Elena Rybakina vs. Destanee Aiava Full Match | 2024 US Open Round 1

to find her best return game no doubt about it because she's facing the queen of the aces column this year on the WTA Elena reak three-time champion this year two are the finals for rebaka in a year that's been punctuated by injury and illness 15 long add another one she's in a Groove and that wasn't a big serve it was all about the placement and the slice on the ball that was Ace number 326 of the season oh that balances things out yeah again that wide Sur the juice SC is clearly going to be a profitable one it has so much to do with not just her height but the way that she tosses it up there and then she gets so much rotation with the slice that grip phenomenal technique there that's young wow well a little bit of everything in the early stages here [Applause] she won't be used to facing serving of this quality you just got to be patient haven't you because so many times you're going to walk from side to side and not make a return right right oh well at least a little bit of Rhythm in the rally for IA there but Rebecca are managing to hold on to a change of schedule a walk over in Dubai to Pini so it's been an issue for her to say the very least this year there just so many things that players have to contest with week in and week out and I can probably almost guarantee you that 100% of these players there's something that probably doesn't feel 100% right in the body and there's also a lot of pressure I mean she's seated number four I mean she's semifinal than Wimbledon she's a grand slam Champion there's Target on her back so there's going to be a lot of people that are going to be gunning for her and that's a lot of pressure that you have to deal with week in and week out 4 long I we putting together a very nice Opening Service game here I really doubt we're going to see a lot of long rallies today don't think we're going to have a 20 short rally I'd be very very surprised if we see a a rally longer than 10 balls to be honest [Music] 4 t50 well it was a cute bronchitis that kept Elena re backing her out of the Olympic Games unfortunately a late withdrawal that have been a big Focus for her this year so she was devastated to miss there game I ever I just laying down a little marker as well one game on first lots of first serves Landing there irenea yeah once again there's not a lot that can go wrong with her serve it's got a very compact motion there's not a lot of moving parts to it uh and just allows her to have that percentage way up and I noticed that in the qualifying too she had above 60% I believe in all three of her matches so serving exceptionally well [Music] that change up there just the shorter angle with the forehand which just caught Rebecca by surprise yeah I think that's the one thing she's going to have to really hone in is attack the movement when you see a player that hasn't been playing that much you want to see where they're at in terms of movement nothing you can do about that it's that good 15 yeah when you look at rachana's game there's the technique is so Flawless her balance is incredible I love watching her play there's not much that can go wrong with her on either swing she's just able to generate effortless power with the timing isn't she yes her body control is is very good she always lands on that left foot getting inside the Baseline and she's going to love the pace coming off the Ia racket today isn't she oh yes oh back up first serve in terms of its regularity appearance just starting to warm up a little bit there for elen re back in it no scares for either now it's time to roll up sleeves and just stay on the shoulder of the world number four if she can it's a little more of Victory 15 that might have been on the cusp left 10 balls it mind that's well no longer Stephan vukov in the coaching box for Elena re back it they split after five years together in the last month five very successful years 15 that can also have a huge tax on your game as well and your mental you know stability having someone that was there for you for 5 years obviously there's going to be ups and downs but having to go through a breakup almost it's it's it can be quite difficult that's an example of the challenge he faces today fantastic length of the Australian racket but it was met with kind by rebe yeah just makes it look so easy she counter punches uh really well and just handles the Firepower from other people so well she's going to the nck which is not an area she's necessarily hugely comfortable at but with the five power she has it's a a great Dimension to add to her game isn't it I think it's a wonderful Dimension I think it just makes her that much more threatening because what happens is she doesn't even have to hit that perfect of an approach shot it's just the pressure that she's creating with her presence coming forward it's big time good answer there by aava well the first serve that's her biggest serve of the match so far the first serve a little more absent in this fourth game for her but when the moment came she answered the call oh Advantage re two double faults each that's a fiance there on the right hand side I think Cory and the t-shirt and the cap inspired sen because IA could do no more than ask the question that she did but Rea had the answer first yeah that was incredible Firepower there by Elena and I don't think that she was actually going for that next shot it didn't look as though usopen.org is the place to go to get all your information about everything going on down here at Flushing Meadows and don't forget merchandise as well on there and you can follow it all on the social media platforms you can see there # US Open 15 [Applause] she's confidence all the time only 14 minutes on the clock and they are Galloping through this fifth game of the opening set [Music] 1 15 hasn't been the most profitable slam for her the US Open eight wids here six losses only one back-to-back matches here once that was in 2021 where she beat Caroline Garcia and Alexandra sasnovich before losing to Simona halop oh so you have to wonder whether it's the conditions here at the open that really affect that