Madison Keys vs. Katerina Siniakova Full Match | 2024 US Open Round 1

can you just wa all right let's welcome our players under Court from the Czech Republic Katarina sakova and from these United States Madison key [Applause] the 2024 US Open out here on Louie Armstrong this is our third match of the day so final match of the day session before the night session gets underway in what are we about 3 hours time from now so we're back over on the women's side of things and Madison Keys of the United States taking on Karina s Jaa of czechia 28 years of age is Katarina and Madison fresh off that semi-final run here 12 months ago looking to try and repeat that here this year down at 14 in the Worlds at the moment is the 29 year old my name is Adam Fielder delighted to say that another former US Open semi-finalist is alongside me Coco vanway how are you Coco I'm doing well I've had a nice easy day love being at the open in a different different standing at the net there with Maddie the chair onire for this match is here for from Norway that's Julie Shenley familiar face of uh Julie Kenley is the chair umpire okay I have a few things extra to state today because on a few courts we have VR so video review meaning if there's any touches nups uh that I called or did not call you can challenge us up to three incorrect challenges per set apart from that the normal live BLC the close calls up on the scores we have all the four corners covered with the the countdown uh apart from that said I break the six points and not six what am I saying I'm sorry it's everyone's first round out here some slack uh 10 obviously and then for the towels you go with red you go with white please questions no use open or trophy uh open so she chose use open you open it is receive okay how a good mat so Madison Keys winning the coin toss choosing to receive first umpire just uh informing them about the V system that is in place which of course has been a pretty hot topic over the last few weeks so they both will have three challenges to uh to use each set I mean last year we had 12 in the whole of the US Open so I'd imagine it's pretty unlikely that a player will use more than three in a set but this is the last match of the day session Madison Keys up against Katarina sakova pretty beautiful day as well here in New York little look at the draw so the winner of this one to take on either Maya joint who came through qualifying from Australia or Lara Sigman of Germany also in this section Al like of Tom leanovich and Lee who also made it through qualies Veronica kova and Elise Mertens as well and look how many people are here already so great to see so many people coming through the door over a million people expected at the US Open this year that includes fan week as of last week so yeah just great to see an incredible atmosphere every single day here it's a lot of Honey Deuces that are going to be a consumed have you had one yet this week I have not but the week is just starting I had to be mostly prepared for you and I I don't think one honey Deuce would do the trick so I just started with zero you know so there is Madison Keys 29 years of age and yeah made the semi-finals here 12 months ago but it's been a tough few months injury-wise for Madison she obviously had to retire from that match at Wimbledon against Jasmine Pini and he actually last time out in Toronto had to retire from that match as well against pton Sterns but on the whole co- coach I mean she's actually had a great year so hopefully should come here with a little bit of confidence oh she's had a couple of good runs out here especially during the clay Court swing and and that wimbl run we thought Okay Madison the draw was opening up that Madison Keys might be able to get herself into the finals and and actually contend for the title because it's been a good minute since the 2017 US Open when she was going against Sloan Stevens for the title unfortunately just pulling the adductor a little bit and still hasn't quite figured it out you can see a little bit of strapping on that left leg so some of those injuries are just really hard to shake at times especially towards the latter part of the Year where your schedule is is kind of winding down but all the ten that you played at the start of the year starts catching up and as as young as Madison Keys is 29 she's been on the tour since she was 13 years old so she has a lot of years under her belt she said she's basically done every single hamstring and abductor exercise that's ever been created over the last month so hopefully she's okay coming into this one and Katarina Sak is her opponent today the 28y olds made uh third round in 2018 that her her best performance but bit like Madison she's had a really good year not only on the singles would have C such an accomplished doubles player as well I know you've played quite a few times in your career Coco what did you find Difficult about playing Katarina I I played her both in singles and in doubles and and she has such a solid backand but what really makes it difficult for a big server is she makes so many returns back in play and just all those hours on court whether it's singles or doubles she just constantly gets balls back in play and that backand is so solid she can change the direction really well a bit unorthodox and her technique which makes the ball a a little bit difficult to read and see early to be able to help your anticipation but that's going to get on Madison Keys's