Australian Open: Sofia Kenin destined to be a superstar

Sofia Kenin’s run to the Australian Open final has prompted what appears to be a rite of passage for players growing up in the digital age.

Sofia Kenin in action during her semi-final win over Ashleigh Barty. Picture: Mark Stewart

Sofia Kenin’s stunning run to the Australian Open final on Saturday has prompted what appears to be a rite of passage for players growing up in the digital age.

The 21-year-old, who will play in her first major final against Garbine Muguruza, has been groomed for stardom from the time she could walk.

Her parents moved from Moscow to the United States to allow their talented daughter to flourish and over the past week in Melbourne, she has thanked them repeatedly for their decision to pursue “the American dream”.

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The Kenins settled in Florida which, in tennis terms, is what Hollywood is to acting.

The Sunshine State is awash with big-name stars and thousands of talented players in academies hoping they, too, might make it to the big stages in tennis.

Remember the adorable photograph of Ash Barty as a child with her first trophy? Or the interview with Bernard Tomic when he was just into his teens talking about becoming the best in the world?

Those moments also exist for Kenin, who is also known as Sonya, and the cute photographs and interviews have surfaced repeatedly over the past week.

During an on-court interview after her defeat of Barty on Thursday, she referenced a video clip of her as a seven-year-old stating she would be able to return the serve of Andy Roddick.

In it, Kenin reveals she uses the same racquet as the former world No 1. She also says she will win Wimbledon and practises for three hours a day.

The video finishes with Kenin saying; “My name is Sonya. I love Andy Roddick.”

Not surprisingly, it has prompted social media interaction between the feisty right-hander and the former US Open champion over the past few days.

The WTA also found a video of Kenin with Kim Clijsters that was filmed in Miami in 2005 as the Belgian champion, who is planning another return to the tour, discusses a comeback from injury.

In it, she is introduced to a bare-chested Roddick by Kenin during a broad tour of the tournament and its facilities.

“It is great to see the future of tennis,” Clijsters said.

“Who knows? She might be one of the new big stars when I am at home. I think she is definitely a very pretty, good girl, and I think she is going to be good.”

Kenin, who became the youngest player to defeat a world No 1 at the Australian Open since Maria Sharapova managed the feat in 2008, with her win over Barty, has long been touted as a potential star.

While compatriots such as Coco Gauff have been the centre of most hype over the past couple of years, the right-hander’s progression up the ranks has been impressive.

She won three WTA titles last year, including a maiden triumph in Hobart, and surged into the top 20.

Her deeds before the US Open, which included a victory over Barty in Canada and 2019 Australian Open champion Naomi Osaka in Cincinnati, were indicative of the talent that has taken her to this stage.

And she had shown when defeating Serena Williams at the French Open last year, prior to taking a set off the eventual champion Barty, that she is not the type to be overawed.

But there has been nothing too cute regarding her form surge. It is the result of extremely hard work and hours and hours of practice dating back to her early meetings with the stars as a child.

“I always believed I can. Of course, I didn’t have a book. I didn’t know exactly when (it would happen). I feel like at this young age, I think it’s incredible,” she said.

“Not everyone gets to live this moment, live this dream. I’m just really grateful for it.

“I’ve worked so hard. I’ve put all the efforts into my practices, into my fitness. All the efforts I’ve been doing, it’s got me here. It’s just paying off and it’s like a dream come true for me.”

Muguruza, of course, shapes as a significant challenge. She is a former world No 1 who has Wimbledon and French Open titles to her name. But Kenin, who will break into the top 10 regardless of the result in the final, defeated the Spaniard last year and enters the final full of faith.

She was destined for this stage.