THE CHAMPIONSHIPS

July 3, 2023

Sofia Kenin

Press Conference

S. KENIN/C. Gauff

6-4, 4-6, 6-2

THE MODERATOR: Welcome to the press conference for Sofia Kenin.

Sofia, what are your feelings after that match today?

SOFIA KENIN: Yeah, I'm super proud of myself. I competed really well. Yeah, I'm out of words. I'm just super proud of the way I played and the way I fought.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. How would you describe this high after a series of lows since you became a Grand Slam champion?

SOFIA KENIN: Yeah, obviously this means a lot. I feel like this year has been not necessarily lows, but I feel like it's a comeback year for me. I feel like I started off the year well, I was playing well. I had a good feeling that this year would be a good year for me.

Q. When you were playing Coco, and so many people look at No. 7 seed versus an unseeded player, they don't think this is going to be your match, what sort of satisfaction does that give you?

SOFIA KENIN: I mean, it gives me a boost to try to prove them wrong. Of course, I mean, when I was higher ranked and everything, people looked at me like I should win. I try to use that as, like, a way of -- I knew she'd be a bit more, like, nervous because more pressure's on her than me. I just tried to use everything I could this match to my advantage.

Q. How much does having played three matches in quallie help you to play on this level?

SOFIA KENIN: Yeah, obviously it helped me. I actually didn't spend too much time on court there. Obviously getting those wins nice and easily, smooth. Yeah, that of course helped me.

I knew today I had to be 100%. Yeah, I did my recovery and everything. Yeah, it helped me.

Q. The first-round match between two Americans, a Grand Slam champion and a Grand Slam runner-up, it feels there's a huge amount of depth on the American side, especially from the women. Does that inspire you to reach greater heights?

SOFIA KENIN: Yeah, I feel like women's tennis, U.S. women's tennis is, like, unbelievable right now. Everyone is playing so well. Jessie, Maddie, Coco of course, everyone else. That obviously tries to push me out there to be, like, at the top.

Yeah, I mean, I think it's just great for American tennis. I'm just super happy.

Q. Why do you think there is such a depth?

SOFIA KENIN: Well, because everyone is obviously playing well. Coco has the big serve, great hands. Jessie has amazing returns. Maddie has the serve, the great forehand.

I'm trying to come up obviously. I have serve and dropshots and then others, as well.

Q. When you are playing a quallie in Roehampton, do you feel, Why do I have to play this because I'm a former Grand Slam champion, two-time finalist? Don't you feel like you shouldn't be there that way?

SOFIA KENIN: I mean, of course, yeah, it's never the ideal position for me because I know where I was and where I should be.

If I would look at that coming into quallies, I definitely would not be sitting here. I had to put that aside. I know everyone is really tough in quallies. Everyone who is there is playing well and fighting for a spot in the main draw.

I just had to push through, battle out. Now I'm where I am right now, and I'm happy.

Q. How much does your success, when you were at your best, motivate you now that you're on a roll again to get back to that level?

SOFIA KENIN: Definitely, once I passed the quallies, now I'm just eager and hungry to get back.

Just going to take it day by day, match by match, try not to overthink things, just do everything in my control.

Q. You're very familiar with Coco's game. What do you think were the keys to today and for her to work on to maximize her game?

SOFIA KENIN: I mean, I know she's got a huge serve. The miles per hour is unbelievably tough. I had to be on my best returning game.

Yeah, I mean, honestly, I don't think she has anything, like, really negative about her game. She's got great hands. She's got a great backhand. She's aggressive, plays big. Of course, yeah, the forehand can make some errors.

Necessarily, there's nothing where I should say Coco needs to work on because she's obviously a great player. She's a rising star. She's improving. She has some great results.

Q. What was the key for you today?

SOFIA KENIN: I mean, I guess of course pick on her forehand a little bit more. Obviously I wasn't playing every ball to her forehand. I had to be aggressive, serve well, return well. I mean, when you're playing Coco, you have to be at your best.

Q. Are there any younger American players we should look out for?

SOFIA KENIN: Honestly, I have not looked through that field. I'm so used to playing with the girls my age. Of course there's a lot of rising stars, like Robin Montgomery, Ashlyn Krueger is there, Kayla Day. I know a few people. Others, of course.