By Erik Gudris | Monday, January 27, 2020
Rising 21-year-old American Sofia Kenin reached her first career major semifinal with a straight sets win over Ons Jabeur in Melbourne.
Photo credit: Mark Peterson/Corleve
A first-ever major semifinal appearance was for the taking in Melbourne.
Yet it was rising American star 21-year-old Sofia Kenin who crossed that line with a straight sets win in the Australian Open quarterfinals.
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The 14th seeded Kenin delivered a 6-4, 6-4, victory against Tunisia’s Ons Jabeur in a clash of Grand Slam quarterfinal debutants.
“It was a tough match. She’s had some really good wins,” Kenin told Tennis Channel’s Jon Wertheim after the win. “I knew I needed to step it up and close it out.”
In a section of the draw that featured Serena Williams, Naomi Osaka, and Coco Gauff, it was Kenin and Jabeur who emerged to face each other. And each woman had their own compelling story before the match.
Kenin, who enjoyed a breakthrough 2019 season including wins over Williams, Osaka and Ash Barty, was seeking to take the next step at a major. Jabeur was making history as the first Arab woman to reach a major quarterfinal.
Jabeur, a crafty shotmaker, faced off against the aggressive counterpuncher Kenin in the first set that found each woman trying to contain their nerves and their opponent. Kenin jumped out to an early 3-1 lead, but only to see that lead evaporate when Jabeur stormed back for 3-all.
Kenin soon found herself holding two set points against Jabeur’s serve at 5-3. But Jabeur saved both with incredible shotmaking from the baseline. Later up 5-4, Kenin would gain three more set points. Yet once again, Jabeur responded with several huge forehand winners. Kenin eventually secured the set 6-4 on her sixth set point when Jabeur sent a forehand wide.
Kenin only committed five unforced errors in the first set.
Both players kept in touch with each other in the early stages of the second set. Kenin struggled at times with Jabeur’s power and variety. But the American dug in on the baseline and continued to absorb her opponent’s power.
Jabeur held break points at 3-2, yet was unable to secure the break thanks to several untimely errors. That missed opportunity soon cost Jabeur when Kenin held her own break point in the next game. Kenin took the break for 4-3 when Jabeur committed another forehand error.
From there, it was just up to Kenin to hold serve and close out victory. Later serving for the match up 5-4, Kenin did just that. On match point, Kenin struck a big serve that Jabeur couldn’t handle giving her the 6-4, 6-4 win to reach her first Grand Slam semifinal.
For the match, Kenin hit 14 winners and 16 unforced errors to Jabeur’s 34 winners and 36 unforced errors.
Kenin credited her mental toughness for the breakthrough win.
“That’s always been inside me," Kenin said. "I don’t give up. It’s something I’ve never really had to practice. Still need to improve some, but it been very good.”
Kenin awaits the winner of the next quarterfinal between top seed Ash Barty and last year’s finalist Petra Kvitova.