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Former world No 4 Sofia Kenin says her mindset now is to go step by step and admitted it would have ended in a disaster if she played world No 2 Aryna Sabalenka last year. Kenin, the 2020 Australian Open champion, started experiencing injury issues shortly after her first Grand Slam victory.
After struggling with injuries and poor form in the first half of the 2021 season, Kenin called it a season after Wimbledon that year. Last year, Kenin returned to action but she wasn't anywhere near her old level as she finished the season with a 10-17 win/loss record.
So far this year, Kenin is looking much better, and in the Rome second round, she stunned Sabalenka 6-4 6-4 for her first top-10 win since the 2020 Australian Open. "If you think about small goals, it's positive. If you don't see it that way, what's the point of playing? Last year when I came back I thought, like, I gotta get back and of course that was more pressure.
Complete disaster in my game and everything. My head was completely out of it," Kenin told WTA Insider.
Kenin: If I played Sabalenka in 2022, it would have been a disaster
"I cannot set those unrealistic goals. Last year I was nowhere.
If I played Sabalenka last year, it would have been a disaster. There was no chance. Now I feel like there's a chance. Against Rybakina, I was right there. After the match, her coach said 'I told Elena that if she beats you, she'll win the whole tournament.'
So I feel like I'm there to play and with this win it gives me more confidence. Once I break into the Top 100, I think it will be way easier," Kenin added. Kenin, who was ranked outside the top-200 at one point last year, is now ranked at No 134 in the world. After Rome, Kenin will return to the top-120.