“I’m just putting in the hard work and it’s paying off” – Kenin on her success at Wimbledon 2023

Three days ago, Sofia Kenin executed the first major upset of Wimbledon 2023, sending Coco Gauff packing in the first round on Monday.

Now, she’s backed up her win with another victory, this time over China’s Xinyu Wang. While defeating the No 73 player in the world is no groundbreaking feat, Kenin is still thrilled about her ability to perform and the highest level again.

And she’s quietly taking some delight in proving her critics wrong, too.

“Just trying to prove some people wrong” – Kenin on her Wimbledon motivation

It’s been an up and down three years for Sofia Kenin, ever since her breakthrough year in 2020 which saw her win the Australian Open and come within one match of the same at Roland-Garros.

Now ranked at No 128 in the world, she’s thoroughly enjoying her current winning streak at Wimbledon 2023.

“Obviously I’m super excited,” Kenin said after the match against Wang. “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. I’m just putting in the hard work and it’s paying off.

“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, I started off pretty good overall and I just had to find my way.

“I have been fighting it. Just hope that I can keep it going.”

Kenin proud of nerve management against Wu

Despite the straight forward 6-4, 6-3 scoreline of her win over Xinyu Wu, Sofia Kenin had attributed much of her success to her ability to manage nerves at crucial moments in the match.

“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,” explained Kenin.

“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.

“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.”

Sixth encounter with Svitolina up next for Kenin

Waiting for Sofia Kenin in the third round of Wimbledon 2023 is a familiar match up in the form of Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina.

The Ukrainian is also on a journey to climb back up the rankings after returning from maternity leave recently. She’ll be confident in her ability to continue doing so against Kenin, with a 3-2 lead over the American in the pair’s head-to-head.

Kenin has spoken realistically about what it will take for her to level the score with Svitolina in the third round:

“She’s obviously a high-ranked player. She’s obviously really good. 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. She gets a lot of balls back from what I remember, big serve, big backhand. There is nothing off about her game.

“Just gotta get ready for a long, tough match.”

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