Recently, the American tennis player Sofia Kenin defeated her compatriot Sloane Stephens in straight sets at Indian Wells. The match was touted as a showdown between the two most recent American women to win a Grand Slam, but it failed to live up to the hype as Kenin dominated from start to finish. However, something was definitely driving Kenin to clinch victory in this match- and it wasn’t sheer motivation.

After going down a break early in the first set, Kenin won five of the next seven games to take the set and eventually the match. In a post-match interview, Kenin admitted that revenge was the main driving factor in her victory, referring to her loss to Stephens in Toronto last year.

Sofia Kenin knows what she wants and how to get it

The 24-year-old Kenin had struggled in recent tournaments, losing five of her past six matches and falling to No. 149 in the world rankings. She only received a wild card invite to play at Indian Wells.

On the other hand, Stephens, the 2017 US Open champion, was ranked much higher at No. 48 in the world and was the favorite to win the match. However, Kenin came prepared and played with intensity to earn the victory.

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In the post-match interview, reported by the Desert Sun, Kenin revealed that she was motivated by revenge, as she had lost to Stephens last year in Toronto. “I had a great game plan and I knew what I wanted to do,” said Kenin. “And I guess revenge was also No. 1 on my mind. It’s nice to get it.”

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Kenin’s win over Stephens is another step forward in her journey to regain her form after an injury that prevented her from achieving a signature performance since her victory at the 2020 Australian Open.

Despite her recent struggles, Kenin remains confident in her abilities and is determined to continue working hard to improve her game. “I’m going to do my best,” said Kenin. “I feel like if I’m going to play like this or better, I have a good chance.”

Kenin’s victory at Indian Wells could be the turning point in her season as she looks to climb up the rankings and make a statement in the tennis world. With her motivation and determination to succeed, the future looks bright for the young American player.

Kenin and Stephens don’t enjoy a great friendship, as it seems

The match-winning point was captured in a video clip by the official WTA page on Twitter, which also showed the tense exchange between the two players at the net. Stephens offered a brief handshake to Kenin, who seemed to give her a cold look before walking away.

Tennis fans took to social media to express their reactions to the salty exchange, with many speculating about the reason behind the apparent tension between the two players. Some fans speculated that it could be due to the competitive nature of the sport, while others wondered if there was a personal history between the two players.

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