Sofia Kenin vs. Jessica Pegula Full Match | 2024 US Open Round 2

on both the male and the female side who are already making an impact Kenan will get this second round underway please thank you for the score yeah just a slight issue with the LED boards at the back there one of them seems to be malfunctioning that can be a bit of a distraction yeah think cair umpire is just informing the players that uh may just have to wait a second here there we go out sorted ready play oh that's a pretty decent start 15 I like the play from Jessica Pula she saw that racket head from Sonia kind of open up and she immediately followed it just was maybe missing that split step before hitting that shot how do you compare Kenny to the player she was when she was a major winner Arena as much changed in in that period of time do you think from her perspective as a player that she is now yeah I wouldn't say that much has changed I would probably just speak about the confidence yeah when she won that major she wouldn't see that kind of mistake just that early on in the point and I just think that once you win a slam you have a Target on your back people start scouting you a little bit more and they see okay she has vulnerabilities let's attack them and that can really affect you well something you also highlighted to me half an hour ago he just how effective that shot can be yeah absolutely when you have the ability to hit so with so much depth I think the drop shot's just such a good play didn't have to do much with it and I love her placement she hit in the middle of the Court really didn't give Pula an angle [Applause] first game top 150 y talk about the strike of both players how how do they differ how does the ball trajectory different from both players cuz certainly for me as a Layman looking at it looks like kenan's ball pretty flat is that a fair assumption it it tends to go through the court pretty quickly yes absolutely Pula though just does such a great job with utilizing her entire body when hitting I just feel as though she can strike the ball so well because of just wonderful body control and just great racket head speed as well feel as though Sonia Sonia gets so much more action because she takes the ball so early Nick 15 that's the one thing I think she's going to be testing as the Pula second serve today Kenan does such a good job with applying pressure she wants to be inside the Baseline out wow that's an incredible point there great anticipation there from Sonia Kennan I just felt as though Jessica Pula just massaged that ball maybe could have gone a little bit more with that swinging volley so two early opportunities for Kenan gets the error So Good Start she's actually looking at some of the players that kenan's beaten at majes of course she referen she's had some pretty tough draws but she's beaten Serena at the French she beat bti at the Aussie she beat gof at more so yeah she knows how to play against top 10 players absolutely yeah I think that one of her biggest strengths is that mental toughness I feel as though it doesn't matter who's on the other side you know a lot of players I felt maybe lost the match before they even walked out against Serena but she was out there and she just she just played the ball it didn't matter the opponent [Applause] almost got there two quickly didn't she got there with so much time to spare didn't have that much real estate to work with when you're standing that close to the to the net you want to bring in your margin there 15 never looks overly rushed does Kenan does she even when you got a ball like that that's got depth on it she looks as though she still has the ability to be in control of the strike which is a rare skill to have she never seems as though she looks rushed but look at how quickly she goes to that next that's the pressure she also can really put on an opponent especially if you're down love two you know you feel that pressure of like okay I have to make something happen here yeah that was actually a very interesting contrast with Roku the other night cuz Emma was very slow very almost laborious between points but she was it was almost kind of a bit of needle in between the two because one was rushing and the other was the opposite yeah but credit to R Conor because you almost want to change that up you know if you have a player that is constantly wanting to get to the next point if I'm the coach I would say slow things down there's no need to keep up with her Pace as long as you're you know committed to the the surf clock absolutely oh that is so good yeah once again just great placement on that drop shot didn't have to do a lot with it but just look at how much she got with her legs really got under the ball and that's a lot to the credit of playing doubles she plays so much doubles especially with partner Bethany madx Sands so much more practice so much more variety of players when they're coming to net just a little more vulnerable off the forehand Wing kenon or yeah I would say so especially with the Firepower coming from Pula I feel like that's the side to definitely attack wow it's been an impressive start from both and they have ensured that you mentioned the serve of Pula how much more do you think there is to get out of that delivery from what you you've seen obviously it's