Sofia Kenin‘s prospects coming into the French Open appeared as bleak because the climate at a moist and chilly Roland Garros, following a 6-Zero, 6-Zero loss in her solely tune-up occasion on clay. As a substitute, her crushing loss to Victoria Azarenka in Rome, a “catastrophe” Kenin termed it, gave the American an issue to resolve — a problem the 21-year-old embraces greater than most.
“Positively, I am an issue solver. You clearly should count on powerful conditions. It is a tennis match. You realize your opponent desires to win. They wish to discover your weak spot. In fact, you have to be good,” Kenin said after her 6-4, 7-5 semi-final win over Petra Kvitova.
“I clearly prefer it to not get too loopy with the scoreline and every little thing. I favor to be going simple, however clearly can’t count on that. I am in a semi-final. I am not going to have a 6-Zero, 6-Zero win, particularly in opposition to Petra.”
Whereas Kenin’s weird, no-look service motion is a puzzle to many, she discovered it troublesome to impose herself on clay till a third-round win over Serena Williams final 12 months in Paris gave her cause to consider.
“I didn’t like clay in any respect. Actually, like in juniors, clay was not my strongest floor. I felt underpowered. I could not management the factors. I did not have nice motion. It was a little bit of a wrestle for me,” mentioned Kenin.
“After enjoying in opposition to Serena, it gave me a lift in confidence.”
Teenage phenomenon Coco Gauff grabbed the highlight at Wimbledon and the US Open in 2019, however Kenin was voted the WTA’s most improved participant after profitable three titles and climbing into the highest 20.
Earlier than the Australian Open in January, Kenin had solely reached the second week at a serious as soon as. Nonetheless, she emerged from the shadows in Melbourne — beating the much-touted Gauff, world primary Ashleigh Barty and double Grand Slam champion Garbine Muguruza to seize the title.
“Kenin was just like the fifth- or sixth-best American junior of her technology,” mentioned 18-time Grand Slam singles champion Chris Evert, commentating for the Tennis Channel.
“She was sort of a pusher with no weapons. And now she is a Slam champion with an opportunity to win one other. That tells you a large number about her.”
– “I hate shedding” –
Kenin’s feistiness has enabled her to battle by means of 4 three-setters in 5 matches at Roland Garros earlier than taking down Kvitova, her first seeded opponent.
The Czech hadn’t dropped a set in reaching the final 4, very similar to Iga Swiatek, who awaits Kenin in Saturday’s ultimate.
The Polish teenager has conceded solely 23 video games in six rounds and drawn comparisons to world primary Novak Djokovic, who’s making an attempt to develop into the primary man in half a century to win all 4 Slams twice.
Swiatek, 19, is aiming to develop into her nation’s first Grand Slam singles champion and has been tipped to develop into a star of the long run.
“I believe she is there to be a Grand Slam champion, a number of occasions. I genuinely consider that Iga will be the one,” Mats Wilander, a winner of three French Opens, advised Eurosport.
“Her fundamental sport jogs my memory of Novak Djokovic,” he added. “She does not have any weaknesses in any respect, not one. I believe she goes to be one to look out for within the subsequent few years – possibly the one.”
Swiatek is bidding to develop into the primary lady to hoist the Coupe Suzanne Lenglen with out shedding a set since Justine Henin in 2007, however standing in her approach is Kenin, a participant who thrives on tackling the most important obstacles.
Promoted
“Shedding I actually hate and I really like profitable. I attempt to do every little thing I can to win,” mentioned Kenin, as she makes an attempt so as to add one other chapter to a story of success.
“I suppose a bit is I received a Grand Slam, and now I am within the ultimate of Roland Garros, which is basically particular. Hopefully there could be one other piece to jot down that I received Roland Garros.”
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