nerves being a big server herself getting as many returns back in play as Katarina does it just starts to wear on you mentally of like why am I not getting as many free points as I'm used to so that's something to to watch out for yeah there is Judy Kenley the chair umpire they have met each other once before of these two but you've got to go back quite a few years it was at roling garos in 2019 that one went the way of Madison key 6264 so this their first match on a hard court Katarina sakova played in Cleveland just last week so made the semi-finals there lost to beatric hadaj meire so certainly comes here with some recent wins under a belt on a hardc court that match in Toronto back on the 8th of August the last that Madison Keys actually played so she comes into this well she should be feeling fresh hopefully having three weeks off hope that abductor hamstring whatever you want to call it is okay and you also have to wonder about rust I mean as much as we practice tennis and I'm sure she's spent plenty of hours on the practice court is is getting out there and feeling the match nerves and and of course having semi-finals to defend for Madison Keys that's a lot of pressure and she just has to remember just to have some fun out there because that that pressure can definitely start to weigh on you as as the score line maybe goes against you for a little bit so that's just going to be important for for Madison and for Karina zakova she's got to test Madison's consistency because that's the first the hardest thing to get back and when you're getting into match toughness is is where's your consistency off the ground and that's where Katarina just absolutely thrives she is so solid from the Baseline so first round out here on Lou Armstrong Madison Keys who is the 14 seed here this year up against Katarina Saka Adam Fielder here alongside KOCO vanway in the commentary box it's going to be Saka to start this one off yeah I'm sure what's going on here security just forgot to leave I think at the appropriate time so Katarina Saka was actually getting her first serve back I don't know whether Katarina maybe went a little early it's the first day of the US Open everyone's got to get through their their repetitions just get off the rust even the security think I've ever seen that before out 15 left you don't want to read too much into first games because everyone's a bit nervous and and just trying to find their Rhythm and and being on a Stadium it definitely plays a lot differently but that's just a prime example of just match rustiness of from Madison Keys a lot of early misses yeah that's a very nice start for sakova playing with Taylor towns end again here in New York is Saka this year is it tough trying to combine the two like when you're going deep every week in doubles to try and go deep every week in singles as well it it is tough at least at a at a grand slam you do get a day off in between where you can play singles play doubles one day but I always like doing both if if not doubles at least mixed doubles just because it kept me engaged and focused as far as in a match grittiness match toughness instead of having a practice day because I felt like I would kind of lose my my fight if I had too many practice days in a row and not enough matches to kind of keep me engaged in throughout a tournament and let's not forget picked up the gold medal didn't she at the Olympic Games in the mix doubles oh alongside Thomas Mah who we think is still her boyfriend they've been a little bit hey if they're winning matches love love is in the air but maybe if they lose a match it gets a little testy well they had a nice hug and a kiss afterwards but then they kind of said oh we're not sure you know we're keeping it private Peter Huber who's Katarina sako's coach [Applause] out that's a serve that Madison Keys loves that that t- serve that's definitely on the ad side that she will use a lot to get herself out of trouble B C in the act oh 15 up yeah a few too many cheap errors at the moment from Madison Keys but as coko is alluding to hasn't played a huge man of tennis recently so might just take her a little while second double in the game My this game is becoming a bit of a gift for Madison Keys three doubles inexcusable that's well done just a little short with the return and pounced on it [Applause] it's always a good tactic you've missed quite a few serves in this game go body make sure you get to your better Wing which is sova's back hand just keep it simple tennis still very early on in this match so despite the three double faults Cina Sak is still able to hold serve she leads by two games to one what would you say Coco would be a good US Open for Madison Keys what do you think she would be happy with that's always a tough question when a player's coming back from from injury because the expectations are probably low in in her mind and and staying healthy is a priority uh there's a lot more tennis to be played after the US Open but it's it's just getting getting the reps in play I think Maddie should be able to get to fourth round at at least Y um that that should that would be a solid result obviously with semi-final points to defend it's hard to say that that's a that's a good US Open it's it's always tough to repeat especially if you make it that far but it's it's just managing expectations and remembering to have fun out here for for mes and she's she's played quite a few us opens so she's she knows how to manage