topic against one of the Australians who's having a good a handful of the Aussies there's a lot of green and gold flying around the draw isn't play Christopher o Connell in the shadows this near end [Applause] 15 in fact particular Ely busy day for Chris o connell's coach isn't it we were just saying before we started this match coached by minko matovich former Australian player who's helping Jordan Thompson as well they have all been watching late last night as another of their fellow Aussies Alexi poin produced one of the big shocks this week beating Novak jovic in four sets if you missed that last night on this court having the summer of his life as Alexi Master's champion in Canada coming into the open assuming you've got c a hot favorite team for this one but does that sort of result that feel the fact to filter through the squad of Aussies they they're a fairly tight tight-knit Bunch it has to inspire them there's naie on the left Daren kah Hill and Simone bagot on the right two-headed coaching team of yanic Center but yeah they're generally speaking the Aussies are already always a pretty tight-knit Bunch 14 yeah they've got a little wind in their sails here at the USA [Applause] four Aussies through to the round of 32 in New York Alex deor having such a good year as well good to see him back to Fitness I'm not sure if it's full fitness after it's not yeah game picked up that injury on Match Point wasn't it against uh wi going to be old school up at the net 15 shaking his arm out there got the sleeve on Center is such a quality aggressive returner can put a lot of pressure on a second serveon will feel on that early love of course alcaraz joining jovic as far as being eliminated in fact all three players who stood on the medal stand from Paris including the bronze medalist MTI all eliminated early it's a Lov move the structured point I think the back hand's going to get a fair bit of attention today of course got a fair bit of attention for Center when he was unable to compete in the Olympic Games due to a tons solitis scenario but perhaps that has turned out to be a little bit of a blessing in disguise he was able to play both in Montreal and Cincinnati won the title in Cincinnati but had a more standard runup to his prep here and some of the the guys that played in [Music] Paris no Olympic hangover for yanic Center same can be said for Francis Tio 154 you put put much stock into the Olympics taking a lot out of the players that did well there it feels like it it feels like it's shaking things up this summer a number of big tournaments The Chopping and changing between surfaces I did wonder what sort of version of Novak jovic we'd see in in New York because he didn't play any leadup tournament steady on the hard quarter between Paris and flushing that two [Applause] saved 304 it's marinko on the right of that shot yeah the white hat bottom righto tovic one of the characters of the tour Jim there's a lot of stories I can tell you about him but not on air he's he's a beauty all three saved remember the can't quite remember who he beat in Paris but he had a a win at Roland garos it was might have been his first Grand Slam win I want to say or certainly first in Paris and his celebration he he lay flat on the court and he rolled towards his way to the net he did yeah he did covered in clay when he got there more unusual celebrations Advantage Cena Maro was a free spirit out on the court and off the court as well but he's turned out to be a a highly sought-after coach and it's one of those learn from my mistakes type scenarios I would imagine where he's got a lot of experience having seen all sides of the tour and now trying to impart some wisdom to these players and Veterans like ' Connell and Jordan Thompson getting the benefit of that and seeing their games improve yeah Jordan Thompson having a great year as well title winner on tour this year CA s strikes early again picking on that Connell backand Senor lead two games to first big into the forehand Corner the option to move forward as well that's a an area of the game that's improved a lot yeah Connell slices his backhand quite a lot like half the time in route to this round he was slicing his backand that's a it's an effective play keep the ball down he's going to struggle to try and match center Shot for shot in Baseline changes he just does not have the artillery to stay with the Italian he's going to have to find workarounds and I think that sliced backand Lee is probably a good place to start he might need to try a little bit of the the magic sauce that Roger feder uh used a lot with that short intentional sliced back in to bring players into No Man's Land h a low short chip to Center's two-hander and see what happens that that's something I hope we'll see from oconnell and now he's just reacting to the awesome action coming off the center's racket watch two warm up around 11:00 this morning just getting a bit of time on this court it was quite noticeable the the difference in the ball striking from the back of the Court how heavy those groundies are always makes me smile when these guys are sharing the same court as well they were literally a few feet from one another going through the paces this morning that's a seriously good level and he didn't play a bad points Chris o Connell and he still come out on the receiving end 14 yeah if he's going to have impact here he's going to have to really push his risk profile to an extreme level he's not going to be able to play a standard Christopher oconnell match in 2024 and beat Yanik Center 2021 in Atlanta he was able to do that Center just didn't have quite all the Assets in