Jannik Sinner vs. Mackenzie McDonald Full Match | 2024 US Open Round 1

50 [Applause] Lu well does that answer the question on how is he going to perform he starts the match with an ace what do you expect M Donald to to do out here today Jimmy to to try and take it to C as when as in when he can yeah it's interesting because one of the things McDonald does really well is he can take the ball early and CER is a player who normally punishes you he gets on the front foot he starts hitting deep to the corners with pace and eventually you get backed out McDonald's job is to try to stand there Toe to Toe and eventually find his way to the [Applause] net3 one of the things that cner did to really get him to this level was work very hard on his serve and once his serve became more of a weapon that's when he became the number one player in the world yep McDonald isn't as explosive as center from the back of the Court either but from the back of the Court he's very good moves well takes it early he sneaks in returns well and he's got a couple break points right off the Trot here Darren Cahill of course who works in tandem with Simone vagi he's turn to a few questions as well this week isn't he he's been giving some interviews to try and clear up exactly how he saw things unfold back in March what I was starting to say in a long- winded way was if Macky McDonald could have gotten a bigger serve worked on the serve got that serve where got some free points all of a sudden you're talking about someone that could get up to that top 20 in the world level McDonald's career high 37 it wasn't that long ago he was in that that position it was actually the end of last year he found himself right up there number one on tour this year in Saving break points is C was is trying to pad those stats with this first game got that 15 40 right away yeah break points saved on the season if we take it on a hardcourt c leads the way 76% of break points saved significant number ahead of everyone else [Music] it's an unusually flat for Mack McDonald isn't he Jimmy there aren't too many players who have a forehand that is as flat as McDonald's no and he has very comp back swing as well which is why he can take it on the rise and redirect it nicely at times you can see that on this court they've made these courts medium fast they say it is a bit skiddy mhm and that will play into McDonald's [Applause] forehand d e it's interesting that that forehand to forehand pattern is being won by McDonald right now as centers made a couple of Errors off his forehand Wing continuing to try to pad the breakpoint save stat that is some point of everything in there I'd like to take a look at that forehand inside out that Center hit it was awfully close as for Center one of the things that he used to struggle with is if he played those meddev verev type players that played way behind the Baseline put every ball in which is how McDonald's playing right now these points because he couldn't open the court he just try to hit power straight through you and you can't hit a clean winner against those players in that Court position and he has started this match not opening the court yet he's trying to go with depth and power McDonald's doing a great job putting balls back in play that was a great defensive lob that just found the line and somehow coaxed in air on the overhead another break chance McDonald's fifth G my go and the perfect start first [Applause] G it's on some big stages and he's had some big wins as well of course he beat Nal you might remember on Rod La Arena yeah a couple of years ago now I was somewhat below bar I think physically that day but Donald's not being afraid to take out some of the big I mean even if you're below par and you're raing a you're still awfully good and the reputation is enough to scare some players off so it shows you that McDonald's not afraid to beat a top player when he has the opportunity ended up having 30 three wins at tall level last year which I believe was the best return for him so unfortunate that injury has once again struck for him this year well especially when it's your first year of being able to play in all the 1000s he was going to be able to play Miami Indian Wells all the clay Court 1000s as a main draw player few riches to be made there these days as well aren't there financially which is why that was a shame for Mackey he's doing okay here tough draw but at least 100 Grand just a post yeah that's yeah we were discussing earlier on the the golf between the prize money but the majors now and everywhere else really I mean we're actually comparing it with the Challenger level which hasn't changed the whole lot but of course you do get players ranked around 100 120 who challenges and trying to get into majes and and it's extraordinary I mean the difference in making a semis of a challenge you're taking home 5,000 to 10,000 is that a ballpark figure yes but the beauty of the majors having the kind of money they have now is if you are 100 you're in yep and you're close to 400,000 so there fortunately noways in 2024 there is so much more value in being a top 100 player right than there so much so much and now with that 400,000 you can pay for your travel for a coach you can have somewhat of a team around you even as 100 in the world where in the past it was top guys could have a team mm you were just trying to make it to the next tournament yep out game [Applause] mdonalds quite a surprise start because of just how good Center has been this year and how little McDonald has played this year it seems as though the court is rushing Center he looks as though he's struggling to catch up which is very strange [Music] ended up beting Francis tiao in the final in Cincinnati of course among others on rout is the team s in the middle there Lawrence Franco fan love 30 six on the STS already started the match with an ace has hit one winner [Applause] since 15 13 four [Music] he was relying on a fair bit defense but was able to produce it impressively he's been doing that beautifully through this first 14 minutes that we've been watching of putting a lot of balls down the center not panicking when he gets in trouble throwing up defensive lobs and Center's missed an overhead he hasn't put it away an overhead that you just saw in it's break points again thir big is served by a good bit from Center yes what the balance of of how often