MUBADALA CITI DC OPEN

July 22, 2025

Sofia Kenin

Quick Quotes

S. KENIN/H. Baptiste

6-3, 7-6

Q. How does it feel to get through that in straights? Hot out there, obviously.

SOFIA KENIN: Oh, yeah, definitely. I'm very happy. Hailey was obviously the favorite. She always does really good at this tournament. I knew I had to lock in and mentally prepare that the crowd was going to be more on her side, but I think they were very respectful today. (Indiscernible) which is understandable, but they were nice, so I'm really happy.

Q. What did you want to focus on? She's kind of raised her level and had a really nice year.

SOFIA KENIN: Yeah. I knew coming into that she's had a really good year. I knew it was going to be a really tough match, but then of course the serve, I knew I had to serve well, because I know with her serve, it's kind of tough to play if you don't have the best serve from my side.

Serve percentages were high. (Indiscernible) high percentages. I feel like as soon as I get in the rally, I feel there is a bigger chance I can win. So I just tried to keep myself in the rally and be ready for anything. She's got a big serve, touch tennis coming into the net, so very tough player.

Q. I talked to you in Charleston about the aces...

SOFIA KENIN: Yeah.

Q. I'm curious for you, have you worked on that the last few months?

SOFIA KENIN: A little. I mean (indiscernible). I mean, I feel like today Hailey has a big serve so I expected to get aced, but I wasn't aced as much as I thought I would.

Q. How do you work on that?

SOFIA KENIN: Just having my hitter just literally bomb serves literally fast and then just try to...

Q. Reaction time?

SOFIA KENIN: Reaction time, yeah.

Q. To get a break in the manner in which you did which she's serving for the second set, breaks are always big, but at that point, like, what is that like as far as given what she had in front of her and then for you to be that close to winning the match to stay in the tournament?

SOFIA KENIN: Yeah, that 3-All game it went her way, and I knew she was going to serve it out. Luckily I closed it out on my serve. And then 5-4, I knew it was going to be tough, but once I started -- I knew the closer it gets, hopefully it will be some nerves from her side, shaky, and luckily I was able to win after a few breakpoints.

Yeah, I just knew I had to lock in with her serve. I knew anything can go. If I would have lost the second, I would have been fighting in the third set, but happy to get through in two sets.

Q. Is your mentality any different, like, I'm just trying to get some matches under my belt? Does that change for you at all in terms of how you approach the tournament?

SOFIA KENIN: No, I'm coming off after grass, this is the first match on hard after a while. Not many expectations. I never really do amazing in Washington. I'm, like, okay, if I win the match, it's already positive. I'll take that confidence.

But I obviously wanted to do well, and I believe I can. I feel that mentally I have a better start, and mentally this year coming into this tournament than last year, so, I mean, it all depends on mental state.

Q. Your ranking has gotten back up, though?

SOFIA KENIN: Yes, thank God.

Q. What do you think the key would be to winning more, back towards where you were before?

SOFIA KENIN: Yeah, definitely, I'm very happy with the ranking. It definitely gives me a lot of room to breathe, knowing I'm seeded, good chances I can be deeper in the tournaments.

Yeah, confidence is the key to the matches. I felt like I needed to grind through that, prove to myself again that I should be there and belong there. I'm really happy and just proud of myself.

Q. Did you have doubts you would get back to this level?

SOFIA KENIN: I didn't have doubts, but it's not easy coming from 500, you have to play tournaments like the challengers. Obviously mentally it's not the most easy, but I tried to get through that the quicker the better, and luckily I did. I don't want to go back there again, so I prefer like this.

Q. (Question about frame of mind.)

SOFIA KENIN: Yeah, definitely. I definitely don't want to get back there, going back where I was. But I do believe if I play like this (indiscernible). I'm not trying to sound cocky or anything, but I think I can stay where I am or higher, and it's a good position.

You know, I'm playing this tournament. Obviously I love the treatment we're getting. There are perks being here.

Q. Familiar opponent up next. Don't have to go too far back in history. Thoughts on facing Taylor again?

SOFIA KENIN: Yeah, I feel like they (indiscernible). But, yeah, she's had a good year overall obviously. I mean, Wimbledon, I was locked in. I came in knowing that she's tough, she's got great hands. Don't really know what to expect.

And here she's had some good matches. I would say maybe she's a bit more comfortable on the hard than me going in, but I have confidence and I'll just do my best and see.

I mean, I have all respect to her, I think she's doing great. And by the way, Taylor, I love your clothing line. I really like hers. It's a really nice style. I think it's great.

Q. What do you think about Taylor's clothes?

SOFIA KENIN: I mean, it's nice. Her crop top today I think is all black. I like her style. I knew she has good style. She designed it. I'm happy for her. (Indiscernible.)