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PARIS, FRANCE June 5. Sofia Kenin of the United States performs her no look ball toss on her serve during her match against Jessica Pegula of the United States on Court Suzanne Lenglen during the third round of the singles competition at the 2021 French Open Tennis Tournament at Roland Garros on June 5th 2021 in Paris, France. (Photo by Tim Clayton/Corbis via Getty Images)
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PARIS, FRANCE June 5. Sofia Kenin of the United States performs her no look ball toss on her serve during her match against Jessica Pegula of the United States on Court Suzanne Lenglen during the third round of the singles competition at the 2021 French Open Tennis Tournament at Roland Garros on June 5th 2021 in Paris, France. (Photo by Tim Clayton/Corbis via Getty Images)
Sofia Kenin is one of the youngest players to win a Grand Slam title. She spent her formative years in tennis under the guidance of Venus and Serena Williams’ childhood coach Rick Macci. In a recent interview, the tennis coach reveals that after winning her first major title, the tennis star has lost her competitiveness due to off-court issues.
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The American tennis player won her first Grand Slam title at the 2020 Australian Open. She became the youngest American to achieve this feat since the 23-time Grand Slam champion, Serena Williams, who won her maiden major title as a 19-year-old in 1999.
Rick Macci spoke about the downward trajectory of Sofia Kenin’s career
The tennis coach has been a part of Kenin’s journey for a good amount of time. He has been with the 2020 Australian Open champion since she was five. Recently, the former tennis coach spoke about the top players he has trained in an interview with Firstsportz. In the interview, he talked about how Kenin’s attitude towards the sport might have changed a little, as she had other distractions.
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PARIS, FRANCE – JUNE 05: Sofia Kenin of The United States of America reacts in her Third Round match against Jessica Pegula of The United States of America during day seven of the 2021 French Open at Roland Garros on June 05, 2021 in Paris, France. (Photo by Tnani Badreddine/Quality Sport Images/Getty Images)
He said, “I think once she had all this success, okay then she gets other interests whether it be you know boyfriend or my dad’s not involved enough, you know, she lost a little the competitiveness because she has other interests. Umm this is my opinion and then she got injured, she hurt herself.” Macci believes that although she has taken her time, she is now ready to come back stronger after she deals with all her problems.
Further, he addressed that she is on her way back into the sport, and once she gets the competitiveness and commitment back into her performances, she can achieve more success.
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Macci once compared the younger versions of Sofia Kenin and Serena Williams
The tennis coach has trained both Sofia Kenin and Serena Williams during their formative years. However, last year in an interview, the Hall of Famer tennis coach compared both of them and said that the 23-year-old former Australian Open champion was far more mature at a young age than Serena.
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According to him, Serena was more like a prankster person, happy-go-lucky, goofing around a little. But Kenin had great dedication to learn geometry because of her hand-eye coordination. And not just that, even mentally, both of these players had a different approach, back when Macci was coaching them.
