Round 3: No. 2 Sofia Kenin (USA) vs. No. 27 Ons Jabeur (TUN)
Fifth match in Louis Armstrong Stadium (Day Session)
- You could say Sofia Kenin and Ons Jabeur have an unlikely friendship. They’ve tangled on the court three times in the past two years alone, including a quarterfinal clash earlier this year at the Australian Open. The American Kenin prevailed in that match, 6-4, 6-4, en route to claiming her maiden Grand Slam title. The 21-year-old Kenin now leads their head-to-heads, 5-1, but along the way, the American and Tunisian counterparts have struck up a rapport. “As we played tournaments, we talked a bit,” Kenin reflected after her 6-4, 6-3 dismissal of Leylah Fernandez in Round 2 at the US Open. “She’s really nice. We both respect each other really well. We always joke around when we see each other. I don’t think during the match there will be any jokes. It’s going to be a bit serious. But after the match, whoever wins, we’re good friends. It’s not going to change anything.”
- Confidence-wise, the Moscow-born Kenin has been a different player since raising the trophy in Melbourne. Winning a major was big-stage validation for an athlete whose inner-belief has never really wavered, even when others weren’t buying in. “I did feel I was overlooked, I wasn't really taken seriously,” said Kenin, who is coached by her father, Alexander, and trains in Delray Beach, Fla. “I wasn’t focused on that. I'm there to play for myself. My dad is with me by my side. But winning the Aussie definitely changed my image drastically. After that, I feel like people know me and respect me. I did it for myself, but it's always nice to get back at the people who didn’t really believe in you or treat you fair.”
- Even in a pandemic-shortened season, Jabeur, seeded at a Grand Slam for the first time (No. 27), has been a model of consistency. Since the 26-year-old’s career-best showing in Melbourne, she has reached the elite eight in Doha (where she upset world No. 3 Karolina Pliskova), Lexington and Cincinnati. Now at a career-high ranking of No. 31, the trilingual Tunisian will attempt to become the first Arab in the Open era—man or woman—to reach the semifinals at a major, an opportunity she doesn’t take lightly.
- Kenin has come a long way in a short time. The 5-foot-7 player with the no-look toss is now ranked a career-best No. 4. By contrast, this time last year, she was No. 20. She made her Top-10 debut as the U.S. No. 1 in February.
- Jabeur likes to mix things up on the tennis court—an all-surface performer who is more than comfortable at the net. Look for her to throw in some spin and the occasional drop shot in an attempt to take Kenin out of her comfort zone.
