asking for advises you know um so yeah I have to just uh say thank you to her just one more thing look around you look at all the fans that are out here for you they are going to get to see you in the next round ladies and gentlemen one more round of applause for Jasmine palini thank you so she does hear it from this crowd and moving on to the second round and Woody a doctor that means you and I are moving on as well into the second round tomorrow so thank you as always for your Insight thank you who have we helped tonight ourselves okay that's the important thing yeah we got two wins we got two wins yeah there's lots of great action still to come right now kotov and Bergs into a fifth set with opportunities abound for those two Tommy Paul Lorenzo Sono on Armstrong Shelby Rogers Jessica Pula on ash Sophie am Sam Smith David mcferson on the other side of a break Woody you kidding me another Australian is he going to be sitting Courtside or is he going to be in here in I'm trying to look around or he's here I I know he was looking forward to I saw him earlier we caught the the bus in and uh he was really excited to be working with Sophie well that makes one person yes those three will be with us on the other side of the break you're listening to us open radio presented by American Express [Music] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Music] he [Music] you [Music] [Music] la [Music] [Music] [Music] official Outfitter of the us we are ously proud to part of this special on fall and official US Open Wim and Australia to check out this year's US Open collection visit the shop located to Leon State on CL of Arash on r.com us Chase has been a proud sponsor of the US Open for 43 years and is committed to providing the best experience for customers and fans Chase customers get access to the chase Lounge Chase terce and more visit chase.com US Open to learn more capacity is limited make everyday a sunscreen day with L Ro POS ultra light sunscreen it blocks up to 98% of UV raise and helps prevent visible sun damage with UVA uvv protection blood antioxidants the official sunscreen of the US [Music] Open This Is Us open radio presented by American Express well I've just replaced uh if that's actually possible Mike C that the uh the the seat is still buzzing actually he was so unbelievably excited and who wouldn't be what an amazing match palini and drcu uh I'm s Smith once again alongside Sophie Amic and delighted to have David Merson with us as well one of the great coaches off the men's tour and a former player David great to be with you and Sophie as well we were we were listening to that and and watching on the screen it was just it was just jumping wasn't it and you said a great line I know you fell in love with uh Jasmine palini serve more of that later but also David you you made the point New York don't really know palini they do now don't they going to love her Sam yeah she just plays with such passion and spirit and and uh I do love her game like obviously she's not the tallest player on the tour but I love her service motion she has a high elbow well away from her body like a baseball pitcher and she really gets the most out of her dimin stature you you mentioned that high elbow many many times I'm going to keep an eye on that I really I really am and uh there some been some fabulous matches out here already today Canon beating radak CaRu will play the winner of our next match we're going to bring you Shelby Rogers and Jessica Pula but uh I believe Gil gross is H is with the aforementioned Jasmine palini and had a chance to catch up with congrats thank yes I'm with Jasmine palini here underneath Armstrong Jasmine your Fitness and conditioning certainly helped you in that match deep into a third set such a physical match how aware were you of what was happening on the other side of the net because it could have gotten dangerous given your opponent at times looked like she was going to be done yeah it was tough you know I I had I was repeating to myself to stay focused to try to to play my game but at one point I was feeling bad as well so I was like don't show it try to to keep keep playing keep showing energy you know to the opponent to the crowd to to yourself also uh because you you can do it you know I was repeating to myself you can do it you have to you have to push you have to try to move the ball you have to be to play aggressive and at the end went well so I'm really happy it's a good problem to have but you've had so much success this summer you're the five seed coming into a major now did you feel more pressure than you usually feel in a first round match at Islam uh I have to say I feel a a little bit different I don't know how to describe it but I think it's also a nice feeling you know to be the fifth SE it's unbelievable I couldn't imagine last year I think um but today I knew that it was a tough match against US Open champion and bian andru so I was repeating to myself look it's it's a tough match you have to fight every ball and if you if you lose it's not a problem we keep going you know we keep trying but uh so go go step on Court and try your best thank you Jasmine it's pleasure to watch you smiling tennis from Jasmine palini just to let let you know that out on Court 17 there's another epic men's match in progress It's Gone the down to the fifth four all between zizu bgs Belgium and the muscovites uh pavl kotov two 25y olds going head to-head out there we'll keep you updated with that score but uh on this warm and bommy and sweaty night they are putting it out and there's an absolutely packed crowd out there on Stadium 17 but Sophie and David we're going to turn our attention now to the match that's just started started on Ash with the six se Jessica bagula just coming off uh that win in Toronto and the final in in Cincinnati and she's up against a very popular American Shelby Rogers who's for this is going to be her very last US Open yeah I mean Shelby obviously she knows a little bit about the US Open she's had some excellent memories here um and you know one thing about Shelby D Leone today she's actually the last player to have beaten ashb in singles when Ash before ashb finished playing that's it she was the last call that was in that and I saw that and I'm like well you know that's something you can put on your resume it's not it's not it's not a bad thing but uh she also had some great wins here beating I remember her beating Petra vova saving four match points on Armstrong one year uh so you know she loves this tournament but uh she's very happy of where she is today she says that she has achieved what she could achieve and uh she hopes to go obviously further than the first round here against pagola it's a tough opponent to play especially a friend that she's played with many times in the in the beligan king cup and uh so it's difficult to play a friend for sure for both of them but uh for Shelby you know after a long very long career and great career top 30 in the world and especially playing in Charleston also in our home turf and doing well in this tournament coming back from two injuries uh you know the knee injuries it's pretty spectacular to see that she was able to raise back to to the level of play that she did and uh you know hopefully she can uh do something good tonight but you know Bola is going to have something else in her bag I think it's going to want to take that match as she wants to herself try to go deeper than a quarterfinal in a major which she hasn't done yet yeah and it's really nice that Shelby's getting to play on ash in her final US Open if if she Drew somebody else perhaps that wouldn't be the case so it's a it's a fitting uh it's a fitting occasion for her with her distinguished career one of the most likable players on the WTA tour so I think uh we're in for treat tonight Sophie you're going to come out with all these Mega stats all night long for us you've started very strongly with that one I listened to one interview of of Shelby you know where she was actually she worked also as as a commentator she was also a talent she actually worked here about when our first uh uh operation injury with her knee and when she was recovering on crutches you remind me cuz you you were here you were part of of this team as well and yeah I mean she was great she and she has a career I think as as a commentator she was I think she was one of the best that uh that was uh you know after playing was able to uh you know translate and and give give back and that's what she wants to do as well as a player loves to give back she's a Psychology major and she says openly I love people and people love her she's 31 years of age from I think appropriately Mount Pleasant in South Carolina grew up on the green clay and I always say about Shelby Rogers that if you your your son or your daughter had their first day at school and they said mom I've got this really I've got I've made a friend and they brought home for tea the first time Shelby Rogers you breae a side of relief wouldn't it you know you knew that your child would be the happiest and and it would have the best friend that's the kind of reputation that Shelby has on the tour absolutely I was uh had the pleasure of being uh the coach of uh the Washington castles back in 2019 and Shelby was on our team and she was the glue of the team always team tennis yeah well team tennis and she just brought a positive energy to to the team every single day and have very fun memories of the season and uh getting to coach Shelby for that time this is the last of the first round women's singles top half the JW just looking to be completed and uh early stages this one our Opening Service game very comfortably Shelby 40 love in her surf in the black out you can just hear that she's just held so a good start for the 31y old American I can tell you on 17 zizu Burg it's a great name isn't it he's from ll in Belgium he is 54 in the fifth and they are well they've been out there should actually keep an eye just how long they have been out there we're looking at each other because we know why he's called zizu do you know well wasn't zizu in The Lion King like he was the he was Mufasa's uh I think he's named after as an in zidan the soccer and the football player in in France silly M I think that's what I heard and you know that's uh cuz I think I actually tried to find that out at one point cuz going you know not many zizu out there unless there is something going on with soccer so or football what side of the P he is 54 up in the fifth and actually just looking him out on Stadium 17th you didn't know the score and you just saw the state of all the stuff around his his chair there's rackets everywhere there's different shirts there's towels you know it's probably like a a sort of teenager's room around there but he is 54 out and they are on so just to let you know he he he won the first set kotov won the second he then won the third 62 kotov came back 63 and it's on serve in the decid The Late Late Show out on court 17 that is you're right Sam the messiest excuse It's on sorry I've got to I've just been told it's on court 15 Court 15 has never been messier than it is right now I I I think that's even messier than Mike Bryan used to be the wi the locker room attendant at Wimbledon like they were champions but I would say that if you ask them who is the messiest player that that ever graced The Wimbledon locker room they'd probably say it was Mike be my former Protege he used to scw stuff around everywhere oh my goodness just starting out over on the Armstrong they're just and just warming up is the is Tommy P one of the best Americans out there and he is taking on Lorenzo Sono the 29-year-old Italian will keep you updated on that one as well Tommy Paul fourth round here 12 months ago and looking to go much much further the Queen's champion and all the American men seemingly going very well Nakashima Fritz one yesterday Ben Shelton looked very comfortable and interesting about these retirements there seems to been a hell of a lot of them this year at the US Open we seem to be everyone's everyone's stopping after after this event probably more than any other slam but I'd say that sometimes that that is the case it's the four slam of the year like the players have had a long and grueling year the courts are are tough on the body often time the Uso can be very hot and steamy and humid so it's uh it's certainly a physical test for the players in in New York and I think you also get a lot of retirements after an Olympic in an olympic year as well they stay on for the Olympics has just held to 30 so the suceed leading 21 games one it's not easy I mean it's been a it's been a tough three opening games I think you know even though uh especially I mean for piga I play Rogers you know holding at love in the last service game and um that she had I think it's you know she's she's definitely coming to try her best to bother pigola by hitting the ball deep very heavy ball from Rogers uh and if she can keep going like this and really keep at it now the longevity of the match I'm not sure if she can go uh the distance because you're always you know coming from an injury and uh that knee injury that puts her out put her out for quite a bit again it's always tough yeah Jesse Pula full of Confidence from her summer where she's uh been so successful uh winning in in Canada and then fining in Cincinnati so uh she she is really one of the favorites for this title when you come in with that kind of momentum uh you always have Jitters in the first round of course I'm sure that she's not without nerves but Jesse would be briming with confidence right now yeah she's I mean the the the thing about Jesse Pula is unfortunately she just can't go deeper than the quarterfinals in Majors she hasn't done so yet and this is really where she's you know it's at some point it must be playing a trick in your mind you know when you're out there and you you know that your quota has stopped every time in quarterfinals and and all you want to do is better it's it's a lot of pressure I think time yes seven time Grand Slam quarter finalist and if you remember last year in the last date at Wimbledon was 4-1 up in the final set against the the eventual Champion maretta vosa with points for 5-1 so she's been edging ever closer and you would imagine if she keeps putting herself in that position at some point she will get there but interesting time on ash right now the second match in the night session because it's the the energy sort of gone out the stadium a little AR Al caraz has has done what he needed to do uh and and now the women are out here and it'll just take a a game you know just take maybe half an hour or so for the fans to drift drift back in and create the kind of Ash atmosphere that we we we're very much used to and and exactly the same you know exactly the same thing happening across the way on the Lewis Armstrong where uh Tommy Paul and Lorenzo Sono are just underway son to go serving first in that one I can tell you on 15 I can get my do get my courts muddled up here it is 5 all between the the between zuu bgs of Belgium and pavl kotov two 25 year olds ranked fairly similar rankings as well so they're go they're going right at it and it's a packed house out there on 15 the the fans are uh no one everyone enjoys a tight finish in those five Setters in the men's matches at the US Open it's certainly a big part of the tournament it always has been and and the fans are getting treated to a a real uh climactic finish out there early stages of Pula Rogers M is a first 30 love in this game one two Rogers in the black outfit black visor she's always been part of the visor Clan as Shelby she's definitely holding her own early uh now 40 love up here in the fourth game and down 21 so Shel come out comfortable certainly uh looking very competitive in the early stages he's got some great lapels on that fer outfit that she's got just a top and a skirt keeping it simple sorry Sam this could be a back toback hold at love matter of fact for Rogers just missed a first surf just goes deep in the Box down the te looking for her forehand Pula getting into really good Rhythm backand cross backand line Shelby Rogers on the defense Pula into the net and just just going long quite a nice forand drop shot from Jesse Pula There She was drawn forward into the court she switched from a forand grip to a volley grip uh with great dexterity and just uh executed a lovely little crosscourt forehand drop shot that helped to win the point two players here who have to say a decade ago were not the star of American women's tennis it was all about Sloan Stevens wasn't it and Madison Keys but these two putting together very good careers R just at a career height of 30 in the world on a quarterfinalist here four years ago where she lost to the evental champion Nami Osaka so second serve for Rogers out wide in the box and Pula goes a little wild actually along with a return so both women settling in here very nicely I can tell you over on 15 pavl kotov has couple of break points at five or in the fifth against zuu Bergs and Bergs has just saved the one of them one of them suzu b r 80 in the world and kotov at 60 this time last year the Belgian ranked outside 150s had a really really good season but he still got a break point to save right here 15 packed on either side second serve for kotov excuse me for Bergs he's got a a back Hood baseball cap on that's very fashionable these days tall tall player see if he can hang on here and uh really aggressive play from kotov and I have to say backhand defensive slice from Bergs goes in the net so we have a break on 15 as they go to the change over let's H keep an eye on Ash with Rogers and Pula and I think we have to discuss Jess's outfit it is quite something it's a sort of lilac dress with white and black long sleeves and it looks like there's been a a mouse has has got to it there's these sort of holes at the front as if she going to describe this as if she's sort of a mouse well some this these like there these little holes aren't they around it's working I I like it I think it's very it's different it's original it's very chic I like it l that's the word it's Chic yes I like it a lot yeah there these two sort of about the size of your hand holes around the front there not holes there are like definite like you know play on the dress to to make it appealing and and a little bit I would say um ventilation well that for sure it is around the armpit so for outfit judges it's a one vote actually sex Sophie and I sexy is the word and sexy and she's got the voila she got the lovely pleats in it as well it's a sort of we've seen a lot of sort of pale blue lilac haven't we uh over the course of the first couple of days the players revealing their outfits many having an outfit for the evening and then one also for the day we saw n Saka in green today with lime green audacious color b a lot of bows but she has got the white visor on so it is a is an all visor Clash out here and then she's got sort of sort of pale green shoes on Pula certainly not one ever to make any sort of fuss at all 4030 in this game she's the sixth seed here and this is the top part of the women's draw winner to play another American sfia Kennan who beat rakano earlier today that's a really strong return off the second serve from Rogers very smart play Rogers is going to have to look for that second serve to attack it this is maybe the weak link of of Pula and uh she's done pretty well in this last point I think that's one of the pathways to success possibly for Shelby in this match if Jess misses first serves if Shelby can get inside that Baseline catch it clean and be uh accurate and precise into the corners I think she could uh she could certainly contend uh and put a lot of pressure on Jess's service game and the depth also during the points and the rallies which he just did with a chance here for a break point playing with great freedom is is Rogers and Pula does miss that second Ser hits the net and they're so tight here that it just pings over the service line so second serve and it's middle of the box and Shelby Rogers goes for it again there's a break and this was an absolutely ideal start from the American who's playing our very last US Open we can sit and think about that as we take a short break [Music] [Applause] well just coming up to 11:00 local time and three matches still out on court Under The Lights Tommy Paul the 14 seated American he is going really well early doors out on the Lewis armstr just broken into love a 2-1 for Paul against Lorenzo Sono of Italy and I can tell you out on 15 zizu burgs is has broken back and we are now at six all in the fifth