when you I guess when you compare it to some of her peers at the top of the game it's still a little below what they might offer the likes of rean are obviously I mean do you think she can get a bit more out of it the surve I mean I think that's what top players are able to do they tweak the string they tweak the the rets they do just so much more but I think she's got such a fluid motion and she uses her her legs so well not a lot can go wrong with her serve but I think she really makes up for you know the miles per hour that maybe rebaka has with her ground strokes mhm you want I remember we used to do is serve plus one but you also wanted to work on the serve plus the return and make sure that you just redirected well especially when they're attacking middle which seems as though Sonia is really just going towards that middle Target deep not really giving an angle for Jesse Yeah just as a reference point just looked on the season pagul at 73% of holds this year which by comparison out just to give you a bit of a benchmark font's at 83 sabalenka is at 79 rachin is at 79 so get a bit of an idea but then on the flip side someone like palini is only at 68% of hold so she's obviously got a lot of game outside the serve right numbers don't always tell the story as We Know is wow that was incredible patience defensive skills from Jesse Pula what a finish that is her favorite shot though Nick she did mention that her back hand down the line that's her favorite shot in tennis bread and butter did such a good job keeping the ball deep didn't she when she was on the pressure in the rally early on there was a fair bit of it out yeah and actually just to finish the point on the serf the one number that does stand out for it he's actually second serve points one she's very high in second serve points one in her career almost around the bang on the 50% Mark which just looking at some other players is's a good number usopen.org if you haven't been there already bit of Guidance just being overheard from down beneath us I think you called it Nick stay on that forehand I believe is what I heard wow do you know more a little bit more on what you said about the serve when you don't have the miles per hour for example someone like Elena rabaka but you have you have to have placement and I think that's what Pula does so well because you can hit the ball 200 mph but if you know where it's going that's you can still get a feel for it you can still get a hit on it that was a interesting change wasn't it didn't get the sense Kenan enjoyed that ball coming a little bit lower at her hesitation this has been a poor game chances to break three games in a row the bottom left wonderful Arena that is as well [Applause] you just felt Sonia got just so much coverage on that shot went behind Pula that's the thing when she times that forehand well it's so deadly [Applause] I also feel as though she does a really good job with hiding where she's going with her forehand and that's gives her so much ability to kind of redirect wherever she wants to go yeah disguises that takeaway really well course Rick Macy was a big influence on kenan's Career wasn't he in the early days Rick is a very well-known coach he's a man who's a a big figure a big character and he helped safia a lot in those uh developmental years oh not the shy and retiring type is he Rick he's a he's he's out there oh yeah not quite in the bleer mold but uh a character certainly helped a lot of players though that's for sure there's the difference when she hits the spot on the server as you say CU only 104 milph but if you get that tight to the line it's going to do some work yeah once again just disguising that take a back really have no idea where she's going on that forehand and I think we were talking about it earlier she wants to go across so she can have that ability to go for that down the line have that open I think Jesse Pula was already running towards that backhand side yeah and I guess as well Arena I mean you've played them both but does that compromise the split step a little bit as well in terms of when your your timing of your move a touch because you you're doubting yourself a little bit oh absolutely and the thing is just when you think you feel you've got a rhythm and you're kind of reading the game she has that ability to go behind you or go to the open court when you're least expect it oh good pick up did very well when she got there 39 great speed there by Sonia did really well here to anticipate and really control take care of the ball didn't give herself that much margin but just great Target stayed through it throughout the entire stroke going to be a big fact to how well both players defend their second serve today isn't it we talked about pula's numbers being strong in that regard but paga looks disappointed because there was a little bit of space she seemed to have it just didn't have the elevation yeah I love that back hand down the line she just Pula uses it so well to get herself out of tough positions but Kenan doing such a good job taking care of her feet and really taking care of the ball smart play there by Pula she almost waited to the very last moment to choose her Target already saw that Kenan was running the other way what a forehand there incredible get by Canan not