Women’s champ Sofia Kenin excited to leave quarantine to defend Aus Open title

Aus Open tennis champion Sofia Kenin shares why she won’t complain about Melbourne’s tough hotel quarantine restrictions.

US tennis player and defending Aus Open women’s champion Sofia Kenin isn’t complaining about her 14-day stint in quarantine. Picture: Francois Nel/Getty Images.

Defending Australian Ope women’s champion Sofia Kenin is looking forward to emerging from hotel quarantine on Friday, saying she supports the strict arrangements and is grateful to be here.

Kenin, who crushed Ash Barty’s hopes of winning a home soil Grand Slam final in the semis last year, says while the conditions have been tough she’s ready and raring to go.

“Luckily I’m one of the players able to practice, (but) even though I get out of the hotel for five hours, it’s 19 hours in the room,” she says.

“Obviously it’s very strict restrictions but I knew, I feel like other players knew, that coming to Australia was going to be very strict. I’m very grateful to Australia, I’m very grateful to the Australian government for letting us come here because people who live here, they can’t even come here to see their families.”

Despite 72 players being unable to practice outside for 14 days, Kenin says she’s expecting everyone to bring their A-game to the tournament.

“Everyone’s going to be playing great tennis, everyone’s going to be on the top of their game. And I’m going to go with that mindset. It’s not like people are going to be completely out of shape, out of form. You know, everyone’s going to get there for the big tournament, for sure,” she says.

Sofia Kenin hugs Ashleigh Barty. Picture: DAVID GRAY/AFP.

The 22-year-old American admits to feeling depressed and unmotivated in the early stages of the pandemic, particularly on the back of her stunning success in the Australian Open in January.

“It was supposed to be the best year after winning a slam, and then this COVID happened. So obviously it took a big toll on me. I was quite disappointed, pretty unmotivated,” she says.

“At the beginning our practices weren’t the best, motivation. It was quite depressing, to be honest.”

But with the help of her father and coach Alex, Kenin lifted and made the most of a local private court to practice intensely during the period when international tournaments were cancelled.

The Motorola ambassador says she’s excited to be returning to the scene of her first grand slam victory, hoping to make it back to back titles.

“It brings back a lot of great memories. So I’m super excited to be here, even though with these tough conditions. I’m getting through it. I’m not complaining at all, obviously, it’s tough, not easy. But everyone’s going through this, this is something we have to go through in order to be free. I guess after the two weeks we’ll explore the beautiful city and then get to have some great action ahead of us.”