they've been out there forever and now we will have a 10-point match tiebreaker so we'll keep you across that that is incredible excited I don't think they can pack any more people around 15 I'm not even sure quite where Court 15 is I don't think I've ever been to court 15 it's it's quite it's quite a hidden away here at the grounds David you're looking at me smiling you I think that you want this tiebreaker to go to 2927 cuz you just love zz's name I think you just want to say it another seven or eight times it's got a nice ring to it I'm looking at my map it's located you can see that map that's pretty good I can actually it's a it's located by this is a very small map behind our credentials in case some squinting at it it's it's a it's it's on the outskirts of the ground let's put it it's at the southern end of the ground between 14 and 16 now we've had a break as we mentioned just before we went away and left you for a little while between Pula and Rogers Pula one of the favorites for the title the second best American woman out there behind kov she's a breakdown early and Shelby is just letting it Fly isn't she from the back of the court and sometimes when you know it's going to be one of your last tournaments uh that you can just relax and go for it this is a very dangerous Shelby Rogers at 3-2 in the first set with the break couldn't have been more impressive coming out of the gates I mean she's really attacked Jesse second serve and served well herself she's getting some nice lift off the court she's got quite a high ball toss but she's getting the ball to kick up high maybe taking it a little bit out of Jesse p Strike Zone and uh as as a top SE this is not the start you want when you're uh in the first round trying to ease your way into the tournament and they all are a little nervy aren't they the best SE explain Lyft Forest well she's getting uh some nice kick spin on her serve which is diving down into the court and getting up a little extra high and so Jesse pagul is making contact uh around her shoulder instead of her waist which is a little bit more problematic to uh for her to put the pace and precision on the return well just up 1530 in this game just made a second so they're just trading Baseline to Baseline and Pula goes long with the back hand we've seen this a lot from many players out here just a little edgy some of the big names that you know are favorites for the title edgy in the opening in their openers I don't think you noticed the the CH just changed position on the return on the second serve she was much closer in on that last return Pula and uh didn't get that feeling having that ball kicking way high above our shoulders so 30 all and Rogers ering with her first shot long over the Baseline so a chance for Pula to get the break back here I can tell you ISU pugs is 21 up in the oh now he's gone to 3-1 up out on 15 and they they're almost come everyone's sort of jumping out of the bleaches they're getting very very excited 31 up it's first to 10 over on 15 second serve for Rogers here though at break point down leading 3-2 first set very good second Ser very deep in the box and Pula not getting her range that was uh that just clipped the net and just went fell back her side she went back yes well and that's the the edginess the ner the first round nerve showing up there that was a relatively routine second serve for for Pula but uh and for her to miss a back hand halfway up the net very unusual like normally her backhand is so reliable so we're back at juice with Rogers and Pula Rogers a break up just trading back hands and pula's just switched the play back back in down the line now onto the forehand and it's rogers's turn to find the bottom of the net and it's another break point for beula who doesn't want to let Shelby Rogers get away here in this first set yeah she wants to be more aggressive because I think that's what she's trying to be and she needs to do do the same thing on the second serve and try to get that break back I think that's the key for her Rogers in here on a protected ranking because she had knee surgery at Midway through last year was out 6 months didn't play between Wimbledon and the Australian Open and this year only played about couple of handfuls of matches only one4 it's been a difficult comeback second knee surgery for Rogers and uh playing behind a serve here and they're just trading from the back of the Court Rogers goes long though and order is restored and you don't tend to get a lot of emotion from Jessica Pula but uh just looks down just wipes her brow under that visor just quite I think quite relieved that uh she's got back to par I'm sure she is relieved inside uh to get back to three all there she didn't do a heck of a lot on the break point she just played a really solid a straight bat as we say in cricket made a solid return a crosscourt and one uh forcing Grand stroke into Shelby's forehand which might be just a little bit uh less solid of the two wings and that was two forehand errors that she made there somewhat unforced from 30 all to get Jesse back in this match Pilla just double faulting on the first point of her service game for last game before we changed the balls I can tell you on 15 Z Zu Bergs is 42 up with the break and uh going going well there Tommy Paul uh backs up his break 3-1 over on Armstrong and Pula in trouble again here behind us so this is not going smoothly for the 30-year-old who was born in Buffalo New York State you're so right Sam that there's a little bit of a lull in the atmosphere after the alcarez match and so the crowd isn't feeding the energy into into this match quite uh as much right now and I'm sure it'll build as the set gets closer to the business end but for right now it's a very subdued atmosphere and energy out there for for everybody concerned yes they're having to bring their own energy watched by new coach for this year mark NS the Bahamian doubles player and we're back at 30 all and as kotov levels up with Bergs for all so you say you said Bahamian not Bohemian right Bahamian from the Bahamas from the Bahamas four all in the 10-point match tiebreaker out on court 15U burgs with his bright red socks and red shoes as well serves and volley so his he's up again 54 but they're back on ser and Pula fighting really hard here to hang on to this service game but Rogers goes back and Down the Line opens up the court and it's another break point and this is a really this is the last thing you want if you're Jessica Pula especially as these two good friends as well off the court yeah but it's very very well done from uh you know Rogers she is waiting to trigger that backend down the line that she has two shots that really hurt the forehand inside ins inside out and the tree that would be in the backend down line and she's executing perfectly so break point Pula with the first serve trying to play a lot on her back end slice back in from Rogers and then she goes high and deep into the late night air trading again from the back of the Court Rogers Loops one up pushes Pula back oh we've got some Moon tennis here Rogers steps in Pula nice a slice this is an epic rally backand to backand who's going to change the angle it's Rogers with the slice backand now Pula with a forehand SL crosscourt forehand and Rogers goes long we could have another lengthy match here there's been some long ones here already on day two of the US Open yeah that was a huge Point Break point for Shelby Rogers and she elected to go with a very high loopy Top Spin forehand I'm a little unsure if it was a tactical ploy to try and break Jess's Rhythm or she's just lacking a little trust in in her drive forehand right now definitely tactical I mean she's a very tactical uh player and I think Mark NS is also very tactical as well as pigula finishing with a one-w punch here for a chance to lead 43 but I tell you what Shelby Rogers did the exact same thing when she beat Ash party on ash she was down 52 the third that was in 2022 and she said that's at that point I knew that I had to change something she started to Loop ball much higher changed the Rhythm and at Ash body kind of lost her Rhythm and that's how she ended up winning that match Pula really getting under that first serve it went skyed long over the service line that's a very strange shot so sitting behind the second serve now goes deep in the Box they go backand to backand Pula deep on the Baseline really trading hard now with the ground strokes forehand from Pula goes a little short actually Rogers slicing to the bagula forehand they go crosscourt crosscourt in the trade Rogers down the line again Gul on the defense with a sliced back and she doesn't like that shot and Shelby Rogers finds the Baseline with that huge inside in forehand what a dangerous player tell you what the tour's going to miss Shelby Rogers and these massive Baseline shots that she produces and she sprinkled in a lot of variety in these last few points as Sophie said some heavy Top Spin High forand some slice back hands before she unleashed the inside in forand winner they're just changing uh over on 15 six all now in the 10-point match TI break deep deep in the fifth what a timing for pigula to hit us an ace right here right on the T 107 milph still a chance to lead 43 here have a great getting it done is Pula and after a couple of breaks we are back on serve on the ash Gil has made made his way over to Armstrong where the 14th seat Tommy Paul has a break what's the atmosphere like over there Gil has it started to build up for Tommy well it certainly has everyone has stayed after that really lengthy palini andrescu match and of course it's getting late so it's going to thin out as the match goes on but the crowd is certainly charged up for this opening set and it's a great start for Tommy Paul he broke Sono at love and hit a couple of winners in that return game which is somewhat rare to see on the men's side like sometimes you need with the size of the serve the server needs to make a couple of mistakes but Sono didn't play that bad a service game Tommy just played a string of terrific points so impressive from the 14 seated American and he's up 3-2 he's got some very Jazzy shoes on has Tommy Paul they they they're sort of black with yellow zigzags but a lot expected of Tommy Paul ranked just outside the world's top 10 now around that Taylor Fritz and also Ben Shelton great great times for American tennis Francis TFO also playing really well so great expect great expectations from uh from Tommy Paul out there tonight but a tough match against Lorenzo Sono the third third tour meeting between the two I can tell you it's 86 now for the Belgian on 15 they've been going you just told me Soph over 4 hours and 19 minutes but that's nothing compared to to Dan Evans and hasof that was that was coming up to 6 hours long one of the long the longest Match 5 hours and 30 something longest longest match of his in history at the US Open that was quite that was out on court six we don't want to hear anything from you guys back there on court 15 okay keep on trying keep on beating that record but isn't it fabulous yes and good luck isn't it fabulous yes you've got the Marquee matches on Ash and Armstrong on grandstand but some of these little courts that are dotted around you know the ground P pass fans you know the the general the general admission as they call them in the states getting to see some fabulous tennis and unbelievable drama yeah true tennis fans out there on court 15 squeezing every last bit of lemonade out of the lemon in the tennis day so Rogers with the new balls 34 in this first set all American encounter they won the last of the women's singles first rounds see so bugs he's I got a sense if he does win this he's going to rip his shirt off he's two points away now from a first round win with his Hulk Hogan type Flex there that he did when he won the 86 point he's at 96 now with that navy blue baseball C in reverse and the red the red shoes and a really big expansive game that he's got there on the second serve it's h he's got a couple of serves to come so we'll see we might just stay and just see how see how he goes second serve in the box they're going backand to backand kotov is pushing along oh my goodness these Burg just netted they must be exhausted who is going to cramp first we we've had a lot of cramping here today haven't we it's going to be even hter tomorrow here 100° Plus at at Flushing Meadow well that is a big mistake from the forehand of uh Pula very late on it she's actually showing on camera that she backed up off of it and now it's 3015 for Rogers down 34 opening first putting games in this first set it's really flat it's really flat out there isn't it very quiet farash as if all the Energy's been sucked out of the stadium by Carlos alarz former Champion I can tell you that zizu burgs has just won seven six in the fifth almost 4 and 1 half hours he sinks to his knees two very weary men go and shake hands with the Umpire and now he now he holds his arms out and smiling he's he's just sort of Staggering around the court now he now there's a few pish pumps now he bashes his heart and he's wondering over to his coaching corner he looks like he wants to hug them I mean that shirt is absolutely soaked that going to be most most unpleasant but he's over there in his Red Socks and his red shoes and an outfit that just well relief I think more than anything else an utter utter exhaustion so greeting his camp and that they look absolutely battered as well but zberg finally takes that baseball C shakes off his shakes his head out and his hair's absolutely soaking and I think he needs a good dunk in the ice bath as does pavl kotov that celebration was worthy of winning a grand slam final my goodness it's the first round of of a major but he is celebrating it Like Pat cash in 1987 just getting up into the stands and hugging the coach hugging the family well we're going along on Ash and it's uh four all Rogers has just held but uh over on Armstrong it's getting a little more interesting there isn't it Gil Tommy Paul just having to fight hard to to keep this service hold to keep this service break yeah he he certainly is Tommy's forehand has always been the wing that can go off on him he can make some errors Mish hit the ball off of the forehand but I think there's been a difference in his game recently which is that he still goes after it so he's made a couple of forehand unforced errors in this game but he really kept taking rips and he saved the break point or excuse me he won the point at Deuce with big forehand and he's gotten out of that service game at 4-2 I really feel that he's made a change in that area yeah Sono is a a very tricky customer as I mentioned they haven't played for about three years and actually Sono had a win against Tommy Paul when they played in Cincinnati back in 2021 um so this will be a tricky tricky encounter although Tommy Paul did beat him earlier that year in Rotterdam on the hard indoors but uh a lot has happened in the last three years Paul improving and fact both men improving an awful lot so we keep an eye on that so Paul leading 4-2 in the first while that Jessica boua tries to put away good friend Shelby Rogers out there I'm sure Jessica's very aware of the significance that that this is that is uh Shelby's very last Us open so just trading Four Hands from the back of the court and Rogers goes along so it just looks as if Pula is going to get through this service game as well yeah I mean it's just too many un four STS in this four all game from uh Rogers uh I mean even though she did win a point which she almost actually on the short ball end up in the net but uh she uh is just giving too many gifts away that was a very good serve plenty of speed on it though 100 miles hour exactly from beula down the te so she gets the change of ends and it's 54 in the First on as between Rogers and Pula [Music] n [Music] you're listening to us open radio presented by American Express just two matches left here and on on day two of this year's US Open has been great drama out on court 15 the Belgian Z just 76 in the fth and Tommy cor Sono on the ls Armstrong a really good start the American 43 he leads with the break they're just getting out the fresh new balls there and on ash which is a say little little little quiet at the moment Shelby Rogers is serving to stay in the first set four five but she has been up a break but she's up against fellow American Jessica Pula Pula playing in her eighth time hit in New York starting very well in this game a good return just being aggressive the goal up generous Target she aim pretty much off the middle but hit it so sweetly with such velocity it it threw a a forced error from Shelby rogers's forehand position to play T Bar at bre when these lovely evenings here having Queens the looking to be very aggressive coming forward but she's missed a drive volley she had the opportunity and now sits at love 30 a nice defensive get from Jesse speaking to her coach marike NOS before the match and he said that's one of the things that was most pleased with her this off seon uh sorry this summer season that uh that done some work really good work on the on the movement part of the game and there was it really showed up there she made a great defensive hustle to her forehand side to extend the point yeah there hasn't been a lot of time either it was a big transition coming from the Olympics playing singles and doubles uh out there in Paris to come back and then turn it around and win in Toronto defend her title so Rogers at love 30 and another Baseline exchange between the two and Pula skipping along and keeping a very good length and Rogers net so it is three set points to the six seeded American I think it was actually a blessing in this guys that she and uh and coko lost early in the Olympics because uh you know every player and a lot of players who came so late after the Olympics are you know probably struggling more getting tired and to uh probably for her it's it might be a good chance for her to go deeper here because she had the advantage to come back a little bit fresher without having played plus you got to remember she she skipped the clay Court Season also so I think for pigula she must have a lot of energy you know left when a lot of the players at the end of the last you know the last you know major start really really going down as far as energy and and you know trying to really push yourself to the end so I think it could be an advantage so hopefully she uh she can do well here if she was to come through here against sheli well that has gone long Rogers was able to save one of the set points but could couldn't save the second so Pula with the first set and she comes from a breakdown to take it by six games to four now from one American to another PA looking good out on the Lewis Armstrong Guild yes Sam you mentioned that Lorenzo Sono is not an easy first round draw for Tommy Paul and uh there's a lot going into that obviously 29-year-old a veteran four titles on the ATP Tour his latest was just last week in Winston Salem now of course there's always that debate do you want to play before a major do you want to win a title before a major and I think the answer for most is well of course you take the title but if you look at the last 10 years only one player has advance past the third round of the US Open after winning Winston Salem you have to go all the way back to 2015 Kevin Anderson made the quarters that year and lost to Stan vinka well I I don't think should tell the organizers of Winston Sal that St because they might they might shut up shop it's not it's not a great Omen is it it's a little bit like uh the eastborn Championships that which is just before Wimbledon and Martina ralova always used to win that and then then then go on usually to win the Championships but it hasn't happened for a long time doing doing that play winning at eastborn and then going on to to win the championship so it very rarely happens these days on the tour it's getting more actually uh kova won Strasburg right before the French when she won the French as well so you're right it it it is not easy to do it's even harder to do I think you know I don't want to be biased but I think it's harder to do on Clay because you're going to play a lot more balls and a lot more points and longer points uh but you're right yeah I mean Martina was pretty good at it though in eorn and uh and wimbl yeah the the last woman to do it was Jan nner actually in 1998 so it hasn't happened for a very long time and of course comparing the humidity between eastborn and Winston Salem perhaps just a fraction of a disparity there as far as what it what it takes