Burning Question: Does Kenin have the game to defend Aussie title?

Sofia Kenin’s victory in Melbourne last year was a shock; she was seeded 14th, and had never made it past the fourth round at a Grand Slam tournament before. Plus, at an unprepossessing 5’7”, she didn’t look like a typical Grand Slam champion. Kenin still doesn’t really look like one, but she proved that her victory was no fluke by reaching the Roland Garros final in October.

Yet for all of its ups, her year had its share of downs, too. She was slow out of the gate after the summer lockdown and lost her first match at the Western & Southern Open. Far more humiliating was her double-bagel loss to Victoria Azarenka in Rome. As tough, steady, and versatile as Kenin can be, she can still get blown off the court by a bigger player having a better day.

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