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The surprising final of the Women’s French Open is Sofia Kenin against Iga Swiatek.
The No. 4-seeded American and No. 6 in the WTA ranking is the favorite against the 19-year-old from Poland. Kenin could become a two-time Grand Slam winner with a final win on Saturday (starting at 3pm on the LIVE ticker).
Because the Moscow-born woman has already sensationally won the Australian Open this year.
In women’s tennis, surprises are no longer surprises in recent years. No one has really prevailed in the initial follow-up game around the still-active superstar Serena Williams. US Open winner Naomi Osaka has already won three major titles, but she’s not in Paris, as are Bianca Andreescu (1) and defending French Open champion Ashleigh Barty (1).
Sofia Kenin could now become the first player since Angelique Kerber (2016) to win two Grand Slam tournaments in the same year.
Three weeks ago, Kenin looked very different: a round of 16 tie at the US Open was followed by an embarrassing 6-0: 6 against Viktoria Asarenka in the second round in Rome. “I’m definitely a problem solver. I knew it would only take a few games to find a rhythm,” Kenin said.
Dangerous stranger
But the 21-year-old American, who moved with her parents to the United States from Russia as a baby, will do well not to underestimate the unsecured Swiatek. The Pole, who was more than two and a half years younger, broke into the final in contrast to Kenin (who gave up four sets in six matches). Swiatek only gave up 23 games, most notably the 6: 1.6: 2 over favorite Simona Halep (ROU) in the knockout stages.
“I have to find out what she’s doing. She must be very confident. Of course I’d really like to take the title now,” Kenin said. She has still known Swiatek since her youth: at the 2016 French Open, the Pole beat Kenin.
First Polish Grand Slam title?
Swiatek could become a Polish sports superstar almost instantly. With another victory, she would win the first individual Grand Slam title for Poland, a feat never achieved by women or men. Agnieszka Radwanska was very close to the goal, only losing at Wimbledon 2012 in the final.
The 19-year-old has postponed her planned studies for two years to see how far she can go in tennis. “Well now it’s going to be hard to decide to go back to college. It seems like I can accomplish great things,” Swiatek said.
The streak of success still seems unreal for the teenager. “It’s hard to believe, I will only realize that after the tournament. Now I’m living this dream,” Swiatek said. If she succeeds in the last step, she would become the youngest French Open winner since Monica Seles in 1992. If Swiatek wins, she catapults from 54th to 17th (24th with final), if sixth-placed Kenin achieves the next shot is the new number 3 (4th with final).
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French Open: women’s final of the Sofia Kenin and Iga Swiatek contest
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