MELBOURNE: America’s Sofia Kenin shocked the pundits and her opponent alike by defeating the two-time champion Garbine Muguruza to win her first-ever Grand Slam Title in Women’s singles category at the Australian Open 2020.
The 21-year-old recovered from an initial set drop and managed to upset Muguruza 4-6, 6-2, 6-2 in a spectacular battle of wits that lasted for 2 hours and 03 minutes at the Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne.
Kenin who entered the tournament as the 14th seeded player has jumped up 7 points after her maiden Grand Slam victory and also became the youngest player in 12 years to lift a major trophy.
Spain’s Muguruza had begun the final game on a strong note by clinching the first set 4-6 but could not manage to keep up the form in later sets and gradually ceded points.
The American triumphed in a tournament full of surprises and sudden exits as all top-seeded players were forced to exit in the earlier rounds. Kenin herself defeated world number one Ash Barty in the semi-finals after earlier routing 15-year-old tennis prodigy CoCo Gauff.
An ecstatic Kenin headed straight for her father cum coach after the record-making victory and was visibly emotional. She called the feat ‘a dream come true’ and thanks to her fans for believing in her.