history here with her matches because she's done incredible in so many other places but we've talked about the humidity and the heat that can be produced in in New York during this time and it's almost 86° out there today it is hot got a big tenacity from my ARA hang around in this game and make a nuisance of herself might be rewarded for it she's had a couple of moments where she's been able to attack a ball that's been a fraction shorter and she hasn't been able to put it away yeah that's what happens I feel like when you play someone of the caliber of raka you just feel like you have to do so much more when in fact it's trust your game trust in what's been working and make her play another ball if it's not the right shot she round three here back in it got a helping hand with a walkover from Isa tomanovic in the second round having beaten Mar kostuk in round one and lost to S CA game test passed saves the break point and extends the lead very healthy three game 15 long when you're playing and facing a player so much further up the rankings than you what's your mindset what are you telling yourself out there especially when you're a break down in the open Set uh get it to 30 minutes get the set to 30 minutes you do want to be off the court in 30 minutes or less I'll tell you after I'll tell you the real answer after [Laughter] this I think the first thing is hey you belong here like you did this wasn't a fluke you can hang with the best of them okay she's playing phenomenal sometimes there's moments even you play someone that's not necessarily very highly ranked and they start playing out of their minds and you almost have to just tell yourself hey ride the wave yeah just stay in [Music] it you know there could just be so many momentum shifts in a match and you feel like oh I'm going to sneak in here I I watched igos fiant play Ro ramova today and ramova had set points in the second set and you know she kept it close but just couldn't finish and that's that's what I think the top players make it difficult that back hand is just starting to Creek a little bit 15 14 body language not good yes and that tends to be one of her stronger suits is that backend Wing she can do so much with it very very nice technique and balance throughout but I just feel as though she's going for a little bit too much right now and Elena is not doing a whole ton in those points I also feel that Elena right now is not giving much of a rhythm to iava and so it's just hard I think both of them are trying to ease their way into the match kind of get a feel for things still double break means double trouble and signs of frustration Mya you can understand it because she's competed well in the opening 22 minutes but Elena re backer showing all her star quality let [Music] first 15 well she'll try and spread the and open the court won't she that'll be a tactic today to try and upend the world number four yeah I also would like to see her try a couple Drop shots maybe and just use the Angles and see what happens there maybe hit some higher balls I know that's not necessarily her game style but sometimes you have to change it up when game a is not working you have to go in b and c and see what works L the I think that's a great return there for aava that's you want to Target the middle doesn't really allow for Elena to have an angle to work with and it just attacks her moves her back gives iava a position to be in control for the next Point 15 13 oh that's back is just spining a few too many Aras that's the problem at the moment just letting that ball get above her shoulder she either has some move one step forward to get it on the rise or move one step back to give herself time 14 13 go come look 38 36 it's just changed again first serve percentage for elen back in it and still in a thoroughly dominant position that will be the worry for iava who saves the first set point brilliant that's just incredible depth from robak just didn't really allow for Destiny to be inside the Baseline had her running and didn't have to do much with the winner just chose a huge Target saw that Destiny was not there back the t is up very nicely second set I to 15 okay Arena you are in the year right now of Destiny iava what are you saying to her make more balls because I wouldn't say that Elena is actually playing her greatest tennis either there's quite a lot of onfor stairs 13 in that first set so maybe there is a little bit of a chance there you have to just make the balls make her play more she's been missing a lot especially off the backand that's her money side that's that's that's her biggest strength and I think when you're missing you're spraying them a little bit hone in your target just go deep middle big targets even if it just means just smashing the ball just like near the service line just gives you a lot of room to work [Music] with well she was broken pretty early in the opening set that was another Factor wasn't able to start to generate a little bit of scoreboard pressure she can apply a little here if she keeps her service games ticking along nicely 4 made four appearances at the Australian Open in the main draw hasn't quite been able to crack the code to get through at Wim wooden in third round of qualifying there in 2017 it's Exquisite that's just too good asked me earlier about what I would be telling iava right now I think the other thing I would also just be telling her is just slow the game down a little bit because it is going fast you know a set down already half an hour in this is one of those times where you just want to slow things down don't really rushed g i quickest route to the end of the game taken she does have a top 10 win actually under her belt she beat Arena sabalenka no less in power you're going to get so clearly she knows how to handle the pace yeah I would just continue saying hey just just make a couple of more balls and keep keep at it well your opponent does that a couple times a game it can be quite difficult so yeah 110 down the tea that's that's her bread and butter so is her out wide yeah it makes it difficult to have to read it [Music] [Applause] 15 there's three titles she won this year stutgart