WTA Indian Wells: Sofia Kenin in permanent crisis - 73 unforced errors in 2 sets
The American Sofia Kenin is in a serious form crisis, which the spectators at the WTA Tour 1000 tournament in Indian Wells were able to convince themselves of.
by Stefan Bergmann
last edit: Mar 12, 2022, 08:11 pm
What's the matter with Sofia Kenin? Little is left of Galnz 2020, when she won both the Australian Open and reached the final in Roland Garros. The past year of epidemics, in which the native Russian had to deal with a tough corona infection as well as a delayed foot injury, obviously brought the 23-year-old out of step.
In her first-round duel at the combined event in Indian Wells, she soberingly proved that the right-hander, who has slipped to position 130 in the world rankings, can hardly hold her own against any opponent in her current form. The American, who was given a wild card, defeated the Brazilian Beatriz Haddad Maia 3: 6, 5: 7 and produced an incredible 73 unforced errors in the two sets played.
Trend reversal not in sight
However, the game must have been horrible to watch overall, as the South American was also not stingy with "unforced errors" - the world number 61. from Sao Paulo made 42 mistakes without need. Incidentally, in the second round Haddad Maia lost 4:6, 3:6 to the young Dane Clara Tauson.
Slowly but surely, Kenin should get back on his feet, otherwise, at the latest at the clay court tournaments in Europe, arduous qualification mills threaten, through which the former world number 4. will have to torment. In 2022, the five-time tournament winner has only won two matches at the WTA Tour 500 event in Adelaide at the beginning of January. Since then, Kenin and her fans have been waiting for a sense of achievement.