being short on quality this match is it so far as we suspected it would be you brought the popcorn right all right absolutely so Ken back in front there been one of the big seeds has gone out today in the women's draw without playing Elena racher has been forced to withdraw but as you just said to me that's not a huge surprise Arena that reak not able to take to the court today yeah hasn't really been practicing much leading up to her first round against destiny iava she played a qualifier it's always tough playing qualifier she's got three matches under her belt but she just didn't seem like she was totally there on the court granted there's not much emotion that comes from Elena when you do watch her play but she just didn't seem like she was totally there yeah it's wonderful there by Sonia just I love the fact that she was inside the Baseline once again just great disguise did so well with pushing Pula off the court opened up the down the line very fluid with that motion watch that L that Pand watch it haven't talked about that forand crosscourt Nick yeah Jesse the's coach here Mark mline 154 yeah you can start to see the frustration there from Jesse Pula especially when you have your coach telling you what to look for and still make the error it's tough yeah kenan's applying a lot of pressure at at the moment apart from that one bad game the level's been high from the former Australian Open champion4 [Applause] [Applause] that's three first serves there Nick coming in clutch down break points and was able to utilize that Sur very effectively great placement interestingly both players with virtually identical numbers in terms of points one behind both first and second 50% bang on behind the first did well I shown a little bit of frustration four gam going be up down it's hard this girl can play it's all good it's all good stay with it she sure [Laughter] can probably something Jess knew already In fairness this is not news to me exactly thank you for this information cementing what you already knew you know but I actually I think it's also good for coach to say that because when you're a top 10 player like you you almost expect to go through those first early rounds and and get through them but when you know hey I'm going to face a tough opponent today I have to bring it sure UPS the intensity almost a little bit Yeah if needed second sir it's actually pretty rare that the net dies like that here at the US Open go to Wimbledon you see that all the time to dead net core but here yeah here they're pretty Lively the Nets happen very often yeah that's great footwork there by Sonia just love the balance throughout that entire stroke there's not a lot that can go wrong with it especially when she stays that that shoulder turns so effective could have really get on the second serve there wasn't she jumped on top of that one that's a great play I think you don't really want to give that angle that forehand crosscourt to kenon deep middle is definitely the way to go for both players I think yep oh that's so over the course of the tournament but this is a matchup that a lot of people want to come to see and on the evidence of the opening 35 minutes is understandable it's been high quality [Applause] 15 Pula marginally better defensively would you say or not much in it well that's a tossup Nick I mean that's that's a really tough one just because I think Sonia anticipates really well but Jesse's been moving exceptionally well and the way that she's able to hit some incredible shots out of position out of the Court 3 L I think it's one thing okay you defend the ball and you get the ball back but the way she defends and what she does does with the ball even when she's in defensive mode she automatically shifts it to offense it's easy to forget that Jess's movement in the early days was pretty limited wasn't it and I mean that with the greatest respect but so good if you looked at her maybe eight years ago that you saw her journey Arena She's Come a very very long way yeah absolutely athletically yeah absolutely I remember when I played her in 2011 and to see what she's doing now and just just to see how effective she's playing her movement is very efficient I think and that's that's what has really helped her so much oh well that was audacious it was executed beautifully five games all for set once again just a wonderful shot placement seeing that Kenan was probably expecting that deep slice which he's been hitting really well today both these players just I feel as though they have so many Tools in their tool belt yeah makes it a fun match up doesn't it out just no room these is there for an average athlete in this sport on both the men's and the women's side you look Aton you look at gof you look at saena obviously a different frame the the coverage of the court of these players now they shrink the court right yeah absolutely and I think just the amount of power that these players are able to produce look at someone like Jasmine Pini the shape that she get being 5'3 it's incredible I think it should give maybe the shorter people of the world a little bit of Hope feeling as though that they can also achieve something and you see her and you wouldn't think ah she's a top 10 player yeah yeah top five in the world now Pini incredible effort and then