THE CHAMPIONSHIPS

July 6, 2023

Sofia Kenin

Press Conference

S. KENIN/W. Xinyu

6-4, 6-3

THE MODERATOR: Another good win. Tell us about the match first.

SOFIA KENIN: Yeah, I played really well. I'm super proud of myself the way I was able to handle my nerves, because I was a bit nervous at some times. I stuck to my guns, and I did a great job.

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. Can you describe your feeling? It's been a while since you have won a couple of matches at a major. What are you feeling right now?

SOFIA KENIN: Yeah, obviously I'm super excited. Just trying to prove some people wrong. Just super proud of myself with the way I really fought, you know, through to get here and keeping the momentum going.

Yeah, I'm just putting in the hard work and it's paying off.

Q. When you say prove people wrong, what were people saying that you thought was wrong?

SOFIA KENIN: No, I mean, it's not like no one like said anything, it's just like I didn't have maybe the best results, but I felt like this year, you know, I started off pretty good overall and I just had to find my way. I have been fighting it. Yeah, just hope that I can keep it going.

Q. You just used the phrase, I "had to find my way." What was preventing you from doing that for a stretch, and what allowed you to, do you think, to again find your way?

SOFIA KENIN: I mean, honestly, I just feel like I had to click. Like I said, I started off the year pretty good. Then, yeah, I mean, I feel like I needed more matches. And, you know, I knew if I put in the work and do the right things, eventually it's going to click, and I'm super happy it's clicking here.

So yeah, it's just, you know, one thing at a time and everything.

Q. Was there a particular moment or a particular match where you said to yourself, Ah, okay, I knew I could play like this again, and now I am?

SOFIA KENIN: I would say against Elena Rybakina at Indian Wells. It was a great match. Of course a little bit heartbreaking because I lost. But she got to the finals of Australian Open, so I wanted to just see where I am at that point, and I did a great job. Yeah, I just got some confidence off that match. Like you said, I believed I always could do it, but I felt like that was a little bit of a turning point for me.

Q. A lot of people play quallies and say this is a whole other tournament and this is the hardest thing I have ever had to do. You have sort of embraced playing quallies a little bit. In some ways, are you a little bit grateful that you had to play your way through quallies here and it gave you the matches coming in?

SOFIA KENIN: I mean, yeah, of course. With the result, I mean, of course. If I know every time I'm going to get to the third round at a slam I'll play quallies (smiling).

Yeah, definitely I feel like that for sure helped me. Grass wasn't always my favorite surface, and I felt like I had some really good solid wins in quallies even though they were against tough opponents. You know, I handled my nerves, everything well. Looks obviously easy, but it was tough and I feel like those matches definitely gave me confidence.

Yeah, I just try to take it one match at a time now.

Q. You have played Svitolina five times.

SOFIA KENIN: I thought four, okay. I'm one off. Right (smiling).

Q. What are your thoughts about that game and the challenges of playing her? Obviously given the fact that both of you are not necessarily the same players you were when you played her.

SOFIA KENIN: I mean, she's obviously a high-ranked player. She's obviously really good. I feel like she's playing, you know, making her comeback. She's playing really well.

It's obviously going to be a tough match. Yeah, I've got to figure out a good strategy against her. All respect to her, you know, she's had tremendous success.

Q. What about styles of play? How would you describe hers and the challenge specifically for you in facing her?

SOFIA KENIN: I mean, she gets a lot of balls back from what I remember. Yeah, I mean, she's got a big serve, big backhand. There is nothing off about her game. Just gotta get ready for a long, tough match. Yeah, we'll see.

Q. When you're talking about nerves today, are you talking about 5-1 when you're serving and the next couple games?

SOFIA KENIN: Yeah, I feel like a little bit I felt it. She obviously started picking up her game well. It was her serve, it could have went my way. Yeah, I mean, of course it's obviously expected for that to happen. When you're down they're obviously going to play freely and try to lift their games up.

In that moment it was just a matter for me to stay strong and stick to what my game plan was. Really happy I closed it out at 5-3 on my serve.

Q. You've had your dad back coaching for a while now. Is that part of things clicking, and what does he help you with?

SOFIA KENIN: Yeah, I definitely think things are clicking, like you said. Obviously with all the practices and just doing everything right. It's like one day at a time, you know, I'm working really hard and he's just been there for me and I'm really grateful for that.

Q. You have been at the top of the game, a top-ranked player, major player. Then you've struggled. Is there a difference in the way players, depending on their ranking, are treated at tournaments? Have you noticed that at all?

SOFIA KENIN: Honestly, not really. I feel like everywhere I went, everyone is treating me good, with respect. Of course I had like injury, COVID and stuff. Yeah, it was just obviously unfortunate.

Yeah, I mean, I feel like I obviously was top-10 player, so I feel like everyone knows that. Just getting my way back slowly.

Q. And you know that?

SOFIA KENIN: Well, of course, I obviously know that (smiling).

Q. You feel like you're headed that way?

SOFIA KENIN: Yes, I definitely am.

Q. You mentioned a moment ago grass not being your favorite surface. What has given you trouble in the past with grass and what this time is maybe different about it for you or that you have learned about how to have success on that surface?

SOFIA KENIN: Well, I feel like definitely my serve has gotten better. I feel like I wasn't as effective on my serve. Returns, I feel like it's super important of course on grass, and I have been returning well against like tough servers.

Yeah, and I'm just trying to add different things to my game, add some slices, just using the grass as a weapon for me.

Q. Is it something that you used to going in to play on grass have negative thoughts even before you set foot out there and maybe that's changed a little bit in your mind?

SOFIA KENIN: No. I know grass is obviously a good surface for my game. Everyone said that. It's not like I hated grass. It wasn't particularly my favorite surface. I just had to find my way to get comfortable and figure out how to incorporate my game on the grass. Yeah, so far I have obviously been doing a good job (smiling).

Q. When these days do you think about when you won your major championship? What goes through your mind when you do think about it?

SOFIA KENIN: Of course it was a very special two weeks. It was the best obviously moment like tennis-wise. I try not to think about it too much, because I might get a bit emotional.

I mean, it happened, and I definitely believe that I can get there again.

Q. What are the feelings when you do think about it these days?

SOFIA KENIN: Excitement, adrenaline, you know, because it's obviously a very special moment. I'll always remember it for the rest of my life.