Jelena Ostapenko vs. Naomi Osaka Full Match | 2024 US Open Round 1

at the US Open for the first time since becoming a mother and she is ready to get started Lura Robson and Candy Reed in the commentary box oh K [Applause] enough oh there [Applause] CA Oh [Applause] out well as expected a penko going all or nothing on the returns coach winet been with Osaka for many years now returning after her maternity leave oh and an excellent service hold from Naomi Asaka y aeno from lvia now working with Eva moli to serve love one enjoys working with the former players has worked with Marian B in the past Eva meoli very current still on the tour because she was Billy Jean King Captain there she is in the Hat former Roland gals Champion as well that helps too 5 there Eva and it's Martina hingis's I think it was a 37 match winning run at Roland garos when she won the title there working a little bit with the Croatian Billy J King Cup team often before this tournament seen in the box of Donna veic out coming into this match having won 29 tour level in counters so far that's tied for the 10th most did have a terrific start to the season a couple of titles both on hardc courts had a bit of a wild schedule didn't she where she played in Australia had an unbelievable run in Adelaide came on stuck third round of Aussie open then went over to Lind won that tournament and then played in doar about 24 hours later L the life of a tennis [Applause] [Music] player 30 one game all I always get the feeling that there's this perception that osta Peno is a little bit uncoachable just because of the way that she plays and I I don't necessarily believe that because I think she's willing to take on board lots of advice if it aligns with the way that she wants to play you're not going to make her into a certain Vol are you or someone who hits lots of Drop shots I think people come in and they expect her to try you know play more high percentage to go more crosscourt to do all these things that you would naturally try and teach someone if if they were making a lot of unforced errors but that doesn't really align with who she is as a person and this is how she's always played tennis this is how she wants to play tennis and I think once you understand that about her then it makes a lot of sense like name Miss Saka El oinko has been incredibly successful [Applause] oh eight singles titles two of them this year over 15 million in career prize money she's been world number five May 2018 [Applause] p p Miami Asaka holds for a second time today we're on surf with the first second round of Cincinnati serving now at one two against sasaka that's lethal for both of them return placement seems like it's going to be high on the agenda those midcourt balls sitting up both easy put aways for both players what's your thoughts on namia Saka and her return it hasn't gone the way that she hoped I thought well every every couple of weeks I have this feeling like oh there's going to be one match and then it's going to click and then that's going to be that and we're going to see her win a slam and I've been saying that for quite a while now and it hasn't quite clicked yet but it seems very close at times I think back to Rome well AOS that match against eish font ow the top level doesn't seem that far off but just the longer it's taking her to get there I think she's losing a little bit bit of belief at times Saka hasn't beaten a top 10 player in over four years but she's got very very close did have a match point against fante at Roland garos [Applause] another service hold ticked off at yena oena back to Even Stevens and it was great to see Osaka enter a few of the smaller tournaments as well I I think many of us were expecting her to play you know couple of 250s this year and and really try and play a bit more of a full schedule so that she can find a way back don't forget you can stay connected to the US Open Facebook X Instagram Tik Tok YouTube and WhatsApp join the conversation with # usop and to see the fact that she was willing to play qualifying in ccin in Cincinnati all really positive signs didn't play the US Open last year but she was sitting in the stands with her mom on Arash stadium watching Coco go she said she felt inspired to play again and that's something of course we've got to keep in mind that new mother Saka alinaa fit Alina made it look easy didn't she when she return to the game last year but that was rather unique a fabulous surface all from Naomi oaka all business remain on serve through and that mindset has paid off AO serving at 23 against nasaka on Louie Armstrong can be a play of extremes 72 winners against Sara SOS tommo at Rome this year but she also hit 69 un forced errors no winner unforced era ratio could ever surprise me in an ostop Peno match kof said when you play a player like her she plays really well there's nothing you can do team there's so much of of playing osta Peno to me feels like just keeping yourself in the match enough and staying engaged enough that when she can have those little dips that you're there to take advantage of them because definitely at times you're kind of walking side to side case in [Applause] point she has comedy gold isn't she from time to time El waser and seems to enjoy that part of it got a real personality great character for the WTA tour Three Aces now two double fults first percentage of 81 for aeno oh [Applause] 59 oh Saka of course mom to a little girl started 2024 essentially unranked and since then as Laura was saying earlier she's played pretty much a Non-Stop schedule it's her coaching team she's back in the top 100 in the pwj rankings [Applause] 1 added a former ballerina Simone Elliot to her team oh Simone comes along as a mental coach also a movement coach I was watching her practice during fan week and there was a significant amount of work being done post practice on the little sharp steps out to the wide balls and they were doing these drills kind of almost attempting to slide on her outside leg which she doesn't usually do short and sharp another service holds for Naomi oaka pretty high quality match so far popcorn first oh H up a great placement on the serve moving out wide then the back behind [Applause] too good I there was a good neutralizing ball from Osaka Midway through that rally where she was able to get it deep through the middle of the court but ostapenko being ostapenko straight away from way behind the Baseline absolutely rips it again back to square one serving with the new balls and she's got even more pop behind the surf one 104 he's keeping a very high first serve percentage as well Elena ostapenko and that's probably your best option with the return as deep as possible through the [Applause] middle realistically until that first percentage drops slightly from ostop Peno you're not going to have many opportunities to go for a big return foot out oh oo well she can't argue with anyone because it's a machine doesn't stop the laan sometimes so doesn't she doesn't believe in the technology crucial time for footb for there 4030 usually is that front foot isn't it just slides over once in a while oh yes first break point coming up for n oaka that was incredible shot making this shot here to finish it off but really it was the setup because it was deep through the middle and then opening up a little wider waiting till she had a space to go to eight winners for aaka and an opportunity and there it is terrific play from the 26y old twice a US Open Champion has got the Breakthrough and will now serve for the set at 53 it looked like we're well on our way to four all with the way ostap Peno was serving but that's the thing all it takes is just one error and then you're right back in it Osaka really maximizing her chances there and probably the most vocal I've heard her arguably since Roland G great to see her so positive [Applause] she is number one on tour is namaka in percentage of first serve points one average is 75% today it's higher than that thank at 12 out of 13 first serve points one [Applause] 3 Champion here of course in 2018 and 2020 last time she played it was a couple of years ago when she was beaten in the first round out after just 27 minutes nomaka has three set [Applause] points oh slight fault with the electronic line calling system thumbs up from aror Gabba out that is terrific set of tennis from the returning Naomi oaka such a popular figure here at the USA Billy Jean King but it might just happen today day two M dra action from the 2024 US Open and she's got the first set against yena ostapenko [Applause] Peno broken from 405 up in the eighth game of the first set that's all it took that game involved a footfall [Applause] it didn't feel like it was the footfall that affected the outcome of the game though just that point and then we just saw Osaka put together three great points in a row just this energy from Osaka bouncing around between the points and it's definitely affecting her ball strike she's up and inside the Baseline soon as she gets a look in it's point over she just looks so up for this match doesn't she as well as serving well forehand has been firing zero unforced errors as well from the 26-year old in that first set than ready this year El oeno has won five matches after losing the first set already facing another break point it's outrageous this is the n Saka that I think we all knew was back there [Applause] beat onur in Toronto this year difficult to know what kind of result that really was because of course we know that H has been really struggling with injury able to play this year's US Open but said that was a nice match for it was very instinctual this looks like pure instinct out after that win against on she said honestly when I play the best players like on I tend to play better and seems Laura that's what she's doing today playing a great player and playing off the charts well yeah I think this is the sort of player she enjoys matching up against so where she's getting power onto her racket where she can redirect and play her game style and know that she's going to get a fair few unforced errors oh yes Mar scores the back [Applause] out thinking back to wen where we saw Osaka play Emma Navaro and just look really uneasy by the end of the match at the disruption and pace and the variety and the change of Rhythm all the time whereas this is power followed by more power six Saka showing us her powerful best 2020 US Open champion of course got through the likes of masaki doy Camila Georgie Mar kostuk and conate Shelby Rogers Jenny Brady and then Victoria AAR ranker in the final 63 in the third set her second US Open title and she's of course got four major to boot to at the Australian Open as [Applause] well so she speaks quite a lot with Alina Selina and Caroline Waki saying the moms actually motivate each other quite a lot out on [Applause] tour I think it's nice that they all have a different approach as well it's fora kind of one of the first Mothers to not travel all the time with her child realizing a bit more of a routine at home is an option too because the travel life is not easy changes in environment every week different hotels different sites it's not easy is it without without a child they learn with one and Osaka from the