you look for the chip return against him Jimmy because we know his plus one shot is is huge so are you looking for the chip are you looking to hit through it I mean I would rather hit through it but I'd also rather put as many back in play as I can and right now the chip is staying low and skidding and he's not timing it that well he just happened to time three good first serves in a row and he needed it because he's getting crushed on second serve points it's only two of nine when he misses that first serve needed that did the well number one finds himself bre have boy hold boy can you switch it on pleas [Music] time take your seats quickly please ladies and gentlemen thank [Music] you remarkably there are actually five first round matchups on the men's side between an American and an Italian this of course being one of those been a good couple of years for both those nations in terms of the volume of players that have improved their ranking who's winning that battle do you have who is winning that battle yet between Americans and Italians Italian Italians seem to be the number one well if you country in the world right now if you give me a second I'll give you the answer yeah no I'll give you some time okay but if you had told me that one of the Americans that comes out a winner against the Italians is McDonald against Center that would have been a major upset and that's we're a long way from that obviously but McDonald looking very good to start and CER not looking quite himself MTI bit a pela yesterday it's your first one [Applause] Ste 15 another look at the center coaches as ser and volley and the incredible open stance backhand that Center is able to produce this would be a devastating sequence for McKenzie McDonald he had two love double break point Center got out of that jam and now 30 love serving and Center Great passing shot one miss for McDonald all of a sudden a little pressure on McDonald sering if it's to all after these four games and he feels as though he should be up four love not easy to combat that mentally when you're going up against number one four [Applause] beautiful ball striking from both players it looks as though they were playing pong in some ways both standing up pretty close to the Baseline and hitting with pace and depth and a really good look at at the McDonald backhand because he Al he doesn't he gets he does hard gets underneath the ball does he it's so flat almost like a lat and U backend used to be come inside the ball quite a few two-handers nowadays that that have that shovel feel to them Y and I don't know how they control it as well as they do but they do they don't make a lot of Errors s them on cam Nori so good ma Mac Mack as we mentioned slightly more unusual in that he he doesn't have a lot of spin on the 4 in either so he's got a flat strike off both Wings let go dude some remarkable defense oh this guy ultimately KN enough yeah that's actually a shame because that was some of the greatest shots I've seen he he hit an approach when you have yic sinner with a sitter on and you're at the net you're in all sorts of trouble somehow he half Folly that then half fied another one behind him stayed in the point for another couple of shots just could never recover didn't really get the survey wanted did he to execute that play no and it's a little tougher against Center who's not that far back to return it's I love serving volley nowadays because there's so many players so far behind the Baseline that you can get into the net pretty quickly in in front of the service line at least for that first volley but couldn't manage to get there because Center takes the return early and hits the return with pace yeah and sner just a couple of minutes ago was in danger of going down a double BL he's rescued this situation impressively two game so for six a Reminder enter usopen.org and catch up on everything usop can also check in on the social channels Facebook Instagram X Tik Tok they're on YouTube as well and don't forget to Hash the usop to be part of that conversation SS quickly please thank you take your seats please especially behind the players thank you [Applause] well early on seven unforced airs for Center he only had two winners at that point now seven winners seven onfor STS and McDonald finds himself at two all rather than at least 3-1 up he could have been four love up that's mentally not easy for a lower ring player SM as you done well well though he's played I mean it's out here already almost a half an hour for just four games the the level from McDonald has been really good from the start he handles pace so well because Center's hitting the ball as huge as ever doesn't seem to phase McDonald he's got great balance is tennis UCLA of course did Ma many years ago [Applause] now does the Flight of the ball McDonald's ball impact the opposition Jimmy because when you hit it a bit flatter obviously large lead it's coming to the opposition a little lower does that make it a bit harder to be aggressive off sometimes well depending on yes depending on if you like that lower ball or not but yes normally you want a ball right around net height and you can really drive it if you want once it gets lower than the net you got to [Music] lift they actually had a look at his service games one compared to last year on a hard court last year on hard he was at 88% of holds this year he's at 93 of holds on this surface the stat that stands out a little so far in this match obviously this can change Center's two of 10 on second serve points here's another second [Music] serve two of 11 for the year on Hardcore he's right around 60% winning second serve points so some credit goes to McDonald for he's taking some returns early he's mixing up his stance on where he's returning from that one was from further back but he's giving him different looks and he's coaxing a few errors and he's gotten himself for the third straight service game of centers break chance and this one with a second serve look to take advantage of a good callt position but execution just wasn't there for him no and you can see how quickly C even if it had been a good drop shot Center was going to get there he doesn't back up much Center he can defend from closer up to the Baseline than most players it's amazing how quickly he gets out of a corner and pushes back and that's the case of the very best isn't it Jimmy in this sport