By Richard Pagliaro | Saturday, February 1, 2020
A courageous Sofia Kenin staged a furious comeback conquering former No. 1 Garbine Muguruza 4-6, 6-2, 6-2 in a dramatic Australian Open final to claim her first career Grand Slam championship.
Photo credit: Mark Peterson/Corleve
Two hours, two minutes of tenacity and bold strikes brought Sofia Kenin to the brink of the dream.
When Garbine Muguruza sailed a double fault, the 21-year-old Kenin tossed her star-spangled Babolat racquet aside realizing her audacious American dream with disbelief.
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A courageous Kenin staged a furious comeback conquering two-time Grand Slam champion Muguruza 4-6, 6-2, 6-2 in tonight's dramatic Australian Open final to capture her first career Grand Slam championship.
Facing a dire triple break point deficit at 2-all in the deciding set, a fearless Kenin brought the fireworks erupting for five straight winners to mute Mugurza's threat igniting a four-game tear to close with a fantastic flurry of fire and desire.
"That's the game I feel like changed things," a beaming Kenin said afterward. "I had to play some best tennis. I did. After that, I was on fire. I was ready to take the beautiful trophy."
The Moscow-born, Pembroke Pines, Florida-raised baseliner is the youngest Australian Open champion since a 20-year-old Maria Sharapova topped Ana Ivanovic in the 2008 final. Kenin is the youngest American woman to win a major since Serena Williams in 2002.
For the eighth time in the last 12 Grand Slams, women's tennis has produced a maiden major winner and this one did it with guts and grit.
This was truly a remarkable run from the feisty Kenin, who fought off set points in both sets toppling world No. 1 Ash Barty in the semifinals before staging an emotional fight back vs. former world. No. 1 Muguruza.
A pre-tournament 35 to 1 shot to rule Oz, Kenin capped an inspiring title run dispensing more inspiration.
"This is my first speech: I'm gonna try my best," said Kenin after capturing her first major in her 12th Grand Slam tournament. "I want to congruatlute Garbine on a great match and a great tournament and a great two weeks.
"My dream has officially came true. I cannot even describe this feeling. It's so emotional. I worked so hard. I'm so grateful to be standing here. Dreams come true. If you have a dream go for it and it's gonna come true."
The 5-foot-7 Kenin is the shortest woman to rule Oz since Justine Henin in 2004 and will rise to No. 7 in the rankings surpassing Serena Williams as the top-ranked American.
It's a gut-wrenching loss from Muguruza, who defeated four Top 30 opponents en route to her first Melbourne final.
Muguruza will rue missed opportunities: she converted just two of 12 break points and saw Kenin seize control saving triple break point to hold for 3-2 in the decider. The Spaniard blinked spitting up three of her eight double faults in the final game.
"I think I'm gonna keep it short because I'm gonna get very emotional," a gracious Muguruza told the Rod Laver Arena crowd. "Congratulations Sofia, I think you played an incredible match, an incredible tournament. You deserve the trophy. I think we're gonna see you play more finals for sure."
Afterward, the four-time major finalist conceded Kenin lifted her level at crunch time taking her game to places Muguruza could not match.
"I'm not very happy about my performance. I think I had to play better today because she came up with a great level," Muguruza said. "I think at the important moments I didn't find my shots. I think she found her shots, I didn't found my shots. I did fail a little bit lack of energy after so many matches.
"Physically was a tough battle out there. So, you know, it's just a tough moment. Right now it's tough to be happy, although it has been an incredible tournament. You lose a final, but you got to make it to the final to be able to win or lose. Yeah, I think she played very well."
Bidding to become the first unseeded AO women's champion since Serena Williams in 2007, Muguruza drew first blood coaxing an errant forehand to break for 2-1. Muguruza backed up the break navigating a tight hold in the fourth game.
Thirty-minutes into the match, Muguruza leaned on her net skills to close another deuce hold. A high forehand volley ended the longest exchange of the match and a backhand swing volley helpd the Spaniard hold for 4-2.
The 14th-seeded Kenin dug in and denied triple break point then saved a fourth break point. Carving out a clever drop shot, Kenin fought through a gritty hold in the seventh game.
