Americans remaining at Australian Open shine and root each other

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After reaching her first fourth major round on Saturday, Jessica Pegula grabbed the blue marker to write on the camera lens on the pitch, as is customary for Australian Open winners. She could have written anything.

Before saying hello to her sister, she wrote: “Let’s go Jen Brady!”

Brady, her longtime friend and fellow American, was next on the same pitch at John Cain Arena and Pegula had asked a scream on Twitter.

Soon after, Brady joined Pegula in the round of 16 following a victory over Kaja Juvan – and by the end of the day two more Americans had followed suit. Shelby Rogers overcame a 4-1 start to beat Anett Kontaveit in straight sets, and on the men’s side Mackenzie McDonald – ranked 192nd in the world – beat Lloyd Harris to make his second fourth major round.

There were no fans at Melbourne Park on Saturday for the first time since the lockdown was put in place, but despite the strange circumstances, the remaining US contingent shone – and continued to support each other.

“It’s so cool to see all these girls that I grew up with, and we’ve known each other for so many years, we’re doing really well and playing awesome tennis and on the biggest stages,” Rogers said afterwards. his match. “We all support each other. We have fun discussions. It’s really cool to see us all keep going.”

The quartet joined fellow American Serena Williams, who advanced on Friday in week two of the tournament.

The Americans have had great success at Grand Slam tournaments in recent years – led, of course, by Williams – with major titles from Sloane Stephens and Sofia Kenin and a slew of others in standing contender status. There are 18 Americans ranked in the top 100, and there is consistent representation in the group’s second week of Slams, although Brady, Rogers and Pegula are more recent additions to the roster. At the 2020 US Open, Brady reached his first career semi-final, Rogers reached quarterfinals for the second time in a major, and Pegula had his best run of the time in a slam with a performance at third round.

“We have a multigenerational group of players at the top of the game on the women’s side,” said Martin Blackman, general manager of player development for USTA. “And I think that also puts things in perspective – from Coco Gauff to Serena, to all the intermediate players, there isn’t a lot of burden on a player right now. And I think that is it. really helps everyone, and some of the pressure. “

As Williams continues his quest for his record-breaking 24th major title, his cohorts can fly a bit under the radar. Jennifer Brady (25), Rogers (28) and Pegula (26) haven’t had the precocious success of Williams, who won her first major at 17, nor are they getting just about the attention given to Gauff, 16, but they work quietly and steadily on their games and improve week by week, year by year. Seeing each other’s success has only fueled them more and given them confidence.

“I think the pandemic and everything we’ve been through over the past year has helped players look a little outside of themselves,” Blackman said. “Tennis is such an individual sport, and you have to be so focused on yourself and every little detail, but I think things have come into perspective. They really love each other and are happy for each other. other, and are part of our Billie Jean The King Cup team has created a really healthy environment for our best women.

“A lot of [the success we’re seeing] is a demonstration effect. In any given Slam we have four or five women in the neighborhoods, some of the other women who may not have arrived yet may say, “If she can do it, so can I.” Each victory raises the bar and raises the bar for everyone. “

Although the American men have not had comparable success – Andy Roddick was the last compatriot to win a major in 2003 – and McDonald is the only one left in the singles draw, McDonald still has the support of the remaining women. . Brady was one of the first to text him after his win on Saturday, while the two played college tennis at UCLA.

“I was just texting with Mackie,” Brady said. “I’m so proud of him, happy for him that he made the fourth round here. I think he’s very excited for me too.”

Many who know McDonald’s appreciate everything the 25-year-old has been through, not only to make it to week two of a Slam, but to play tennis. After making his first round of 16 at Wimbledon in 2018, he suffered a potentially career-ending injury in 2019 when he tore a hamstring tendon in a doubles match at Roland Garros. He spent the rest of the season recovering from surgery, unsure if he would ever play again.

He made his comeback in 2020 and had to use his protected ranking to enter Melbourne. But he more than took the opportunity.

McDonald’s rankings are expected to rise to No.136 and will only improve if they keep winning. It will be an uphill battle, as he faces off against Daniil Medvedev, the No.4 seed and 2019 US Open finalist on Monday. But Blackman, who frequently watches McDonald’s practice at the USTA National Campus in Orlando, in Florida, was impressed with his relentless work ethic and said he might be up for the job.

“I think he fits Medvedev well,” Blackman said. “Medvedev is a great player, and he’ll have to play his best tennis to beat him, but I think on paper it’s a pretty good game because Mackey likes to come forward and take the ball early. He keeps the ball relatively flat. , he’s got a good comeback on second serve. He’s now playing with house money so he shouldn’t put pressure on himself and just play the game he wants to play. “

Even without fans, McDonald’s will have good support at the Melbourne Park pitch on Monday. And, since neither of the Americans will face each other, they will all fight for a spot in the quarterfinals. If Pegula and Brady both won their matches, it would set up a quarter-final match between the two – which Pegula immediately embraced when told.

“It would be fun,” Pegula said. “I mean, I hope that’s what’s going on to be honest. Yeah, I think we’re probably just focused on our next game.

“Jen is awesome. I always want her to win. She’s a great person. I mean, that would be ideal, honestly, for us. [to play against each other]. I think that would be really cool and good for American tennis. “



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