Sofia Kenin is new Australian Open Champion, wins her 1st Grand Slam title

Speed Post News Network

Patna : World No 15 Sofia Kenin, 21, USA, beat World No 32 & winner of two Grand Slam titles Garbine Muguruza, 26, Spain, in three sets in final at Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, to win the Australian Open (AO) title on February 1, 2o20. This is her first Grand Slam title.

With it, the Australian Open has thrown up third new champion in 3 three years. Caroline Wozniacki, Denmark, had won the AO title in 2018 while World No 4 Naomi Osaka, Japan, had won it in 2019.

Moscow born Kenin, the 14th seed,  beat unseeded Muruguza 4-6, 6-2, 6-2 in final battling back from one set down. Kenin won 5 break points in the match to 2 by the Spaniard. She also won 4 games in a row in the match to 3 by Muguruza, the 2016 French and 2017 Wimbledon Champion.

The Americam won 56 service points to 46 by the Spaniard. Muguruza committed 8 double faults in the match. She, however, fired 9 Aces in the match to 2 by Kenin, who bagged 2,000 WTA rankings points. Muguruza got 1,200 points.

Kenin had stunned top seed and World No 1 Ashleigh Barty, 23, Australia, in SFs while Muguruza had upset reigning Wimbledon Champion Simona Halep, 28, Romania, in SFs.