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“I Was a Joke” – Sofia Kenin Hits Back

Published 03/23/2020, 6:22 PM EDT

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The American youngster Sofia Kenin defeated the two-time major winner Garbine Muguruza, and made her breakthrough on the WTA courts. However, while growing up the talented-girl was discouraged for having a professional career because she wasn’t as tall as the other tennis players.

The one-meter and 70 centimeters tall Kenin rationally articulated that tennis has no concerns with the height of a player. The game is about having the skills, taking the ball early, it placing on the right spot or bamboozling the opponent. 

“I think I’m over 5’5 and you have to have the skills. That’s No.1. You have to have the touch. Height doesn’t matter obviously. In the beginning, it always felt like it mattered. When Sharapova was the tallest. It matters how you see the court, there was pressure mentally. The head, it is the big part of tennis,” Sofia Kenin told The Racquet Magazine Podcast.

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On the women’s track, Muguruza was the last 6-feet tall woman to clinch to Grand Slam at Wimbledon 2017. After that, the women shorter than 6-feet have progressed to clinch the major titles.

Kenin was demoralized by everyone while learning to play tennis. But her family and herself, they never gave up on their wild American dream.

“There were a lot of people in the past, who said I was never going to make it. Look at all those players, Maria Sharapova, Serena and Venus, look how tall they are. A lot of people just talked down. Obviously, I was believing in myself. People thought I was a joke. But I didn’t give up and my family was always with me,” she added.

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The fearless Sofia Kenin

World Number four Sofia Kenin is famous for her ‘fearlessness’ characteristic which she wears on her face. For instance, in the biggest match of her career, at Australian Open 2020 finals, Kenin was one set down against Muguruza. But managed to bounce back in the second set.

Later, in the deciding set, she was 0-40 down at 2-2. During that crucial moment, she slammed four winners in the rallies which were longer than 10-shots and one ace. After those five consecutive points, the courageous and super-woman-like tennis protected her service game for a 3-2 lead. 

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“I guess, I never gave up. That’s something that I have never trained. I have worked on it, trying to improve and trying in the toughest moments. Like that 2-2 game against Muguruza,” said Kenin.

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Written by:

Mahalakshmi Murali

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Mahalakshmi Murali joined EssentiallySports in 2018 as a tennis author and has gone on to pen more than 1800 engaging articles, probing into various aspects of the sport and its illustrious players. With her expertise on the sport, Mahalakshmi has interviewed stalwarts from the sport such as Serena WIlliams’ coach Patrick Mouratoglou and Kevin Anderson’s physio, Carlos Costa. Equipped with her vast experience and a keen understanding of the sport, Mahalakshmi now co-heads the tennis department.
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