also winning the gold medal with s Ron doing incredible things both in singles and in doubles and in her later part of of her career I remember playing her in 2018 amaz 14 15 you could sense the disappointment from Pula after that Miss just makes the game look crazily easy been a good first set this in competitive Pula serving to take a into the breaker are you kidding me with that the shot quality the control the depth incredible point that was just a bit unlucky there think a little bit of frustration in there had some words with the Umpire yeah just rushed that one a little didn't she it's remarkable really when you look through the the head to head because we referenced how tight these matches have been but the player that actually has lost the opening set has won all four matches is remarkably in their four previous meetings not always the case I think Jessica Jessica pugula also just does such a good job with disguising as well you know that takeaway you have no idea where she's going because she has that inside out for him that's so effective as well [Applause] 405 I think he metant weapons yeah multiple he's got a lot of them out 40 K did a good job there off the return because to get the length on the ball that she did and neutralize the the serers outstanding finds a way to get it done though and this opening set fittingly given how competitive it has been we'll be decided on a breaker you're there she'll Double Y for sure here we go when when you're in the forand to forehand with her you can you you take you want to do it was a good player back in the day was Mark that's great job great control there by Sonia it's very easy especially when you get a return that has not a lot of pace on it you have to create pace which is kind of weird because you're hitting a drop shot y and she has great control of it when you consider that she doesn't really hit a slice normally does she you know what I mean she doesn't hit a lot of slice from the back but actually has the ability to the feel that she possesses to produce that shot out yeah I think it's feel and also just Court awareness she saw Jesse Pula already three 4T behind the Baseline knew that it have to be that good of a drop shot y Kenan for the most part has actually won the majority of the longer rallies just had a a been given a number here certainly those rallies over five Kenyan has won 2/3 of them so far in the region of but not on that occasion yeah I love that play by just Pula just continuing to push Sonia Kennan back and back not really allowing her to hit that forehand cross and give her control first signs of exhaust first ser feels like she stepped up her game doesn't it 5 just when required here it really does and I feel as though so many of the top players do that as an opponent you feel okay I'm I'm in this I'm in this and then they just shy away just by a tad and that's all it is especially at this level out 53 Pula that was so good such good use of the slice to defend with depth six three Pula yeah Pula just doing such a good job with her defensive skills you almost feel as though Kennan might be pressing just a tad chances for Pula to seal the set here she was there Nick she anticipated well Pula did just maybe not the greatest Choice there the worldall number six wins a very competitive opening set here 51 minutes it took Pula is halfway towards round three so just Pula having been getting a fair bit of information distributed her way so far today of course ended her partnership with David wit didn't she a while ago now David now working with Francis tiao a man in demand out 30 yeah I really enjoyed that partnership between David and Jesse I feel as though they really meshed on the court really well and uh I think they ended on fairly good terms yep 30 15 you referenced earlier on the fact that you know is it possibly in her head that she hasn't made it beyond the the quarters of a major arena we don't know the answer to that only she knows the answer to that but H is that a hurdle that do you think mentally she's got to overcome because tennis wise it seems to be there right she I mean clearly it's tough at the top but but you feel like it's it should happen for her at some point would you would you agree it's weird Nick to be honest but it's it's it's so tough because she's playing the Sabal Lenas the rachas the shantex in the quarterfinals those are very tough opponent to get through granted she has played and beaten them several times but the experience that those three maybe have compared to Pula I think of course it's a hurdle I think she will get through it yeah yeah those defeats instantly and the quars of made she has made the quarters of all four bti Shon twice as a r in Australia and possibly the one that you could look at and say would be a little disappointing would have been the defeat of Andrus four in the third at Wimbledon in the corers v went on to win the title but right I guess if we're being picky yeah that might be the one that she looks at and say have to ask her I think a lot of players and I'm sure I'll hear about this but you almost feel as though belief is the biggest reason the biggest hurdle that kind of doesn't allow you to get over that hump sure and you just wonder what I'm sure she's doing all the right things for it I think