his game organized yet right now he's facing the full package and that's a lot there's a reason there there's a one next to Center's name 14 15 you're watching Center warm up today uh the player that was warming up with him is Mary Joe Fernandez's son and Tony godsick son Nico godsick who plays college tennis at Stanford Tony Roger feder longtime manager ongoing Mary Joel great player and broadcaster and niiko brought out and I think it's fair to say that his backand slice is pretty good and that was probably useful for center to see some of that and warmup G it's been a fast start by the top seed looking St first step it step that for plent of advice coming from OK connell's Team 15 long just behind his right shoulder at this end of the court so an opportunity to get in his ear this to me is already a step up from the last time we saw him Brian part of the Hall of Fame doubles team Brian Brothers hanging low in a suit looking good yes is name sh yeah Bob's also floating around us Davis Cup captain they'll be taking Team USA to China for the qualifying round in a little about a week's time nice 13 15 when you watch oconnell it's it's such a classic style of play it's it's course modern with the rackets and Technology but his swings do look like they're out of the textbook as well his forehand beautiful technique but it's not fully modernized the way that centers is with a ton of wrist lag that's so good Center generates so much Pace with with his wrist at contact it the racket trailing the swing and the last second the wrist accelerates and it's like you've got one Big C from the the big swing and you got your wrist doing an additional C which is a multiplier effect and that's where the power comes from and oconnell has The Big C the big big circle swing that you see most of the players well all the players utilize to generate Top Spin on the for him but his wrist doesn't do a lot of the work the bigger muscles and Center uses the big muscles and the little muscles and that's why he gets so much more Pace that's why triple digits on his forehand is readily available and he can just rev it up at any time it's harder for oconnell to really generate the same type of pace he has to really muscle the ball and it's uh it's not quite as effective it looks good but centers is just another level up and here's a chance for Center to really put a stamp on this opening set game CA pressure building not too much surpr the double faults followed these two games just swing out swing out for two games yeah overdo the feed and just swing out I feel like I have the red line already I feel like I have the red line already me just come back to that just a quick reminder to download the US Open app follow all the players the scores the stats highlights all the news on there and new this year you can watch live 3D views of all the singles matches that's available on the App Store at the Google Play Store interesting exchange already after only four games 15 you want to interpret that how would you interpret that discussion that Moreno Matas of a Chad with his player Christopher oconnell well I feel like he was sounding pretty despondent already perhaps disend a little bit unfair but a realization that he's going to have to play perfect tennis just a s s's been very very sharp yeah 11 winners and just three unforced errors Maro encouraging him to swing out in the next two games basically saying this set's over mate Get Yourself Loose shake out whatever is is inhibiting you right now and get ready for the second set keep your feet moving and the response was I feel like I have to redline my game and that's of course you've you've all heard us talking about that that's when you're just pushing your game to the brink and you might blow the engine up and that's that's a bad feeling if you feel like you've got a red line just to stay with somebody but that's what I was saying earlier he's going to have to be on the outer edges of risk if he wants to make this a contest and it that risks him making a huge amount of unforced bees and and losing in a different way than he's losing right now but if he play this this standard style of tennis in these conditions against this player it's not going to go well so it's pick your poison time for ronnell you want to go the easy way or do you want to go a different way but you're probably going either way but you only have one chance and that's to just get red hot risking everything perfect illustration of the point you're making Jim C leads five games to try go big and then the misses start mounting up it's thin sunlight that's good to see middle Saturday busy day around the grounds there'll be thousands coming through the gates today enjoying the tennis faction around the the outside courts as well and the the other show courts big day isn't it third round action of the ma something we talk about a lot but players getting into the second week of a major it's a big milestone for some sure is it used to be before there were 32 seeds it used to be the the place where the seeds would meet for the first time as you get out to that fourth round these days they made a round earlier than that but it really stems from Wimbledon having the middle Sunday off right make the second week of Wimbledon that's really what it's all about because you can be in the quote unquote second week which is the fourth round that's how we Define it on a Sunday if you start on a Monday at these tournaments but it is magnificent to be there the tennis has been magnificent so far from the Italian striking the ball cleanly is moving well complete dominance so far you're talking about making the second