Sofia Kenin, the former Australian Open champion, is making a stunning comeback at this year’s Wimbledon tournament. After three and a half years since her historic victory in Melbourne, Kenin appears to be rediscovering her form and showing glimpses of her fighting spirit.
Kenin’s emotional reaction to winning the Australian Open at the age of 21 captured the attention of the tennis world. Despite her success, she admits that reflecting on that triumph brings up mixed emotions, as she strives to recreate similar highs in her career.
In recent years, Kenin’s path to success seemed increasingly remote. However, in the first week of Wimbledon, she has showcased her skills and resilience, marking a potential resurgence in her career. She defeated Coco Gauff in the first round and followed it up with a convincing win against Xinyu Wang, securing her spot in the tournament’s third round.
Kenin acknowledges the doubts and skeptics surrounding her comeback. Motivated by those who question her ability to reclaim her former glory, she is determined to prove them wrong. She recognizes that she still has a long way to go but remains hopeful and committed to fighting her way back to the top.
To continue her journey, Kenin must face Elina Svitolina, currently ranked 76th in the world, in the third round. Kenin’s ranking plummeted to 128th before Wimbledon, and she had to win three matches in the qualifying rounds to secure her place in the main draw. Despite these challenges, Kenin approached the task with determination, humility, and a sense of humor.
Kenin’s struggles over the past three years have been arduous. She endured injuries, an emergency appendectomy, a public split with her father as her coach, and even contracted the coronavirus. A year ago, her ranking had plummeted to 426th, and it was only in recent months that she managed to climb back up the rankings.
However, Kenin’s reunion with her father as her coach, coupled with her hard work and determination, has been instrumental in her recent success. She credits her father for being there for her and believes that their partnership is clicking once again.
On the court, Kenin displayed her dominance against Wang with her deft slice and improved serve. She used her competitive zeal to her advantage, just as she did against Gauff. Kenin’s victory against Wang marks only the fourth time this year that she has won two matches in a row, reflecting her inconsistent performance.
Nonetheless, Kenin attributes a loss against Elena Rybakina at Indian Wells as a turning point in her career. That defeat helped her gain confidence and measure her progress against top-ranked players. Since then, she has shown promising improvements in her game, including her impressive run in the Wimbledon qualifying rounds.
Although Kenin still has a long way to go and faces challenges in terms of consistency and ranking, her return to form at Wimbledon marks a significant milestone. She is thrilled that her hard work is paying off and that she is once again in the fight.
As Kenin continues her Wimbledon campaign, the tennis world will eagerly watch to see if she can sustain her momentum and put up a strong performance.