Australian Open: Sofia Kenin vs. Garbine Muguruza - The finalists at a glance
The series of surprises at the women's tournament of the Australian Open reached its provisional high point in the semifinals. Sofia Kenin was able to take the world number one, "Ash" Barty, out of the tournament, Garbine Murguruza put a great- lookingSimona Halep in her place. We took a closer look at the two surprise finalists.
by Michael Rothschädl
last edit: Jan 31, 2020, 04:35 pm
Saturday will be the first women's grand slam final of the 2020 calendar year. Two surprise ladies will face each other : Gabrine Murguruza had taken Elina Switolina and Simona Halep out of the competition on her way to the final. Sofia Kenin, on the other hand, was able to stand up to super talent Cori Gauff and most recently wrestled the world number one, Ashleigh Barty.
Garbine Murguruza
# # IMG2
The Spaniard knows what it feels like to be in a Grand Slam final. This has been the case three times, and the 26-year-old has even emerged victorious twice. 2016 when she triumphed at the French Open in Paris and 2017 when she was successful at Wimbledon. After a rather messed up 2019 season, Murguruza is now again in a final of a Grand Slam tournament, for the first time ever in the final of the Australian Open.
The start for Muguruza was anything but set in stone. The Spaniard had to cancel her quarter-final game at the tournament in Hobart due to illness in the run-up to the Australian Open, and even announced a possible cancellation for the Australian Open. But the world rankings-32. obviously got fit in time and knew how to convince at the first Grand Slam of the year. So far, the 26-year-old has only had to give one set, against the number five in the world Elina Switolina she gave only three games with a brilliant performance in round three. In the semifinals, she succeeded in co-favorite Simona Halep in two sets.
Sofia Kenin
# # Img3
For Sofia Kenin, on the other hand, a final in a Grand Slam is completely new territory. For the only 21-year-old American, a knockout stage at the French Open has been the greatest feeling so far. Kenin is currently in 15th place in the world rankings and is therefore easy to favor in this final purely with a view to the WTA classification. And the Head to Head also speaks for the American, who won the only encounter with the Spaniard in Beijing so far.
Like Muguruza, Kenin managed to get some tough bits out of the way on her way to the final. Above all, of course, the world's number one, Ashleigh Barty, who put the American in the place of the semifinals. Previously, Kenin had benefited from a feasible draw and only had to fight against Osaka vanquisher Cori Gauff over the full distance.
With all the surprises that the Australian Open has brought to light so far, it is almost impossible to find a favorite in this final. World rankings and head to head speak for Sofia Kenin, the shape curve probably for Garbine Muguruza, who had to switch off the slightly larger calibers on the way to the final. The tennis fans will have to wait until Saturday until the two athletes on the court will answer this question.
laverarena