week Center will have made the second week of all four majors this year should he win this match Taylor Fritz think doing that for the first time this year also if I'm not mistaken I thought I read that note someplace as always Lee I reserve the right to be fabulously wrong he's rude I never let the facts get in the way of a good story 13 15 it's feeling like a nice match up for sinner today opportunity to just keep the cogs moving perhaps not spend too much time on courts build the confidence conditions are pretty kind as well particularly compared to the Y early days this week beautiful feel that time in Vision Two he's pulling all the tricks out of the bag it's a the drop shot has been something in the last year and a half has become more uh comfortable for yanic Center it's a shot he didn't really have before his new team came on he was a blaster still is but when you hit the ball as big as he does off of both sides you push your opponent's back that creates opportunities for the drop shot and he's getting more and more comfortable with it it's still not second nature to him the way it is for someone like alcaraz where it's all Instinct and Improv [Applause] let's all do a quiet cheer for CH here nice to get on the board here and just stabilize after a little bit of a shock to the system this is normally when the player who's been on the receiving end gets a nice reception once they finally get that one on the board an opportunity just to engage with the crowds releasing five games to one not a lot of a reaction from Mell he's a pretty self-contained unit doesn't really Express himself a lot on the court keeps it all inside but that's got to feel good that's a relief just to get up and running and that sliced backand the little feder chip it drew the unforced error that drop shot missing wide perhaps he'll dip into that bag a little bit more often when he can and that would be advisable 15 [Music] L fresh office second Masters Trophy this season the only player to win multiple Masters 1000s those are the the biggest strongest richest events on the tour ring points as well he's been so consistent this year yanx Center very few losses and he has a great streak going playing players ranked outside of the top 20 he's undefeated this year 35 and z row conell ranked 87 at the moment 135 14 15 very high number of First serves in the court sin so far today 79% found the spot two set points from the world number oneu that opening set the team will be really pleased with his progress so far opport first point enjoy the atmosphere here of Flushing Meadows so Center number two he got the new balls see how McConnell gets on 15 [Applause] four 30 l Chris oconnell 30 years young and a guy who is really just now establishing himself inside the top 100 second straight year he's done that so getting on the tour playing the big tournaments starting to make a little bit more money it's really been a labor of love for him up to this point just a shade under 3 million in career prize money but when you Hammer tize that out over 10 12 years of trying it's not a lot of money putting away you can stay out here on T for five years or so you start to get a pension from the ATP some money that will come 15 years after you retire and that can certainly help out you know not everyone out here is going to have generational wealth fall fall their way the way that Center has he's he's created it he's earned it o Connell works every bit as hard as yanic Center and is a just lunch paale Pro isn't he mad respect for him and his efforts to keep going in spite of all the injury issues he had lton hwit top right of the screen Aussie Davis cupper white T-shirt blue hat watching on as he does with the Aussies yeah he's at a busy few hours he was here watching poer in last night mhm but that's why it's um it's just a move for the powers that be in tennis as the wiland champion Marian ble also looks on to push all a lot of prize money down into the first second and third rounds as the prize money is increased those rounds have seen the most on a percentage basis and it's great cuz that gives someone like oconnell some stuff to put away that gives him a little bit of a nest egg it's awesome you know you Chris oconnell you've been grinding for many many years and you get a chance to basically earn 10% in one Tournament of your career prize money that's what he's looking at here that's the value that these tournaments can bring to the players so U credit to the organizations and to the top players for suggesting tting that in the first [Applause] place it's a good point you make Jim about the world prize money the biggest purse in tennis here at the US Open this year $75 million it's been a big increase for those players in early and in qualifying as well 100,000 isn't it first round loser this year yeah it's only going to go up from here ESPN just signed a$2 billion renewal with the esta for 12 years of coverage so the gross revenues of this tournament was it was 75 million a year ESPN it's going up to 170 million starting next year the players will participate in that probably not on a pro basis but you'll see the prize money here hit 100 million plus very soon and the players deserve it they're the product people like Center have so many offc court opportunities they don't need the prize money but it's the life blood for someone like Christopher oconnell you mentioned the importance of the top ranking that's key as well you can get yourself into four majors that gives you at least a a foundation to cover most of your costs which there are many maybe invest some of that money in your in your game and your future as well