Abu Dhabi in Brisbane she beat the aforementioned sabalenka in the final comfortably as it turned out 1 15 was a lot of that in that match as I recall it's just that 90° angle that she gets when she tosses and on that serve motion that's just absolute perfection [Music] too oh that's your but she plays right on the edge doesn't she doesn't like to bring in the margin much that can also be quite difficult fora you don't really feel like you have a feel for the return either 14 30 as it was always going to be it's going to be on her racket today one way or the other colon is taking along quite beautifully for her now six in the match and more worryingly if your destiny iava that first serve percentage is suddenly practically doubled wow also be difficult to too for aava right now you almost feel like you have to stay ahead you have to you put more pressure on your serve and what raka is going to do is I'm I'm sure she's just going to attack that second Ser so [Music] much 15 long I have a beat G topa over and my Hama as well as King qu she must have felt like things were just falling into place beautifully sometimes you get spells like that in your career don't you when you just feel like for whatever reason it's your time oh absolutely there's definitely no just direct arrow to the topu no lots of Peaks and valleys 1 15 and it could be the odd match here and there there can't it that can be definitive in a way you're not understanding at the time but maybe with hindsight you look back and think maybe that was the moment that run to the third qualifying round at wil if she'd gone into the main draw the ifs and buts mind you that's why this sport drives you absolutely mad isn't it oh that's really nice a great job there getting up to it great footwork gave herself enough balance here when you're running forward sometimes you really need to focus on the spacing cuz you don't have that much room to work with but gave herself lots of height over the net highest part of the net very important 4 T3 the second serve is getting bullied that's why the double faults have reached three for the match 27% won behind the second serve that's the worry [Applause] yeah I like this though take your time with the towel just give yourself some almost like a reset I I'm a huge believer in the towel break just gives that Moment of clarity of just like okay what's my plan here just take a pause sometimes especially when things are going quick [Applause] ad she had a strong end to last season Destiny which really helped boost her ranking won three ITF titles last year eight in total she's picked up [Applause] she was broken in the second service game for her of the opening set doesn't want lightning to strike twice here that's why this game is increasingly important oh [Music] Advantage re back and we can just start to see a little bit more of the pressure that rabaka is producing just from her return Destiny aava didn't feel this kind of pressure in the qualifying but these are the little intricate details that you have to deal with when playing a top 10 player left second she was flirting with danger there right on the edge of the service box but it [Applause] worked I think with Racha that is probably the best service Target that you're going to get just right at the body not really give her an opportunity to really attack you from the return that's a nice change up advant back in her thought she might be going wide with that you serve she didn't game that might just be a little hold of serve to bookmark [Music] [Applause] 15 L sign of a hangover after missing a out on that break point [Music] [Applause] so much pace and so flat it's a difficulty well let me tell you SE it's very very difficult to handle because when I played raka qualifying 2018 I believe I was I was it was a lot I had no words there were a couple times where my coach just kind of put his hands up like I I don't know what to tell you this is just too good oh that's 25 Dam I ask what the school was uh I believe it was like two and three or something but I mean it it that was it was a very it shouldn't have been that close that's what I'm telling did it feel tough out there then oh it absolutely did it was one of those matches where it was two and three but you just felt like you just got destroyed 0 and0 it was one of those but you know it's not good when your own coach is looking at you like I don't know what to tell you T5 but I remember after that match I looked at my husband I was and he was like oh tough one I was like that girl is going to be top 10 don't worry about it like I'm I'm not too upset about it uh and I I said the same thing about Sabal Linka and Shan Shan I called that she was going to be number one in the world after I lost to her and I was like my husband it was on my birthday and he like tough match I'm sorry and I said I'm not worried that girl's going to be number one in wble no and so it came to pass yep usopen.org is the place to go for all the information highlights interviews highlights reals the draw everything and the results of course and you can stay across everything on social media too # us 15 don't forget to use [Applause] that wow what you did say say outside you went three I think it might be three the average rally 59 right on the money 13 15 well this is grit your teeth time I think if you're Destiny aava and just think to yourself I just got to hang in here now get to the back end of the set you never know what gives yeah absolutely you have to think right now I have to just make those first serves that's the biggest thing don't really want to give rbak a look at a second especially with the double Falls we've had two already this set and it's delicate Balancing Act isn't it between staying in the rally and not making the unforced errors but not staying in the rally so that you just give her an opportunity to smash a winner past you right so I I believe strongly in stay in the rally but be aggressive down the middle like give yourself a lot of room to work with but still just be very very aggressive with your Technique I remember Roger feder used to say the moment I stop accelerating that's when I'm in trouble