Player of the day: "Fierce" Kenin into first Paris final

It's been an unusual year but Sofia Kenin is making the most of all her time spent on the court. The American squared off against Petra Kvitova on two previous occasions before meeting her in Thursday's Roland Garros semifinal, falling both times to the hard-hitting Czech.

But in her first time competing against Kvitova as a Grand Slam champion, she came through big on the pressure points to take a 6-4, 7-5 victory. Kenin is through to her second career major final and is now 16-1 at Grand Slam events this season.

It was just a couple weeks ago, Kenin took a shocking, 6-0, 6-0, first-round loss to Victoria Azarenka in Rome. Many thought the 21-year-old would be in more trouble on the dirt in Paris. While she certainly wasn't playing her best, she managed to find ways to win, edging out three tough matches that went the distance.

"Feisty. One word, very feisty. Yeah, I feel like I've improved, I'm fighting for every point. It's not easy. Definitely feisty," Kenin said when asked to describe herself on court.

This fierce and feisty attitude is perhaps what is keeping her focus on her game and not the opponents that stand across the net and their accomplishments.

"Of course, she's playing some great tennis, having great results," Kenin said of her final opponent Iga Swiatek. "Petra also has not lost a set here. I mean, that obviously doesn't mean anything if I'm playing well."

Quick Facts:

1st

She’s into her first Roland Garros final on Saturday

23

Winners she struck against Kvitova

2

Titles she has won in 2020