By Richard Pagliaro | Thursday, November 9, 2023
Sofia Kenin saved match point at 4-5 edging Viktorija Golubic 6-3, 6-7(1), 7-5 to clinch the USA's Billie Jean King Cup win over reigning champion Switzerland.
Photo credit: Alex Pantling/Getty
A couple of match points slipped from her grip, her right arm was tightening and Sofia Kenin was reeling staring down a match point at 4-5.
Exhorting herself to amp up the energy, Kenin had no time for pity parties.
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A fired-up Kenin fought off a match point and just kept coming converting her sixth match point to subdue Swiss Viktorija Golubic 6-3, 6-7(1), 7-5 in a wild rollercoaster match at the Billie Jean King Cup.
Kenin flashed a forehand drive volley to end a two hour, 52-minute test giving the United States an insurmountable 2-0 lead over defending champion Switzerland in the best-of-three match tie at the Billie Jean King Cup Finals in Seville, Spain today.
"I'm super happy," Kenin told the media in Seville. "It meant a lot to me. Especially it's Kathy's last tie. I wanted to get the win more for her than for myself.
"Yeah, I'm really happy with the level I played. She obviously played some unbelievable tennis. I'm just super proud of myself."
Sloane Stephens and Taylor Townsend defeated Jil Teichmann and Simona Waltert, 6-1, 7-6(3) to wrap up the United States' 3-0 win over Switzerland.
It was a day of composure and comebacks for Team USA.
Former Australian Open finalist Danielle Collins rallied from 1-4 down in the tiebreaker subduing Swiss teenager Celine Naef 7-6(4), 6-1 in today’s opening match.
The 2020 Australian Open champion Kenin, who took treatment for a right forearm issue midway through the final set, was up against it facing match point at 4-5.
Rather than pull back and play it safe, Kenin pummeled deep drives into the corners sending Golubic into defensive digs before finally rattling out a slice forehand error to fight off match point in one of the most physical exchanges of the match.
Winning that rally empowered Kenin, who won the final three games, though closure was complicated. Serving for the win at 6-5, Kenin blew three more match points before finishing with a flurry of forehands to convert her sixth match point.
Top-seeded Switzerland, which was playing without Olympic gold-medal champion Belinda Bencic, who announced her pregnancy last week, lost to the Czech Republic, 3-0, in its opener.
The United States eliminated the Swiss from advancing to the semis with today’s victory, while keeping its championship hopes alive.
Continuing its quest for a record-extending 19th BJK Cup championship, Team USA faces the Czech Republic tomorrow—Tennis Channel will televise it starting at 11 a.m. Eastern time—with the winner clinching Group A and advancing to the semifinals.
The Americans are trying to send off captain Kathy Rinaldi, who will step down after this week's Finals, with her second Billie Jean King Cup championship in her six-year tenure as captain. The Billie Jean King Cup Finals are set for Sunday, at 10 a.m. Eastern time.
Canada defeated Poland today to secure the Group C title and advance to the semifinals.
Playing with kinesiology tape wrapping her right shoulder, Kenin made her move in the fifth game.
Sweeping a backhand pass down the line brought Kenin to break point. Kenin hammered away at the Golubic forehand finally drawing a netted forehand to break for 3-2. Golubic forced a forehand error to break right back in the sixth game.
Relentless return pressure from Kenin saw the American buzz returns that bite at the Swiss’ ankles. Golubic double-faulted away the third straight break and a 4-3 lead to the American.
Approaching to the Kein backhand, Golubic paid the price as a passing shot eluded her for a fourth set point. Kenin bolted a backhand return crosscourt scoring her third break to seal a one-set lead.
Stepping into the court and driving her backhand into both corners, Kenin commanded points powering out to a 3-0 second-set lead.
Digging in, Golubic saved break points with some fine defensive digs eventually holding for 1-3.
When Kenin served for it at 5-3, the Swiss showed stubborn spirit. Golubic fought off two match points—eliciting netted backhand errors on both match points–-including a resounding defensive stand, with sharp-angled backhand on the run. When Kenin slapped a swing volley into net, Golubic broke back.