you have to continue accelerating even when you're super tight in a match game IA she's keeping on keeping on very nicely here lead three games to continuing to lead the way no breaks yet chances either side of the set in this second set but they've gone un claim [Applause] oh that's nice because I AR just stayed put she had a chance lob was the go-to there yeah absolutely especially with someone like robak you know she's going to close into the net so but just great job from bbak just keeping it very smooth when that Bali didn't have to do much with it yeah I like this just keeping re backing and honest just moving the ball around the court changing direction just giving her a different look all the time yeah sometimes you can get caught up with I'm going to out hit my opponent that hits very hard when in fact it's find something else to do because they like that pace sensationally good unbelievable balance there by Elena just almost waited for aava to choose her spot and then just gave herself lots of room to work with lots of shape over the net well the winners have been accelerating all the time nine of them in this set from RE backinger now 16 in the match climbing towards par with the unforced errors which sit at 21 right now [Music] that's great footwork there by R just made sure to take care of her feet which is so important especially with a short ball like that you could almost get caught up with your feet but did well with just giving herself lots of time to choose a spot let second s g back time has a little peek at something maybe developing well she might have allowed herself to dream at 30 o that door is just slammed in her face I think raka has this amazing ability with that serve she's just able to get herself out of really tight situations and even take when she takes some Pace off and sometimes it just doesn't have to be that that good it's just the pressure that she gets from it that's unbelievable right there Sue that's that was a very very small Target of space right there but just look at how balanced she stayed with that right foot great body rotation [Music] there she's just moving level at the moment especially behind that forehand warning light starting to flash a little for IA here I was speaking with Christina Mel earlier today and we were watching vonch and we were just saying how these top players you know you get up they get up quickly 4-1 5-0 and then you win a few games and all of a sudden you feel like oh I'm in this match and you get excited but top players usually go like uh-uh NOP not today oh love that 15 13 got around that ball very nicely with the footwork [Music] that's well she's doing a good job of staying with Reed backer who's tided things up really nicely 12 winners and 10 unforced errors in this set so far turn that negative into a positive we're still there or thereabouts 14 [Applause] 13 she's done an even better job in that to [Applause] [Music] I think you mentioned this earlier Sue that you almost feel as though this match is in the hands of Robina she's in control and even though she's playing Destiny IA who's who's trying her very best you almost feel like it's really how raka is playing that's going to be the outcome of the match Advantage Bak [Music] and Backa has the break now and she's in control on Grand here two more games required the place in round two will be hers [Music] 15 159 [Applause] still only dropped Five Points behind that first serve 15 1 the second serve has been reasonably robust as well for Reb backing it 57% one behind it in the match that's she's done that so well today and in very like inopportune in opportune times very tight situations in a in a game for example when she's down 15 30 30 40 absolutely spot on that's exactly what she's done good tool to have in your belt oh oh unloaded on that she hasn't had too many short balls today iava but she did a really good job with the moment she saw it got her feet up to it gave herself a lot of shape well done and I love the fact that she was following the ball forward after oh that came out of absolutely nowhere first time she's managed to break the reback in the serve and it couldn't have come at a better time love that reaction as well she's fired up if there was ever a time so that was the one so can she build on it that's the question 15 long [Applause] [Applause] she's a player whose ranking has just yo-yoed a little bit a year ago she was 250 in the world she was 500 in the world in July of 2022 I think it's so great for someone of her ranking just to get a lot of confidence in those future events gets you a lot of matches under your belt oh can really help you confidence wise and it's just more practice game six points in for Destiny well the career high for her 147 in the world set back in September of 2017 should be heading close towards that if she wins this match today if second she's certainly back in the conversation in this set without a doubt this is one of those moments where weach going has to just maintain that hyperfocus and really rely on that serve rely on that Firepower her experience has to come through right now because you just don't want look at that 7 points one in a row this is one of those times where you almost want to slow things down from the rabaka side [Applause] oh the magic spell ends but it's certainly been a mighty helpful one we back in the St need to be careful a little bit from here down the middle you just feel as though shot tolerance has gone up for Destiny AA she's just been able to make a couple more balls really test rebak shots right now I think we spoke about that earlier she was making quite a few errors but now she's just honed in her Target [Applause] back always on the front foot in that exchange 30 Old yeah the moment that ball was short she just does such a good job with just choosing her spot huge Target just so just no hesitation whatsoever you love that back 13 I think that's one play that raka has added another tool in her belt is that drop shot you know so many people are just used to that Firepower it's just a great change up especially as an opponent when you're standing so far behind the Baseline let s