Sofia Kenin is back, and this time, she proved her qualities by beating Jelena Ostapenko to reach the 2023 Guadalajara Open quarterfinals.
Without a doubt, Sofia Kenin is one of the most talented players, and brutal competitors, on the WTA Tour, and while she proved that at the 2020 Australian Open by winning her maiden Grand Slam title, the American has struggled with injuries since then.
However, after attempting to return to the Top 10, where she certainly belongs, for a few months now, the 24-year-old finally started winning matches regularly, and it's yielding great result for the former major winner.
Kenin reached the 53rd place in the latest WTA Rankings, following a very successful week in San Diego, which was full of confidence and dominance. Although the American lost in the final to Barbora Krejcikova, she came to the WTA 1000 event in Guadalajara with even more confidence.
After beating Carol Zhao and Anhelina Kalinina in two sets in the opening two rounds, Kenin took on the sixth-seeded Jelena Ostapenko in a fight of two former Grand Slam champion, battling it out of the quarterfinal spot.
The match started much better for Kenin, and she made a very good use of it. Converting her first break point, the American sprinted into a 3-1 lead, and thanks to great serving, she never faced a break point in the opening set, and won it comfortably 6-4.
However, the second set started better for Ostapenko who led 3-0 after one break. Yet, the American was able to break back, and after adding one more break in the eleventh game of the second set, the match seemed to be decided.
But neither of the players refused to give up, and fought in the longest game of the match, which saw seven deuces. Eventually, after saving six break points in that game, Kenin converted her fourth match point to win the match 6-4, 7-5 and advance at the 2023 Guadalajara Open.
In the quarterfinals, the American will await another tricky opponent. This time, she will clash either with the 2021 US Open finalist, Leylah Fernandez, or one of the rising stars on the WTA Tour, Emma Navarro.
As a result of her successful run, Kenin will return to the Top 50 in the WTA Rankings, possibly even making a Top 40 return, but that also depends on her opponents. If the American won the title in Guadalajara, she would move all the way to the 23rd spot.
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