Sofia Kenin celebrates after winning a point during her Women's Singles semifinals match against Petra Kvitova of Czech Republic at the 2020 French Open on Oct. 8, 2020 in Paris.
Sofia Kenin made it to the French Open semis on the strength of back-to-back dominating third sets.
That wasn’t necessary this time.
No. 4 Kenin was able to dispatch No. 7 Petra Kvitova in straight sets Thursday at Roland Garros, 6-4, 7-5, to book her spot in the French Open final for the first time of her career. The 2020 Australian Open champ will go for her second career Grand Slam, hoping to become the first U.S. woman to win the French Open since Serena Williams in 2015.
It was a gritty and tactically sound performance for the 21-year-old Kenin, who continues her outstanding 2020 season. Kenin converted four of five break points against Kvitova, who was 2-12. Kenin seemed to hit all the match’s biggest points, including rallying back from 40-30 in the final game, ultimately holding and winning the match. Kenin was consistently able to hold off Kvitova, who was playing in her second French Open semifinal.
Kenin didn’t get a chance to compete at the cancelled Wimbledon Championships but has been a strong performer at all Grand Slam events in 2020. The Australian Open winner also made it to the fourth round at the US Open. As if that wasn’t enough, she was also a doubles quarterfinalist at Roland Garros along with U.S. teammate Bethanie Mattek-Sands. No player has won two women’s singles Grand Slam titles in one season since Angelique Kerber in 2016.
Youth will be served in the French Open final. Kenin will face off against 19-year-old Iga Swiatek of Poland. This will be the first meeting of two players 21 or younger in a Grand Slam final since 2008.