Swiatek should fear Kenin’s toughness and accuracy – Eye of the Coach #30

In the latest installment of The Eye of the Coach, Patrick Mouratoglou turns his attention to Sofia Kenin – into her second Grand Slam final of the year at Roland-Garros – and highlights two essential ingredients that make her such a tough opponent.

“Her number one quality is mental toughness,” he said. “That was very obvious in the Australian Open.”

In January, the American beat the much more experienced Garbine Muguruza in the Melbourne final, 4-6, 6-2, 6-2, to lift her first Slam title – and the Frenchman is impressed with the way she shuts down any nerves.

“She’s only business when she’s on the court,” he said. “She’s not shaking. If she is shaking, she regroups.”

‘Accuracy’

He named the 21-year-old’s second great quality as accuracy.

“Very deep and very good zones all the time,” he said. “Whenever she has an opportunity she redirects the ball so well. It’s very difficult to attack her…When you move her, if you don’t really hurt her, she takes advantage of the angle and the pace you gave to her.”

All in all, he thinks that Poland’s Iga Swiatek – the unseeded teenager who has not dropped a set so far this tournament – will have a very tricky prospect in store when they walk out on to Court Philippe-Chatrier on Saturday afternoon.

He described Kenin as “extremely good on the big moments of the big matches” – and added:

“If Iga is a bit nervous and doesn’t play great on the big moments, she’ll be in trouble.”