Tennis fans may forget that Coco Gauff is not the only active American female player on the WTA Tour with a Grand Slam title. 25-year-old Sofia Kenin is the 2020 Australian Open champion defeating then World No. 1 Ashleigh Barty in the semifinals and Garbine Muguruza in the final.
Kenin won her only Grand Slam right before the world shut down for COVID-19. She followed up that win with a victory at the Lyon Open in in March 2020 but has not won a title since. She won five career singles title wins from January 2019 to March 2020.
Kenin has struggled with injuries, form, and confidence issues. She is finishing the tennis season on a strong note at the Tokyo Open competing in singles and doubles with partner Bethanie Mattek-Sands.
Headed to the final đź‘Ź@SofiaKenin continues her fabulous week in Tokyo with a straight-sets win over Boulter!#TorayPPO2024 pic.twitter.com/9NqSmGxc2p
— wta (@WTA) October 26, 2024
In the doubles semifinal, Kenin and Mattek-Sands were forced to retire due to an upper leg injury for Kenin. Kenin tried to continue with ice and a bandage around the leg but ultimately could not. Her singles final is hours away against the reigning Olympic champion Qinwen Zheng. Kenin plans to do everything she can to play.
Can She Play?
The most immediate question is whether Kenin will be physically capable of playing. Zheng is playing outstanding tennis and is in top form so she will be a tough opponent.
Kenin wants to play and give herself a chance to pick up a singles title for the first time in four and a half years. An upper leg injury could affect her mobility around the court.
Kenin’s Doubles Success Has Been Massive
Doubles has given Kenin unexpected success. With Mattek-Sands, she won three of her four titles. Two wins came in 2024 at the Abu Dhabi Open in February and the Miami Open in March.
TennisChat 🎾: Congrats to Bethanie Mattek-Sands & Sofia Kenin on their 2nd doubles title of the season. First at the Abu Dhabi event in February & now at the Miami Open. Great stuff! Looks like a plan! pic.twitter.com/xrXKfFP1eH
— Gale Moorman (@MOORMANGIRL) April 2, 2024
Hardcourts Are Where She Excels
Her success has been almost exclusively on hardcourts, the playing surface for the Tokyo Open. She has one grass-court singles title, and she was the 2020 French Open finalist to Iga Swiatek when the tournament was moved from May to October because of COVID-19.
Kenin has repeatedly proven she is a fighter who has dealt with personal and professional adversity. Fans hope that she can play in the Tokyo Open final against Zheng. It is close to the end of the season so she will undoubtedly give it everything she has.