expectations for herself and and of others of the peers and and people like us talking about it she's had it for many years hasn't she so close to making the final 12 months ago take that first set against Arena sabalenka six love in the semi-final and then eventually lost in a a final set tie break oh [Applause] I like that play from sakova even though she wasn't successful just testing the movement testing how the leg is holding up you see a player coming out with strapping you have to make a move just kind of see where they're at physically test how she's feeling how she's if she's quick Off the Mark if she's a little hesitant moving to her left to her right so it's it's good play to and a good way to set president set a tone out here so she's really been prioritizing her mental health her mental well-being in the last 12 months or so Madison Keys it's well dealt with yeah meets the therapist regularly just to try and deal with the the pressure I guess that that comes with being on the tour and the expectation that a lot of people do put on her trying to eat well sleep well sets aside 5 to 10 minutes every night to do a skin care r i mean that's that's very very important 143 out [Applause] see Maddie taking a a deep breath kind of Shug shrugging her shoulders up trying to loosen up there's her fiance I think I'm right in saying not married yet beond F tangelo former player as well that's a great smash from Madison Keys and first real Roar of emotion we've seen her and bjorner are set to be married at the end of this year so she's got wedding plans to deal with I know I was speaking with Lindsay Davenport who's the Billy Jin King Cup captain she obviously wants Madison on on her on her Squad but it might conflict with the wedding date it's not being particularly straightforward for either player so far but this time Madison Keys is able to come through a pretty tough game two games all I'm sure you all have it by now but if you don't make sure that you download the US Open app you can do everything there to try and guide you through the next two weeks it's available on the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store as well out l 50 there's one of those honey Deuces is that appropriate Daddy Daycare do you see that depends how naughty the the child is or what Mom doesn't see that's true just lost a lot of confidence with that second serve Saku that's four double faults already she's only made five of 14 first serves as well just looks like she's chasing the toss a bit on both serves see how far out into the court she's she's reaching for it even before she hits it doesn't seem all particular windy it does gust up every once in a while but sometimes you can blame the sun can't you above you but doesn't even have that excuse right now well it's the longest rally of this match so far excellent depth from Madison Keys and it is the American who breaks first to lead by three games to two 32 it's not easy to come out and play on Louis Armstrong or or any of these stadiums it's just different surrounding and you can practice as much as you like but everyone in a in a first round of a grand slam it's really difficult to get your bearings US Open and and most of the majors they usually give you time on the court that you're going to play on even before the event starts not just the warm-up before your match so I'm sure Katarina has been able to come out to Louis as well as mass and keys 15 14 15 there's that taser she needed a quick bailout has lost a couple of these extended rallies that's what what's so tough when you go up against Madison Keys is even if you know it's going there the spin just keeps taking it away from you units coming in at 105 mph not easy to time oh yeah was much more like it from Madison Keys great game to back up the break and leads 4-2 now Keys leads four games to two well good news is certainly doesn't seem to be any trouble with that left leg of her it's amazing how long she's been going isn't it Madison ke's only 29 years of age but first came here in 2010 lost in qualifying that year played Main draw for the first time in [Applause] 2011 these are the exchanges that sakova is going to want to get into the backand to backand exchanges sova's backand is so solid and she gets such great angle and depth on it Madison doesn't do that well of a job with her left hand for her own back hand to be able to handle the depth time and time again that's why you'll see Madison Keys go line pretty early if she gets into a backand a back can rally just trying to get her opponent to start feeding into her forehand wing [Applause] i' say that's a bit of a gutsy second serve after throwing in what is it now five double faults abely go go t 88 miles an hour I don't know if I I'd have the guts to do that myself yeah it's a lovely way to come through the game and Karina makes sure that it remains just that one break four games to for 43 now throughout the two weeks and and it starts getting hotter and hotter it the courts are going to start bouncing and moving for a lot of these bigger hitters or players with a lot of aggressive spin 15 a hold of that return Sakura 104 mph first serve [Applause] doesn't mean to get anything going at the moment Sak not only on her serve but even off the ground as well it's just effortless power from Madison Keys 14 that return is just long so another game ticked off and another game closer to this opening set 5 three desperately needs a few first serves