out of your body yeah it's not very humid you're right in the but it's bloody windy though isn't it it is very windy lovely SP each each each tournament has its own has its own trials and tribulations and tests just to yes but it's always a it is a big debate isn't it whether you play the week before or not at all but Jesse boua had a really I think had a very good week I mean fantastic coming off a win and a f defending a title defending a 1,000 title so has to be full of confidence I think rather relieved that she has got that first set behinder and here we are at the start of the second and it's 53 over on the Lewis Armstrong but start of the second that'll be interesting to see what Shelby Rogers can come up with uh in the right at the start the second is she going to be a a tricky customer I thought it was a good first set of tennis though I really felt like Shelby won her games with with good aggressive clean play didn't really uh sense Jess come out with a a lot of nerves it was really Shelby playing some uh some excellent tennis making life difficult for Jesse Pula but Jesse as the seed peaked at the right end of the set and and now it the test will really be can show be stay with her now yeah I totally agree with you it's it's just about the even kill tennis that uh Jesse pigola has and if you're not able to really attack her and pound on her and take charge of the points she's going to be the same always and slightly better but for her to really get any deep down you know good you know down it's very rare to happen so it's very tough to play Somebody Like Jesse yeah she's been pretty much one of the most consistent players on tour for like the last four years and actually she she's just not also as a a former top doubles player good singles play we're very pleased because he just finished finished the net and I just wonder if he's going to try and get her to transition a little more than she has done just to get just add another layer to her game now Shelby Rogers actually has just come forward lovely controlled slice back and volley and puts away the smash with some e always a dangerous player never underestimate Shelby Rogers that was a fantastic smash good low volley very entertaining point just threw up a defensive lob there but showby with a pretty Flawless smash technique there got rid of it inside out to go up 3015 she made a great quote actually she said about her retirement she said I can confidently say I have pushed my body to its limit and when you've had two knee surgeries and I do remember her coming up to do some commentary back in 2018 and I mean on crutches I thought you go girl that's that's that's excellent and I think she just wanted to get back in the tennis atmosphere and then aoup couple of years later I think amazing to make the to make the quarterfinals here at the US Open and that may be the highlight when she looks back one of the highlights of her career if not the biggest moment yeah she talks about different highlights one of them being also playing in the bellian king CB alongside captain for the first year right beginning with uh with Kathy raldi and winning that that was one of them but she also talks obviously about winning against Ash party on ash at night was uh was Primo as well but you're right the quarterfinals was one of them yeah that was the year that uh so many of the big big stars lost and Emma rakana just came motoring through that jaw to take our to take the title and what an extraordinary couple of weeks that was but Rog just going quite nicely here just smacking that second surf David I don't know what I mean you you were completely enamored by Jasmine pini's High elbow on her surf what do you what do you what do you make of a bagula delivery cuz that elbow I have to say is a little on the low side isn't it at the back of the swing I would agree with that uh she has generated quite a few free points on her first serve in this uh so far in this match but her second serve has been very hitable and that's where sh's made some inroads when Jess has missed some first serves uh the ball the second serve really has been in the strike zone by and large and it's created an opportunity for it will create opportunities for her opponents to break her serve if she misses too many first so we look for reasons as you know getting to a quarters of a slam seven times is a hell of an achievement I mean she's got all her she's got all her last eight Club um passes organized for when she only two oh no she did all four sorry she done all no she can she can I was thinking about Shelby actually Shelby has two she has won I think Shelby has two right she has the French in the US she is too you're right she F fine for but but but P's got got the clue so she's got that and you you got to explain to people what that means though yeah last day Club you get a couple of tickets for you know every day of the champ you get pass for the two week of the of the tournament for life so it's it's huge it's a big big thing and but you look at reasons why she hasn't gone gone beyond that and maybe maybe it's the second serve I don't know you're you're the coach David you tell us well that's what we were talking about you know and I I mean I think that you have to agree that there's not really one shot that is so exceptional that that that hurts as much and I think that at that point that's what you need to go further and uh and deeper in tournament and then but if she's fractionally improving her Court coverage and her movement as Mark n was uh telling me uh earlier today I mean that helps defend your second serve it's it's a combination you want your second serve to be accurate deep spinny uh difficult to get a hold of but then if you're moving well after your serve to get back on equal terms on that third shot if she's improving in that area that could be a fractional piece of uh the puzzle for her that she's adding to get over the hump and win first Grand Slam title she just got a game point here had a fantastic forand winner to to bring it up and Martins the coach just nodding so she takes her Opening Service game of this second set so one love set and one love for Jessica Pula who is a married lady one of the there not too many out there on the tour married Taylor Taylor garagen a few years ago Gil we got a set point on Lewis Armstrong for Tommy Paul and he's got it second serve return on the back end from Sono flying long Tommy did have to save a break chance there and he hit an ace so 6-4 opening set for Tommy yeah absolutely packed out on the Lewis arm that's sort of got it got its energy up very very quickly after that fabulous women's match andru against Jasmine pow leing and we'll very much keep an eye on what's going over there but a really good start for for Tommy PA now can can Shelby Rogers get something going here in her very last US Open I think she can I mean I think if you know it's it wasn't farfetch that first set it was just that she had four all gave way too many points away and she needs to just uh secure a little bit less un for stairs in this set she wants to stay in it and push to a third see that kind of shot right here is it you know missing maybe because of no match play not enough this year I mean that could be footwork not quite exactly there but uh just missed because missed in the net like completely missed in that that back end she's also she's at love 30 also in a pleated skirt very much the the fashion at the moment and Pula just laces a fabulous crosscourt forehand brilliant angle to bring up another set bring to have a chance to break Rogers early on in this second set was a Pete SAS forand return that reminded me of his little hook forehand that used to just get off the court sharply crosscourt with his Eastern grip look at her position again inside the court to return on the second serve oh what a great second serve to the T from Rogers and unfortunately had a chance to put it away and missed it completely missed even kind of like shifted her body kind of stepped wrongly on the court that is the break I wonder how much when you know it's your maybe I mean she said that she might play on a little after this to the to the end of the year at the end of the year really is it that when you know it's you know the emotion of it being your last year so I wonder sometimes if that can get in the way she certainly started brightly I mean she was able to deal with her nerves stepping out on the court and the match was very close for the first 30 minutes but she really played a loose game there Jesse Pula looking more and more comfortable and if she gets a hold here at two love uh it's going to be really tough for Shelby from that position comes in with the dve volley Rogers now but Pula actually read it well just went wide down the trm line also what we haven't talked about Jessica buet what a composed young woman that she is nothing really seems to bother her and she has had a lot going on off Court the last couple of years her mother Kim has been really seriously ill and she's had to deal deal certainly with with all that she tried to sort of keep a lid on it but uh um you she comes from a very famous family and eventually she had to say something but she she has played through an awful lot when so much has been going off going on behind behind the scenes and she seems to have coped with it extremely well yeah go ahead I was just going to say her composure is one of the Hallmarks of of her game I mean you rarely see Jesse pouer flustered she really just uh M maintains an even kill and always uh gives herself a chance to win the match no matter what turmoil she may be dealing with uh internally yeah I mean going back to what happened I mean some of you don't know I mean she Lally lost her mother uh who had a heart attack and was saved by her sister Kelly who three months ago took by luck a CPR class which they were on the phone talking about it prior of the whole thing happening and and uh Jesse said oh I always wanted to take that class well and actually the mother making a comment saying well great now Kelly can save us if we have a heart attack I mean not to be known but three months later it it happened Kelly literally saved her mother's life and it's been tremendously difficult obviously for the recovery but she's doing better and better but you know you have to remember this this family is they own NFL uh team they own also a uh in in Buffalo and uh they it's it's huge and knowing that you know that Jesse really did great to cope with this yeah yes absolutely extra extraordinary and her mother actually wants her to play her mother when she was cing loved to watch Jesse you know on the on the TV and that really inspired her Jesse so close to her family the first call she makes is is to Mom and Dad she's one of five siblings uh Sister Laura was a college tennis player as well and I think they have just loved watched watching what she has done particularly over the last few years actually had to save a break point right there so we're back to juice but bagula a set and two love and looks to be going very nicely here winner of this one will play uh former Australian Open Champion sfia Kennan who beat Emma ranu a little earlier today over on the grand stand but yes many many qualities for Jessica who is was so often at the start of her career she was she is the daughter of a billionaire Terry Pula who owns the Buffalo Bills and they own the the Buffalo Sabers the the hockey team and now very much it's Kim and Terry are are the parents of the tennis player Jessica bagula she's turn certainly turned that Dynamic around and she is flying along here now in the second set where she leads by three love having won the first he [Music] oh [Music] [Music] Us open radio to keep you all across the second night session here at Flushing Meadow and uh Tommy Paul taking the first set over on the Armstrong sonico one love and it's on serve there Shelby Rogers playing in her very last US Open taking on the six seed and in Jessica boua and just while you are away just speculating about Jessica's pula's outfit which has these sort of where the sort of the where under the arms have been sort of carved carved away so it looks like she's got these sort of empty circles and I just and these long sleeves I thought how'd you get this on this outfit I mean there's I can't see any Zips or anything like that it must be we have when she's interviewed that's the first question I'd ask how do you get that thing on and off well I would say if this match was during the day coming in with no I'm very enamored with the outfit but I would just say if you were playing during the day youd want to make sure you applied sunscreen to these uh Open Spaces in the outfit otherwise you'd get a very unusual uh tan line I would think if you played a a long match on a hot day I don't think they care about the tan line anymore as far as you know skirt shorts and uh and shirts uh these days tennis players tan line are so funny and socks you never get rid of the socks the socks AR like even 30 years later you still got you think I still got that line from my socks but no David you a very practical thinker I think that must have been very useful in your coaching it wouldn't have hadn't even thought about the the tan line yes cuz she'd had these sort of little circles wouldn't she sort of on her on her shoulders Shelby will not have that problem because she's got rid of the sleeves absolutely completely she's got this little cut off top and uh and she'll be ABS she'll be absolutely fine she got a very sort of stylish collar on I have to say on that top on that shirt what she could do though more with now than a collar is a g in this in this second set because it's going away uh rather swiftly but she is at 405 but she's a breakdown under the lights on a on an Arthur rash that still feels a little subdued you you Ed that word David a little little quiet little flat even they haven't quite being able to to sort of rev it up and Armstrong is looking very busy one or on serve in the in the second set there the 14th seed Tommy Paul who is you know certainly an an outside chance many feel to have a deep run here he seems to be going quite well and Rogers does pick up the first game in the second set so what's the what's the way back for well I I the pattern that seems to be uh her pathway I think to some success if Jess misses first serves Shelby has the opportunity to hurt her uh if Jess sorry if Jess misses first Ser she has the pathway to hurt her but when Jess is made first S I think she's winning most of the point she's controlling the rally slightly heavier ball Striker and I have been impressed with Jess's movement it feels like she's turned a few points her way with uh some fleetness of foot so 3-1 second set Pula looking to book her place in the second round early uh early days of what has already been a very exciting uh US Open quite a few big upsets today so father sit pass going down to thasi konakis Felix o Ali aim going out Karen hashoff going out to my Countryman Dan Evans in the longest match ever out on court sit so a lot going on already and plenty of story lines big shout out to Dan Evans that was an amazing win such a an epic historic uh match to win that in the longest ever so you know great shout out to him and also to Young tanasi kakas from Australia for his upset today yena Oster the 10th seed from Lafia I think one of the one of the big names to go out in the women's draw and a last USA for Danielle Collins who I think many people were very surprised the 11th seed considering how well she's played this year to going out to fellow American Caroline dohy the American women make up about a sixth of the draw so it's pretty hard to avoid them you're quite likely if you don't play one in the first round you're more than likely to get one in the second round and Pula trotting very quickly through this Sur G would love to wrap this up if she can get out of here before midnight that would be a good evening's work as uh the clock on this match just ticks over the hour mark at 4015 now 3-1 looking to to get to the chair safely as somy Paul and Lorenzo Sono of Italy are ticking over in the in the second set there it's always when uh Rogers is able to really push Jesse beyond the Baseline and is attacking a little bit putting a little bit more power and Pace on the ball that Jessica is having a little bit of uh difficulty to handle the pace so Pula at 4030 and a tame return from Rogers after a good first serveo does get to the chair at at 41 Gil it looks like the second set's going to be really competitive over on the Armstrong yeah it certainly has been uh Tommy Paul and look I think the level has been really high I mean you can tell that Sana goes in form you can tell that Tommy Paul is locked in it was a disappointing summer for Tommy him and Taylor and you know they won the bronze together at the Olympics and uh did not farewell in Canada and Cincinnati but both of them just looking to kind of get their Rhythm here in New York I don't think they would swap that Olympic bronze medal for for anything and all the experiences they that they had being part of team Team USA I think for them being such great friends and I was lucky enough to watch them over there they were having an absolutely brilliant time G I think they'll remember that more than more than anything else out there I tell you what I do love when I watch Lorenzo Sono I love his headband I'm I'm a big fan of head it's sort of it's got a Karate Kid look to it isn't it it's a it's a significant piece of material that he has on with the with the sort of he gets the band on and then he's got those long flowing bits behind it you know it's got a long tail on it there is a lot of resemblance to The Karate Kid no doubt uh you know what Taylor said about the Olympics he said just the opening ceremony made it worth it and that was some that was I have to say sitting next to a French woman that was an unforgettable opening ceremony for many many many reasons and I will never ever get away from that image of Seline Dion on in the on singing on the Eiffel Tower I mean that was special that the iconic moment and that spaceship thing going up as well at the end that that was you like that I thought where's it going is it is it heading off somewhere just levitated no they they really did go for it but yes you can understand that that's an experience that we stay with him for a lifetime and Taylor Fritz was quite funny actually because he was on the bus uh one day or the the special coaches that transported him around Paris with LeBron James and a lot of the American basketballers I don't think they get got to say more than hi because because LeBron was too busy talking to Coco golf but you can tell they had it absolutely and the fact that you know they were you know had roommates in Florida growing up as teenagers to to share that experience with all the great story lines over in Paris very very special but I think both of them have their eye on the going deep here at the US Open do you sense that David oh absolutely I mean there's nothing like the Olympics so I I remember how special it was to the Brian brothers when they uh won their gold at Wimbledon uh coming from four years before the disappointment of getting beaten by federal marinka and the semis uh and having to set for bronze in Beijing so I'm sure those guys would cherish their moments and the results in Cincinnati and Canada would pale in comparison to participating in the Olympics and now hopefully they can uh can have a big impact at the US Open and and Gil I don't think uh Fritz and and uh Tommy P would have swapped that bronze for anything they were the bronze Bri Brothers weren't happy with bronze but I tell you what they didn't expect to get bronze so they were super happy Sam it's a funny story because that bronze actually did mean ended up meaning a lot to them obviously the gold was even better uh 4 years later but when you lose in the semi-finals obviously you're crushed you're devastated but it's a strange feeling of having to play another match and then it's either you get a bronze medal or you're not even on the podium at all so that match the next day against the French team K and ler I believe it was uh was so much pressure and that the relief that making Bob felt and I felt actually as coach uh they always kid me you you were bowling like a baby after that match and I I was it was an emotional day so winning the bronze is uh it's something kind of kind of super special no it certainly is Gil you've got something on the Marathon Man Dan Evans in the Olympics yeah you know out of everyone who played the Olympics nobody has my admiration more than Dan