The Swiss leveled after 10 games and got to 30-all on the former Australian Open champion’s serve.
Credit Kenin for staying aggressive and continuing to step into the corner. A forehand volley winner helped Kenin snap a three-game slide and edge ahead 6-5.
The 84th-ranked Golubic stood her ground holding at 15 to force a second-set tiebreaker.
A superb sweeping running forehand from the Swiss put her up 2-0 in the tiebreaker and when Kenin sailed a forehand return, Golubic was up 3-0.
Lining up her lethal one-hander, Golubic slashed a backhand strike down the line for 5-1 and wrapped up the second-set breaker when Kenin dragged a two-hander into net.
Golubic held to go up 3-2 in the decider.
On the ensuing changeover, Kenin took a medical timeout for treatment of a right forearm issue. Kenin came out swinging after treatment.
"[I told myself] just keep fighting," Kenin said. "I try my best by keeping a poker face. At times I definitely wanted to break my racquet, but obviously would never do that.
"Yeah, she played some unbelievable tennis. There is nothing much I could have done. I really gave it all. Yeah, bathroom break, just had to regroup myself, because of course had match points and you can, like, tend to go down on yourself, so I managed to pick myself back up. Kathy helped me. Everyone, Team USA helped me and I couldn't have done it without them."
Staring down match point at 4-5, Kenin lifted her level and played a courageous point of bold aggression. In one of the longest exchanges of the match, Kenin pushed Golubic corner-to-corner eventually jamming the Swiss into shoveling a slice forehand wide to save match point. Kenin cranked successive forehand winners holding to level after 10 games.
The physical strain of the prior game seemed to sap some strength from Golubic, who was bending over at the waist at times in recovery mode. Kenin continued to hammer away ripping a series of forehands to force the error and break for 6-5.
Standout Billie Jean King Cup competitor Danielle Collins opened today’s tie rallying from 1-4 down in the tiebreaker stopping Swiss teenager Celine Naef 7-6(4), 6-1.
The 29-year-old Collins kept calm and asserted her aggression fending off talented 18-year-old Naef, who impressed with some sliding splits on defense and showed point-ending explosiveness off both forehand and backhand wings.
Collins converted six of eight break points, hit seven more winners—25 to 18—and surged out to a 4-0 second-set lead staking the United States to a 1-0 lead.
Operating from a love-40 hole, Naef showed serving poise winning a long, crackling rally by forcing a framed forehand then banging an ace for the opening hold.
Stepping into the court, Collins was driving through her shots with authority. Whipping a crosscourt backhand off the sideline, Collins followed with a forehand winner breaking for 2-1 with a loud “come on!”
Showing a fast first step, Naef ran down a pair of drop shots and jabbed a forehand pass to pressure Collins’ serve in the fourth game. Slamming a backhand return winner down the line, the Swiss broke back for 2-all.
Down 1-4 in the tiebreaker, Collins caught fire and tore through six straight points to snatch a one-set lead.
Collins cranked successive forehands then ripped two deep returns to go up 5-4. Smacking a forehand winner off the baseline, Collins thought she had a set point, but the chair umpire ruled a replay after a linesperson incorrectly called the shot out.
Shaking it off, Collins laced an ace for set point. Blasting a backhand crosscourt, Collins seized a pulsating 64-minute first set pausing to blow a kiss apparently to the Swiss sideline.
Kissing off the first set, Collins embraced some of her most dynamic tennis in the second set.
The 55th-ranked Collins splashed a forehand off the sideline breaking for a 2-0 second-set lead.
Collins overcame a pair of double faults withstanding a couple of break points holding to extend her lead to 3-0.
By then, Collins was in full flow.
Streaking forward, Collins fired a forehand drive volley winner breaking again for 4-0 en route to her sixth win in seven Billie Jean King Cup singles appearances.
“We’re playing against the former champions so I think we're probably gonna have a couple of tough matches,” Collins said. “I think the coaches have done a great job preparing the game plans and the tactics for us so it’s just our job as a team to go out and execute.”