maybe add a another member to your team sort of speculate to accumulate that sometimes tennis players need to take yeah that's you're the CEO of your business if you're a male or female tennis player you have decisions to make as to how much you want to invest in coaching and strength and conditioning coaches maybe a performance coach mind coach chance to get on the board get a lead here for ell good grinding good patience not red lining there was he just hanging in there and eventually settling in but for someone like aonic CER coming from Italy they they're well financed there they uh tennis Federation there certainly supports their players offers them lots of opportunities to play at home with a robust minor league circuit nearly every week in Italy you can stay home take a train or a car and play a professional tournament get points and a little bit of money good job there to get on the board to work struggled financially but are doing better and better in recent years because of just this increase in prize money in the qualifying in the first rounds of these tournaments [Applause] 15 how's that for U trying to find something to talk about in a match that hasn't offered us a whole lot of friction what else we got so it's a good point you make talking about the the health of American tennis in the previous match with Lindsay devonport who's in a perfect position to sort of give a good overall assessment Italian tennis that's been a hot topic of conversation on that we tend to have on a fairly regular basis you you mentioned the the foundation of tournaments they have is you you see that as one of the keys I'm sure you've spoken to many people involved in the fit I I think it's it's been vital for them they all Echo the same point that it's been amazing for them not just to be able to stay home in familiar territory and play but in they amount of money that they've saved by not having to get in airplanes and move around like that also the fact that their coaches can watch them oh it's crossed up there to correct myself I think it's the FP days yeah with the paddle yeah it is big in Italy it's a feature of the Rome Masters event how many different racket Sports they had on on site actually just trying to get kids involved the numbers of kids through from all the clubs and once they've got them on site make it fun you know kind of make it sticky any kind of Racket in their hand they had table tennis tables they had paddle courts they were even badminton Courts for talico this year I think they're on to something the Italians male and female T palini breakout star this year I think she's already had a win today I think I'm right insane yep she did the dimples were on display postmatch big smiles Putin sa straight so made the final in Paris final of Wimbledon into the second week here in New York [Applause] is this Connor and harus what are we seeing [Applause] here oh he missed the for after all that can you believe it he the most straightforward shot of all oh I I haven't seen that many overheads return since the 1991 run of Jimmy Conor that was amazing and how did he not stick the Dismount easiest shot of the rally for him at least he reacted nicely with a big smile still with the luxury of the game point longest rally 20 shots big crowd getting more and more engaged with every stroke let for service [Applause] one game on second set Australians everywhere inside our thr Stadium Darren kahill s adding vanotti initially to the team after fairly surpris split wasn't it with Ricardo Piti guided him for so many years as a youngster but so wanted a fresh start then Darren joined the team was that a surprise move for you Jim back in the day when he split with Piti it was a surprise because Piti was a a father figure someone with amazing credentials coaching the likes of jokovic at a similar age and he had moved and lived at the Academy that Piti has near Monte Carlo just on the Italian side and Center was already right near the top 10 he just made the quarterfinals of the Australian Open where cipas had beaten him pretty conclusively in straight sets and I think it it coaching changes don't often happen after the Australian Open usually it's the end of the year usually it's right around this time that the coaching Carousel starts turning but Center clearly didn't like what had happened in the off season and the outcome it gave him in the Australian he didn't feel like he' made the progress clearly so he jettison not just PTI but the entire team and votti entered the scene I remember having a conversation with him in Miami that year and talked about what he was going to try and do change yanic serve a little bit try and get him stronger get his movement more sound that was all well before kill joined the fry in the grasscourt season so it was uh it was very surprising and ultimately clearly the right gamble threatening to make a move here 15 14 broken twice already poised to strike again just and it is some other 15 [Applause] low SW Williams we saw during the sit down came up on the big screens many stars let attend this event through the the fortnite not just sport stars all sorts of familiar faces I've even seen your here brother Jason wandering the sight here looking Dapper as ever suited and booted he sure is as you probably notice it doesn't run in the you've got the more casual side but I'm comfortable with that Y and Center certainly it's feeling comfortable as well out there setting a break in hand looks like he's going to consolidate quite comfortably here at love not quite pass there but Center fiing confident enough to throw in a serving volley and that's the right this is the