In women’s tennis, surprises are actually no longer surprises in recent years. Nobody has really prevailed in the early follow-up game for the still active superstar Serena Williams. The Japanese US Open winner Naomi Osaka has already won three major titles, but is missing in Paris this year as well as the Canadian Bianca Andreescu (US Open 2019) and the Australian French Open defending champion Ashleigh Barty.
Kenin could now become the first player since the German Angelique Kerber (2016), who won two Grand Slam tournaments in the same year. Three weeks ago it looked completely different for Kenin: A knockout of the last 16 at the US Open was followed by an embarrassing 6-0-06 against Belarusian Viktoria Asarenka. “I am definitely a problem solver. I knew that it only took a few matches to find the ‘groove’ ”, says Kenin, who moved with her parents to the USA from Russia as a baby.
Swiatek with an impressive record
But the 21-year-old would do well not to underestimate the unset Swiatek. The Pole, who was over two and a half years younger, stormed in contrast to the number four seeded Kenin, who lost a total of four sets in six games, namely into the final. Swiatek only gave 23 games, the 6: 1 6: 2 over the Romanian world number two Simona Halep in the round of 16 was particularly remarkable.
“I have to find out what she’s doing. She sure has a lot of confidence. Of course I would really like to win the title, ”said Kenin. She knows Swiatek from when she was a junior: at the French Open 2016, the Pole beat Kenin.
First Grand Slam victory possible for Poland
Swiatek could become a Polish sports superstar almost instantly. With another victory, she would win the first ever Grand Slam title in individual for Poland, a feat that has never been achieved by either women or men. Agnieszka Radwanska came very close to the goal, she only lost in Wimbledon in 2012 in the final.
The 19-year-old has postponed her planned studies for two years to see how far she can get in tennis. “Well, now it’s going to be tough deciding to return to college. It looks like I can achieve great things, ”said Swiatek.
The run of success still seems unreal to the teenager. “It’s hard to believe, I’ll only realize that after the tournament. Now I’m just living this dream, ”said Swiatek. If she succeeds in the last step, she would become the youngest French Open winner since Monica Seles in 1992. If Swiatek wins, she catapults herself from 54th to 17th place in the ranking; Kenin, who is currently sixth, achieves her next coup, and becomes the new number three. In the event of a loss in the final, Swiatek and Kenin would be 24th and fourth respectively.