the the ability to to come out of the corners and get back quickly cross yeah that's what's impressed me about McDonald what we're watching so far is his movement has been Next Level really again serve Advantage McDonald could develop a serve that's somewhat of a weapon look at that good feel when he gets it too because he's so balanced he's average first serve today 108 as opposed to his opponent's 121 that's average biggest is only 116 for McDonald he's got another break and McKenzie McDonald is making an early impression lead three games to for six [Music] ear I kind of time sorry do you mind picking up that might be shter wins but this has been a fine start yet a winner tour level title the one final of course came in DC when he lost to the man that he's playing today there's a whisker away from winning as well an afternoon some fun points that these two are having showing off just how great of ball Strikers but also movers that they are McDonald has been able to play a lot of balls with slice I wasn't sure he should chip and charge crosscourt it makes you want to Sprint to cover the down the line and then allowed Center just to hit a little roller across Court what was allow this era Jim to become better movers I mean the obvious answer is knowledge understanding of of different areas of strength but in your day what well I think training yes as well that's the biggest thing when my day we just let's go play five sets today okay that's the practice that's good enough maybe go jog a mile which isn't really conducive to speed no he continues to impress yeah I mean it's fun to watch players at this level executing and moving as well as they do and one of the things I think that happened as well is because of the technology with the strings and the rackets themselves it's much easier to put the ball in mhm and because of that it became who's faster who's stronger who's mentally tougher it became the those things because many people can hit the ball pretty well now yeah back in the day what the ret head size what did you play with what was your ret head side you sure it was wood racket it was they were all standard 65 wasn't 98 in though was it it was 60 in probably and there you go well amazing and you ended your career with what no with a 98 okay yeah so you saw that transition I did I didn't like it to be honest because so good for McDonald so far I mean he is just hitting with Pace taking it early hitting it with very little spin but still controlling it and this is not what you expected when you saw this match on the docket you knew that McDonald has given him some trouble in the past but the level that he's playing at is brilliant so far and when you hit the ball like he does you you got to have good feel of you you know a couple of for hands there that were he's not he's not using acceleration always is he off the off the the ground no it almost plays into his strengths that Center hits the ball as hard as he does and it allows McDonald to redirect Y and it has more Pace than perhaps he normally can produce on his own L 15 there's another forehand from Center where McDonald's even though he didn't hit the forehand that hard it was flat it skitted through the court and Center was late Yanik CER who's held how many time 93% of the time this year on hardcourt that's what you told me y he's held once so far and in that game he was down 1540 y he's in trouble again at love 30 this is remarkable he's also played 30 points already on serve in this set [Music] 13 it's interesting isn't it the what matchups do and for whatever reason it seems as though McDonald likes Center's ball he likes that pace so he has though he hasn't beaten him he's played them tough when they've played it's getting better and better for the American here and if you're Center what do you do recognizing that your opponent likes your your pace or your ball cuz this again was a brilliant volley from behind the service line and couldn't have put it any better I couldn't believe that Center nearly got to it he may have been able to take this Around the Net post instead of trying to bring it back into the court that would have been maybe his only chance break points number 10 and 11 and it goes TOs to where he's at right now he finds himself down a double break magd leaves five GES to two but macki McDonald hasn't really made much of a mark in terms of going deep so far 50 [Applause] Lu center team does seem to have a similar demeanor to Center and they don't show a whole lot of emotion but they must be churning a bit right now down five2 double break first set should be in the bag for McDonald coming off the tumultuous news and weak for Center and maybe it is affecting him he's feeling a little extra pressure not that I yeah he hasn't played great he's made 14 on for air so for Center that's quite a bit but I don't want to take away from McDonald one of the reasons he has 14 on four stairs is McDonald has made get after get after get and it's starting to force center to try to go for bigger and bigger [Applause] shots it's has been about as good a set as he could have wished for in terms of what he's put out here he's won McDonald 34 points Cent won 22 in tennis usually it's pretty close that's a beating first and he wraps up the opening 43 minutes this year C has lost the opening set in a major match Sho just delivering information well he won both those first set losses one of them was the Aussie open Final where he lost the first two sets to meddev other one was at Wimbledon fourth round against M turned it around quickly it was at 26 and then 32 and one yeah there a GU who's at a good year cor m a skillful player whoever there was one [Music] [Applause] he's missed it but it missed yeah both it looked as though macki McDonald missed the volley he was there for it that was some great speed from both players off the top of the tape from way back but Center gets to it then off the top of the tape Macky gets to it that was just well left by McDonald because I think he was [Applause] there you look up towards his team and I'm sure they've had a substantial role to play those gentlemen in the corner there in keeping things stable it's been a very difficult period coming into the US Open course couple of team members they no more 3040 this guy's been in the sport pretty much his whole life he's guarded plenty of players at the top of the game number