Sofia Kenin Continues Dream Year, Outlasts Petra Kvitova To Reach French Open 2020 Finals

The French audience enjoyed one of the most high-voltage matches even before the finals. In the semi-final of the French Open 2020, Petra Kvitova faced Sofia Kenin on the Philippe Chatrier court. Both players looked confident as they began their journey to reach the finals of the Roland Garros for the first time. After a gruesome battle, Kenin won the match 6-4, 7-5.

The first set was dominated by Sofia Kenin

The first set rolled off with each of the players taking a game each to their name. Kenin drew the first blood as she broke Kvitova’s service to go 2-1 up. Kvitova losing her service aimed to equalize by breaking Kenin’s service. However, the American held on to her service to extend her lead.

Petra Kvitova trailed by 2 games as the scoreline read 3-1 in favor of Sofia Kenin. She served with the intention of bouncing back to the set, however, Kenin broke her service once more to lead 4-1. After losing two consecutive services, it was a do or die moment for Kvitova.

She was successful in winning a game this time by breaking the reigning Australian Open champion’s service. Reducing the lead, she held on to her service to inch closer to Kenin as the scoreline read 4-3.

Kenin had the advantage on her side and she looked to capitalize on that. She held her service to crawl one game away from taking the set. Kvitova stuck to her service to claim another game in her favor. Kenin served to take the set to her name. Although Kvitova tried to resist, it wasn’t enough to stop Kenin from taking the set 6-4.

The reigning Australian Open champion takes the match in the second set

The second set opened up in a similar manner as the first one. Both the players held on to their respective services to take a game each. The break came later as both ended up 2-2 holding to their services. However, stretching the game of Kvitova’s service into deuce, Sofia Kenin broke her service to go a game up as the scoreline read 3 games to 2.

Petra Kvitova trailed with a point and eyed breaking Kenin’s service to equalize. She put up a good fight to take the game to deuce. However, she failed to capitalize on the advantages she got hold of. Ultimately, after a handful of deuces, Kenin took the game to lead 4-2 in the second set.

The two games trail troubled Kvitova, so she decided to unleash her attacks upon the American. Without letting Kenin grab any point, Kvitova took the game as the lead trickled down to one game. Kenin still had the lead nonetheless, and she kept her calm to take the game with her service. She was a game away from getting the ticket to the French Open finals, and victory seemed inevitable.

Kvitova was under tremendous pressure as she was serving to save the set. The two-time Wimbledon champion held her nerves to take the game with her service. Kvitova was far from being intimidated by Kenin’s lead. She successfully broke Kenin’s service to equalize the game 5-5.

Kenin lost her service, however, she never parted with her fighting spirit. Kvitova had the opportunity to go ahead for the first time with her service. However, Kenin returned some lethal shots to break and go 6-5 up.

Seventh seed Petra Kvitova tried her best to edge her way into the match. However, her efforts went in vain as Kenin held on to her service to win the set 7-5 to set up the title decider with Iga Swiatek of Poland.