here Karina Sak just eight of 21 so far today when she's made it she's only lost one point behind it 15 oh 15 out third day 15 [Applause] 14 think continues nine of 10 behind the first serve today it's well done full stretch on that backand from Saka and she will ask to serve it out quite year Madison Keys serving for the opening [Applause] set who was your favorite to win the US Open this year I actually haven't been asked to make a pick I I usually like to do a dark horse pick instead of a instead of a a a top seed just for fun because top seeds are too easy to Pi pick I I am going to go with a seated player though and it's going to be paa Bosa yeah she's playing great been playing great had a great run in in DC had another followed it up with a good run in Cincinnati got through her first round just one step closer six more to go I mean it's easy easy work from here it's nicely done neither player of come forward too often today 14 and it brings her three set points 14 just collapsing a little bit on that serve 67 milph that is not a normal second serve pace for Madison key she's usually up in the the 80 mph High 70 department so first set belongs to Madison Keys the 14 seed Saka will be a little disappointed with her level the opening half hour or so keep takes it 64 starting off this second set left second say it too loudly but it has got very dark overhead here they're obviously quite confident because the roof is staying open don't you start this Adam don't you start [Applause] I wouldn't read too much into the sakova body language she definitely has kind of that Rope A Dope like shoulders down head hung and and then she'll play unreal tennis even that toss right there that was that was crazy far to the right it was it was crazy into the court that's some that's just a toss you got to catch there there's always cues in for for tosses that you learn even from a kid and any level a player can can use them it's left hand out to the right post of the net that's always a great line to be able to find some some Rhythm that way it seems like she's just yanking it and a bit Reckless with the toss and sometimes even even professionals you have to go back to basics of of simple 101 tennis 143 that was a big return from Madison Keys that was back onity Yak so quickly ling up an early break here yeah that's good from Sak have a good width with that four hands is there anything you would do to what if you knew knew you were struggling with rhythm on serve struggling to make first serves is there anything would you just take a little Pace off or well like I was saying earlier it's just getting bigger targets for me that's that's what I would do and the the cues of that I always had on my serve was was leg Drive uh that was a big component of how I started my serve to get it back into the box because if I was had good leg drive then everything else had to catch up to to match match the aggressive just holding your breath every time she throws up a second serve at the moment that's eight for the match that's a super return but in all honesty it's another game that has been somewhat gifted to Madison Keys who's in control of this one now leading by a set and a break so good you said earlier koku I think Sak was almost expecting the backhand line there she was covering it sakov is going to be in trouble if Madison is happy to stay in a crosscourt backhand rally you know she's feeling it and is not worried about her game [Applause] out 135 it's all about keeping your focus here for Madison Keys as as we were alluding to earlier the the Rhythm has not been here in in this match as far as rallies over five six shots so keeping your focus also gets difficult when you don't really have the balls in play so for the first time today Karina sakova has a look at a break point [Applause] that's going to be a shot that Karina sakova is going to want to have back Madison Keys coming into the sakova backhand was on the ball got to make MADD Keys volley especially under pressure [Applause] out Ed help Advantage Senor so here's another chance oh it's well done beautiful forand to come through the game and immediately gets that break back so bit of encouragement out here for probably first time today for sakab she's been really successful with this forehand down the line off the first ball usually Masson I I'm sure is thinking my forehead has enough Pace that you can't change direction that early but Katarina sakova she's been very successful with that change of Direction running and cutting the angle off catching it early Jee it's just incredible hitting from Madison Keys 15 [Applause] 15 you have liked to have seen Madison Kei kind of hone her game slightly over the years like try and get maybe a little more of a plan b or do you just think that's how you play it's not going to change many coaches have tried obviously have failed it's it's it's a tough thing for for a bigger hitter and and a more aggressive style player to have a plan B because it sometimes just takes away from the mentality of of what they know what they love and and how they they grew up in in tennis so the short answer is yes I would have loved to have seen her be able to but I don't think it was within her nature cuz why not you can hit shots just like that there's I was I was speaking with a a a fellow commentator about this and and there's sometimes of you know maybe you just can't and it it's such a funny funny thing to think about as as athletes like maybe