once he gets them to number one well his charge is in trouble right now and it's brilliant and he's causing cner all sorts of trouble here first game second six and he's enjoying the pace as you say Jimmy he's enjoying the pace that he is feeding off here he's not making unforced errors off it he's not being rushed seemingly he's so balanced McDonald is's just taking the pace that Center gives him and redirecting it into the corners and it's Cent who looks rushed it's Center who's late and I keep waiting because you just as good as Center has been this year you keep thinking when's he going to be able to turn this around he's playing 140 in the world a player who's been out half of the Year SS quickly please ladies and gentlemen thank you it is one-way traffic and it's oneway traffic for McDonald's probably a little premature to be rolling this one out but it's been 21 years since the top seed lost in the first run of a major so you just sealed McDonald's fate I mean he had a chance until that comment in the men's side there was actually of course late in ht's defeat to Evo Carlovich back in 2003 last occasion that occurred that was a horrible draw for Leon hwit Evo Carlovich anytime you're 610 and can serve out of a tree you're dangerous was the only time was a good Dr there J no that's what I'm saying Evo garage was not a guy you want to play 5 this is a completely different matchup because this isn't an EVO Carlovich this is Macky McDonald doing things better than Center yep on all levels 3 15 didn't play for four months missed the entire spring period oh pretty much from Australia all the way through to Rome he was absent McDonald this year [Applause] def n his quickest service serve should I say of the day just shy of it [Applause] couple of forehand errs in this game just starting to creep in for McDonald he had six unforced airs in the entire first 43 minutes [Applause] magd perfectly placed serve out wide with Center pretty far behind the Baseline to return don't know if he needs to be that far back with McDonald's B speed at 108 [Applause] is it's not a particularly pacy Ball but it's taken so early that he's rushing Center as a result he's taking it early and it's flat and it skids on these medium fast courts which I think are very close to being fast Y when you take the ball into play well Jimmy because these are quick doing a very fine job of hanging tough in that point though given the pressure he was under very few wins here in New York McDonald to explain only two in fact in the main draw in all the years he's played he beat Felix o alas in the first round last year that lost to a qualifier yes and his only other win prior to that was back in 20121 when he be David Goan but only two main draw wins here coming into this event Advantage magdonal which is a little tough to explain when you see him performing as the way he is right now comparison the other hard court major he's 87 so well that just tells you that he wants it so badly at the US Open yep and that extra bit of pressure of his home slam has made him play nervously what's interesting is the two names that you said that he beat are two players that would have been heavy favorites against him so it didn't feel maybe quite as much pressure it's the same situation he's in here having said that up a set in a break had made only six unfor SRS in the entire set he's made six in this game still is in the game but it's a break chance for Center perhaps started thinking about can I actually win this match don't want to get ahead of yourself as a player that is a full temper tantrum from Center what you just saw he doesn't normally show too [Applause] much one of the most fmatic characters on court that we have in this Sport's girlfriend in the corner there a while now just got a text from Jesse LaVine one of our announced buddies who said and it's true I've been seeing that Macky McDonald's the only player maybe in the history of the game that puts the ball second serve ball in his right pocket I don't know if that's why he keeps double faulting recently but everyone else left pocket that's ever played the game you grab it with your toss hand yeah good spot somewhat meaningless but it is different than anyone else for whatever reason maybe Superstition how many times do you think a player has held serve against yanic sinner in the last couple years when they've made Seven unforced STS in that game no the first time he he's looked for the forehand from the back end corner and and not been able to produce from there it's all started in this game for McDonald and it's the forand that he's been missing up until this point it was also the side that he was hitting winners with he had seven forhand winners that's another surprising step more forand winners than Center [Applause] just a nice moveing isn't it that and again because of the the trajectory of the ball that part is tougher isn't it it's just a little less margin for error there well it's low and it's sliding with almost Sid spin away from you that's one where maybe Center has to go for a double two-point pass Little crosscourt Dipper first hope to get a chance for the next [Music] [Applause] one advantage s 19 points in this game already feels like it's a could be a significant one C's going to plot the path back in hold [Music] just a few mistakes that crept in and sner scores a crucial right here one G second set we will see now if that changes the tenor of this match is it had been oneway traffic McDonald was dominating not just they do see one love a break and the two games he had lost you can make an argument he could have won both these they are are rating for you any SE Thank you new rule this year they're to be a little more fan friendly they're letting the fans in this lower bowl come in after each game mhm that was an awfully long game so there were many people waiting yeah and up higher it's free movement at any point you can come in 5 for a bit of onus on the ushers to be nice and sharp these guys have got the memo [Applause] taking his time here McDonald C up 15 third double fault of this set and for the match didn't have any double faults in that first set [Applause] 45 points have been pretty hard to come by on surf unusually for sin to this stage couple back to back and gets the Italian in the front in this second set but uh it's a tough test already [Music] [Music] [Music] for