Breathing deeply, a winded Muguruza sailed successive double faults gifting back the break in a nervy eighth game as Kenin leveled at 4-all.
Both women tried targeting the opponent's more unruly forehand wing, but Muguruza leaned low and crunched a backhand approach. Moving in, the world No. 32 blocked off a forehand volley scoring her second break for 5-4 as a frustrated Kenin tried jack-hammering her Babolat racquet into the court.
The slider serve out wide brought Muguruza double set point. On her second set point, the Spaniard singed the baseline with a deep drive forcing a scattered forehand to take 52-minute opener.
Muguruza won 80 percent (16 of 20) first-serve points and 10 of 14 trips to net. More importantly, she showed poise bouncing back from a horrid two-double fault game to serve out the set with her fastest serve of the evening.
The first-set winner had won 49 of the last 53 Grand Slam finals, but the deficit only made Kenin more determined.
Leaving the court for a comfort break, the 14th-seeded Kenin streaked through a love hold to start the second set.
As her legs began to feel the effect of a physical final, the first serve deserted Muguruza in the fourth game and Kenin took full advantage. Driving her return deep, Kenin coaxed the error breaking at 30 for 3-1.
Wasting no time between service points, Kenin tested her opponent's lungs streaking through a quick hold at 15 to stretch her lead to 4-1.
Photo credit: Mark Peterson/Corleve
Accelerating the tempo and landing her first serve more frequently, Kenin cracked a ball into the corner to hold for 5-2 spiking a ball in celebration.
A feisty Kenin blasted a backhand return for double set point and she broke again to seal the second set after 86 minutes.
After a brief consultation with the trainer for an apparent lower back or hip issue, Muguruza returned to court.
Aggressive court positioning keyed Kenin's charge. Muguruza met the uprising with more intense emotion and heavy hitting.
The final turned at 2-all when Kenin completely elevated her play.
Grunting louder, Muguruza caught a break when Kenin netted a mid-court forehand to face triple break point. Rising up amid severe stress, Kenin roped successive backhand winners down the line to save two break points. On the third, Kenin cranked a running forehand down the opposite sideline.
Slashing an ace off the sideline, Kenin battled through a brilliant and courageous hold firing a forehand pass for 3-2. Five straight winners carried Kenin through an audacious hold that blew Muguruza's mind bent her spirit and shifted all the pressure squarely back on her sweat-soaked shoulders.
"It was a very important moment of the match," Muguruza said. "I think she found very, very good shots during the match. Especially in the important moments, I think she came out with winners and just hitting the ball very good."
Deadlocked at deuce, Kenin caught a break as she stabbed back a wide serve. The ball kissed the top of the tape and crawled over befuddling Muguruza for break point.
Stunned by the sudden shift in momentum, a jittery Muguruza blinked tossing in her fifth double fault. Kenin converted her fourth break on her fourth break point for 4-2.
The silver Daphne Akhurst title trophy was gleaming over her shoulder and Kenin streaked through the finish line to snatch it.
Serving to extend the final, Muguruza followed two aces with her seventh double fault and watched Kenin hammer a backhand down the line for championship point.
Photo credit: Mark Peterson/Corleve
On the first championship point, Kenin sailed a forehand return. Curling a crosscourt forehand return inside the sideline gave the American a second championship point at two hours, two minutes.
A fierce fight came to a tame ending as Muguruza sailed her third double fault of the game to end it. Kenin tossed her star spangled racquet aside and buried her face in her hands in elation. Kenin's support box, including father and coach Alexander, doubles partner Bethanie Mattek-Sands and former world No. 1 Dinara Safina stood in celebration of a blistering finish.
"I love the big stages," Kenin said. "That's where I'm playing. I'm playing to play on that great stage, have this amazing atmosphere. It was such an exciting atmosphere.
"Everyone was just cheering. It's just such an honor. They make it so much fun for me to play. It gives me hype and more motivation to keep going forward. I've made so many fans. Thank you to them so much for coming and supporting me these past two weeks. It's been an incredible journey for me."
The trip is just starting. In her 12th Grand Slam event, the 21-year-old Kenin realized the dream in stirring style.