Kenin Advances to First French Open Quarterfinal

No. 4 seed and reigning Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin rallied from a set down to seal a spot in the quarterfinals of the French Open on Monday with a 2-6, 6-2, 6-1 victory over in-form Frenchwoman Fiona Ferro on Court Philippe-Chatrier. 

From 2-0 up in the opener, Kenin dropped six straight games to fall behind by a set, but went on to secure victory in one hour and 44 minutes. 

"I was just super proud of myself. There was a lot of emotions. I was just super happy that I won," Kenin said after the match. "I'm super happy that I'm in the quarters. 

"I usually don't play really good on clay. In the past in juniors, I really hated the clay. Last year I started to like it for the first time. I'm just super proud of myself. I feel like I'm playing really well."

Playing the last Frenchwoman remaining, as well as the champion of the WTA's clay-court event in Palermo, Italy, in August, Kenin totaled 39 winners and broke serve seven times overall. In victory, the American was able to hold off both inspired play from her opponent and a partisan French crowd, the latter of which she said fueled her comeback.

"I tried to use that as motivation. Obviously, I was not really too happy with how it was going. I knew it's expected. I understand why. I'm playing a French player, and she's had a great run here. They obviously wanted her to win," Kenin said of the 1,000 fans allowed on-site in Paris daily, in accordance with local ordinances. 

"I just try to tell myself one point at a time. Eventually, it's going to change if I just keep playing. I definitely used the crowd as motivation because I really wanted to win. First of all, I did it for myself. It's always nice to get the win, obviously."

The American, whose Grand Slam breakthrough came in Paris last spring when she upset Serena Williams to reach the fourth round, has been taken the distance in three of her four matches so far this fortnight, saying that success on the red clay has been a bit of a learning curve.

"I feel like last year I started to really like the clay after my great run. I played Serena. It was obviously a lot of emotions as well there. After that I started to really like the clay," Kenin said. "I knew what to expect. It's a lot of sliding, it's very physical. I just tried to adjust my game to it. I feel like as each match went, I'm more and more comfortable on the clay.

"I'm super proud to be in the quarterfinals. This used to be a surface that I really don't like. Now, it's obviously a surface that I really enjoy playing on.

"I really hope I can keep playing the way I'm playing or better. I'm deep in the tournament. I feel like I have to step up my game because obviously I'm going to play tough opponents. We're all playing well."

Up next, Kenin will face either No. 30 seed Ons Jabeur of Tunisia or compatriot Danielle Collins, who will play first on Chatrier on Tuesday. Scheduled for the second stadium, Court Suzanne-Lenglen, late in the day on Monday, the final fourth-round match was postponed due to rain. Kenin has played Jabeur at both previous Grand Slams in 2020, winning in the quarterfinals of the Australian Open and the third round of the US Open, both in straight sets. She leads their overall head-to-head, 5-1.

"Jabeur, I've played quite a bit. I've beaten her all the time except one time... I played her last time at US Open. It was a really tough match," Kenin assessed. "She's obviously playing some great tennis. She's a really tough player to play. She's got a lot of variety. She's very tricky. It's going to be an interesting match.

"Against Danielle, I played her in Adelaide [in January]. She played a good match. I didn't feel like I could get my rhythm. I lost, but we'll see how it's going to go. She's obviously playing well. She's aggressive. I'll just see what's going to happen."

The 21-year-old Kenin will also be back on the terre battue on Tuesday as she partners Bethanie Mattek-Sands in the doubles quarterfinals against No.4 seeds Barbora Krejcikova and Katerina Siniakova of the Czech Republic.