Evans because he was the Washington DC champion last year and he'd been struggling over the last 52 weeks so he went to represent great Brit WR in the Olympics and his ranking plummeted as a result so don't you know to some players it means a whole lot well you should have seen Novak jovic and Carlos akarz crying after the final and if uh I mean you would remember David the Olympics going back in you know first coming back after that very long absence over 60 years in 1988 in Soul I played it in 1992 in Barcelona it was a bit like tennis and the Olympics does it really belong but anyone seeing th those scenes in Paris would totally understand because I have to say I haven't seen too many Grand Slam finalists you know crying after after matches and and car and caros Sak saying I let my whole country down I let you know raford down but I have to say I really admire Dan Evans because he played doubles with Andy Murray and that was just epic at the Olympics it really it really was and I think they were so excited after one of the matches they jumped up in the air and I think Dan kissed Andy because it was so exciting so uh yeah no he did he did take a hit on the ranking I don't think he would have swapped those moments to be there right at the end of and be alongside Andy at the end of his career so uh special special times and Tommy Paul actually with the with a break now um 2-1 so it's all going well for the bronze medalist from Paris and looking to take a yeah he just gone 3-1 now in the second to the American going well and uh Rog just not getting too much traction out here Sophie well actually she was uh well she was uh down 3040 she had that point against her so right now I think she's pretty happy coming back again being very aggressive with the back end down the line that's what get that uh add out uh cancelled and now a chance to at least stay close in this uh set for 24 if she was to win this point here on their serve 1 14 right now yeah just kicked out the second serve one the back of paga they trade a little and stretch just back and drifting just outside of the tram line and Sh Ro is prolonging her very last US Open just for well just maybe for another 10 20 minutes or so out okay we w we won't count out Shelby I would never I would never do that I think one of the great things about Shelby is her name you know she's uh I'm sure you're aware of this she's named after Carol Shelby the great uh American Racer and car designer design the Ford Mustang D type and one lamons lamon 24 have you not seen Ford versus Ferrari have you seen that movie you know I did see that once but um memor is failing me a bit okay re rewatch it but that's who she's named after just missed that forehand Shelby Rogers down the middle ball very short had a chance to really be aggressive and unfortunately stopped in the net so 15 love Pula up 42 and a set in the parket already and this is where JP as her friends caller is just so tough cuz she doesn't really give you anything she's quite good at just sort of snuffing out or any kind of idea of a comeback because she's so relentless out there again driving flat through that that backand wing and David we were having a a conversation we have we've had many conversations on many subjects actually while we were were waiting to jump into the hot seat but I've heard a lot of players that have gone up against us saying these long linear shots that she had it it the way it comes off the court is really hard to track and when she hits deep to the Baseline you think the ball's going out and it dips in there's just something about the ball that she that she hits that many players find difficult and it's off both wings too you don't feel like there's any Escape there her back hand's pure and Powerful her forehands very damaging so if you're not putting Jess on the Run you're in trouble because she can hurt you off both sides for sure her weight of shot is is uh formidable she's 315 in this game a set and 42 and she's just made another clean winner down Shelby's forand line and looking to wrap up proceedings let's see if she can get there before before midnight in that uh I have to say one of the most original dresses of lilac and with with white sleeves and a black body one of the most original dresses you're laughing at me S with your arms open you just have there's something with you and and the outfits cuz you're like you you're really you're really into these outfits I'm right with Sam I mean I it's exceptional really like Naomi oaka lime green today I mean it's just good to see fresh uh fresh outfits Miss from the forehead of Jessica pagola a little bit late catching that behind her and floated out still a chance for a 5-2 lead by the way you mentioned osta Peno losing as a seat today but she loves to obviously former winner here twice when here Osaka and Osaka very pleased with her performance of today that's her first top 10 win apparently in four years I was I was reading so that's big if no misaka gets going could light up this year's uh US Open so back juice and Shelby digging in got a very full support cap as you as you would imagine her sister Sabra was also a college player and her and a psych ologist who has helped Shelby over the years I think particularly coming back from two very tough injuries just down well a ranking doesn't really matter anymore to B but down in the in the 300s but playing on a protected one that's what the tour allows you to do ruce here and P just thring in a double F yeah now a break point for Rogers after being up 4015 in this game paga and maybe cruising to finishing this match now trouble again and I think the double fall is because of the position of Rogers putting a little pressure knowing that she's going to attack that second serve Tommy PA a set and four one now he's going really well on a packed leis Armstrong second serve here for Pula break point down at 42 in the second deep into the box Pula getting onto her backand Rogers really deep but with her forehand and just pulls it wide of the tram line little little frustrated there this is a real this is a you would imagine her last chance we're just seeing actually the the replay and the Hawkeye replay only missed by millimet but this very much her last chance to get back four chances to break in the set and none uh unfortunately made but that is wide right on the intersection John Isner imitation there short and wide to the forehand don't know if Jess has ever been compared to John on sering just goes a it goes a little faster that's all what she has now but that was very effective right on the intersection can she find another one here that's a really good first serve but excellent return from from Rogers who Loops a beforehand crosscourt and a reply from Pula who looks to change the angle takes it down to the backand wing of Rogers they trade backand to backand changing the anle again is Pula and they forand to forehand now but Rogers goes long and Pula gets through a tricky service game one game away now from booking her place in the second round [Music] [Music] [Music] back on us open radio presented by American Express updating from Courtside on Armstrong Tommy Paul now up a set in 4-1 and I think his coach Brad Stein is going to be really really happy with his net points one number 16 of of 19 for Tommy Paul we're not even through with the second set and this is part of the adaptation that Paul has undergone in the last uh two three years under Brad Stein using his athleticism not just to be a strong East West player but to use it north south in the transition game that's what Tommy's done so well tonight well Tommy actually is was going very nicely set and 4-1 but on to go with a couple of break points to just get something going now in this second set as Shelby Rogers serves to stay in her very last US Open set and 52 down against the six seeded Jessica bagula one of the inform players and certainly being mentioned as a a potential winner a first slam for Pula but just got to get through this one never easy playing someone from your own country and uh are looking to break here just get this done and dusted and the interesting thing is you know with these late finishes even if Pula does finish before midnight and I'm keeping an eye on on the clock I don't know why I'm doing that but I just thought it'd be interesting to see if she can finish it uh before midnight there's still quite a lot to do isn't there there's still the warm down there's the ice bath there still press you get to bed before what three three it's really tough on the players when you finish this late you're so right I mean you just don't fall asleep as soon as you get off the court yeah there you've got to take your care of your body got to get some fuel into you and uh and then the the ride back to the city and your adrenaline when you when you finish up a late night match it takes a long time for your adrenaline to to get to a back to a state where you can fall asleep so at the Grand Slams unless there's some rain and things go a little AR right you do get that day off to uh to rest from these situations and then the tournament normally if you play a late match uh say on a Tuesday here you wouldn't scheduled a first match on a Thursday the tournament really works with the players and you tend to either play early in the day or you play in the evening and they keep you on that schedule to give you a decent a fair amount of rest unless the referees office really you've really upset them in the past that no I'm I'm joking there remember Madison Keys made the final here back in 2017 L to SLO Stevens in the end she was like a night out she played every match pretty much at night I think it took her two or three weeks to to actually recover from from that it was almost like she was jet lagged playing playing the US Open but she had a she had a pretty good run just letting know Tommy Paul has saved a couple of break points in this quite tricky service game at 4-1 in the second set he's just had a game point but we're back at juice now Rogers 3015 going 4015 so looks like she might hold here just to keep out on the ash a little longer you can it's very hard isn't it to script when you retire or how you bring the curtain down on your career but it's not a bad spot to be on the Arthur Ash I I would imagine and she's definitely a quid at herself well the tennis has been good quality at Jess has just been to at least to this point a little bit uh Stronger on the night but sh's definitely played a good brand of tennis and acquitted herself very nicely get the sense at the end of this match there'll be a very warm handshake and and embrace because these two would have played through junior tennis together satellites all all those years trying to get themselves up in their R Kings and a very Nifty smash at the net from Pula to try and stay in this game once again showing off the movement Shelby Rogers with a very deaf drop shot there I thought it might have even been good enough to win the point it was a little backhand cross drop shot but just got up there really uh niff very with uh a lot of alacrity and then was able to switch your grip punch it back deep and put away the smash in the end Tommy Paul has held it 4-1 so closing in on a two set Sal love lead over on the Lewis Armstrong as Rogers looks to try and put the finishing touches on this particular service game it's only one break in this second set just going down the T that was that was quite a a meaty blow and P not able to make the return back into yeah I'm glad you're saying it's only one break because you know we know Jesse pulla has had hard times sometimes closing match so as everybody you know uh you know there are two things that I don't know what player did say that I think it was boys beer said there are two things on the men's tour that are the most difficult one after you broke hold your serve and uh consolidate the break second closing out matches and that's a good start from Pula sweeps away a forand crosscourt winner to go 15 love in this game I wonder if there's all these little areas that Mark NS would have would have talked to to her about just to get her to that next level to break that sort of grand slam quarter final barrier see I I you know I've seen her play many times and commentated it as you probably did but I really do think that she could be putting a lot more Pace on those shots uh sometimes and be more aggressive I think sometimes she rely on her consistency and her depth when she could really accelerate her arm and put a little more Pace in the I think I would see this more worked on besides her movement and maybe the second serve than her really coming forward at this point because you have to come forward with something that's going to hurt your opponent otherwise in this day and age you're going to see the ball pass you many times but there has been a big transition from Pula from when she played in the Juniors and the first few years that she played on tour she was quite a sort I wouldn't say she was a defensive player or a counter Punch counch Yeah and she was an aggressive player I think also what we have to remember is later success because she had all those injuries but very quickly she's moted through this game and Pula now with Match Point sitting at a set and 534 t love Pula with the first serf down the T Rogers trades back down the middle of the court and deep back hand from both women Pula just getting on her back foot and just spoons a back hand long over the Baseline but still Match Point here another good depth shot from Rogers that earned a lot of points tonight so P not wasting too much time just a couple of bounces of the ball and she goes first serve wide to the forehand Rogers struggles to get it back and cour he's already walking to the net for the handshake I don't think either have found this very easy and it is the warmest of Embraces two very good friends who came up in juniors together and and then out onto the pros both with an awful lot of success on the tour and Pula certainly not really celebrating just walking out to there's not too many fans a huge amount of fans in the Arthur rash Stadium but I think she found that very difficult just a little wave job done and a straight sets victory over Shelby [Music] Rogers and now being congratulated by Tracy aliser director of the tournament uh she knows uh obviously how difficult it is to have your last match and think they might do something to honor her tonight they might do maybe an interview they might do maybe something else on the screen but uh she surely deserves it it'll be interesting to see what Jess says uh about this as well tell you she was not happy before when she saw the draw she said really that stinks you know and people actually on not you know it's it's was funny cuz I was looking on social media people didn't understand they were thinking well how can that s STK you're playing somebody who hasn't played you're playing somebody who's 300 something and the reason is because they're very good friends and she knew that Shelby was you know finishing her her US Open was going to be a last match and she was just you know she didn't want to be the one ending that last match but uh you know it is sometimes things well obviously out of a control we're just uh waiting to see oh they're just putting a video on the big screen of Shelby's don't forget had a win over Serena Williams in her career part as you mentioned part of that what was then the Fed Cup winning team under under Kathy ronaldi yeah and but I think she'll just whenever anyone talks about Shelby Rogers they'll say that she's just a terrific human being and I think someone we'd still love to see around the game and I hope we do I don't know what if she's spoken about what she would like to do afterwards Sophie have you heard anything or is she just going to I mean I think she could put her feet up I mean she's been through quite a lot physically I think she's probably going to get broadcasting that wouldn't surprise me tell you the truth because I think she's very good at it so why not as they keep on showing some of uh our best matches here at the US Open and our career coming on the on the big screen on Arthur rash a nice tribute for Shelby Rogers who's retiring it's official they put up officially reti you cannot unretire yourself now there has been a lot of retirements and she's she's going to have a chat with Rene stops just give me your thoughts right now I'm going to give the mic to you and allow you to do this on your own well first of all thanks for staying so late you guys are awesome um second of all sorry Jess I know you want to recover but a few more minutes thank you for waiting congrats by the way uh you're playing amazing so keep going um I don't know I feel like I expected to feel a lot of emotions um but the the main one I think is just gratitude um gratitude for all of the amazing moments and some some tough ones on this court too um but really special that I'm able to uh play here one more time um gratitude uh wow to my family that's here thank you um some of them flew in today and uh have been here a few days waiting all day uh for me to play so thank you for the support um my team gosh everyone behind the scenes that has just been there for decades you know it's uh been a lot of years in the making um gratitude gosh to the Lord for these blessings for these talents for the opportunities to just glorify him with everything I do um and yeah just overwhelming emotions I I wish I would have prepared this better but um it's so special to share this with you guys and um I just can't wait to see uh I don't know what else I can do with the sport I I don't want to leave it but my body says it's time so I uh I won't be a stranger and I hope to see you guys soon well said Shelby we'd like to invite Stacy ellister the tornament director at Dr Brain H stay here Shel got a little momento for you the president of the USDA Dr Brian hanline to give you a little momentum she's just been handed a lovely bunch of yellow flowers and and then she's got a huge uh well that'll go on a a wall somewhere uh at her home and a huge uh picture Board of uh well some of the best moments of her career and all sorts of action shots as well and uh I think the US Open particular particularly under Stacy Al have been very mindful of how many retirements on them just to try and do it in the way that the players want it Daniel Collins did not want any F at all I don't think Shelby wanted a big fan fa I think that was just absolutely right and tell one thing that was very telling there her sister Sabra has you know was crying our eyes out wasn't she but I think now we're going to hear from Jessica I know that you knew that this was a possibility tonight with Shelby you knew going the last match if you were to win this so I'm going to give you a chance to say a few words about Shelby and just about the match in general oh gosh I'm going to get emotional too um well congrats on a great career I mean amazing um seriously I'm like getting emotional um it's okay J I I know I sorry I'm getting more emotional I remember just playing 16 under Southerns with her and um now we're here and I think it's so cool so I I'm sorry would you doing too l I'm sorry um I I she probably thought she was doing really well and then I broke her down um no but I mean seriously like we grew up playing Juniors together grew up in the same sections and it's really crazy I mean now we get to played night match at Ash and obviously she's had some amazing wins here amazing results here at the US Open so just um have an amazing time I'm sure I'll see you in Florida and we'll go on more uh we'll take our dog on more uh dogs on more play dates and um I'll get to hang out with you and John and congrats to you and your family and everyone that's here in your team um yeah I know you've been through a lot with injuries and and all that stuff so it's just I don't know I just wish you the all the best in in the next chapter how tough was it also you come into this tournament just a little bit about you you come into this tournament playing some great tennis you're one of the favorites here at this tournament well what does it mean for you to to have that opportunity to play in your home country and also be somebody that a lot of people are talking about that can go deep into this tournament yeah I mean I knew coming into this match there was a lot of challenges and a lot of weird kind of variables on my plate one playing in American playing Shelby knowing it could be our last match and then coming in on a great couple weeks and all of a sudden turning into one of the favorites when my year hasn't been that great has been kind of