I just can't hit this backend any better or or find the Rhythm any differently because we've been playing one way for so long yeah 1 14 looking a little deflated right now Katarina sakova as Koko said that is a kind of stock look don't read too much into that but it's another break point oh wow it's just a thing of beauty that hand up the line and it's three breaks in a row to start us off in set two keys back something silly so can she back up the break this time Madison Keys is setting 2-1 now 15 getting into meditation recently as well as Madison Keys trying lots of different things off the court try and uh keep improving 30 did you work with a sports psychiatrist I I did I I worked with a mental coach Don mcferson um towards the end of my career in 16 17 and 18 let um actually just 17 and 18 it started at the at the beginning of 17 and it was on the influence of of Pat cash all right um he suggested it I was not a big fan of of the whole sports psychologist mental coaches when I was first starting out because I I didn't want to be dependent on anyone be because at the end of the day you're the only person out there there doing it and I didn't want to feel like well if I didn't follow exactly what they said then I wasn't capable of Performing so one of the first meetings I had with Dawn I actually told him I said it's your job right now to prove me wrong did he yeah he did he did game ke that's a nice hold to love this time for Madison Keys so little bit of daylight now in this second set games to second set remember usopen.org is your online home for Point BYO live scoring highlights realtime stats and draws you can visit the official tournament site at usopen.org it's one of the best points that senyaka has played today just doing such a great job at opening up the court there wasn't one ball hit to the same wing it's not easy to do off the Madison Keys Ball but Saka doing such a good job with her timing definitely the level has picked up in this second set for both players but unfortunately for her that first H percentage is pretty much stayed exactly the same seven of 18 that she's made in this set just 18 out of 44 first serves that she's made in this match at the difference there Madison Keys has made 33 of her 44 15 she's normally pretty comfortable in that area of the Court the amount of doubles titles that she's won cluding here in 2022 1 and I I believe this was the the one that barbora kova and and Karina sakova were both chasing the last one that wasn't on their resume yeah you Ash party and I stopped him one of the one of the years you did kept them chasing for more kept the partnership alive for them a little longer oh that's just a joke of a backhand and when Madison Keys makes those kind of back hands as a player you are just so frustrated because you've done everything right you got her on the stretch she shouldn't be able to hit that ball down the line with that much Pace that much depth two in a row oh so good this time goes crosscourt with the back hands she knows that this could be the match right here Madison Keys If she gets that double break yeah just about my favorite thing about Madison Keys when I watch her play tennis isn't so much of what she does on the tennis court is the sound of the ball it just sounds like a [Applause] gunshot this could be a massive game in the context of this match here sakova can find a way through it nice change up just disrupting the Rhythm throwing in that backhand slice draws the error another opportunity here for the American yeah and gets it in some style knew there wasn't going to be too much on that second serve and went all out after it they loved it as did Madison Keys who is now just two games away from round two [Applause] did you always feel more pressure coming to the US Open than any of the other slams coco or not yeah I I think so being an American and and I was I was born in New York and and so I had a lot of family and friends so was there was a bit of of pressure in and there wasn't pressure because I knew I I had many of the stadiums on my side and could definitely use them as a as an extra Advantage 4 it's not easy as an American to to play at the US Open there's a lot more engagements and obligations for for all the sponsors and and just in general where it's where your name is getting thrown around the most so play back in behinds hold to love and one game away [Applause] now le five games to one second so just an hour and two minutes on the match clock Katarina sakova serving to stay in it that's well played good width on that backand and that's the type of point that you know we wanted to see more of from sakova spreading out the court getting mass and keys on the move and closing up at the net 15 15 13 another big return from Madison Keys desperate to try and get this one done right here well unfortunately they've plagued her really from the very start of this match that's her 11th double F and it gives Madison Keys her first look at a match [Applause] point wow what a way to finish the job huge return from Madison Keys and that is a very nice start to her US Open campaign gets the better of a potentially tricky opponent there in Katerina Saka in straight sets and the former runner up here is often running into round two and it'll be the 18-year-old Maya join up next for her that was a very solid match for Madison Keys obviously very much helped by her opponent from time to time with the amount of double faults that sakova