MELBOURNE: Sofia Kenin admitted she was nonetheless struggling to manage her nerves forward of her Australian Open title defence however stated a leg harm that affected her in a warm-up defeat had cleared up.
The American was diminished to tears on Friday after a 6-2 6-2 loss to Garbine Muguruza in a rematch of final 12 months’s Australian Open last through the Yarra Valley Traditional.
Foruth seed Kenin conceded she nonetheless had some work to do on the psychological facet of her recreation, significantly as she is conscious she may have a goal on her again after her Grand Slam breakthrough at Melbourne Park final 12 months.
“Clearly I might like to defend it,” the 22-year-old instructed reporters.
“Mentally, I’ve obtained to deal with my feelings and perceive whoever I’m going to play, they’re clearly going to play with no strain, which is predicted.
“They’re in all probability going to play higher in opposition to me, so I’ve to one way or the other attempt to deal with my nerves and attempt to follow my recreation plan and hope that I win.”
Whereas she was eager to not take something away from a powerful efficiency by Muguruza in Friday’s match, Kenin stated she had been hampered by a groin drawback.
“It was utterly sore,” she stated. “It sort of obtained higher, but it surely wasn’t the very best.
“It’s higher (now), which I don’t perceive. Clearly, I’m not going to complain about that. I would like it to be higher for AO.”
Kenin, who additionally reached the French Open last final 12 months, thought the 2 weeks of quarantine in Melbourne earlier than the match may need contributed to a rash of accidents within the warm-up occasions.
“Clearly you may see that being in a room for 2 weeks, not enjoying, practising, it’s not the identical as enjoying a match clearly,” she added.
“It’s clearly totally different however everybody’s clearly going to be prepared for Australian Open, for positive. I really feel like everybody’s simply hungry to play and at last get on the court docket.”
Kenin performs wild card Maddison Inglis within the opening spherical on Monday or Tuesday and stated she was assured she wouldn’t nonetheless be carrying the burden of the Muguruza defeat.
“I’m not going to enter the match pondering that I misplaced. I’m simply going to enter the match pondering I performed my finest recreation, hopefully,” she stated.
“I instructed my dad this morning, I’d slightly lose to Garbine yesterday and win Australian Open than lose Australian Open and win.”
(Enhancing by Peter Rutherford)