right time to practice things like that that you you might need later in the tournament might run into players where they're matching you on the ground hard to imagine someone matching Center too often these days but just perfect time to try out some new tricks if you're in a comfortable match like this G th extends his lead C leads three games to one he's playing incred come on mate just second set's been great come on just keep it up lose R nice and high find your Rhythm on the serve he's super ready the coaching team from the the far end there we go Maro matovich on the right of that shot just trying to keep his player on track recognizing the quality that sin has brought to the court so far what yanet focuses throughout the remainder of the Season Jim will be to finish the year as number one he's in a pretty good position isn't he yeah he certainly is winning the the Masters 1000 and those 1,000 points in Cincinnati keeps his lead nice in the in the race over a th point lead over alarz who was in second place Zev is in third he's still in the tournament as is Mev and rude and rublev they're the chase pack at the moment jokovic number seven of course no points in the Olympics so he got an amazing achievement on Milestone that meant so much to him but that doesn't help him for the year in finals it didn't help alcaraz either get into that silver medal but Center looks likely if he stays healthy to finish on top for the first time in his career it'll be interesting to see what snack's shedu is like remainder of the Season how much of a motivation that is to get back to Chin he's announced already that he's intending to play in Shanghai it's in early October oh my goodness good let me show you something 14 little Fire Marshal Bill right there ripping that forehand at uh 102 mph of pure gasoline Goodness Me [Music] yeah the fall will be fascinating how much do we see go back how much do we see of alcaraz where do they where do they pick their spots to get rest the doll slated to play laor cup does he play any official tournaments with have that have points or is he just going to play there in Saudi Arabia in the big exhibition four yeah we were wondering whether we would see Rafa here he was entered initially was and then mhm decided to skip New York 4 lead smoke Shi forehand and Center closes that Gap I don't know if we'll see Rafa play other than exhibition tennis in North America again I hope we do hard pressed to find a bigger off of fan than me but the hard courts are so tough on his body we'll see we'll hope for the [Applause] best what we see him next year he kind of left the door open isn't he he didn't uh he didn't want the the goodbye ceremony in Rome I remember he left the court pretty quickly as I understand it asked not to have one in Paris as well whether that gives us an indication of how he feels about the future seem to be enjoying life on tour with his family chapter of his life [Applause] center with a break mway through set number two 3-2 15 looking for answers is Christopher oconnell here tough to find them when centers making so few unforced errors nearly double the winners to unforced errors for the world number one clean ball today of Log on the Fire Ace number 10 Center's done such a great job Lee of bringing up the bottom his level his low level his worst days now are so much better than they were 2 years ago right we know what his Top Gear is his Top Gear is well against since losing last year in this tournament he's played 16 matches against players in the top five and he's won 12 of them that's how good his Top Gear is and then the bottom gear is indicated by the other crazy stat which is 35 and0 against players ranked outside the top 20 he just limits his bad days with with a programmed shot selection that is high percentage the G with no holes in it a very levelheaded attitude alcaraz's bottom is much lower than yanic centers as he showed here the other night agree with that or is that just me me trying to find stuff to say which happens all the time in this in this job y c the data Maks it up doesn't it especially Le you say level-headedness was able to be on sight in uh in Beijing and Vienna last last year towards the end of the season two significant weeks for yanek especially that Beijing tournament I think he just already qualified for chin in fact when he arrived in Beijing he wasn't feeling his best though huh he had a little spat with the bin he did yes yeah I think that was in the quter finals wasn't it yeah against grigor was it that match got sick to his St quite literally in fact I was feing for my shoes during the postmatch interview honestly a couple of times I was kind of backing off in the nicest possible way that's a great story for you he give me an answer and then sort of yeah I thought it was a bit touch and go at times but he made it through the interview and made it through the tournaments but sure did the feature of everything he was saying to me you know I was sort of trying to ask him about what an achievement it was to reach chin which if you're unfamiliar with the tour that's the yearend championship so top eight players reach that event at the end of every season that's a big deal the as well as great because it gives me the opportunity to keep so I can use these matches you know don't have that pressure of trying to qualify for for the year end championships which a lot of players do there's always that stressful final few weeks of the year it's all about improving you know and getting a sense that he was trying to do that within matches as well not just on the practice court but try to add those those layers understanding