for [Music] [Music] [Music] time in the your feet in the rally okay come on 15 just a little surprising that he's actually looking for the forand there as much as he well especially because he's gone on a rash of unforced errors on the forehand wing and this tells you the story McDonald six in the entire first set we've played three games and he has 12 and I don't know why all of a sudden he's over hitting he was doing such a good job just maneuvering the ball outside of his his comfort zone all good right here this isn't really a case of Center really raising his level this is McDonald dropping his by two or three levels that was much more in keeping though what we saw in the open half an hour yeah and it is strange isn't it to see Center being the one pushed around that was happening the first set we go mate course left UCLA just prior to his senior year did Macky 50 14 actually won the NCAA title in singles and doubles so the pedigree was always there at College there's more trouble here it's tough to defend against that isn't it I don't matter who you are no he's I I felt as though McDonald didn't have Topline power but he's showing me something today because that was generating all of his own pace and it came off the racket with some face still a break chance found the first serve quite as consistently in this set though s saw him coming he let it go the American has been broken disgusted because he could have made a play for the volley decided to let it go made a poor decision that time that was uh one of those back when I played I didn't have that much confidence in my volley so whenever in doubt I let it go that's what that one felt like I'd rather not hit a volley please go out what advice do you think Yan would have been given this with Jimmy with everything that's gone on off the court what would his team have been telling him to try and quieten the noise yeah that's a hard answer it's more of stay in your own bubble let's keep working on the what we're trying to accomplish here which is on the court winning another major all of that stuff is just noise don't look at it don't think about it and how easy is that to do for a player how aware a players of what's going on what's been said about them I think that's different for every player some players Revel in it I'm sure and want to hear and see and be part of everything and some players are so focused on what they're trying to accomplish that they maybe don't look because let's be honest on an average day for a tennis player there's a lot of downside right you're on court three or four hours that's a lot of hours to fill the day and you don't want to fill the day with things that are physically taxing so sitting looking at your phone would be one thing that they probably do spend some time doing yeah and there certainly have been some fellow professionals who have weighed in and had their opinion team seal is actually in the background there loves his tennis let the service [Applause] 14 13 J four successive point [Applause] games to one in this second [Music] set give me two thank you can we take the M thank you [Music] [Music] time the St to this game maybe not 29y old this is a strange comment but it looks as though the this match will be determined a little bit by McDonald's forehead he's taking pretty Mighty cuts at the in the first set he didn't miss any he won 6'2 he got up an early break and then he started a rash of errors but you can see he's still going for forehands he's still running around his back and he's still taking it early yeah and despite the fact the rankings dropped if you look at the last couple of weeks he has had some good wins as McDonald he beat Meshi pericard who's obviously had a good summer that was in the qualifying in Canada he beat Nakashima in Atlanta was nashim has had a good season as well great summer yeah e Carter Newport on the grass yeah [Applause] mdal actually lost in the qualifying to n in Cincinnati the man who he ended up making the doubles final with could have taken the decision to protect the ranking couldn't he Mack is it 6 months Jimmy you have to be out for six months to protect the ranking so he wasn't too far off it's Sensational Not For the First Time McDonald orchestrates him pings out here it is mindboggling in some ways to see how many of these points as athletic as both these players are how many of these points that it's been Mackie McDonald who has been the better player has been the more aggressive player has been one step ahead and just going back to that protected ranking scenario I presume a player has to make that decision pretty quickly do they in terms of when you protected or what what what would happen in that scenario is if you were ready to go in 5 months you're probably better off waiting that six Monon practice a little longer get your ranking where it's protect because he was ranked in the top 40 in the world mhm his protected ranking would get him in everything for a [Applause] year and he was out from Australia to Rome so he was close enough that I would have been tempted to do y take another couple months mhm but you're forgetting or I'm forgetting if he had taken that he wouldn't have gotten the prize money from roling Garth and Wimbledon mhm it's a good finish it's amazing today when you look at the serve numbers we highlighted earlier on on just how good C serve has been over the last 18 months and yet today he's under 50% of points combined on serve remarkable 26 points he's won on serve of 54 played that is unbelievable it's the second serve points where he's six of 22 which is incredible but even his first serve points one is only at 63% [Applause] I don't know how this match is going to as it continues we are we've played a lopsided set at 6'2 but it still took 43 minutes this set through six games has taken almost 40 minutes because the games are difficult to come by [Music] once again just a few frailties off the forehand side of macki m s on the C of squaring us up for okay time very good crowd inside Arthur rash on day two beautiful afternoon McKenzie McDonald has played a big part in this as you so rightly said Jimmy injury came at the worst possible time frame didn't it in terms of his career trajectory no question coming into the US hardcourt Masters 1000s would have been a good time his game doesn't seem as suited to Clay certainly it's where you need a little bit