The American tied world number one Ash Barty for hard-court wins (38) in 2019 when she won three singles titles to reach a career-high world ranking of 12 th. Kenin, who had never advanced beyond the fourth round at a Grand Slam before this match, was definitely not short on confidence, however. The 26-year-old former Wimbledon and French Open winner, who was playing her fourth Grand Slam final, hit four winners more than her opponent but that came at the price of almost double the number of unforced errors. Some of the inconsistency that led to her slipping to 36th in the rankings last year resurfaced against Kenin, however, as the Spaniard blew hot and cold with her serve, getting 57% of first serves in while mixing nine aces with eight double faults. Muguruza had arrived in Melbourne suffering from a virus that forced her to quit the Hobart International, but the Spaniard was soon back to playing to her strength which helped her reach the top of the women’s rankings in 2017. On a wet and cold evening, Kenin and Muguruza produced a fitting and intense final under the closed roofs of a packed Rod Laver Arena. I’ve worked on that over the course of the years. “I feel like mental toughness has been a huge part. If you have a dream, go for it, because it can come true,” Kenin said after lifting the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup. “I just want to say my dream has officially come true. Kenin may not have the strength or build of her Spanish opponent, but what she lacked in power she made up for in willpower as she took down double Grand Slam winner Muguruza 4-6 6-2 6-2.īorn in Moscow to Russian immigrant parents, the 14 th seed became the youngest American since Serena Williams in 2002 to win a major, with Muguruza double faulting on Kenin’s second match point to end an engrossing contest of over two hours. Sofia Kenin showed grit and combativeness on the way to her maiden Grand Slam title on Saturday, as the 21-year-old American fought her way back from a set down to beat Spain’s Garbine Muguruza in the Australian Open final. I can’t wait to compete, be on the same team with her in Fed Cup.” It’s a special feeling just to be ahead of her. I’ve been following her, all the slams she’s been winning. I feel like I’m doing some great things for American tennis. I just can’t believe what happened,” said the Moscow-born Kenin, whose parents are Russian immigrants. Kenin will become the world number seven when the WTA rankings are released on Monday which will move her past idol Serena Williams as America’s top player. I was ready to take the beautiful trophy.” That’s the game I feel like changed things,” she said, adding that next on her agenda was a trip to the Cartier store in Melbourne to buy herself a ring and nail bracelet. “I can remember that game very well, yes. Kenin, who had to dig herself out of trouble on numerous occasions during the match, said she considered the fifth game of the last set to be the turning point, when she painted the sidelines with three scorching winners and produced an ace to hold her serve for 3-2 from 0-40 down. I’m coming home, you can give me the biggest hug of your life. I told her I’m not going to be able to talk to you for hours, but at least you know that I won. “She’s been really stressed at home, very superstitious. “I called her right after the match just to tell her that everything’s fine, I won, she can just relax now,” she said, before bursting into laughter. Eventually she found a way to do that, as twice Grand Slam champion Muguruza wilted in the latter stages.īut Kenin still had one more worry: her mother, who gets so nervous she finds it hard to watch her daughter play.

I have to relax now in spanish