Emma Paton is in New York at the US Open and she's been keeping busy interviewing British No 1 Cam Norrie, American teenager Coco Gauff and hearing from Novak Djokovic ahead of his Flushing Meadows return; watch final Grand Slam of the year live on Sky Sports from Monday
Monday 28 August 2023 12:24, UK
Our reporter Emma Paton has been finding her way around Flushing Meadows as well as speaking to Cam Norrie, Coco Gauff and Novak Djokovic ahead of the opening week of the US Open.
My first week in New York was mostly spent finding my way around Flushing Meadows (and mostly getting lost!), filming content and keeping across qualifying which took place from Tuesday-Saturday. It was some warm-up act for the main event with thousands of fans descending on Queens to watch the action and also get a glimpse of Carlos Alcaraz and co. who were putting in some practice on the main courts.
We started the week with six Brits in action and were lucky enough to see Lily Miyazaki qualify for the US Open main draw for the first time in her career! What a finish she put on as well in the final round of qualifying as she recovered from a break down to win a deciding set against Viktoria Hruncakova.
She'll play Margarita Betova in the first round - it should be a cracker!
Miyazaki joins Cam Norrie, Dan Evans, Jack Draper, Katie Boulter, Jodie Burrage and of course Andy Murray in the main draw.
When I think of the US Open I often think back to that incredible night in 2012 when Murray got the better of Novak Djokovic and finally won a first Grand Slam. It's been great seeing him around Flushing Meadows this week and hearing him say he's ready and recovered from the abdominal strain that saw him pull out of recent events in Toronto and Cincinnati. Wouldn't it be great to see Murray have a good run at the scene of one of his greatest triumphs?!
One of the highlights of my week was definitely taking British No 1 Cam Norrie to the tennis centre at Central Park on his birthday (we did surprise him with a cake which was some consolation for him having media duties I suppose!) After his best finish last year at Flushing Meadows it was good to chat about his ambitions for this year's Slam.
It was also great to talk to Katie Boulter, who following her best year yet is back in New York for just the second time and with bigger goals this time round.
Tuesday looks like it could be a big day with a lot of our British players in action, I for one can't wait to watch them!
On Thursday night our Sky Sports cameras were invited to the New Balance store on Fifth Avenue where Coco Gauff was launching her latest signature shoe.
Gauff looked every bit as cool as you can imagine, she rocked up wearing a khaki two-piece and debuting the new shoes, sometimes I have to remind myself that she's still just 19 (when I grow up I definitely want to be her!). It's some achievement really when you think about it, Gauff is the first women's player to have a signature shoe and the only active player - male or female - to release one.
After that incredible breakthrough as a 15-year-old at Wimbledon in 2019, Gauff's rise to the summit has seemed almost inevitable. And after a dream few weeks that has seen her win two titles - the Cincinnati Open the biggest of her young career - is now her time? The US crowd will certainly be hoping so!
Well this was a whirlwind! There's nothing quite like media day madness to get you ready for a Grand Slam!
The rain definitely put a dampener on things early on on Friday (literally) as we couldn't film in the media garden like we would usually at the US Open, so we set our camera up in a room inside Arthur Ashe as players came and went throughout the day to have a word with us.
From speaking to Novak Djokovic about his latest enthralling rivalry, to talking renewed confidence with Iga Swiatek, we got a real taste of how the tennis elite are thinking and feeling ahead of it all getting started.
I think the overriding feeling of the day was... we all can't wait to get started!
Roll on Monday!
The US Open returns to Sky Sports on Monday, August 28 with the promise to give fans live coverage of the Grand Slam like never before.
Sky welcomes tennis back to its channels this year with the US Open being one of the most prestigious Grand Slam tournaments, adding to the existing sports portfolio and reaffirming the broadcaster as the home of live sport in the UK & Ireland.
Sky Sports' new mixed reality studio features multiple custom built LED screens, integrated light 'sabres', and an open canopy roof, making the space alive with colour and energy to reflect the vibrancy of the last Grand Slam of the year.
With integrated AR capabilities, a versatile LED floor, and a 'fourth wall', the viewer will be transported to the Arthur Ashe Stadium in a 360-degree immersive environment. Our tennis experts will take the viewer into the eyes of the players for expert Hawkeye analysis and insight as the tournament progresses.
The technology involved allows us to add an entire new dimension and will bring customers closer to the action.
Highlights of matches will be available across Sky Sports TV and our social media platforms.
Video highlights will also be available of the Sky Sports website and app, where there will also be a daily live text commentary on the Sky Sports website and app, as well as live scores, reports, analysis and features. We ask the key questions ahead of this year's tournament at Flushing Meadows...
Stream the US Open on Sky Sports with NOW for just £26 a month for 12 months. Cancel anytime.
