Sofia Kenin goes for her second Major of the year, while Iga Swiatek is playing in her first Slam final.
A year ago at this event, Sofia Kenin reached the second week of a Major for the first time. A victory over Serena Williams highlighted that run. She accumulated 49 match wins and three titles in 2019. In January of this year, she surprised the tennis world by capturing the Australian Open, with wins over world No.1 Ash Barty and two-time Major champion Garbine Muguruza. Kenin went on to claim another title in Lyon right before the tour shutdown, though was just 3-3 between the restart and this event. In her last match before this tournament, she was routed by Victoria Azarenka 6-0, 6-0. While Sofia hasn’t always played her best this fortnight, her grit has again been on full display, leading her to a second Slam final this year. If she wins today, she’ll easily be the WTA’s best player of this abbreviated year, with two Majors and three titles overall.
A year ago at this event, Iga Swiatek reached the second week of a Major for the time time. In the fourth round last year, she was soundly defeated by Simona Halep 6-1, 6-0 in just 45 minutes. But in a rematch this year in the same round, it was Swiatek who soundly defeated Halep 6-1, 6-2. And that’s how all six of her singles matches have played out during this fortnight, averaging less than four games lost per contest. The 19-year-old’s mix of power, guile, and poise have forced the tennis world to take notice, and have put her one match away from her first Major title. If she does so, she would do exactly what Jelena Ostapenko accomplished here three years ago: winning a Major without a previous WTA title.
Sofia Kenin (4) vs. Iga Swiatek
This is a rare case where a Major final is also the first career tour-level meeting between the combatants, though that also happened last year in Australia, when Naomi Osaka defeated Petra Kvitova. Kenin and Swiatek did play in the 2016 French Open junior event, with Iga winning in straight sets. In this tournament, Swiatek has clearly been the more impressive player. Through six rounds, she’s struck 150 winners, and only 110 unforced errors, despite playing in cool conditions on this slow surface. And she’s won 77% of points at net. To be blunt, she has decimated the competition.
Sofia Kenin’s path to this championship match has been much tougher, going three sets in four of her six matches. But in her semifinal against Petra Kvitova, she took out another player who had not dropped a set before facing her. Sofia’s returning skills were on full display against the big-serving, two-time Wimbledon champion. Kenin won four of five break points in that match, and consistently returned Kvitova’s serve deep in the court. Sofia’s court smarts are impressive, as she knows what shots to play when, and how to take control away from her opponent.
The difference today will be which player can better embrace the pressure. Kenin’s experience as a Major champion will be crucial. But how will she react to the expectation to win as a champion facing an unseeded player who has never won a title? And while nerves have not yet rattled Swiatek this fortnight, some tension seem inevitable playing in her first Slam final. However, considering how comfortably Iga has been winning, she can endure a slight dip in play and still prevail. With that in mind, today’s most likely outcome may just be the crowning of the sport’s newest teenage champion.
Other Notable Matches on Day 14:
In the men’s doubles championship, US Open champions Mate Pavic and Bruno Soares (7) vs. Kevin Krawietz and Andreas Mies (8), the defending champions of this event.
Saturday’s full schedule is here.