she's already surpassed what she thought she could accomplish in tennis as well I think she tweeted about it a while back if someone would have told me what I've accomplished so farol I would have never believed it yeah we're just we're just trying to sort of from her perspective look at what could be next aren't we sure she is as well oh what a start to the and that is at the end of the day you have to take care of the match in front of you so many times you barely finish the match and they're already saying okay next match you have this person y you don't really have that opportunity to enjoy your wins and gosh she's had a lot of them absolutely it's a constant treadmill isn't it this sport unforgiving absolutely it's the most amazing thing in the world but also just so cruel yeah Karen HOV actually uh opened up pretty candidly about his defeat yesterday course he was up fall of 4015 on Evans and posted on social media just tried to open his heart as to the devastation that he felt in in that loss and and how you overcome comment how did you get over defeats how did you get over bruising defeats in your career did it get easier as it got older or or not you know I would like to say yes yes it did I think um Maria Sharapova said one of the most enlightening things I think a lot of Junior players can also learn from this uh after a after a tough loss she was in The Press Room and they asked her you know how is it that you're able to come each week and just get through those those matches that you lose and still show up and she said you have to have amnesia because every day is a different story every day is a different match every week is a different week a different opportunity uh and so so when you have that mentality and you know that next week I have another opportunity I think it loosens you up frees you up abut allows you to play I have I have yet another another day to play4 yeah I've heard a lot of coaches as well say you've got to learn how to lose and a lot of people look at that and say what are you talking about that's it's not the attitude to have but it's not meant that way is it right yeah I remember I was I just lost a match I lost a Louisa Shero first round in Madrid after I'd won a title so feeling fairly good but I just lost to in the quales like two and three uh she beat me fairly easy and I was in the in the locker room and in the hot tub with Bethany madx Sans and uh you know we're having a long conversation smiling laughing like telling Jose and she looks at me she's like dude how are you so okay right now you just lost a match I like there's next week yeah there's next week and the week after [Applause] that suddenly resilience this sport that's for sure yeah has to and speaking of resilience Jessi Pula has come out with what's been going on with her mom and have to deal with that and also perform at the highest level but also you want to be there for your family it's incredibly difficult the same token Sonia Kennan wins a grand slam and to be able to come out after that and she dropped in the rankings gosh I played her in qualifying of Wimbledon last year yeah so to see all the struggles that she's had to go through as well so many momentum shifts Peaks and valleys throughout a career [Applause] Advantage 10 yeah that's a great serve there B Sonia just took a little bit off of it really utilized that slice tossed it a little bit to the left of her excuse me to the right of her yeah Kenan of course winning the Australian Open back in 2020 beating mugar Ruther in the final there having beaten bti the top seed in the semis let's not forget how big of that win was against the home crowd as well party six and five oh adage okay and only a few months later she was making the final the French what a year it was either side of course of the covid lockdowns I think we touched on it earlier Nick just Leal fortitude Sonia does not really care who's on the other side and she just plays her game she just plays the ball and I think that has helped her so much throughout her career yeah 15 l I like this patience here by Pula just wanted to take a swinger but just took pack decided to let that ball drop just really good job with the feet finding enough room and just great length isn't it and and the shape of the ball you can see it's a fairly flat ball so it's traveling quickly it's onto Pula there's not really a lot of time for Jester to get behind that one the pressure is on rushing her I can tell you right now both of these girls have done a lot of depth drills with coaches let me tell you such length in their Strokes yeah was always going to be difficult wasn't it that was a great change of play there by Sonia just saw that she wasn't sure if it was going to go in and then she saw that it was in and she did such a good job with creeping and very sneakily and just going open court here maybe a little too close to the line [Applause] 403 great surf plus one there well forus but it does get a moving in this second set Pula Kenan made and draver today good week for Krueger hadn't won a major match until couple of days ago now she's one two guaranteed to be at least six of course Lindsay Davenport is the Billy Jean King Cup captain for the United States so Lindsay keeping a close eye on what's going on over the fortnite sneaky