crazy so um I'm glad I was able to deal with all the things tonight and then obviously first match on ash at night is never easy as well getting used to the conditions so yeah I'm just happy that I I was able to to get through that tonight um and hopefully I can just you know keep improving at the tournament as the tournament goes on all right well congrats Jess just so you know Chrissy wants one of your dresses okay she loves it back to you guys there you go so we are in very good company Chris ever also likes the dress as well I think we're doing I think we're doing pretty well but just shows you friendship a lot more important than the tennis we're going to take a short break then we're going to head over to Lewis Armstrong see if Tommy Paul can can wrap up there in the third set [Music] [Applause] [Music] a [Music] well we're down to the last match here on day two the second night match of this the second night session of this year's US Open Jessica Pula has just beaten Shelby Rogers she'll go on to play Sophia Kennan in the second round but and Jasmine palini had a blockbuster against Bianca and drcu so it's all been going on K Al dropped to set against a very unknown Australian player that surprised us all but got came through in four so we're down to the last two here this evening as we're just gone past midnight and over on the Lewis Armstrong Tommy Paul the 14th SE is 64 62 against Lorenzo Sono one of the best Italians out there in men's tennis but I have to say Maria chickchat the Umpire has just been the walkie talking suspect that the trainer has been called but Gil you're over there have you seen anything I I think it might have had something to do with the electronic line calling actually which um seemed to malale function on the first serve of this third set so I think that's what it was about okay I had to say maybe we've been too many years doing this job and when usually when an Umpire goes to the walkie-talkie there's used a few seconds later a trainer appears at the side of the caught but keep an eye on it but it it seems to have been Tommy very much in control certainly on the score line and just you know flicking across uh and keeping an eye on the match has that really been the story of it absolutely it's a comprehensive performance from Tommy and I think his speed around the court has really bothered Sono as it does so many opponents Lorenzo's first serve and his big forehand and his drop shot and he loves the forehand drop shot he goes to it all all the time and Tommy it's so difficult to get the ball through him or get the ball in front of him cuz I I truly feel he he's an elite mover on Hardcore there's very few better than him can you see him wrapping up the third or is is there something more to come from son n i mean there aren't signs right now I I do think this is looking like Straits for Tommy okay we we'll see let's see we'll see if we'll see if you're you're right Gil I'm not going to dangle any enticements you but let's let's see how how we go here Sono currently ranked just inside the world's top 50 has been as high as 21 in the world but that was three years ago 6' three the seventh best Italian on tour and there are so many of them here at this year's US Open 10 in all that's uh pretty much a record amount and sona's had a bit of an up and down sort of year quarterfinal in Mar KES but has won 18 matches but has lost more than that but comes off the winning Winston Salem which is clearly not a very good moment because it seems like you can't get past the third round if you win in Winston Salem historicly very very tough to to back up a Winston Salem title with a deep US Open run but uh really the draw didn't uh do uh Lorenzo any favors here Tommy Paul's uh at the top the peak of his powers and one of the toughest players to beat in this tournament son to go is this tall angular figure almost looks even at 29 Going on 30 uh the man from Turin as if he hasn't still quite grown into his frame I mean he's quite gawky isn't he the way he walks about the court but he's s shaking his racket up and down as if saying right i' you know I'm I'm still in this good body language from the Italian we need to put your mic on Sophie you still can hear me yeah I can hear you now I can he you there you go I think CL got me uh she he was tired of hearing me I said your reference to Ralph Mako who was the K uh is absolutely perfect they look completely alike it's uh I had actually a thought about it and when you refer to it again I'm like yep exactly exactly right do you see uh a different Tommy Paul than even 12 months ago in terms of just his authority early on in a slam it seems like he's just going from strength to strength as a player and a competitor he's formed a tremendous alliance with Brad Stein one of the best coaches we've had in in the last couple of decades uh those two really have made an exceptional team they've been together for perhaps about 5 years now I think they uh teamed up yeah October 2019 as soon as they teamed up I think Tommy maybe won a title in Australia and Adelaide it didn't take long for them to really gel and uh he is just getting better and better with every year he's just seemingly uh hitting his forehand better advancing to the net better his Ser has always been good he's got a lovely fluid service motion and his back end's always been very reliable both them playing in their seventh US Open Tommy Paul actually came here as a qualifier back in 2015 when he won he made the final of the boys boys event the Juniors losing to Tommy Fritz but qualified into the main draw of the seniors that's how good he was as a youngster also won the French Open Juniors as well so one of the best nearly went to college but decided to go pro H but Gil what what are you seeing out there well I had a chance to talk to Tommy before the tournament started and I asked him about how he feels about his Us open history his resume here it was a really tough start for him he lost first round at his first four US Open appearances and we're talking about a guy born in New Jersey yes he moved to the Carolinas at a young age but obviously as an American this is the one you have circled and it just tormented him that he couldn't win a match here well he broke that streak two years ago it did have to win his first round in five sets over bernabe Zapata maras and I remember that match and with all due respect uh it shouldn't have gone five but Tommy was so tight that it went five they lost in the third round that year then last year he was looking poised for a run and in the fourth round he ran into a RedHot Ben Shelton Tommy Paul told me I am not satisfied with how well I've done at the US Open in my career thus far well that that is great to hear he's 1530 actually in this service game just looking to just settle into this third set Sono you feel is going to have a real go here and uh by the way that that that farm that he grew up in uh and spent some time in in New Jersey he uh he goes and does a little work on it actually from from time to time helps up his mom and his his stepfather as he just comes forward to the net and it's 30 all in this game he's a very lowkey guy isn't it there's not too many not too many players who would play Wimbledon and then go and and go and get on the tractor in the in you know on on his mother's farm and help out with the chickens and the sheep I love that about him because I'm always calming down I'm always uh bothered by players that show too much emotion that it's a roller coaster from them during the match and Tommy really conserves these energy really well it's all just getting to the next point you rarely see him rattled so I think that's just apart from his speed and he's all around a tremendous game there's an unforced era there at 30 all that a lot of players would have shown a uh some animation there and wasted some energy Tommy just I'm sure his brain is racing but to the to the eye he looks like he's completely in control of his emotions yeah he's taking his time to serve here although it is a break point for two love Le in his third set foro serving volley how about that he's got it serving volley on this shot to save the break points that's how smart he is and I think that's one point that's uh really they work well together I think tactically they got to uh really get him to have options I also love the fact that he has a very heavy forehand Top Spin and then he really flattens that backand so you never get the same height of the ball when you hit on the other side which is very disconcerting so back at juice in this second game of the third set Tommy Paul in the black trainers with the yellow flashes on the side gray top white and black hat nothing's really matching these days in the in the tennis world in the style Stakes but just going long on the Baseline there yes bradin has talked a lot about wanting uh Tommy to retain that variety that he has he's a different he's a different kind of player a lot of them out there find him really tricky to play unpredictable and he wants to keep him he doesn't want him to lose that you know that element in his game by trying to make the forehand a little bigger as as he has as he has done making a more aggressive player over the last few years so Sono with a break point he's got all these sort of blue and black swirls on his top Paul with the second serve now to use that goes widen in the court does actually GH in bit of a bluff there with that kick second serve Sono not happy hands on hips elbows sticking out Bo he did it again Ser Wally and it really short wide kicker he really sea well out of the court sea chose to stand deep to return it so he was he knew that if he didn't hit a winner on that backhand Tommy was in position to dice away the Bali so back juice in this game and a slider outli from Paul who uh switched up his frame actually at the back end of the 2022 season which uh I mean he's using the onx frame which is very popular on tour now but that was a huge switch and I'm not sure Brad really thought it was a great idea but then Tommy made semi-finals of the Australian open so that that that that discussion was over second surf here Advantage Paul just to hang on to this particular game but he just Falls away off that back hand and it and it drifts long and just a just a sort of a glance back at Brad Steiner and the camp yeah that's a forehand that you wouldn't wouldn't expect Tommy to miss just going back to the breakpoint save though that was a something that Brad and Tommy would have discussed before the match I'm sure if you see SEO playing deep on second serve on a significant Point that's a high percentage play these are the types of things that coaches and players go over before the match is even played looking for go-to patterns on big points well Paul trying to attack now with his forehand Sonic go a little frustrated just slaps of the forand it Sails Long over the Americans Baseline and sonico just sort of lifting up his shirt and wi wiping his chin with it and just sort of strutting around at the back of the court in a quite aggravated sort of way I think he thought this was this was his moment to try and turn the momentum of the match so once again Tommy Paul with break points here at love one in the third two sets to love up the American first serve down the T and I think Sono got a touch on that that might go down as an ace but it's certainly an UNR returnable and again Tommy Paul playing the you know the tennis that he needs given the junction of the match and you can see the intensity on his face he's up two sets to love but there is no taking the the foot off the gas here he knows that it's very important for him to try and finish this match in straight sets maximize his recovery time for the second round let alone giving SEO hope of getting back and winning this match what are you seeing out here Sophie no I'm just you know very interested in uh finding out the tactic that he's using I love that he's mixing up everything uh Tommy and now a great lob and coming in behind it what a Lobby hit what a defensive lob right on the line yeah he's looking at it going oo I got a little lucky here I think he was admiring himself so he's like looking up at the screen saying wow look at me how did I do that he's got a cheeky little smile isn't he there's a lovely story about Tommy because he was he actually grew up he he left uh he left uh Vorhees New Jersey that's a great name isn't it when he was about three and his mother and stepfather um had a sort of sort of Health Center with a few sort of leure Center a few clay courts in North Carolina in Greenville Carolina and uh every every year they they used to sort of pack up the the F the the family car and drive to New York to watch the qualifying competition because it was free to come in so that's what they used to do every year with his sister Jesse Lynn and he only ended up playing tennis because his parents were super busy running this sort of Leisure Center health health place and with which just had a few clay calls it wasn't anything fancy and it was just cheaper I heard the story to to put enroll them in a little tennis kids program rather than play pay for a babysitter so it was kind of an accident that he ended up playing tennis and uh but you you think all those years all those long car Journeys from North Carolina to New York to watch the tennis and and here he is being talked about as you know just maybe he he could have a very deep run fourth round last year as you mentioned before losing to Ben Shelton had to say sonico's getting fired up here isn't he well he's the one now thinking hey you know what I can come forward as well and I can show you a few volleys I has he put that forehand volley very far at impact away as a winner and he's up 315 on his serve one all in this third set two set to love for the American Tommy Paul so many Italians out there on toour a Goodwin for sin earlier today fabulous return just caught that perfectly pull wonderful timing makes it look makes the game look easy doesn't it almost looks like he's not trying almost look he absorbs pace so beautifully on the backand it's like the harder you hit it into the backand the more he just deflects it wherever he wants he really has a it's a thing of beauty that back end of here is Tommy PS but are in this game son to go missing the first it's hard to think of any other player that you'd say plays like Tommy Paul like I mean I could I maybe you you have a comparison but I can't think of anyone no I think uh Sophie made a great point he plays with so much variety a lot of spin on the forehand the back end's pretty flat so it's too contrasting types of balls you're getting depending on which Wing you hit to he's also a fabulous athlete and he's having to use every uh every ounce of that and Sono with a very difficult shot actually off of the a defensive forand from Sona and he misses wide in the tram line and that is not improving his move and he's sort of marching about at the back of the Court sort of chatting to his camp and it is a break point now for Paul to go up at 2-1 in this third set the way he's playing very hard to see him uh going backwards from here Tommy eyes very wide now and under that black and white cap and with the gray shirt on it's going to go Miss is his first s he sort of jumps a little patently actually behind it pulls the the second ball out of those black shorts with that top with all those sort of Fairly hectic swirls on them think sure he quite knows what he's what he needs to do here kicker into the backhand corner of p as sh goes with the drop shot it hits the tape but falls back his side and there is a break and Tommy PA going really well here to the Delight of this Lewis Armstrong crowd to [Music] [Applause] [Music] a [Music] the last match Under The Lights here on day two of this year's US Open night session on the Lewis Armstrong that's where we're going to reside which a court which just sits rather magnificently just over to the side of Arthur Ash and between the the main stadium and the East Gate and what a stadium it is as Tommy Paul leading by two sets of love and a break just comes in and cuts off a forehand volley and actually the camera is just flicking to his coach Brad Stein he's sort of Shadow swinging that and now and have to say this Lewis Armstrong Stadium it's in its seventh year right in the footprint of the old Lewis Armstrong and the and the Grand St and it's it's magnificent isn't it it's very open but it's also very intimate as well David it's hard to explain but yeah Lou Armstrong's just explain it for us well it's it's got an you you described it perfectly I think it's intimate and yet it's enormous it's it's hard to imagine how that could be so but it uh was John is's favorite Court he he used to love being on Armstrong played some great matches there and uh Ash is a little bit more difficult to play on I think because the wind is more significant on ash by and large so you can really get some windy situations on ash that you don't find as much on Armstrong it's a it's a great court for tennis great fan great for the fans to watch on also and it's a perfectly calm night here Paul at 40 Love Actually surprisingly just snuck in with that kick serve out wide and go for the volley and got got a little low on him I think he would like caught it right on the throat he'd like that one back so at 405 yeah it's a great fan Court uh you know all the upper balls can just is just general admission you can come in you can wander out the size of the Court you can also move about the sort of controll movement but it's all it's just it just has a it's had a great feel about it from from day one Paul actually having to work a little harder in this game his backand from the Baseline just going long Sono looking interested here that's a good move from Sono just being much more aggressive on that second serve trying to take that early he's trying to do that also when uh Paul is hitting his forehand crosscourt deep with a lot of Top Spin he's trying to take that ball earlier to not let that ball kick which is a good tactic for SEO but you got to get there very early to be able to do that and the timing is everything good first serve from Paul and he backs out with with a forand in his backand corner now forand from the backand corner Sono crosscourt backand Sono looking for his forand big inside in but he goes long and uh the 29y old attendant very agitated sort of looking rather angrily at his racket face and he is quite a Twitchy sort of jerky character isn't he uh L Lorenzo there he's always he's always in motion and sort of move moving about he's Italian you know those Italian they're always in motion they speak with their hands you know that's the Italian way so Lorenzo staring down at 13 in this set and have to say apart from that really good win in Winston sa coming in here which has proved a very poor hasn't had a particularly good year by contrast Tommy Paul has picked up two titles and uh have to say he recovered very well from I know if you remember this match David and Sophie third round of the Australian Open lost in five sets to miramir kit manovic and had a match point in the fourth and then lost the fifth six love and that could have crushed don't forget he was defending a semi semi-final run from the 12 months previous that was in the third round what does he do he turns around and he wins Dallas the next week the the ATP 250 he makes the final of Del re where loses to Taylor Fritz and then makes the semi-finals of Indian Welles and actually was a setup against Daniel medv I mean that was a hell of a response from I don't know what Brad Stein said to him or what he said to himself but I think that just shows you the kind of character he is and he's always seen as a little bit you know laidback maybe but that that took some Ste because that was a devastating loss and you know what's I love about him is he can't play on every surfaces and that's huge if you want to be one of the best you have to be be able to adapt on every single surfaces and he can do this and uh every player has their their match or a few matches that are nightmares that you'd like to forget but uh he clearly showed his resilience after that Aussie open uh tough one and uh had went on to have a great month right afterwards so definitely a sign of his character and his professionalism 305 minut this game for the Italian he also won at Queens actually beat Jack Draper and Lorenzo mazetti and cord actually Draper and cord he'd lost to earlier in the season as well so that was that was good that's a hell of a big trophy get at Queens as well so that was great for his confidence and then backed it up with a