As a child prodigy earmarked for greatness since she was five, it’s no surprise Sofia Kenin felt destined to win the Australian Open before a ball was even hit at Melbourne Park.
“At home I was envisioning each round, how I would play and how it would be emotional and everything,” Kenin said after realising a lifelong dream with a 4-6 6-2 6-2 victory over former world No.1 Garbine Muguruza in Saturday night’s final.
“My dream has officially come true. I cannot even describe this feeling. It is so emotional.”
Daring and defiant, Kenin battled back from a set down, then from 0-40 in the fifth game of the deciding set to deny the resurgent Muguruza a third major but first since Wimbledon in 2017.
“I have worked on mental toughness and I am a fighter and not going to give up. I am so proud of myself these last two weeks, such an incredible journey and I will forever cherish this,” she said.
“I feel like toughness was a huge part of my success here. I handled it really well, and this is just beyond incredible right now. I have no words.”
The 21-year-old is the youngest player to win the Open since fellow Russian-born American Maria Sharapova in 2008.
Fittingly, her story is not unlike Sharapova’s.
With barely $400 in his pocket, Kenin’s father-turned-coach Alexander fled the Soviet Union with his wife Svetlana and studied English by day drove a cab at night in the hope of giving his family a better life.
Twenty three years on and Alexander’s preciously talented daughter is now a grand slam champion, world No.7 and the youngest American to crack the top 10 since the great Serena Williams in 1999.
“This was a great moment for us. We were in a rough patch. I had to work my way up and not let things stop me,” Kenin said.
“I had a goal and dream and I was ready to do it, and these last two weeks I took each match one step at a time and not let emotions get the better of me.”
Unseeded at a slam for the first time in six years, Muguruza was one set away from lifting the trophy after dominating early on.
But the Spaniard was undone by eight double-faults, including cruelly her last on match point to hand Kenin victory after two hours and three minutes.
The 26-year-old’s consolation, as well as a cheque for $2.065 million, will be a rise from No.32 to 16th in the rankings on Monday.
For Kenin, the spoils – the $4.12 million winner’s purse and the coveted Daphne Akhurst Trophy.
“I was overlooked for some time, but this was a different experience, different attention,” said Kenin, who will leapfrog Williams and Madison Keys to become the new US No.1 following her breakthrough.
“I tried to calm down and not focus on the interest to what I wanted to do. I wanted to win this trophy and I was ready to leave everything out there.”