sounds of it has been doing a bit of boat especially the weeks in the US she feels it like it's a bit more flexible she can bring her daughter with her whereas a a trip to Australia understandably it's a little bit more challenging [Applause] [Applause] should be nothing but positive has she [Applause] today so L to go up and running in this second set serving at a set and 21 oh [Applause] what [Applause] [Music] Peno is not going to go anywhere [Music] today four face for naaka or I should say fifth Ace too in this set be a little careful because sa Peno ranks number four on tour the second serve return points one seen too many [Applause] today it was the same size as the fish I caught last week oh the anger on that serve my goodness that flew off the [Applause] court usopen.org your online home for Point BYO live scoring don't forget highlights real time stats and draws you can visit the official tournament site at usopen.org love F50 oh [Applause] you just feel a lot more pressure don't you if you feel like in your return games you're not even getting a look in and then within 2 minutes you're back on your own serve again stepping up to the line feeling like it's just that much [Music] faster oh [Applause] teamer knows she cannot afford to be broken for a second time in this set a third in the match [Applause] [Applause] three well done osta Pena how did she get the return back [Applause] Lan throwing in her fifth double fult of the match it's staying rather calm though it's not been much to get upset about she's just being hit off the court and contage was St [Applause] and the move here out to this wide one is what Osaka was practicing last week just trying to put a bit bit more weight through the outside leg by the looks of it to juice we go did label herself for a brief time since she during in the clay Court Season as kayomi rather ironic she's never really liked the natural surfaces too much spent a lot of time though in Spain trying to get better on the clay courts learn to slide now sliding on a hardcourt [Applause] fif H for Elena forand to finish off a tricky game which was an absolute must hold for a Peno out anything Laura that Whata could do to try and find a way to get a break point here I think she could actually go for more on the second surf I can't believe I'm saying that but there's been a few kick serves from Osaka that ostapenko is letting it come up a little too much out and on the forehand side she can come over the top of the ball but on the backhand side it's even harder to play above the shoulder so that's where she's feeling the pressure and it's hard to get the depth on that return so Osaka's just staying comfortably in charge of the rally but also incredibly difficult when someone's dropping first serves like that 110 down the T looking to put a bow on the situation here just serving far too well for Elena ostapenko to do anything about we haven't seen ostapenko change her positioning either on the first serve especially if someone's serving this big I know it feels very anti Elena oeno to do this but just to drop back a little bit further and she can still try and go for the same return that she wants to but have a bit more room so the ball's not rushing onto her racket every time look at starting to stand on the second serve return now well inside she is on the the end with her coaching team at the moment so whether that was a little bit of info just moveing now that you've got the seter break within touching distance ball [Applause] ow it's just been a a comprehensively good performance isn't it from the woman in the picture serving beautifully and also returning very nicely indeed she's been fizzing them back 18 P now in the plus column winners to unforced errors but still behind in this match that has been the level of mayia Saka too good 14 and she starts a little further out near the tram lines on the adside because she wants the forand return gets the break of serve a big reaction from Naomi Oak who's had a business face on today before this game starts it would be a shame to not see this outfit again let's bring it back for round two unplayable 21 out of 23 first Ser points one [Applause] well AA Peno said that St cannot stand I will not have it [Applause] [Applause] Tak up almost 1 hour Elena a Peno finally has a break point and not one but two 17 pon mayaka saves growth of those break points [Applause] and now it's Match Point time for the twice US Open [Applause] Champion 61 minutes on the clock a nod of the head but not yet almost the first crosscourt rally we've seen all [Applause] match takes a village Saka has put a lot of faith in her team ohage second match point number two to Naomi aaka oh [Applause] continue it was interesting to see after the previous Point Osaka's team straight up on their feet and I think it's because she just had to hustle a little bit there was a ball where she was pushed out wide did well went for the the movement that they've been working on on the outside leg just to hang in for an extra shot out going to be Third Time Lucky little while she's keeping herself cool calm and collected nerves will be jangling this time last year she was sitting on Arthur Ash watching the others play now on the verge of making it through to round two just a matter of time Naomi oaka puts the bow on a superb performance here on Loui Armstrong she's beaten her top 10 player for the first time in four years she's back into the US Open second round the twice US Open Champion produces a performance of a highest grade and perhaps the emotion will start right now because that was really something special that was fun