quarterfinal uh birth at wion his F before losing to Carlos alarz and it was alarz that beat him in the last eight of the Olympics as well but he didn't turn around particularly well second round in mon Montreal lost to Brandon Nakashima who's been playing very well in three sets and then lost and hopefully it wasn't an omen lost in the first round of Cincinnati to the Italian Flavio cabali I think it was exhausted exactly exactly so seega with a first serve there that almost landed beyond the Bas line I don't know if I've seen that I'm sure you've seen that before maybe not in professional tennis he's at 405 oh Tommy Paul going with a drop shot off the return squ couldn't have found a more acute angle and that's a great illustration of just how unpredictable he can be this shot was uh well you drop shot return yeah that's what it was and it was perfectly executed but I'm surprised cuz Sono had a chance to go around the post and hid that and didn't go around the post tried to go crosscourt completely made a mess of it he needs to play some more pickle ball idea would have appeared to him ATP baby so here at 4030 and and by the way ATP around the post in pickable you didn't know that I did not the things you were thinking you were thinking I was you know talking about the association of professional tenants but no or Association ten anyway ATP around the post things I have learned sitting next to you in only two evenings and they're trading blows here from the Baseline Sono just trying to rip for hands he switches Direction Tommy Paul with the backand line and sonico coming forward now grunting heavily and he oh finishes off with a volley that's an unbelievable way to hold a big fist pump he is not out of this just yet great body language from the Italian and just maybe there is another Twist on Lewis Armstrong like maybe we won't get away at a at a reasonable time Gil what do you think maybe not I'm I still think Tommy Paul is uh the player in this match who who has a lot more margin in his game it feels like Sono needs to come up with something great uh every single time to kind of stay in this but talking about Tommy Paul's season you look at all the highs he's had the only other thing I want to mention is in Miami first round against Martin Dom he had a very scary looking injury the first time I saw it I thought he might have tore his Achilles because it was a non- contct injury and he he came off the the court know hopping on one leg didn't want to put weight on the one leg it turned out to be thankfully not so bad comes back on the clay after missing a month and uh his first tournament back was Madrid but then right after that he made the semis of Rome which Sophie loves because it was on Clay so with all the the great highs that Tommy has had in the season he also didn't let that ankle injury derail him yeah well that's again talking about his character not getting down on these loss you know six love in the fifth at the Australian Open not getting down on himself with this you know injury that could have been much worse and and really basically getting back on the horse and making in a lot of damages on the tour I think also worth remembering for quite a few years had a nasty elbow injury as well and so wasn't able to Surf fall out and wasn't actually able to practice his surf that much and that took quite a long time that that lingered for at least a season and a half and that just checked his progress Tommy Paul at 27 years of age currently 14 in the world was a couple of spots higher towards the back end of last year but looks as if he's coming into some of the best form of his career love 15 in this service game 32 third set has a a comfortable comfortable lead in this best of five and looking to come forward as much as possible doesn't look too much at his camp we had that that was also part of our lengthy discussion before coming on air tonight just the odd odd look over seems quite an independent character out there David yeah which shows strength of character to me he's not relying on his box to try and get him over the line like like the old school players he he can do it himself first serve wide to the Sono forand for running around his back and just you can hear him skipping with those squeaky squeaky black and yellow shoes and he's looking to find a way forward again really aggressive play from the American aggressive footwork wasn't it as you said you could hear those shoes squeaking which is a great sign one of the elite movers in the game both defensively but then that was offensive footwork the little steps that you take so you can unload on the ball with Precision serving here at 3015 in a very baggy sort of gray shirt with black shorts oh just leans back off off that for and it sails over the Baseline it's frustrating doesn't want to let son go back in here yeah we haven't seen many enforcer of the sort from uh from Paul from Tommy Paul but this one really backing off of that forehand and completely floating out if he has one little mini weakness it's sometimes when he tries to generate his own pace on the forehand uh it's not the thing he does the best and in this game both erors have come from Fairly relatively easy positions but he tried to juice up the forehand add his own pace to it and missed them both long second serve at 30y Old Tommy Paul attacks her forehand inside out now oh now just that's a third one yeah of the forehand but you know he hits really the outside of the ball a lot more than through the ball and you know with that effect it's hard to really put Pace in the ball if you don't penetrate the ball with rocket head and and uh we're hearing the Italian coach of Sano just uh at the end of it for Soo not able to break yet in this uh in this set 0 for six in this match should I say and that's now 0 for seven ouch and he knows it oh gesturing to his Camp really good disguise from Tommy Paul he was able to serve the ball up the T but with what we call a kick toss it looked like it was going to be out to the back end but he disguised it and fo Sago yeah gets out of trouble with backto back perfect serves this one right at the left left hip of Sono was a little bit of a linky tall guy so not easy to get around it gain Point here for Paul gives you a hell of lot of confidence isn't it when you save break point after break point and really gets into the head of uh of your opponent second serve looking to kick it out to the back and doesn't get it quite right but Paul onto his back hand and he's lifted that as well spending a ball spending a lot of time sailing over the Baseline just needs to regroup here as we go back to juice bit casual on that back hand it seems the footwork wasn't exactly there right we didn't hear the squeaking this game four unforced errors that one was on the back end but there all been footwork mistakes really just for a little moment in time here he's a couple of shots he's allowed the ball to come to him without going and getting it with his feet so back at juice p goes up first serve wide sonico just stuns the return back into court allows Paul to come back in and just sonico just drifts a backand slice down the line and Paul I think in two minds whether to take it or not and ends up just dumping it in the net and sonico just bobbing and nodding his his head there and he's got another opportunity to get back on serve in this third set yeah you don't often see a slice back in passing shot and this one was high in the air I think that Tommy you know thought maybe that could have been out on the Alley but uh choose to take it and made a mess of it so another break point this game Tommy Paul ser and volley wasn't the cleanest forehand volley but that was uh quite enough to just save the point sonico smiling in agony really now he's smiling cuz he had a shot on it I mean the volley was not really punched was kind of like put there crosscourt this one of the longest games of the contest so far just going over 5 minutes and Gil you're seeing a change of tactics here seems like Sono is willing to take little Pace off of his ground strokes in this game and it's actually drawing errors instead of everything being either a full speed or a drop shot which is how he's played most of the match well he's got a third break point in this game Tommy Paul with the double faults now let H his first one of this third set Gil being fluent in Italian is probably picked up the the signals from the the coaching box for Nea to take Pace off the ball it's a it's a first Ser Tommy Paul with the ser and volley backand volley and that sonico can't make him play a second one great volley into space there and again that L like another set play from the practice court kicker out wide to the Sono back hand and drifting in behind it how many times is he going to serve in volley and and save those break points and Sono not able to do anything about it that's frustrating 048 sorry for N I have a feeling that Gil might need to cover his ears cuz I think there's going to be a few bad Talent words coming across the court but tried to serve volley again and sonico got it right at his feet there was absolutely nothing the American can do and uh maybe it's fourth time lucky Sono just pulling up his his socks he's also wearing black trainers but he's got like a green soul to them extraordinary outfits this year at the US an almost defying description here we go break point Tommy Paul comes in again kicker out wide and comes the net he's done that time and time again talk about going to the well as much as you possibly can and now in almost a seven-minute game well until SEO proves he can stop it Tommy Paul will keep saving break points with the kicker out wide Sur volley I think SEO tried to adjust and take the angle he he moved in a fraction more but still couldn't execute the backend return oh he's starting to try to return down the middle to the feet of uh Tommy Paul it worked at 40 all now Tommy Paul second serve staying back back at juice in this game p with a back hand cross courts on go with a drifting slice and then he just leans on one to get it down the line that can't have missed by more than a a couple of millimet support once again at in the old days they would have been remonstrating with the Umpire about that being in just see Johnny Mack being just incensed with that call but these days of course the computer Johnny no I can't wait to see what Tommy D does he kick out wide on a game point no he's got a good here yeah I have that feeling too yep right on the T with missed it long he's got such a elastic sort of elastic sort of flexibility doesn't he to his to serve really does lean back on it and a good second serve actually they're going back hand to back hand Tommy port with the slice changing direction and Sonic goes inside in gives Paul the forehand crosscourt that was close but the American just going fractionally long and uh as is this game he's heading over to his Tow boox and uh just just touches his cap you know how important in this game is I mean it feels like it could be the set right here to tell you the truth and then and then the match if it goes Paul's sway who is the 14th for either player I think whoever gets this game could be easily going through this set goes out wide for the forehand finds his way towards the net that's a really poor shot for Sona I'm not sure what he was trying to do there it wasn't it was I think shaping up for a slice but ended up as pretty much nothing slice back in Cross quit pass it's not going to happen your opponent has too much time to get to it on the crosscourt path game point once again Stein sitting next to Thomas physio who we convinced to take onard board a couple of years ago and that hasn't that paid off and Tommy T does go with the t- serve Sono can barely get a racket on it and somewhat of a relief in the PA cap as he breaks clear now in this third set well that was a great example of a player using good tactics to get out of trouble and that's something that Brad Stein would have said to Tommy uh before the match was said when you need a point get in on the SEO backand either with a kick so valy or a good approach shot and that's what uh that's what the top players do they play high percentage points when the chips are down and Soo cannot believe that he's over for 10 alog together in this match on break points opportunity oh boy that hurts now Sano serving at two4 down second serve here on this opening Point good return down the line from the racket of Tommy Paul exchanging blows from the Baseline Tommy Paul going for the inside out for hand and then tried for the drop shot back in but missed right from the tape and again the variety of his shots is pretty incredible trying to play short trying to play deep trying to play with Top Spin with shape with slice and another Drop shots he's got a lot of artillery in his uh in his back doesn't he I just love the way he keeps these emotions under control that would have been annoying to be in a position to get the first point of this seventh game but it didn't work out and he's just focusing on his breathing and resetting getting on with the next Point very Twitchy son go at 15 loveing this game and actually is Italian Bon is someone that does seem to waste a hell of a lot of energy down that end gesturing to his Camp sort of stomping about behind the Baseline when things haven't gone quite his way when he's missed another another break point another another return but he's on a second serve here Paul really rather ambitious backhand return from way way back behind his Baseline almost if he's taking a little bit of a breather in this game so Sono 30 love awkward customer Lorenzo Sono third tour meeting between the two that was uh Paul be him on indoor hard in Rotterdam back in 2021 Sono getting his revenge in Cincinnati a little later in the year actually first played off the tour at a Futures event when Tommy was still a junior and actually had a good win over uh Sono then he was a couple of years older and already out there on the tour even those two matches in Rotterdam and Cincinnati pretty pretty close Affairs and that was an easy service game for Lorenzo who sort of bangs the the ball that he would have used for a second against the cement and trudges over to his tow box anding most disconsolate and slightly I don't know slightly fed up out here with how things have gone but we're going to take a short break but we're we're won't be too far away [Music] [Music] [Music] great to have your company on the second night session of this year's US Open and it's the last match on court Under The Lights here at Flushing Meadow and we are with Tommy Paul the 14th seed up against Lorenzo Sono and the American two sets to love up and a break and looking to wrap up proceeding set and move into the second round where he will play the Aussie if he does win here Max pel which could be quite a fun match Sam Smith alongside Sophie AMC and David mcferson just see if Tommy Paul can be with you right until the end of this match see if toy po can finish off here hard to see a way back now is for son he had a really good go early on in this third set 10 break points certainly that'll frustrate you when you let 10 get away from you and the tennis has been a little bit scratchy it's not easy to play your best tennis after midnight it's just your your cycle is is a little off and I feel like these players are definitely not playing their absolute aame right now but Tommy's just trying to keep it together stay focused and get this thing done you know you're always going to have a few late nights it's it's the US Open also happens in Australia and even at the French Open now I mean wand's the only one that sort of puts puts turns the lights out at 11:00 so Night tennis very much a part of the game these days and plenty of fans here still on the the Lewis Armstrong Stadium yeah Jasmine Pini got this thing started on Louis Armstrong she electrified the crowd and and now Tommy Paul and Lorenzo SEO are also keeping the fans entertained yes this italan not quite so so popular and the grunting you he can hear from Sono the seventh best man from his country out on tour they got great strength in depth now 29y old from Turin which is in the Northwestern part of the country loves his football uh supports Torino FC key Point here 30 all 43 for Paul serving go crouches down he's a tall figure at six' three there's not there's not an ounce an on him really and Paul with the second serve go back hand to back hand Paul running around it though getting on the forand looking to open up the court and Paul not looking terribly secure on that forehand side when's he going to switch the play goes down the line son goes more than up to it he goes crosscourt and now with a very aggressive drop toop somy Paul up to it slides it down the line and Paul at the net and he finishes it off in great style a slam dunk volley from Paul and he gets his play box on their feet they just know how important it is to keep the Italian at Bay a 19 shot rally packed with Adventure and uh improvisation oh my goodness Tommy's athleticism saved him there as well as his his hand skills my goodness he was in a horrible position for about three or four shots there but his speed got him to the drop shot and then he lunged and was able to survive a couple of volleys there P at 43 loves that t- serve but he's gone fractur long arches his back quite a long way actually it's quite an expansive serve so second Ser he going he's going to kick out to the back hand Co is and then he gets another back hand but sonico being very aggressive with the forehand and really just jab at it and it drifts long and Sono still very dangerous out here in this third set but two sets to love down I like that response from seego is just trying to be as aggressive as he can and and really you know sending a message I am not going down I am going to try everything I can and you know that's that's that's this this way that's the way you want to play against somebody when you're down to set to to love and 43 so back at juice Tommy PA in the black baseball cap with black and white baseball cap actually turned around the the traditional way and here we go again sonico with a fabulous return read the serve extremely well out wide to the forehand now it is 11 11th break point of the match for for Son Well can he well let's see what Tommy does here and he goes t with that first serve gets onto the inside in forand once again he's wild wild with the high forehand volley way way past the tram lines and something for Sono he gets the very his very first break on his seventh break point of this third set and we are Level no one's going anywhere right now I just love the way that at the end of that point when he finally broke on the 11th time and opportunity he looked at his camp with like a a very dry sense of humor I said would you know in his mind would you believe it I did it wow for all this is uh getting exciting here want to go looking a little springier with that tall lanky gate won a lot of matches over the years on tour very good Clay cter comes forward frustrating for Tommy Paul he made a critical backhand error to get himself in trouble on his own serve and then that was a very makeable backhand pass by here standards and it clipped the tapes so just a little bit of frustration that he's going to have to overcome here Tommy to to finish this in straight Brad Gilbert watching Courtside chewing very hard on what I suspected some [Music] gum of Just Clips a tape that is the voice of Maria chick in the chair she's having a late one too it's going to go just bouncing the ball rather furiously against the the court surface trying to find another first serve here which he does and it's right on the intersection out wide to the the Tommy Paul background to the Tommy Paul backround and there certainly a feeling of a momentum switch in this third set so 30 love in this game four all third set s has been down a break finds another first of wide Paul just tries to bunt a forand return but it Nets and Sono dashes over to his Tower is looking a lot brighter now isn't he not quite so much chitchat to his support Camp he's just getting on he's quite frantic actually the way he's he sort of goes about his business at 40 love here thrs the ball up first serve goes pretty long actually over the service line few more bounces his shirt absolutely soaked in persperation second serve work to do here good return though another extravagant shot from Sono goes back to 4050 keeps blowing on his grip I suspect it's slipping he does look should be wearing some wristbands really because the sweat comes down into his hands and uh you know some players don't like to fill the