Coach? Motivator? Kenin's dad moves, Paris match changes

[ASFN Admin]

After Sofia Kenin dropped the opening set in the French Open's fourth round Monday, her father, Alexander, who is also her coach, switched seats in the stands, plopping himself down right next to her opponent's coach. Whether the elder Kenin's move, so noticeable in the sea of empty beige seats at Court Philippe Chatrier, actually influenced the outcome can't be known with any certainty - the chair umpire did give a warning for coaching, which isn't allowed during Grand Slam matches; the 2020 Australian Open champion said her dad merely helped by ''motivating'' - things did turn around soon afterward. Never before a quarterfinalist at any tour-level clay-court tournament, Kenin reached that stage at Roland Garros by making a key adjustment, taking balls sooner and leaving Fiona Ferro less time to operate in the 21-year-old American's 2-6, 6-2, 6-1 victory over the last player from France in either singles bracket.

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