of Spin and the flat ball isn't going to do as much damage 18 on four stairs in this set for McDonald six in the first set that's been the difference it's really he still has more winners in Center [Music] and Center's missed firing on quite a few forehands as well throughout this match he hasn't been sharp from that Wing [Music] 15 really good recogn that time from Center on this return that his opponent was going to have to hit a slice forehand but give McDonald credit he hit it well it stayed down very low 143 you see why serving volley isn't so easy just think these days same thing I mean that wasn't a bad volley was it was a good volley into right as deep as could be no angle you're giving your opponent theoretically but he found some angle yeah and of course it acts as a deterrent doesn't it in many ways you're sort of thinking about going to it again if you if you sense it's the right time but you've been burn well it's so important if McDonald's is going to serve and volley that he hits his spot on the serve and both times he lost the ser and volley point it was a wide serve that wasn't all that wide it was right in the slot for Center so it just puts a little pressure on that you better be accurate with your first serve that was a heavy return and it was back on McDonald sharply in the world number one has got a set point well that was an entertaining end to the set McDonald clung on for all he [Applause] had tough one you deeper isn't it for because he doesn't have the shape on the ball to Z from there it is but for whatever reason in the first set he wasn't panicking on that deeper ball he was trusting his speed to be able to just put the ball back with some depth and weight knowing that he could run down almost anything that's left [Music] for Led for service game first game third set so an impressive start to this third set from the world number one his serve hasn't quite been as devastating as it has been throughout the course of the Year almost an understatement because it has been he has he's been holding serve 93% of the time this year on Hardcore he's been already broken four times today it's been some season on this surface isn't it five titles four of them on a hardcore yeah quite a few things about yanic Center that doesn't seem Italian one of them is the most Itali are they love the clay not that he's not a very good playcore player also but obviously more devastating the way he produces his shots on a hardcourt we've seen that play over and over again from McDonald where he gets a the midcourt forehand slides the forehand with s spin into the center back hand comes in and he gets a pass down the line and he just angles off the volley I think Center needs to try to flip that one crosscourt modified version of the same thing yeah and you can see the difference when he gets a bit more width on the serve there because you talked about him not hitting his spot always well he did there and he had movement to as well so therefore he is able to create some space because of [Applause] that some run and then a nice flick because somehow with just a flick of the wrist take a look at this recognized it late but good good Sprint forward and then don't even think he had the right grip [Applause] magd one game more that's it give me your last American M standing over this fortnite Jimmy you had to right now there's so many of them we've discussed it at length but who do you see as being the one there at the sharp end potentially that's a tough one but I might give it to TFO seems to like it in New York although he's got a terrible draw actually now that I mention that I'm going to have to look I need a draw before I can tell you yeah I think he plays Shelton potentially in round three if my memories correct who he does not play particularly well against who lost to him here last year in the quarters lost to him in the final in Houston and after that final in his speech said I hate playing you yeah that's not keeping your cards close to your chest is it no what a again is such a good angle to be able to see McDonald's brand of tennis I mean he did not back off for a moment keep the swing short like some timing that well here's the problem for the Americans that we were talking about that are the favorite Americans Tommy Paul his round of 16 is theoretically Center Shelton Ando battle in the third round and the winner that gets jokovic fourth round not not ideal SE Corda who's had a nice summer his round of 16 alarz they need to redo the draw okay so I guess the guy you would say has the best chance is Taylor Fritz he's got Casper Roode in the round of 16 and Zev in the quarters so due to the draw I'm picking Fritz that was a little ambitious well and Center has shown you that he wants to hit back pass down the line when you come in from this far to the sideline you have the sense I better get to the crosscourt and made for just a simple little flick the Ser starting to fire a little more effectively for Yan sin here as he's up early stages of this third set time gentleman's come prepared first time in tournament history that an Italian is the top seat 15 the third time in fact in the history of major championships of course C was top seed one than this year the only other occasion Nia Pi Trang back in the early 60s what a superstar he was back then was Nia it was actually in Malaga was NOA at the end of last year to witness the Italians win the Davis Cup lovely scenes he was on the court and than the the trophy was part of the ceremony nice touch from the Italian Federation to have him there he's late 80s now Nia let let have it a little dejection you see from McDonald there slowly but surely it seems as those S are starting to gain control of the points as well it was McDonald Play Come On stay with him come on stay with him I was talking and I realized I need to hear what he said I know something was insane whatever it was is he needs to get out of this triple break point it's not going to help his course seems as though he's beginning to wrestle control of things a reminder if you haven't already been to usopen.org find your way there because it is to be in terms of keeping up to date with scores highlights all the stats the draws are there as as well constantly being updated go first go first first round will be hopefully completed by this evening [Applause] 's the danger of running around your back hand