wristbands but uh probably that's probably the reason but yeah he's blowing on his hand and this is an ace to conclude here and take the lead here in this uh third set five games to four foro incredible all of a sudden turnaround yeah real dip there for the last 10 or 15 minutes Tommy just had a dip in his concentration missing shots that really he he rarely rarely would miss and he's got himself in a little bit of a pickle here 5-4 down still on serve but he needs to gather his uh concentration and uh really present finish strongly here and crash through the Finish Line Gale I understand that you're you're pretty nifty with your Italian have you you picked up any of the the the chatter from Sono all but not at all but the chatter has uh existed uh it is uh he could be saying anything he could be saying this sideline reporter is really annoying me I would not know uh I I feel like Tommy the entire set has not been very sharp off the ground and we saw a couple of service games early where him just getting forward getting to the net whether it be serving volley or coming forward off of the plus one it was kind of bailing him out it was hiding the fact that his ground game was off but Sono has been in so many return games because we've seen this become much more competitive from the Baseline I think Tommy Will Button things back up it was impressive that he was able to kind of avoid getting broken despite the unforced errors off the ground but it just couldn't last forever and now it's 45 the crowd just starting to thin out on the leis AR from where we were at the start start start of the match Tommy Paul serving at 45 on surf in the third and David I just wonder what is the I mean Sophie and I have only ever played best of three I don't think you've ever played best of five Sophie tell us the mentality of playing a best of of five match well it's keeping your concentration uh going for long stretches of times and it's human to have a little bit of a dip here and there but close to the Finish Line like Tommy was upper break in the third I mean that is really really frustrating for him it's going to test his medal right now because Sano is coming strong he's starting to use his forehand a dictate points Paul doing well 15- 15 all up against the Winston Salem champion of last week Tommy Paul um really hasn't put too many results on the board since he made the quarter finals of the Olympics in singles Bronze in the doubles goes along with his with his first serve just bounces up and down on on his toes before delivering the second which goes over his left shoulder and he finds a forehand after it lots of grunting from The Italian who switches up the pace now and then switches again to the flat back hand looks as if he might be coming forward but he didn't but Paul netting with his backhand reply and all of a sudden he's at 1530 a couple of points away from being dragged into a fourth set as we come up to 1:00 local time we'll have to put a few more coins in the meter to keep the lights on some very uncharacteristic backhand misses here from Tommy Paul as well like he uh right now he's not impacting the point very much he's letting seego control the tempo energy the energy is down and SEO is the opposite I think like uh Sano is just pretty much throwing everything he's got and uh he's telling himself of everything you've got right now it's been a big momentum switch though Tommy Paul's only won six of the last 21 points second serve hit 30 all goes wide go Lofts a forehand return gets again on the forehand just pulls it across his body that was a scruffy kind of shot very bad mistake from the racket of Sono and you know comparing to the they of fall I guess they're evening out a little bit but uh 30 all four five I mean that's a chance to put a lot of pressure on on Paul my word and Tommy's first for Hammer sitting there too he really gave SGA every opportunity to win that point went forehand wide and came in and just picked a volley off his toes and did well from 1530 and levels up in the third we need to see more from that if you're a Tommy Paul fan taking the ball a little bit early using his feet like he normally does and impacting SEO with uh with penetration and velocity on his shot he's played really passively for the last 20 minutes and uh he's paid the price but he's got such great feel at the net it's pretty incredible he's uh 33 out of 41 points coming forward he's winning 80% of the points coming forward hello let's keep at it I mean and they have all those tablets there I mean they have have all those stats that they can actually give to their player and again oh he fail he actually twisted his ankle Sono coming to the net himself a bit like a a fury came back it came so fast to the net andigo that uh I think he he lost his footw a little bit fell down but uh won the point with a great volley it was a little ungainly yes he actually sort of ran around his back hand volley and tried hit it with a with a forehand into the open court and completely lost his balance and toppled over and at 6' three he has quite a long way to go down we have to explain to him about gravity when you're 6'3 cuz he was pretty much completely almost parallel to the ground and lost it but uh he's okay I think his Camp can see can see the funny side it's a quite an extravagant way to get to 15 love in this game five or third set David I'm really interested in the what you were talking about about playing playing after midnight as sonico just fires a forehand for nothing and hits a winner and if there's been some studies done on it because it's it's a huge thing now in tennis isn't it playing late at night and what it does to you physiologically that's the that's the challenge I really just feel like you know Tommy's concentration it just laps there very uncharacteristically and the lateness of the hour is probably a factor in why this is happening Sono going really well and once again not really attacking the return just uh opening the racket face drift drifting out long and this looks like another very easy service game for Lorenzo Sono bounces the ball several times does the Italian and then goes up into the air misses the first serve T long now the second the Italian perspiring very heavily and that looked like a double fault actually but uh tell me Paul just fizzing a forehand wide of the tra lines I think happy to get to the chair and that's where they'll be for the next 90 seconds as Tommy B will have to come out and serve to stay in this third set once again [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Music] la [Music] us back on us open radio presented by American Express Gil gross here inside Armstrong guys I think the point that Lorenzo sign go fell down after what was called the volley winner I got to look at this on the uh replay monitor in front of me I think there was a missed call there because the racket of Sono was tossed into the net and it was very very close but his racket hit the net before the ball bounced twice that should not have been sano's point it's funny you just said that because David was all was saying the exact same thing and I said that's a very very good points so you both called it a very good eye there and uh yep it might have been one of those but uh that we have to see in the replay and they could have video review on the score because it's here and you get three incorrect ones are set so the players can can challenge it but uh don't think Tommy Paul didn't even notice it and I have to say I didn't notice it I then Paul at love 15 here have to say Sono looks the more likely winner of this third te he comes up and just finishes off at the net with a smash and he s Roars at his support count the ball heads out into the stands and that will be a souvenir for one of the fans that rewarded for staying late here but so aggressive David from the Italian and Tommy's made the mistake of hitting the ball a little bit too short and weakly into that c Zone that we CAU call where a right hand is able to just slide to his left a little bit and use his forehand and that is sano's best shot so Tommy really playing into his hands when he hits the ball in that region of the court so once again another difficult service game he's got to extricate himself from at love 30 here second serve goes deep in the Box Sono with a decent return again really being very aggressive off that forehand now they switch to the backand play sonico looking for that forehand inside in he's got another one lined up as well really attacking the paor forehand and he does it again he finds the space and he just St is at his camp and he's got three set points to take us deep deep into the early hours here at Flushing Meadow it's pretty impressive uh you know when we go back and I was thinking that that game at uh 32 to 42 lead that he had so many chances to even out things and then break Paul and I thought that game was going to be the set and none of that Soo is like I'm not going anywhere so aggressive 2 hours and 22 minutes it's the match time so far second serve here for Paul who was a who led 4-2 in this third son go lining up for a four actually ends up going between the legs of Paul Sono knew that was a chance there wasn't an awful lot on that second serve still got a couple more opportunities or can Paul drag this into a third set tie break it's only been broken once in the contest that's fed off so many break points with the first Ser sonico just lashes a return and Sprints to his chair he is absolutely on fire now he somehow has salvaged this third set and we are going into a fourth what a result from The Italian who fances his chances 75 he takes the third set [Applause] h [Music] [Music] [Music] thanks for staying with us into the early hours here at flushing Meo as Lorenzo Sono has extended the 14th seed Tommy Paul as we go into the fourth set and uh Paul has just headed off the court for a breather here on the lewi Armstrong the the schedule is out for we're already in uh day three and tomorrow oh tonight on ash it'll be return of Koco go the defending Champion she takes on the tricky German player Tatiana Maria one of the mums out there on tour and that will be followed by D against D Novak jovic against fellow Serb llo Jered the defending Champion back on ash over on Armstrong it'll be former multiple finalist here Victoria Azarenka taking on Clara barell who had Who had who had a big upset uh last night that really wasn't on the cards against Sloan Stevens a former champion and that will be followed by what might be one of the matches of the night session the fritz the top ranked American taking on Matteo bartini of Italy there are Americans everywhere as there are Italians but uh Sophie and David let's take stock over what we've just seen in in that third set I'm taking stocks of what I'm seeing right now on the screen you a lot of a lot of women with like those Bobs uh hat bucket hatss dancing on the uh uh Rocky s long eyes of the tiger and they have a lot of energy I tell you anyway I think the challenge for Tommy Paul now obviously is to just reather his energy his Focus his positivity which is uh took a hit there by losing a the third set that he could have had but the thing is the conditions have changed the later it gets at night the the the heavier the air gets the slower it plays and what's happened is is that Sano has had more time in the slower conditions to impact the match with his forehand he's done a lot of damage with his forehand Tommy's footwork just slipped away a little bit at the end of the third so he wasn't really hurting uh SEO as much as he was in the faster conditions and I think that he's going to have to really put the onus on his footwork in the early in this fourth set he's got to like get to the ball penetrate he's got to be the dictator in the point otherwise it could be trouble because this is getting slower and slower as it gets later and later and SEO does have a big forehand and if he's got time to unleash that forehand he can really do some damage yeah I I think that he just you know like mentally kind of like checked out a little bit and got tired I felt like the energy level just completely was opposite on each side Soo was like I don't have anything to lose I'm going to go all full out kitchen sink out everything I've got and that worked um and Paul felt the heat in such ways that he just you know started to give a lot of points away and not being competitive and the the more he was going down as the energy going the the more energy on the other side was uh it was very explosive I think from the Italian and you know he earned that set and uh he earned the right to go into into a fourth here Lorenzo opting to stay onto the court and just his change of Shir there it just certainly needed it was absolutely soaked in perspiration by end of the third still a very warm early morning here at flushing meow USA Billy Jin King national tennis center Paul jogging back onto court and we'll see if he can get himself going this the last of the men's first round matches this a contest from the top half of the draw few big upsets today so start of the fourth [Music] on to go with the first serve and very quickly gets on to his forehand finds another forehand again looks like he's going to be very aggressive from the Italian stun stun of volley it's not enough on it and Paul taking full advantage and these are Big moments early in the fourth here there's Tommy Paul needs a momentum shift right away if he could get the first game at the fourth then uh things could uh turn back in his favor clearly right again so he's expressing a lot of energy now he's bouncing on his toes trying to will himself into a good start to this fourth set this is The Late Late Show on the the Lewis Armstrong [Music] Stadium match time 2 and 1 half hours now well has been a very busy day here at Flushing Meadow very deep second serve from Sona again once again looking for the forand but he gets a little carried away and that was way wide of the singles tra and immediately he's in trouble he did expend a lot of energy didn't he coming back from 4-2 in that third set and that was a really good second server from Tommy Paul he did stay deep but he was able to hit the back and with such force that seega wasn't able to unload on the forehand and that was critical in Tommy controlling that point first serve for the Italian short forehand and he cutting it awfully fine I guess there's a s there's a Tipping Point here he's being super aggressive but it could just boil over well it could but I think he needs to keep that energy up I mean that's the only way that he's going to be able to come back in this game in this match I mean he already came back in such way to push it to a four set he's got to keep that momentum going 1530 here first game of the fourth again he's also got quite a big back arch on his surf gets lots of snap Tommy right on his toes with those black shoes with with yellow stripes it's on to go com again he's very easily picked off that was quite a bluff and immediately the Italian is in trouble well and tactically you know if you're going to serve in volley you have to cover your line if you're going kick wide you have to cover the down the line give the crosscourt because most of the time the player is going to be late to hit it and the only shot they have is to go down the line but he didn't do that at all he came in right in the middle completely passed by the shot of Tommy Paul who has two break point opportunity here in this four set and on the second serve mind you sonico broken four times in the contest and uh Paul converting four out of five break points he's been absolutely ruthless in that department and as you said so he has a second serve and that's a messy game from Lorenzo Sono and how quickly matches can change gear and the ideal start for Tommy Paul who has won an awful lot of matches this year 35 wins just 14 losses lots of highs in a career that's just seemingly getting better and better and maybe he's going to show his class here by running through this fourth set well he certainly certainly showed some resilience there you don't get to being ranked uh top 10 in the world like Tommy Paul has without uh being able to deal with adversity so he took the break the 5minute break between the sets he came out bouncing on his toes determined to impact the set early and and he did he he capitalized on a very loose game from uh Lorenzo SEO there and now he's back in the driver's seat serving at one love needing to consolidate though see how it goes here he's not quite made the top 10 he's nearly nearly 12 that's that's actually quite a tough spot to be in psychologically because Fritz has Fritz has has done it Ben Shelton's very close as well and and he wants to be there so he's been at 12 and that that can I I Taylor Fritz was on it his great friend and it you heard a great story about Taylor Fritz at one point how it was just getting in the way and his coach Mike Russell said well aim for top five and would you know a few weeks later he broke it and I want I haven't really heard too much of Tommy Paul and Brad Stein saying that's a big thing but it has to be there isn't it when you're so close cuz once you been top 10 you can always say I was top 10 in the world I mean that you're in an elite bracket aren't you Sam you make a great point because as haben stance my uh career high doubles ranking was 11 so it's funny that you bring that up but I can't honestly say that it ever bothered me okay well you're just a you're just a lay a lay a layback tazzy boy aren't you so but when you're trying to when you're trying to break these thresholds Sophie you know whether it's trying to break top 100 or you get close to it it can become a thing well I mean it's always obviously we we always want to aim higher that's the thing but it gets much harder when you get to uh 20 and then above and then 10 and above it's like I mean we're talking major major diff difficulty to get there and a great approach shot with a depth from the racket to the forehead of Tommy Paul again coming forward to the net he been so successful doing so 81% of the point one coming forward hello again first Ser is critical nice first serve block short return setting up the opportunity to approach I have to say a lot of tennis balls are heading off into the stands this evening they must be going through at the rate of Nots Mo for with the second serve looks to be in a very good groove on his ground so Sono attacking again he goes inside and and does find line but taking a lot of risk now the Italian oh he has to I mean he is he's back to the wall and again it's just going and AFF afflicting so much Pace into that ball inside in if you don't make it you opening the whole court so was a beautiful winner still a chance for a two love lead for Paul great serving volley again wide with a fabulous 124 mph serve to the back end of SEO and finishing the volley that was absolutely perfect yeah Tommy really reared back and uh brought his biggest stuff there really arched his back big torso turn and uh just put a lot of pop on that first serve and then it was relatively easy forand Vol with go completely off the court flat serve 124 wide on the outside that's that's going very fast we normally see those numbers going to the T and after one in the morning local time Tommy Paul really picking up his intensity out here he'd love another brightne goes High into the night sky with the most perfect blob you could ever imagine and this is a completely different Tommy Paul from the third set that's great defensive play I tell you because snego thought it was out didn't even go for it said yeah that's going to go out and then was very very upset Tommy pul was so deep in the court there to hit a Top Spin lob on the line from his position and the court was quite remarkable po winning 10 of the last 15 points a match of big momentum swings over the last hour and if some goes not careful he's sort of huffing and puffing now through these service games he could go down a double break here and it will be hard to see a way back for the Italian second serve arches his back kicks it in down the te and that's a sloppy return from Paul I think very aware how Sono he only needs a little door opening doesn't he and he'll be right back on it here well he certainly has a lot of trust in his forehand so if he gets set set up on his forehand SEO is feeling comfortable and he'll go for any shot anytime and believe he can make it yeah Lorenzo one of those players that took a little longer to come through I think in Italy they give them plenty of time but it wasn't really sort of it was sort of 23 24 before he really broke the top 100 really you