SUBSCRIBE TO NEWSLETTER!
Search:
2023
2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
Latest News
Featured News
Book Reviews
Tennis News
Point / Counterpoint
Top Countdowns
The Pros
ATP Singles
ATP Doubles
WTA Singles
WTA Doubles
News
Videos
Scores
Rankings
Lucky Letcord Podcast
Shop
Pro Gear
Pickleball
Gear Sale
Tennis Now TV
Is Novak Djokovic the GOAT?
Signs Encouraging for Djokovic to Play 2023 Australi...
End of an Era: Roger Federer’s Farewell Coming at La...
Is Novak Djokovic the Grass GOAT?
The Most Unlikely Slam Finals Since the 2000s
Popular This Week
Cast Your Vote For Hall of Fame Class of 2024
Sinner on Alcaraz: He's Still Better
Watch: Elina Svitolina Pays a Surprise Visit to 20 U...
Rune: Back is Better, Targeting Turin
Alcaraz: "Beautiful Battle" Brewing with D...
Madaras Provisionally Suspended on Corruption Charge...
WTA Rankings: Dolehide Surges into Top-50, Kenin and...
Net Posts
Industry Insider
Second Serve
Add to Flipboard Magazine.
Sofia Kenin Got Sound Advice from Novak Djokovic Ahead of 2020 Australian Open Final
By
Chris Oddo
|
@TheFanChild
|
Wednesday January 6, 2020
Sofia Kenin
is a natural when it comes to handling big-time pressure on the tennis court. She just has that it factor. But even a ringer like the World No.4 is happy to take a bit of extra advice from a dominant force like
Novak Djokovic
.
Kenin told journalist Reem Abulleil during her pre-tournament press conference at Abu Dhabi that the World No.1 gave her some keen advice before last year’s Australian Open final.
Abulleil asked Kenin if there was anybody that she’d talked to about the challenges of dealing with the pressure of being a defending champion at the Australian Open and that’s when the American told of her moment last year with the Serb.
"No I haven't talked to [any other players] about what to do when it comes to this, but I definitely think I can talk to Novak,” she said. “Since, you know, we started talking and we're talking, so I think that would be helpful, since we're both defending champions and I think he would give me some great advice.”
Kenin said that Djokovic struck up a conversation with her last year in Australia when the two were practicing close to one another before last year’s finals. She wouldn’t divulge the contents of their conversation, but it was clear that it meant a lot to Kenin.
“And he did give me great advice [about] the final, because obviously we were practicing next to each other and he came up to me and was really nice about it and told me some things before the final, which you know, was special,” she said. “I obviously was crazy nervous, he told me some things which I will not disclose, since I would rather keep it secret."
Kenin says she’s always been willing to buck up to the pressure, it’s just something that she was born with.
"I've always been hard on myself,” she said. “I hated losing in practices, I would always cry when I was little. That's pressure that I kind of like established, so it's fine. But yeah, I've just gotten used to the pressure.”
But the World No.4 admits that defending a Grand Slam title is a new challenge, and it won’t be easy.
“This one's going to be a bit different, since I'm the defending champion and it's different,” she said. “Even in Paris, it's still going to be pressure, but it's not like how it is going to be in Australia, but those two are going to be the key for me to try to do the best I can to handle it and to try not to put extra pressure on myself and expectations and everything."
Kenin was named the WTA Player of the Year in 2020 after a season that saw her go 16-2 at the Grand Slams and claim two titles. She says she’s eager to carry that confidence and momentum forward as she heads into the 2021 campaign.
"I definitely feel like I'm a top player and I've proven it,” she said. “I definitely feel like there's more pressure from the outside, I'm putting a little bit more pressure, trying to have good runs at tournaments, being quite hard on myself at the Slams, but hopefully I can have a good run there, but overall confidence of course has gone up, I had a really good last year tennis-wise, so just trying to keep the momentum going."
Posted:
Latest News
Shnaider and Fruhvirtova Set All Teen Semi in Ningbo...
De Minaur Denies Match Points, Edges Murray in Beiji...
Davenport Named U.S. BJK Cup Captain
Swiatek Stops Hontama in Tight Tokyo Return
Dimitrov, Kenin Among Players Looking to End Titlele...
Zverev Subdues Safiullin for 21st Title in Chengdu
TENNISNOW.COM
News
Blogs
Vlogs
Forums
Arcade
Members
TENNIS NOW TV
Daily News Vlog
Gear Guide
Catching Up With...
Feeds
News Feed
Blog Feed
TV Feed
ON TOUR
Scores
Player Profiles
ATP Calendar
WTA Calendar
TV Listings
PARTNERS
Instructional
Find Tennis Lessons Near You
Tennis Lessons Online with Tom Avery
Fuzzy Yellow Balls - Video Tennis Lessons
Tennis Gear
Tennis Express - Racquets, Shoes, and Apparel
About Us
|
Contact Us
|
Links Directory
|
Privacy Policy