to hit a forand from that part of the court and you don't do enough you just leave that line exposed well I sense you don't think McDonald should be running around very often because you like his back in yeah I mean I do feel I don't know what you think but it feels as though McDonald's just lost a fraction of pace doesn't it as well and obviously scor line contributes towards that as well a little bit you can see his body language is his shoulders have dropped he doesn't believe anymore all of a sudden and I don't know if there's one thing about three out of five sets there can be another turn Y in momentum but right now it is squarely with the number one seed was the case of Swing freely a sense of aband let's go dude you can do this come one time you got coaches tell him you got this look on his face as what are you talking about as this set has completely turned around as far as second set McDonald lost because he was making unforced errors this set he's down a break because of his opponents hit seven winners and made the zero on Force error so the the level has changed Center has raised his game as McDonald dropped his for time there been three men in fact that have won the Australian Open and the US Open in the same season in the open era jovic Federal that's F that was the other Back in 88 the world number one seems to have gained some control in a match in the early stages was not the case [Applause] 5 that has been his best play if he gets a midcourt in the center of the court forand and he slides it inside out and comes in [Applause] yeah we've seen enough of McKenzie M over the years Jimmy to know that he he's at his best isn't he when he is up the court yes that's that's very much his go-to play he likes to dictate from the center of the Court take the ball early he's not as comfortable deeper of course it's a little tougher when you got a ball coming at you with that sort of pace and that sort of depth but it was coming at him that way in the first set and he was redirecting it as if it was as easy as could be and that all suddenly changed when he broke first game of the second don't forget it was 6-21 love a break it's amazing how one game can be such a difference 621 l a break and he made 10 on four stairs in that game that lasted about 20 minutes yep and as soon as he was broken back it has been Center and he hasn't looked back to this point and that's an exceptional pass but one that he seems to make more often than not that's the play that's been working for McDonald Center's been going down the line with the back in almost every time finally he went crosscourt maybe that's the first time he got there com comfortably enough to be able to get it crosscourt after two the scores look as though the sets were very easy the first two sets but they took a long time 43 minutes 45 minutes for those eight games of the first two sets this six game's taken 23 minutes oneway traffic zero unforced airs in this set from Center 10 winners find McDonald after the set I say time for a bathroom break see if I can regroup [Music] the level in this match went from the first set was remarkable how well McDonald was playing the points were fun to watch as he was maneuvering the ball off of difficult shots and now he's just just making routine errors just seven points McDonald has one in his third set this match has got away from himan s having been down a set in the break finds himself now just one set away from round for one down two sets to one needing something of a lift 15 love the bathroom break hasn't helped at least to start set number four for McDonald unforce errors continuing it's an amazing turnaround I know that centers improved but he went from six unforced errors to 36 so far so 30 unforced errors in the last 15 games two game he's given away the evidence of this game looks somewhat foror do you do you feel as though there's something physically wrong because he's gotten slower as well he's moving so well early in this match definitely laboring out there wasn't he yeah completely different looking athlete than what we saw in set one and he hasn't had the intensity of these sorts of matches is he yes he's won a few matches over the last few weeks but not against this level of opposition whether that's a factor I don't know but got to be somewhere in there you would have thought two hours on the clock yeah that's the other interesting thing it looks as though they shouldn't be physically taxing because of the score but the sets the games were so tough in those first two sets a lot of long games in the points there were very few points one with serve that was all the points were hotly contested oh this crowd must be thinking what has what has gone on the tennis was so exciting for a set and a half or so until all of a sudden McDonald's broken down and it looks as though the discipline has gone somewhat isn't it as well I mean obviously he plays a brand of tennis where it's important for him to get on the front foot but he's he's taking some cuts at the ball now that really don't look on S s's first serve they made the changes to the serve just after Ron garos last spring wasn't it he lost early at the French in May last year had that period of three or four weeks coming into the grass that's when they looked at the serve made those changes has really looked back since which is a bit of a risk isn't it to take a midseason technical change for a player yep going to have some buy hav you you do love [Music] 15 and Trust in the people that are there to build your game you've got to put your faith in them helps as you say when you got a guy who's on the coaching Sidelines with an impressive CV well yeah number one's Galore so he's telling you it's time to get to number one as we keep talking there is back in the day you didn't hear about this very often but if you don't win a point in the set it was called the Golden set okay we're I mean we're still far away from a golden set but McDonald hasn't won a point yet in set number four you remember the last golden set Jimmy come on this is a tester for you I do I knew you'd be on it I believe it was Dill scandin beating Marcos josar well that wasn't the one that sprung to my mind I'm not going to lie but we'll we'll dig a Little Deeper because s has got a double break here it was one at bumbl actually more recently than that who was that it Waseda against Irani no way