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MELBOURNE, for UNO International News Service,. JUAN CARLOS CORDERO
No.14 seed Sofia Kenin ended World No.1 Ashleigh Barty’s Australian Open run in straight sets to reach the first Grand Slam final of her career. Kenin vs. Muguruza: 2020 Australian Open women's final
Garbine Muguruza will meet the U.S.’ Sofia Kenin in the 2020 Australian Open women's final after her 2-0 win over Romania's Simona Halep on Thursday.
Spain's Muguruza beat fourth-seeded Halep with 7-6, 7-5 sets in the semis at Melbourne's Rod Laver Arena, earning the 26-year-old Spaniard a spot in the Australian Open final for the first time.
Muguruza was champion at the 2016 French Open as well as 2017 Wimbledon.
Earlier Thursday, 14th-seeded Kenin eliminated women's no. 1 Ashleigh Barty from Australia with 7-6, 7-5 in Melbourne to reach first grand slam final.
The Australian Open said on its website that the winner of Saturday's final will be awarded the trophy and AU$4.12 million ($2.77 million).
Meanwhile, the 2020 finalist in the women's game will net some AU$2.06 million ($1.38 million).manian rival Halep to face Kenin from US in Saturday's final
Garbine Muguruza will meet the U.S.’ Sofia Kenin in the 2020 Australian Open women's final after her 2-0 win over Romania's Simona Halep on Thursday.
Spain's Muguruza beat fourth-seeded Halep with 7-6, 7-5 sets in the semis at Melbourne's Rod Laver Arena, earning the 26-year-old Spaniard a spot in the Australian Open final for the first time.
Muguruza was champion at the 2016 French Open as well as 2017 Wimbledon.
Earlier Thursday, 14th-seeded Kenin eliminated women's no. 1 Ashleigh Barty from Australia with 7-6, 7-5 in Melbourne to reach first grand slam final.
The Australian Open said on its website that the winner of Saturday's final will be awarded the trophy and AU$4.12 million ($2.77 million).
Meanwhile, the 2020 finalist in the women's game will net some AU$2.06 million ($1.38 million).
Garbine Muguruza will meet the U.S.’ Sofia Kenin in the 2020 Australian Open women's final after her 2-0 win over Romania's Simona Halep on Thursday.
Spain's Muguruza beat fourth-seeded Halep with 7-6, 7-5 sets in the semis at Melbourne's Rod Laver Arena, earning the 26-year-old Spaniard a spot in the Australian Open final for the first time.
Muguruza was champion at the 2016 French Open as well as 2017 Wimbledon.
Earlier Thursday, 14th-seeded Kenin eliminated women's no. 1 Ashleigh Barty from Australia with 7-6, 7-5 in Melbourne to reach first grand slam final.
The Australian Open said on its website that the winner of Saturday's final will be awarded the trophy and AU$4.12 million ($2.77 million).
Meanwhile, the 2020 finalist in the women's game will net some AU$2.06 million ($1.38 million).
MELBOURNE, Australia - No.14 seed Sofia Kenin is into the final of a Grand Slam for the first time in her career at the Australian Open after holding her nerve to upset home favorite Ashleigh Barty.
But she ran up against an on-fire Kenin in the semifinals. The American trailed Barty 1-4 in the pair’s head-to-head record, but had won their most recent match in Toronto last year.
Read more: Kenin defeats Jabeur to clinch maiden major semifinal in Melbourne
Kenin repeated the feat on Rod Laver Arena in straight sets, edging through on a scorcher of a day in Melbourne with temperatures climbing past 100 °F (38 °C). The 21-year-old American had to save set point in both sets, but she kept fighting to storm past the World No.1, 7-6(6), 7-5 after an hour and 45 minutes.
“I believed I could win even though I had two set points down in the first and second,” Kenin said in her post-match press conference. “I could literally feel, I was telling myself, I believe in myself. If I lose the set, I'm still going to come out and believe. Yeah, I really did a great job with it. I didn't give up.
“I knew it was a tough match. Of course, some things didn't go my way with the challenges and some great shots she came up with. But I didn't let that stop me
“Yeah, I was fighting. I left everything out all on the court, so it paid off.”
Clutch Kenin@SofiaKenin collects a 7-6(6) 7-5 win over world No. 1 Barty to reach her first Grand Slam final and become the youngest Melbourne finalist since 2008.#AO2020 | #AusOpen pic.twitter.com/vPxrtFzgZU— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 30, 2020
But Barty herself wasn’t able to capitalize on her chances throughout the set - she held three break points in the sixth game of the match, but Kenin held to make it 3-3. An error-strewn performance - with 21 unforced errors in first set alone - made things tough for Barty, and the pair stayed locked into a tiebreaker.
In photos: Queens of the quarters: Halep, Muguruza book semi spots in Melbourne
Kenin trailed for most of the tiebreak, having to fight from behind as the Aussie raced ahead to two set points. But the No.14 seed reeled off four straight points to escape with the opening set.
But Kenin stayed calm and kept herself within touching distance to apply the pressure on Barty. Her patience paid off, just as Barty was serving for the set at 5-4. Kenin saved two set points and was finally rewarded with her first break of the match to level the score, 5-5.
The American found a second wind and reeled off the last three games in a row to close out the match, sealing her spot into the Australian Open final after an hour and 45-minute battle.
She can make the impossible seem easy.— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 30, 2020
That's @ashbarty!#AO2020 | #AusOpen | @espn | @Channel9 pic.twitter.com/7wVBVtPBOn
“But I put myself in a position to win the match today and just didn't play the biggest points well enough to be able to win.
“I have to give credit where credit's due. Sofia came out and played aggressively on those points and deserved to win.”
Read more: Hsieh Su-Wei set to reclaim World No.1 doubles ranking
Kenin now awaits the winner between former World No.1 Garbine Muguruza and reigning Wimbledon champion Simona Halep in the championship match. At 21, she’s the youngest Australian Open finalist since Ana Ivanovic in 2008.
“First I'm just going to be enjoying the moment,” Kenin said. “You don't experience this so often. Of course, I'm going to enjoy it. This is so exciting. Literally butterflies.
“I'm just going to also focus on what I need to do, focus on my game. I got here, it's time to shine, do the best I can… Hopefully do something more special.”