that he's he's got many years ahead of him touchwood if he stays fit so how how is Center differ from alar when it comes to having better bad days quite simply Center is content to play defense if he needs to if he recognizes that he's not sharp with his offense weapons he can fall back and use that amazing movement and he can be consistent and he can wait people out and that is a Hallmark of the big three in their consistency I would and Andy Murray as well they had the ability to play front foot and back foot tennis as it was needed and all tennis players will tell you they have about five days a year where Everything feels great when they're in the zone and the rest of it is just about managing what you have on the day Center manages what he has on the the day better than alcaraz alarz still wants to Dazzle he wants to overwhelm he wants to entertain and if he just sanded the edges off of that a little bit he can play defense incredibly well his movement is as good as centers his ability to to D up is there it's a mindset that he is not quite found the way that Center has it's really nice to get G for CH Carell but if you did like a a graph and you put the high end of yanic Center and Carlos alarz in the low end there would be a narrower band for yanic CER I don't think if Center and alcarez both play their absolute best that CER is quite as good he's not quite as Dynamic if they're both treeing both in the zone because of alcaraz's incredible offensive mindset but the bad days if they both have a bad day Center's going to take them every time I think we'll see alcaraz can certainly improve in that department and I'm sure his team is going to work hard on that still with a break 43 the Bley of the Beast absolutely great 15 L just myself who's coming up later on this court eager trantech of course Women's World number one plays probably aenova tonight inside Ash stadium Daniel medv see seems to be just taking along nicely that former champion after a a strange summer didn't win a match in Canada or cinnati which is peculiar by his standards this time of the year he's the only only male player left who knows what it feels like to hold this trophy all the other former Champions have been eliminated yeah good points very good points likes it here pantomim villain of uh 2019 wasn't it entertaining as all with his postmatch [Music] interviews forehand misses and now has a little crack to work with chance to potentially get a his first break of serve is not generated a break point yet that Center's unforced aor count climbing see if he can buckle down or if okell can tighten the screws on him how quickly did Center get up to that forehand R turn the point in his favor as well come this point got this second to points one touch on the low side for CER in this set four of nine different story behind the first surf combination Perfection what you do as an opponent you just expecting another Sledgehammer aren't you [Music] L beautiful stuff off speed serve for Center gets up high on a conell that sliced back hand is all he could do to get it back in play the volley suboptimal for Center but the lob Perfection from the Aussie advantage [Applause] game impressive conclusion to the eighth game of this second second briefest moment of perhaps not danger one of the toughest service games might get get a chance ex service game to play so far snuffs out the danger quickly [Music] [Applause] 15 Center hits the ball big off the ground we know that you can hear it as well as see it and in this particular matchup because oconnell is not a big ground stroker Center's able to hit even bigger he's having more time on the ball and he's pumping the forehand and backhand significantly faster today about hour off both wings from what he did in the first couple of rounds here when he was a little bit more troubled well that's why oconnell I'm sure in that first set was feeling like he's got a red line cuz Center is just punishing him when they get in these rallies whenever he can it's been hard to win second serve points understandably for o he's not a big guy for tour standards sizewise or strengthwise and he doesn't get a tremendous amount of pace his second serve is is solid that was 97 mph into the net but Center is not bothered by that he's seeing that as a green light special to go aggressive connell's second serve is it's been a hard thing for him to win points on that's one there he needed get to 4 to 15 get to the change over still with a chance when we get to this change over if you don't take a bite out of that sandwich Lee I'm going to I don't know what I'm going to do but you're just taunting you everyone else oh my gosh look that Ripper that'll make you hungry full [Applause] to give him credit foring around in this second 15 so one down three to go so just looking to put the finishing touches to this second sets but a good match so far pleased with this level stress free so far almost 15 break of serve coming early in this set Center had a chance to break in the first game of the set CL rescued that one but dropped serve at one a piece Center's had the front ever since let for service conell still looking for his first breakpoint opportunity of the match against the center serve power and precision 3 some combination the effectiveness of the ser and way he goes after that serve plus one as known in the sport 14 15 13 face just shaved the very back of the line brings up two set points set number two six games before firm control today on our Stadium to get this third set underway Under Pressure early in both 15 over [Applause] crucial really if he's going to make this third set competitive that