Sofia Kenin: Comeback was tough but I'm super happy right now
Sofia Kenin recently divulged that she has been feeling mentally good since returning to tour, while admitting that her comeback journey has been tough.
Having enjoyed a stunning season in 2020, Kenin was regarded as one of the top talents in American tennis. However, the 23-year-old, hampered by several injuries, has slowly started to fade ever since.
With an eye for a proper restart to her career, Kenin commenced her 2023 campaign. Regardless of her underwhelming results so far this season, the American has stated that she is mentally well enough to work her way through.
In a conversation with the Tennis Channel after her first-round match at the Charleston Open on Tuesday (April 4), Kenin disclosed that it was tough to sit idle during recovery and just watch her fellow players compete in tournaments.
"It's tough when you're just on the couch and you got a Grade-3 tear in the ankles. So, watching everyone compete, ofcourse you wanna be there and coming back was obviously tough," she said.
However, Kenin is happy with how things have shaped up currently.
"But I was just used to playing around. Not really training obviously. So, it was tough, but I'm really good and I'm super happy," she added.
Further elaborating on her recovery days, the former Australian Open champion claimed that her loved ones played a huge role in getting her through.
"It was obviously unfortunate [the injury], but managed to somehow have the people around me, my family, mom, dad, grandma and sisters. Dogs, I obviously count them and my friends supporting me. So, definitely you needed that and there were some bad day," Kenin asserted.
Sofia Kenin is "super happy" and "confident" about her current game
With a win-loss tally of 9-8, Sofia Kenin's start to the new season looks pretty average. However, the American is "super happy" and confident about her game.
Kenin claimed that she cannot complain about how her return to the tour has panned out so far, adding that everything's been working out well with the aid of her coach and dad.
"I feel like I'm playing really good and healthy no. 1 which is good and I've got dad and I've got [Michael] Joyce (coach). So, I'm super happy and I feel confident on court trying to develop different aspects of my game. And yeah, it's been working out. So far, so good, can't complain," she stated.
With a win over Aliaksandra Sasnovich in the Charleston Open first round, Sofia Kenin will now face Irina-Camelia Begu on Wednesday.