feel on that back out you know away from the exit door in that set at this set sorry at 45 30 all yeah absolutely don't think you'd know it but once again she was able to use that serve so beautifully and just really rely on that power the moment she saw that short ball she was inside the Baseline that's when she's the most threatening when she's inside and applying pressure 15 [Applause] 30 oh she's just lost her p on return quite noticeably I ARA held to love last time around and has a chance to do it again I think that has a lot to do with Destiny I hitting a lot of first serves in those last two games haven't seen a second serve this particular game as well so just taking care of her side which just so important especially this late in the game game well she's into a tie break in the second set at the very least maybe more another chance one more chance to break the back in a serve people here yesterday it was fantastic as a shorter person I feel like there was like a 100,000 oh love [Applause] 15 oh oh that is an invitation for iava and she accepted yeah that was great look at the way that she was able to come forward once the moment bakut just had a little bit of shape on that she saw the opportunity and just followed that ball in so good for my ala she's mad with herself there that she just couldn't stay in the rally yeah this is one of those times where I have a feeling rachan is come going to come up with a big serve get it to 30 all the go a second here 30 40 hold on a second these errors that rebea has made they've piled up a little in the last 5 or 10 minutes and now she needs a big first serve Co she finds it you called it you called it too you know your Stu well we did have a chat earlier didn't we the great Mar cillo has joined us in the commentary box also enjoying our predictions today that's what makes her so good it's got to be so tough for IA thinking okay I have a set point right now she goes and she hits a 113 down the te she's seen those movies once or twice before hasn't she recking it still food For Thought not out of the woods just yet was a little bit wild it's been a little bit of that hasn't there yes there really hasn't been much Rhythm from the rabaka side to be honest and credit to iava just making another ball in that point those unforced a is just continuing to pile up oh love that backand fre backer didn't appreciate it quite that was just no hesitation whatsoever on that back end great follow through no second time I'm asking then she finds that I mean there's clutch and then this clutch that's unbelievable you have to give credit to Elena right now that's just incredible and not a flicker of emotion that's even tougher to play against advantage to in game ising a replay of the call on the right about the fact she might need a helping hand in this 12th game of the second set if she was to take the set iava she certainly got it with those two double faults wants to have a little peek at it [Applause] [Applause] that just nibbled the outside of the line didn't it yes I don't think she meant for it to be that close that was incredible advantage when it's good it's just good that's all that's all there is to it when it's good it's great probably her longest service game of the match right now oh you called it Arena Falone Harman didn't you you just looked at me think a double and it was it's got to be stressful for aava rachana's Coach right now I mean how do you all three of those double faults have come right here in this game on we go the almost but forand down the line that one's going to hurt it's the right call but that one's going to hurt unbelievable just unbelievable I'm clapping right now that was impressive steamy in New York City back just waffs away set points for fun there and thinks I'm going to close out the match in the tie break that's what I'm going to do and maybe she is but Destiny iava has to process things very quick quickly here now because she did have those chances to level the match and now she's got to hit the reset button pretty urgently here great cck work there saw the effect of the previous forehand knew thata was on that back foot knew she was going to get a short ball did so good with get up to it and if you're Destiny iava right now you must feel like elen re backinger is hitting every line yes because it kind of feels like she is I just feel there's just a little bit more conviction right now in her shots a little bit more confidence after being able to pull out you know be down set point you just feel as though it's actually elevated her game a little bit these last few [Applause] points wow that's incredible and just made it look so easy Sue that's that wing span that's just incredible great reach from Racha great rack and control but look look at this important split step she was there Desy IA must feel like walking off the court putting her bag over her shoulder and just leaving and thinking okay well can't deal with that look at those net numbers as well because she could could really play that point any better Australian she really couldn't and that's what she's thinking right there double fall and she's pondering the three set points that came and went they were taken away from her there's no reflection she can make that's negative about herself there because she could do no more I actually think raka has a seven-point win streak right now make that Z up was an incredible return she's one the first five points of this tie break just to Rob salt in the [Applause] wound well never seen never all that 51 tell of the tie break is a big that reak has that Wings span that reach that racket control just fantastic tennis seriously I mean if she's taking a millimeter out of the line it's only that the crowd have just seen the replay so they will know as well match points are plenty here is a Champions performance from Alena former Champion fending off three set points in the second set from the qualifier Destiny iava who acquitted herself so well today out there on grand stand cour but the world number four is world number four for a reason and a grand slam Champion for a reason and she showed us that in that second set she closes