has to start here with a hold 15 history repeating itself [Music] 15 the worst part is he hasn't missed a first serve this game he's only won one point Center in rhythm an impressive save 14 oh it's rough feel like it's a tough year to pick a an obvious favorite even when alarz and jovic were yeah you know you mentioned meev who's you know one we almost always would pick to be involved he would be a quarterfinal opponent potentially of yanic Center but who knows the way that he's played this summer it's hard to know it's it's not serving the way that I think he normally wants to there must be something going on with his body that's preventing him has been like all all season so it's hard to see that deor carrying an injury still not perfectly placed cuz you would like his chances in that section he's the highest seed in the alcaraz quarter it's remaining Jack Draper the Brit he's through he took out V Sun sculp who took out alarz so maybe this will be Draper breakout tournament someone is getting through to the semis down there that's going to be a surprise then where what about the Americans Taylor Fritz Nakashima tifo Tommy Paul is it time for an American to break the drought everything's on the table here save a a red hot Mev I'm just not sure that anyone can match what this guy is bringing to the table if he's playing his you know his B+ game or better what do you think about that yeah he's looked good today I think you know we all had questions didn't we regarding whether there'd be a hangover if you like once the tennis finally got underway after the uh the news broke surrounding the positive drugs test from earlier in the year and all the questions that he's had to answer in the buildups of the tournament 14 most of us felt like it would be a phenomenal effort he was if he was able to just shove all that to one side and focus on the tennis and still beat the best in the world but looks like he's going to get himself through the first week and as you as you said the other day it sort of just allows him to distance himself doesn't it day by day every day there's one other concern for Jan and that's the hip problem that plagued him start stting in Monte Carlo and it was evident in Cincinnati that it was hurting him he was treated for that in match touch shutting the door on oconnell at the moment and he seemed to shut out that pain and play through it in Cincinnati didn't halt his progress there won that title but if he gets into some physical matches here later in the tournament how will his hip hold up is a question that will that will get answered certainly a question in my mind he's looked so far more comfortable isn't he than he he did in Cincinnati it was an issue in Canada as well L to rublev in the quarterfinals there in Montreal bothering him on and off throughout Cincinnati hit that forced him out of Madrid as well was forced to withdraw Midway through that tournament had to miss Rome that was a big deal of course his home Master 1000 Superstar back in Italy 15 that's why it makes this this men's draw so interesting Lindsay and I were discussing it feels like all the the big names have just got something going on into New York s with the hip and all the questions he's had to field coming into the tournament jovic we just Wen weren't sure where he was after the efforts required in winning gold in Paris was out sorts in Cincinnati and I understand some sort of tests run on the body I think he's he's been a bit under the weather coming into the US Open medev as you say unusually bad form on the hardcourts for him just wonder whether we might get uh couple of surprise names deep in the draw for the first time that many of us can remember a member of the big three is not going to win a major in in a season it's been I think since 2003 since that happened but it might 2002 I've just been corrected thank you Jenny goodness someone's listening to us Le but it could be a could be a clean sweep for Center and alcaraz right center certainly the favorite at the moment alarz took two Yan took the Australian no majes for Novak this year no just misses that one Novak didn't get a major but he got his major goal achieved which was to win gold fill out the the career set of everything that matters in tennis yeah which I wonder whether he would have signed for on January the 1st well he did a 60 Minutes interview with John wory and he was interviewed in Serbia in November last year and he stated plainly and clearly that was his number one goal for the year to win gold called a shot he hit it certain he would have loved to have won other tournaments as well but I think he made no bones about what he needed out of 2024 and he got it on the board but training by a break that's so I love Jimmy Conor different comparison though looking to Sprint to the finish line now hasn't been on court too long today just over an hour and a half a good pick up was forced oconnell to play one more ball 15 yeah didn't quite achieve the right connection here the OSI to say the least 30 [Applause] this ruthless efficiency today from yanic Center serving at a very high percentage nearly 70% first serves in play plenty of reward with very little risk taken in his shot making decisions just overpowering the Aussie and an hour and 35 minutes really on a nice Glide path into the fourth round round never over till it's over but it certainly looks like it's getting early it's getting late early here as Yogi bar would say another game closer to the last 16 three against one third sa what a difference of day makes here on ash Stadium yesterday Coco golf Alena fidelina let off with a three set bruising contest and then