know learned his trade and earned his apprenticeship out on the Futures and challenge a tour a lot of it on Clay but a very good hardcore player now as well and someone I think that you know is outside the seeds just ranked inside the world's top 50 that none of the top players would really want to see in a first round match of a grand slam event yeah this was definitely one of the toughest first round draws the the tastiest mat one of the tastier matchups in the first round lot of balls flying out into the stands lot of net cords as well Tommy Paul adopting a really deep meddev type return position and he's done that on second serve as well which is clearly obviously a tactic that he and Brad have discussed yeah bradin we should mention as you you one of the top coaches out on the talk Brad has been around for a very long time uh spent who was originally a college coach at the age of 26 a very young college coach and actually worked with the junior Davis Cup team in the era of Chang and SAS and cuer and actually went on to went on to coach Jim cuer for many years to to Grand Slam success but work with Sebastian Gran took you know um Kevin Kevon to the final of yes how can I forget so he beat John in the semi-finals 2624 in the fifth so that's not something I'll likely forget into and they also they also changed the the the the final set set up because of it because of because of that match now it's uh it's a tie break Match Point tie break at six all but yeah a great pedigree in the coaching Camp of Tommy Paul and we're going to take a little breather but don't worry we're going to take you through all the way to the end of this match [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Music] we are in the closing stages of a very long first Tuesday here at Flushing Meadow the Bing King USA national tennis center and there's been uh there's been a couple of upsets here and there final sits a pass in the main draw men's draw going out against the nii konakis but good wins for the top seed and former Champion eont Yan sinner through in four sets Danielle Collins the American playing her last US Open beaten by fellow American Caroline dohy and a big win for Nomi Osaka against the 10th seed in the women's draw yena osta Peno also wins bord and Dior and Jack Draper what has been a very busy day here Tommy Paul at 2-1 with the early break in the fourth and another kick serve here oh Tommy Paul coming in and hit the half volley with the back end to finish the point I mean the kicks of white has been really working tonight 30 love 21 in the fourth two set to one for the American and a sensational second sub which just took Tommy Paul excuse me took his opponent almost down into the the first row of the seating and then just ghosts in behind it looking just making it look very easy he's always had that kind of languid laidback kind of game hasn't he absolutely he's always pretty to watch but he's come out in this fourth set with a lot of renewed purpose three wide serve volleys to get to 40 love and now he's in the net again finishing all four points that game he helped to love at the net so he's taking control of the match again he's being more proactive he's not being passive he's taking the game to Saga right now in this current moment in time yeah coming to the net has been really uh the whole thing about this match for him five and five in this uh four sets coming forward he has not lost one point coming forward as we saw here in this last four points and uh 38 out of 46 I think that's enormous 83% of the points won at the at the net for Tommy Paul it's telling the story tonight that he needs to continue and uh that regard so son go 13 fourth set with the new balls there but don't forget he was down a break 42 in the third and came back so Tommy Paul not taking anything for granted and finds the most amazing angle chip forand return Sono going wide nothing nothing the Italian could do I have to say both men charging the net now almost every single point this is absolutely spectacular return not too many players on the tour could find the angle right at the end of his range we would call that a power chip a power forehand chip cuz it it didn't float it's just SE it through the air skimmed the tape and found the most Exquisite angle we're getting a whole new vocabulary out here second serve for son just lean back and that was horrible interestingly Tommy Paul for one of the few occasions uh in the match came forward on the second Ser turn got inside the Baseline I think Saga may have sensed that out of the corner of his eye and that perhaps drew the double fault just his fourth of the the evening as they're heading somewhere close to the 3-hour mark now match of some match is very long here on the day two of this year's US Open and again Tommy Paul goes with the lob so Tomo slaps at it but Paul Mor than up to it has hit has to hit the reflex volley and really starting to entertain the fans here making a big move here at 3-1 up in the fourth set and looks like he might be sprinting towards the Finish Line wonderful play from the American Tommy showing off the dexterity there he was off balance but with a continental grip he was able to flip a little lob down the line over Seno's backand side come forward and uh finish off with a really sharp volley let's see if he canvert one of these three break points and surely a double break here will be absolutely enough bouncing on his toes swaying from side to side closing in on that second so very aggressive but catches it a little behind it and it sails Way Long over the Baseline but all of a the Italians gone very quiet out here hasn't it it's all been about Tommy Paul yeah Tommy's taking charge right now that quality second serve from Sano to Stave off that first break point though very wide powerful missing an awful lot of first serves now the Italian I so don't like his toss the Italian is so much to the left on first and second and kicking and it's very very difficult to watch cuz he loses his balance so much there return a serve on the second break point yeah Tommy would not be happy without two second serve opportunities to really effectively close out the match one he tried to take early didn't quite uh control the down the line back and that one he stood far far deeper and missed a forehand from a a crosscourt just mistimed it badly still break point and what we've learned do not let the Italian back that's a fabulous first serve slapped out wide it's going to go on his forehand out again the ball goes high up into the air this time the lob does not find its mark off that back hand wing and we are very quickly at juice from love 40 seems to seems to thrive in these kind of situations does the 29y old Italian from T in as Sophie said falling badly off to his left on that first serve not the optimal Ball Toss second to take again and the thing is you know once you see a player do this you really have to tell your player to return towards his forehand because he's falling left every time so that means he's way away from the forehand side so on the due side crosscourt and from the outside go down the line cuz he's going to have to cover a lot more a lot more Court second double in the game brings up a fourth break point for Paul and Sonic go goes T and it can't have missed by very much second serve Tommy electing to play super deep again this second serve Ball Toss all over the place to the left Sono gets himself in the point but has some ground to cover great defensive forehand from the Italian now he's pushed into his backand corner he can't come out and Tommy Paul races to the change of EDS 4-1 for the American in the fourth [Music] [Music] [Music] great to have your company on the Lewis Armstrong where I would say there's just a few thousand fans now here in the early hours of the morning looking to try and see if they can see American Tommy Paul the 14th seed home against a very tricky and highly rated Italian in Lorenzo Sono 4-1 for Paul in the fourth looks as if he's just got to put the finishing touches on and he been absolutely superb hasn't he react responding brilliantly to dropping that third set there must have been some disappointment because he was almost home and dry up a break 4-2 in the third and that is a really frustrating thing as a player when you have a victory slip away slip out of your grasp like that but Tom Tommy really showed his class shown his pedigree here and uh up a double break now 4-1 15 all attacking again I feel like his footwork is just re-energized which is adding weight to his shots and he's been the in control of the majority of the points in the fourth set the American who was uh raised for the early part of his life and not too far away in Vorhees New Jersey playing really quickly now looking to shorten the points nice job by Tommy Paul taking that back end inside the court got to the ball early got some good penetration on it got it into sano's back end quickly drew the eror that's the kind of offense that's subtle but he's impacting the point playing more positively than he did at the end of the third still trying to really inject some power SEO but this one again floating out the forehand it's a chance for now a 5-1 lead for the American in this four set up to set to one and servings also been part of the key in this set he's only lost one point behind his first Ser only a couple behind his second and as Sophie also mentioned many times like he has attacked the net a lot in the fourth set he's been proactive he served volley quite a lot his success rate when he has come in has been really really good fault here trying to go wide with the second serve still another chance at 4030 is fifth double faults evening out with Sono in this match if you had to hit one though that's not the worst time to do it it looked a very aggressive second serve as well as we're coming up to the 3-hour mark and hours of the morning here backand kicker wide to Sono and he can't do anything about it as Tommy PA just slips his backhand line finds the space very easily I tell you is easily as we see it easily but this is a very difficult thing to do the ball is coming very fast of the return crosscourt of Sono and he was able to control that and redirect that ball down the line like it was just you know a little piece of cake why not just a tiny little back swing absorbing the pace beautiful technique it's frightening it's not easy to do that time Tommy Paul took the second serve really early power chip beforehand just missed it wide he's really trying to get this match wrapped up he'd love to break right here and not even have to serve it out at 52 Tomy Paul just spinning that raet in his hands I mean you think about it but this is at least 4:00 a.m. in bed yeah at the earliest for both players and especially for Tommy Paul I don't know what Sono is going to do if he loses that match but I can tell you Tommy Paul is going to want to get his in the recovery probably have some food food get to the city or wherever he's staying and uh get on the pillow yeah you forget it's going to be at least 40 45 minutes just travel to the city without for press yeah without I mean might end up being five 5:00 that's tough to recover from they do have a day in between but we shall see on to go up 15 love in this seventh game of the fourth [Applause] set hard to see a way back for the Italian now he's never been beyond the second round here fla has made a fourth round birth at the French Open certainly played the first two points of this game very free down one5 uh he's just cutting it Loose right now and just going for shots with success here in the first couple of points to get up 30 love oh big serve here down the t21 mph he's smiling thinking yep he's listening to what David is saying put everything you've got you're almost uh out of this tournament in singles but other the Nets slightly higher this year I've never heard of so many lets you looked at me as I was being serious then the fair of you but I mean I just had I just feel we've had let let let L constantly I know they're not higher but you we have to check the stats but I might get I might get the measuring stick out both playing exhibition tennis drop shot off another drop shot it was uh very much a free flowing game from Lorenzo Sono who has a long way back here and Tommy Paul will surf for his place in the second round yeah Sam to your point it's certainly not ideal to to finish your first round match this late so it's the tournament uh whoever does win the match will be the tournament will accommodate them and make sure they have a later match on the Thursday so you get close to your 48 Hours rest but uh certainly but that's just part of trying to win a grand slam I mean there's so many obstacles so many challenges that come your way you have to win seven matches and it sounds so simple you just seven matches and you're a grand slam Champion well Tommy Paul's on the verge of winning one and then he has to uh recover get with his coach and figure out how he's going to win match number two 40 40 hours from now whenever it is I guess it was something though the generations that played in the 40s the 50s and 60s and even the early' 70s they didn't have to deal with because first year of flood lights here was 1975 over at uh Forest Hills uh at the Westside Tennis Club so that has changed it but I guess they were playing singles and doubles and mixed so they played all all day every day you couldn't imagine that now is it almost impossible isn't it with h with the length of the days we've had a day a night maybe this should be an ex this be should be an extra session the early morning session well that's what you got to give credit uh where it's due to the players who are doing singles doubles and mixed and going deep in tournaments Toyo with the bounce smash now play an absolute Beauty cross score and he's got another chance to knock one out the air and he does so serving for a place to go in the second round hard to see him tripping up here up a double break in their decided lead by two sets of Love Sono did a hell of a job to get back in that third from a break down but just feel not much left now from the Italian I think he pretty much knows his fate and it looks like it's going to be an early exit for him PA with a very good first serve at the body he comes in once again lovely forehand volley chips it away and just overcooks the back end Tommy Paul this one of the few points he's lost at the net he was certainly uh in great position there he forced a chip attempted a chip pass a routine volley for Tommy Paul but just overpowered it wide there's no histrionics though are there from him he just goes back get picks up another couple of balls gets on with it very little energy wasted out here under the lights on the Lewis Armstrong stadium and I love that about him second Ser particularly Deep In The Box Paul looking for his forehand and finds it playing down the line to the Sono backand and the Italian slices it is slice slice slam tactics from both of them and Paul looking to find a way in doesn't need to get there though as the defensive forehand from Sono drifts along over the Baseline again a great attack from the racket of Tommy Paul the depth was absolutely perfect in this point to force the error two points away from the wind get huge changes of pace though don't you from from Tommy Paul you never quite know when he's going to attack you match now just going into its fourth hour second serve for Paul goes down the T and is first forehand after the surf just f a little wide of the tram Line sonus Camp still still believe they're pumping their fists at him still competing really well SEO here Tommy definitely would love a first service in a good spot doesn't get it they can serve middle of the Box oh thank you very much very sloppy return and Sono just sits on his heels almost cannot believe it head in his hands after all he has tried to do to get back in this first round match and after exactly three hours and a minute Tommy Paul who is the 14th seed here with great Ambitions to go beyond the fourth round where he reached last year for losing as a match point gets in the first serve it comes in behinds it hits the volley hits a second back that's job done Tommy Paul through to the second round very tricky opponent which has taken to the early hours of the morning to finish off but a great result here for the American he joins Taylor Fritz and Sebastian cord and Ben Shelton and Brandon Nakashima as all those top Americans going through into the second round and he wins in four sets confirmation of the score 64 62 57 62 job done as Lorenzo waves to the crowd I think he knows that he was beaten by a very good Tommy Paul tonight but it's a hell of a late one and we'll see how Tommy recovers yeah hopefully he recovers very quickly but you know what I love the way he finished at the net again winning the point with a fabulous volley and that is showing what this match was all about 78% of the point one at the net nine out of 13 in this last set 42 out of 54 points when coming forward Bravo yeah Tommy's a really versatile player and that would have been uh seo's backend pass isn't perhaps his best shot so that would have been a big part of the game plan maximized the strategy there let's see let's see let's see let's see what he he's got to say here Tommy three hours you did it how would you rate your performance today um you know better than I thought it was going to be I uh I came out and actually played some uh pretty comfortable tennis obviously you know I wish I would have closed it out and and Straits but you know that's how it goes sometimes and I had to come back out and regroup for a fourth set and thought I played well well that's it you went for a clothing change you came out a new man what did you tell yourself during that quick break how did you reset I don't know my clothes were getting pretty heavy so it was nice to switch those out but uh you know I mean just come back out reset try and make more first serves that was uh that was the goal I think that's what started lacking obviously he started playing some some serious tennis and started returning really well so that made it tough but yeah I mean first service was huge for me it's almost 2:00 a.m. right now and look around you look at the fans in New York City still out to cheer you on what is it about this vibe that makes you guys love playing at the US Open I mean the fact that you guys are here is insane um I'm tired of myself so I know you guys are tired of watching tennis but uh hopefully we we can have you guys out um for my next match and I love playing night session here so thank you guys for staying out for me Tom me Paul thank you so much get some rest we will see you in the second round ladies and gentlemen one more round of applause for Tommy Paul and tomy's going to sign oh so well tonight and one of the loveliest characters out there on on the men's tour I think pretty relieved to get to get through in the end Sophie and David it's been great to have your have your company I think we've got a bus to catch hav we get to get back to the hotel I think they we've got a car we might have to we might have to jump in the car but that's a great way to finish isn't it on what has been a fabulous day here I mean day two and already so many good story lines and some wonderful tennis some ridiculously long matches we had one of the longest matches ever in US Open history Dan Evans and Karen hashoff that was out on court 6 all sorts of crazy things happening around the grounds just getting started that was only day two folks that's right we certain and lots more to look forward to uh coming up tomorrow be Madison Keel will open up on a Arthur Ash followed by Francis tifo and Coco go in the night session as well as Novak jovic and Taylor Fritz and Via aarka it really has been a fabulous day too we've only just begun here at the US Open My thanks to Sophie amch and davic M fersen I'm Sam Smith thanks so much for your company and we'll be back on air at 10:30 local time for the start of the show for day three [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] This Is Us open radio presented by American Express [Music] [Music] This Is Us open radio presented by American Express [Music] This Is Us open radio presented by American Express [Music] This Is Us open radio presented by American Express [Music] [Music] This Is Us open radio presented by American Express [Music] This Is Us open radio presented by American Express [Music] [Music] This Is Us open radio presented by American Express [Music] [Music] [Music] This Is Us open radio presented by American 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