threw in but this is a great stepping stone for Madison Key's campaign throughout this US Open to defend those semi-final points to maybe get one step closer to the title if she can get there very Swift exit from Katarina sakova but of course she will now turn her attention to the doubles where I mean she probably starts his favorite doesn't she alongside Taylor towns end and they will get their doubles campaign off and running in a few days time but yeah job well done for Madison Keys came into the US Open with a little bit of concern around the injury we saw the the leg there heavily strapped obviously having to retire in Toronto and Wimbledon as well but let's go down and here from Madison now speaking with condo saguay Maddie tough opponent but you were on fire today Maddie on a mission what was the plan cuz you obviously executed it pretty flawlessly I feel like after the first couple of games kind of you know figured some things out and felt a lot better and more comfortable out on the court and really just trying to be aggressive I knew that at any moment she could hit some incredible shots so I knew just to kind of try to weather the storm and really focus on my side of the court and especially serve well um just because she's such a great spot server and uh just knowing that return games were going to be a little bit more difficult so really just trying to take care of my service games was the biggest thing thing how proud are you of your resilience uh you've won a title already it's almost tempting to forget you've had a challenging season you've had to push through a lot and yet here you are looking incredible in in your form you got to be proud with just the resilience and the toughness to push through and produce this level of tennis yeah I'm really proud with all the hard work I've put in this year I missed the beginning of the Season being injured had a really great clay Court Season had a heartbreaker at Wimbledon um had to rehab again so uh coming back from a lot this year but I feel like I'm just playing some really good tennis and really happy to be here for I think you said the 15th time 10th main draw 10th main draw wow it's a lot of years uh help us out we are all looking for a little relationship advice uh you and Bjorn work together a lot and yet your relation I I can't hang out with my wife for too long without us fighting about something how is this working what's the key the secret teach us all relationship advice I think it helped that we barely saw each other for the first like 5 years of our relationship as we were both playing and then we've basically seen each other every single day for over a year and we still like each other we're still getting married so things are good it's amazing all right I um I first of all I hope my wife never sees this but Maddie to step out I mentioned the fact that you were coming out to play on this court and this place lost its Collective mind like how fun to be back on us soil playing here in New York in front of so much love I mean it has to be a meaningful thing playing in New York is the greatest thing in the world and being able to come out here and have an amazing crowd every single time I step on the court is the absolute greatest honor and one of my absolute favorite things about being a tennis player the feeling is clearly Mutual Madison Keys New York she yeah nice to hear from Madison Keys giving us a bit of relationship advice don't see your partner for the first five years of a relationship to keep it healthy and also just showing how much he loves playing in New York is this your favorite place on the planet to play yes definitely it's there's something special being an American playing here at the US Open it's you grew up watching all the great play on Arthur Ash Lou Armstrong and then now it's your time to shine and and this is always just one of the best trying to hit it at the very Oh What A Catch that was very top of and what a grab yeah just left hand as casual as you like all right everybody makes some noise who's going to get the last ball oh she's going back oh oh little fumble got there in the end but very nice start for Madison Key's campaign just an hour and 4 minutes as well so uh wasted very little time just what you want especially if you are still just maybe feeling that leg injury ever so slightly just uh nicely play your way into the draw and of course the beauty of these slams you have a day off or two now for coming out for round two it is it quite difficult to completely gauge where her level was at considering how sakova played today yes but I I think it just hearing hearing her point of view on on how she played of of making a lot of first serves and and accomplishing those small goals that she had set for herself and just hearing just how how elated she was I think that definitely is a good indicator of where medicine Keys is but it's it's such a day-by-day thing and and as any player who's gone to the second week of a grand slam or has made a semi-final or a final we all know that it's it's just match by match day by day cuz anything can happen and most of the time you have to be lucky to win a grand slam yeah those double faults very much stick out don't they 11 in total unfortunately for Katarina sakova today struggle with that first serve percentage as well 17 winners to 20 onfor erors for Madison key she'll be pretty happy with those numbers I think hit the ball pretty solidly from the back of the Court