2020 Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin unloaded on the Rome officials and crowd during her opening match at Foro Italico after she was left stunned that shere was no stoppage of play despite rain falling.
Playing against Italy’s Lucia Bronzetti, Kenin wanted the match stopped midway through the first set because the rain was falling down and she thought it was too slippery and risky to play. But after the chair umpire told Kenin that the conditions were “playable,” the supervisor also came to the court – but only to side with the umpire.
That’s when Kenin cussed out the Rome officials.
“F—— dumb a– people, literally,” Kenin shouted.
The crowd didn’t take well Kenin’s request to stop the play and her reaction after being told to resume play as the fans started booing the American after the next point was played. That’s when Kenin cussed out the Rome crowd with a “F you.”
Funnily, Kenin managed to win that sixth game and play stopped a couple of points later.
Sonya Kenin cussing out the officials in Rome for making her play after she claimed the court was too wet to be safe.
They stopped play a couple points later due to the rain. pic.twitter.com/paxCd6iMEk
— 🎾nebby🎾 (@1gamesetmatch) May 8, 2024
Kenin then went on to win the next couple of games, beat Bronzetti in two sets
When the incident happened, Bronzetti was 3-2 up on Kenin and it was a deuce on the Italian’s serve. When the play resumed, Kenin won the next two points and to get the break back and tie the first set to three games apiece.
After serving out the seventh game, Kenin also broke Bronzetti again in the eighth game for a 5-3 lead and then closed out the opener on her serve in the following game.
At the start of the second set, Kenin prolonged her run to five games won in a row after breaking Bronzetti in the opening game. Down by a set and a break, Bronzetti managed to break back Kenin instantly in the second game and end the American’s run.
However, Kenin remained unfazed and still pretty routinely sealed a two-set win after claiming back-to-back breaks in the fifth and seventh games.
After overcoming Bronzetti, Kenin also defeated Ons Jabeur 7-5 2-6 6-4 in the Rome second round.