the two Brash Americans Ben Shelton and Francis tifo waged war against each other for five sets forcing the night session to start about an hour and a half later than expected and that had a domino effect of causing matches to start later and later and how late were you here till uh it was around 2 I think right that sort of territory 2 a.m. that session's going to get off on underway they'll probably put a doubles match on here for the the ash crowd if this thing ends in the next half an hour or so give them a little bit more bang for their buck 30 l [Applause] return 1 15 something b a better back against his produced today he still come back with [Music] interest e shame missed the forehand incredible back hand from a deep position just prior to that 43 h digging his heels in keeping it like a loose tooth right now down two sets in a break but fighting the good fight Center serving at 3-2 in the third to focus naturally on cner Jim and and where this assuming he finishes the match where this Victory takes him in terms of the second week but we should probably talk about OK Connell as well it's been a good week isn't it regardless of the fact that he's probably not going to come through this one you got to I suppose as a player with his sort of ranking put that into perspective and use it to keep building through the remainder of the season oh a special back [Music] out another look at a beauty from cner it's been a great week great tournament for Chris o Connell niik jar in the opening round seated player backed that up with a win in the second round out here on the biggest dedicated tennis court and Tennis against the world number one making memories maybe not making victories necessarily not yet anyway but in the season where he's trying to consolidate his place in the top 100 he's doing do he's doing himself a lot of good here because he's making some quality points he's he's won 11 matches at tour level leading into this tournament so he's put another two on the board and the points are really good at the majors as you would expect and that will be something that will stick with him for 52 weeks these points and that will help him stay in that top 100 range and uh we'll see where he goes from there this was interesting me to me as well because you know we we have so much focus on the end of the season naturally talking about the top guys in the sport but the Australian Open Feels Like A Million Miles Away right now but very quickly guys with this sort of ranking that's the next big tournament they've got to keep an eye on the guy who's around sort of 8090 in the world they want to make sure they're top 100 by the end of the year that's right just looking at at the the points that he is using right now for his ranking you know you get to use your best tournaments the best of ranking system and he doesn't have a lot of his points backed as Center holds on once again still yet to face a break point like I have to do something every single every shot got like no time M so just as you hear his frustration and the understanding of his coaching staff of the The Dilemma he's in he doesn't face a huge dilemma of having to defend a a lot of points between now and the cut date for the Australian Open which is in December would feel pretty good about his chances of getting a wild card from tennis Australia should he need one but you you want to be able to get into everything on your own if you can sense of Pride there involved in those lead up tournaments as well it's a nice start to the year for the Aussies been able to play at home they don't enjoy that luxury very often some of the the guys who travel the most for the longest periods around the world during the tour a few the Australian have bases in Europe these days don't yeah or the Bahamas which is a good good tax base and it's a good space near North America to travel out of you can get to London non-stop from Nessa Bahamas so a few of them are there as well 15 1 with that sort of ranking as well in the the extended Masters 1000s that we we're gradually getting used to it's been a new feature of the tour the last season to it gives I suppose someone like oconnell that opportunity to play the Masters events on a a regular basis as well some of those bigger draws he needs to draw in something big here to dig out of this whole baby match points for yanx Center 1540 chance to take a double break cushion lead bye-bye too good and that's been the story today s leads against Center again next summer it's been busy so many big titles for grabs in such a a short space of time this year so looking to seits the top seed service hold away [Music] look the synopsis here is is pretty simple Christopher oconnell is a quality tennis player really nice technique great attitude good Fitness covers the court well but lacks a weapon that can challenge a player of Center's Cali I and that is just been like a flashing green light for yanic Center to just rip winners and take control pretty much whenever he's wanted to 44 winners in this match from Center against just 22 unforced errors almost like batting practice for him in a way and that's because oconnell can't really hurt him 15 over little bit of a Mis hit on the return and a solid forehand there gets him back to 15 AP piece 13 15 SP a lot of time in that backand corner smoking for hands today almost job done 18th forehand winner of the afternoon for the [Applause] [Applause] Italian game forward passage today for Yan the top here in newor 64 62 into the last 16 and he's done it pretty quickly just under two hours too much power and too much quality for Christopher oconnell through in straights