Kenin vs Collins French Open tennis preview, head-to-head and predictions

Sofia Kenin must beat Danielle Collins for the first time in four attempts if she is to reach the semifinals of the French Open.

Kenin vs Collins is live from Roland Garros on Wednesday 7 October, 1pm local/12pm BST

Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin wasn’t a popular pick for French Open champion, but the American is one of just two seeded players and major champions remaining in the draw as the quarterfinals continue on Wednesday.

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Kenin has stayed steady so far, but she’s 0-3 vs quarterfinal opponent Danielle Collins, who has ousted Garbine Muguruza and Ons Jabeur from the French Open already – which American will make her second Grand Slam semifinal?

Read on for our preview, predictions and live streaming information.

How to watch Kenin vs Collins live

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Kenin vs Collins: Head-to-head

Danielle Collins leads the head-to-head with Sofia Kenin 3-0. All three wins have come on hard courts, in straight sets: Two in 2017 at ITF events, and one in January 2020 at the WTA Premier in Adelaide which Collins won 6-3, 6-1.

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Sofia Kenin, despite being seeded fourth and the Australian Open champion, has been quite under the radar at this tournament – a position which seems to have suited her just fine. Double-bagelled by Victoria Azarenka in Rome in her only warm-up event on clay, Kenin has quietly played herself into form with three-set wins over Liudmilla Samsonova and Ana Bogdan, dropped just two games against Irina Bara in the third round and then, playing on Court Philippe-Chatrier and facing a partisan crowd and in-form opponent, came back from a set down to beat Fiona Ferro 2-6, 6-2, 6-1.

The way that Kenin ramped up the aggression after being outplayed by Ferro in the first set, and the way that she psychologically responded to the antagonism of the crowd despite clearly finding it upsetting (as her post-match reaction showed), reminded one of just how impressive her Australian Open victory was, and has earned her an opportunity to make just the second Grand Slam semifinal of her career despite being, as recently as last year, not that comfortable on clay.

Danielle Collins (©PHOTOPQR/LE PARISIEN/Arnaud Journois)

Unfortunately for Kenin, however, she’s 0-3 against her quarterfinal opponent, who was the last woman to beat Kenin before she won the Australian Open. Danielle Collins is certainly not a player many predicted they would see in the quarterfinals – at WTA Tour level she was 12-9 on clay coming into the French Open – but she has teamed up with recently retired ATP Tour pro (and clay specialist) Nicolas Almagro and the partnership certainly seems to be bearing fruit. Collins came back from 0-3 down in the third to beat Garbine Muguruza – one of the big favourites for the title – in a late-night thriller on Court Philippe-Chatrier, then repeated the feat against Ons Jabeur in a match delayed by a day due to rain on Tuesday.

Collins used to be a retriever, but she’s really transformed herself over the past few years into a player capable of dictating with her forehand, and her aggressive attitude has been notable – coupled with dogged defense – in her wins over Muguruza and Jabeur. It’s not difficult to see how she’s been able to beat Kenin in the past – running her out wide with that forehand, then finishing the point into the open court: If there’s one thing that this tournament has reminded us of, it’s that well-executed offense will always beat well-executed defense. Kenin isn’t going to overpower Collins, and I don’t think Collins is going to blink in the lights. This could be yet another upset, by seeding if not by history.

Kenin vs Collins: Prediction