Tennis-Confident Kenin: Sofia Kenin, a former Australian Open champion, defeated unseeded Canadian Leylah Fernandez 6-4 6-7(6) 6-1 on Thursday in the Guadalajara Open to advance to back-to-back semi-finals for the first time since 2019. After winning the 2020 Melbourne Cup, Kenin rose to a career-high position of number four in the global rankings. Later that year, she placed second at the French Open, but subsequent injuries, illnesses, and off-court problems caused her to slide to 235 last year.
However, the resilient 24-year-old has fought her way back up to position 53 in the world and is now vying for her first championship of the year and sixth overall after falling to Barbora Krejcikova in three sets in the San Diego Open final last week. Kenin, who is attempting to reach her maiden WTA 1000 final, said, “I’m extremely thrilled and very proud of myself. I obviously value it greatly. I’m very proud because I’ve been working hard and it’s paying off.
Tennis-Confident Kenin continues resurgence by reaching Guadalajara semis
Naturally, my winning streak in the matches I’m playing has given me confidence. For me, confidence is unquestionably the key. The world number 111 American Caroline Dolehide, who defeated Martina Trevisan 3-6 7-6(9) 6-3 after saving four matchpoints, will play against Kenin in the semi-finals.
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Dolehide admitted that she had to find a way to win today after making it to her first semi-final at the Tour level. Do what you practise is what I told myself when I was down those matchpoints, as my coach teaches me every single day of my life. “I simply used my kick and best shots to play, and I was able to take the set. I felt very confident heading into the third after that.
Earlier, Victoria Azarenka, a two-time Grand Slam champion, was defeated by third seed Caroline Garcia 6-3, 6-4. The 11 breakpoints Garcia had to overcome to advance to her first semi-final since March were all saved. “It’s always tricky,” Garcia said. She had numerous breakpoint chances, but I served quite effectively at those moments, so I suppose I should give credit to my serve.
The Frenchwoman will play Maria Sakkari, the second seed and last year’s runner-up, who defeated Emiliana Arango with ease 6-3 6-4.