little Inside Out backend there by Jesse Pula I love that that's not a shot you see very often Nick [Applause] 153 you just feel as though this is such an important game for both of these players for Kenan she wants to keep elongating that gap between her and Pula but Pula wants to make sure she finishes this in too 3 the winner will play Jessica bues maniero who beat Katy Bolter earlier on today in straight sets outd [Applause] out G Pula two games all second sets reminder do head to usopen.org if you haven't already can download the app as well put some information on there up to date with everything that's going on here in week one of the last major of the Year 15 oh know what I don't know what you think Nick but you just feel as though in those last two games Sonia just kind of went away a little bit those unforced errors really racked up 3 yeah and I guess if we're trying to identify differences between these two players you'd probably have to say that the level that Pula maintains throughout the course of a match probably is a little more stable than kennons yeah absolutely I think that's also really tough for Kenan right now because you feel as though maybe you have to press a little bit more because you are playing a top player and that's that's the effect of playing against someone in the top 10 you just feel as though you have to go for so much more when in fact just trust the game that's gotten you here and just keep making the right decision 4 15 just actually being given the spin rates we often like to look at spin rates in terms of the shape on the ball and it's amazing because they're almost identical forehand and backand that's Inc is not a surprise to you no Arena but you know when we look at the amount of spin that both have on the ball forehand and backand it's almost identical both as Arena was saying hit the ball very flat largely need a bit of extra shape there though did Pula who gets it 15 minutes into it in front of of a nion capacity crowd on Lewis Armstrong plenty have come in for this one I think Madison Keys actually spoke about this being one of her favorite Chords it's just got a very intimate feel to it and fans are allowed to sit anywhere can get pretty Rowdy yep yeah suspect it we'll do this weekend as well Labor Day weekend tends to be packed in here 15 and they're hopeful again of getting over a million fans in through the gates over three weeks while the USA continues to grow year upon year you were talking about that spin rotation Nick if we were courts side right now that Ball's probably got an inch or two over the net not a lot of room for error out 30 y out that's two seconds ser return misses by Jesse Pula not something you see very often she's going to want those back it's just so important you have to make your opponent play when you have a second serve look well a drop shot is something that she utilizes very often but it was a disappointing one yeah I don't think that she meant tip for it to be that high gave Jesse Pula just so much room to work with out adventage Pula Ken in a hurry here things may be slipping away from her the sixth double could proved fatal to her chances four games to two second set because the worldall number six has got a significant lead right now out 15 l kenon looks as though her head has just dropped a little here doesn't it need to dig in and dig deep right now it's so difficult because she's a player that is quite quick on the court she goes from point to point so even when she misses she's on to the next one when you almost want to just tell her to slow down things are getting away from you this is a when just take a towel break you've had two Mis returns there you've hit an ace this is when Pula is at her best 4 15 oh that's beautifully controlled and Pula well and truly has control of this match right now they had a win yesterday but that might be our sole Focus From Here on in not done yet Nick that was an incredible get there it's a great return by Jessa Pula but I don't think she was expecting for Kenan to be able to redirect that well great legs there great extension 38 that's set up very invitingly a bit unlucky there for Kenan bit lucky there for Pula that would have been a winner had it not gra the let I think we mentioned this earlier there's been quite a lot of lets here they have today go 40 15 swing swinging that's all a little ahead of it go well she certainly has the quality to try and Claw this back I don't know about you Nick but I always thought 25 was always such a d dangerous score in tennis good numbers in this set certainly behind the first serve for Pula 15 it's a great way to start [Applause] though our serve motion there's not a lot that can go wrong with it so fluid technically so sound out would be the fifth in her career that she's made the third round here at the US Open twice has she gone further each of the last two years in fact out just not quite been able to maintain the level has she 4 L as this match has slipped away from her and Pula has reached Match [Applause] Point g match some way to finish and Jess Pula wins the All American battle here on Armstrong just a little too good when it really mattered for sfia Kenan and for a fifth time in her career it's Pula that's into the third round here at the open I think you said it