yes golden set 2012 third round 24 points on the bounce now you got to check on my PO ofar we will We we'll get into that time do this work got so Yanik sinner having not lost a point so far in this fourth set just confirmed that Jimmy's knowledge stretches very deep indeed knowledge of useless things I think I was at that tournament that's why I remember it back in 1982 was it bill scandin over Marcos josar yeah 83 83 yeah delr Beach it was no one can Goen sou B McDonald he just played a beauty of a point that was a lot of what we saw in set one points like that physical great ball striking mat has all left McDonald some credit goes to Center but a lot of the problem has been McDonald looks to me as though physically he broke down 3 15 you see Macky rescuing the ranking I mean he's going to be 140 now Jimmy going into what'll be the Asian swing of course where conditions are pretty quick over there I think he the thing is he has some points to defend still that's the problem he's going to have to rescue it next year most likely but he's still a better player than 140 in the world mhm so at some point if he can stay healthy he'll get back inside the top 100 you would think yeah there going to be a race for him won't it in the next couple of months to get directly into Melbourne something we discussed earlier on today it's often the case in that last quarter of the season a lot of players in around that ranking are are working hard to get themselves into double figures full that's Dam C and the draw most definitely could have been Kinder usopen.org also usop shop.org which is uh the place to get some good merchandise plenty of that to be had this year as well lovely range of shirts and jumpers and caps did well under pressure able to get the ball nice and low what is the one bit of merch you want to take out from the US Open because wimbledon's the towel right you got to have a towel at wimbl I feel like that's the go to in the shop no there's no question about that I mean I think for the open I I like the hats yeah I think you're right Sam qu was actually recounting a lovely story in his podcast the other day about the towels and one match I think he took 10 home or something because it rained so much they kept bringing two new ones out and he had about six rain breaks in a match 15 you saw Sam yesterday you were telling me didn't you I did torn Achilles and all it's it's healed a bit but still not moving all that well pickle ball player now he's doing a little research on McDonald and what he has to do to get back in the top 100 he's got about a 100 points to defend in the fall so he's going to have to make 250 300 points something along those lines in the fall to get himself back to the top 100 that will be easy second service another problem when you're ranking drops is you're not in the tournaments yep you often don't get great draws 154 there was a serious Tipping Point in this match as Jimmy says at the start of the second 62 one love up a break in the second McDonald he had broken Center four of his five service games to that point 304 and then all of a sudden went on an unforced air string he made 10 unforced airs in one game on serve to give the break back at that point Center still wasn't playing [Applause] well yes magdonal now what looked as though for a minute it might be a golden set not lose a point all of a sudden McDonald with a chance to at least get on the [Applause] Ford and here's those linear strikes that he can be just so deadly on his ability to change direction take control of the rally so in Australia of course consistently for the most part of the year in truth ADV mdal [Applause] well that'll feel good he avoids a bagel though a couple of games away from round two e e no player has won more hardcore matches this year than Yanik sinner 28 in total and it would seem counting right now as he moves ever closer to a first win of the week 50 left oh yes 5 no can we highlight so often that camera angle being so beneficial but the one thing it does tell you is how how well he sinks into the ground Cinder isn't from the back how well he you izes his legs he he a big guy he's a big guy and he was a skier so it almost feels as though he's skiing when you watch him the way he sits down as he hits and you especially will see that against someone that hits the ball as low as McDonald does Thomas just how much slower McDonald has gotten he was moving so well it was fun to watch and now he's just watching regulation shots rally balls go past him this was an example he would have been there in position mhm in the first set he's been made to look rather pedestrian and this sets three and four one a large part due to this man's quality good lead C has at the top of the world rankings as well having me just refresh my memory a couple of thousand points and of course of the top three he has the fewest of points to defend here in New York more than likely that he will extend his Advantage a good fornite well you know what's interesting about that is if Carlos alcarez wins the title he would have won three of the four majors still be two in the world that's a very good point that's remembering of course the points that Sim accumulated in Indian worlds have also been erased haven't they oh yeah mdon good from menen McDonald but the clock is ticking on the California here on ash for for time the scrutiny and the spotlight have been on this man over the last week or so [Music] [Applause] 5 for a while here it didn't look great no it looked like it shook him a little bit he started the match with an Ace and then from that point until setting a break down he looked out of sorts with a lot of that credit going to McDonald [Applause] Ser has become ever more potent here a ler Point behind his first in this fourth set you know he's relaxed when he's H drop shot winners if you remember early in the match he tried a few Drop shots they weren't looking not pretty but he knows the outcome now surely and triple match points 4 15 Yanik s moves through to round two New York from a set a breakdown against McKenzie McDonald but the Italian prevails he got better and better throughout 2024 he's through in four not sure what to think about that first round win for Center because the first set was a real struggle got broken four times in his first five service games that had to throw him for a little bit of a loop but in the end