Rise to Success: Career Highlights of Sofia Kenin

Discover the career path of Sofia Kenin, from the first major opportunity to industry-changing achievements.

Sofia Kenin is an American professional tennis player who achieved a career-high ranking of world No. 4 in singles. A WTA Player of the Year in 2020, she won the Australian Open that year and was a French Open runner-up. Kenin has secured five WTA singles titles and four doubles titles, notably including the 2019 China Open and 2024 Miami Open (partnering with Bethanie Mattek-Sands).

Sections (3)

Full Timeline Career & Achievements Success & Recognition

1999: Serena Williams Most Improved Player of the Year

In 1999, Serena Williams was named WTA Most Improved Player of the Year, which Sofia Kenin later also received in 2019.

1999: Serena Williams' US Open Win

In 1999, Serena Williams won the US Open at 17 years old and became the youngest American to make top-ten debut in WTA rankings. Kenin later surpassed the record in 2020.

2001: Lindsay Davenport's achievement

In 2001, Lindsay Davenport defeated the world No. 1 in back-to-back weeks, an achievement that Sofia Kenin later matched in 2019.

2002: Serena Williams Wimbledon Win

In 2002, Serena Williams won Wimbledon, setting a record that Sofia Kenin later challenged by winning the 2020 Australian Open at a young age.

2003: Jennifer Capriati's Early Loss at Australian Open

In 2003, Jennifer Capriati experienced an early exit at the Australian Open, losing in the first round. This was the earliest loss for a defending champion at the Australian Open since Capriati's defeat.

2006: Maria Sharapova's US Open Win

In 2006, Maria Sharapova won the US Open. In 2017 Kenin lost to her in the third round.

2012: ITF Junior Circuit Debut

In 2012, at the age of 13, Sofia Kenin began playing in low-level Grade-4 events on the ITF Junior Circuit.

2013: ITF Women's Circuit Debut

In 2013, Sofia Kenin began playing low-level tournaments on the ITF Women's Circuit, winning her first two professional matches at the age of 14.

2013: First Junior Titles

In 2013, Sofia Kenin won her first titles in both singles and doubles on the ITF Junior Circuit.

2014: Junior Grand Slam Debut

In 2014, Sofia Kenin made her junior Grand Slam debut.

2014: Kenin Wins Junior Fed Cup

In 2014, Sofia Kenin won the Junior Fed Cup.

2015: US Open Girls' Singles Runner-Up

In 2015, Sofia Kenin finished as runner-up in the US Open girls' singles event.

2015: Grand Slam Debut at US Open

In 2015, Sofia Kenin made her Grand Slam debut at the US Open, losing her opening match.

2015: USTA International Spring Championships Win

In 2015, Sofia Kenin won the USTA International Spring Championships, a Grade-1 tournament.

2016: US Open Junior Semifinals

In 2016, Sofia Kenin reached the semifinals of the US Open junior tournament.

2017: US Open Third Round

In 2017, Sofia Kenin advanced beyond the first round of a Grand Slam tournament for the first time at the US Open, reaching the third round and gaining her first two match wins on the WTA Tour.

2017: Turning Professional

In September 2017, Sofia Kenin decided to turn professional, foregoing a scholarship to the University of Miami.

2018: Kenin Endorsed by Fila

Between 2018 and 2022, Kenin was endorsed by Fila for her clothing and shoes.

2018: Top 100 WTA Ranking Debut

In 2018, Sofia Kenin entered the top 100 of the WTA rankings as a teenager.

2018: WTA Quarterfinal and Top 100 Entry

In 2018, Sofia Kenin reached her first WTA quarterfinal at the Auckland Open and entered the top 100 by reaching the second round of the Indian Wells Open.

2018: Kenin Nominated for Senior Fed Cup Tie

In 2018, Sofia Kenin was nominated for her first senior Fed Cup tie against the Czech Republic, losing both of her singles matches.

2019: Kenin Represents United States in Fed Cup

In 2019, Sofia Kenin represented the United States in the Fed Cup, losing her match against Ashleigh Barty in the first round against Australia.

2019: First WTA Singles and Doubles Titles

In 2019, Sofia Kenin won her first WTA doubles title at the Auckland Open and her first WTA singles title at the Hobart International.

2019: First Three WTA Titles

In 2019, Sofia Kenin won her first three WTA titles and was named the WTA Most Improved Player of the Year.

2019: China Open Doubles Title

In 2019, Sofia Kenin won the China Open in women's doubles with partner Bethanie Mattek-Sands.

2019: Kenin's First WTA 1000 quarterfinal since 2019

Kenin reached her first WTA 1000 quarterfinal since 2019 at the Guadalajara Open, defeating sixth seed Jeļena Ostapenko.

2019: Grand Slam Success

Sofia Kenin had success at lower-level tournaments in 2019.

2020: Kenin Defeats Barty at 2020 Australian Open

At the Italian Open, Kenin recorded one of the biggest wins of her career by defeating world No. 2, Aryna Sabalenka. This was her first top-5 win since defeating world No. 1, Ashleigh Barty, at the 2020 Australian Open.

2020: First Singles Final Since 2020 at San Diego Open

Following reaching her first singles final since 2020 at the San Diego Open as a wildcard, she moved 40 positions up close to the top 50.

2020: Kenin Plays in Fed Cup World Group Play-offs

In 2019, after the United States' first tie against Australia, Kenin was selected to play the last singles rubber against Timea Bacsinszky and defeated her to win the tie 3–1 and keep the United States in the World Group for 2020.

2020: Kenin Plays in Billie Jean King Cup Qualifying Round

In 2020, Kenin played in the Qualifying round of the Billie Jean King Cup against Latvia, defeating Anastasija Sevastova and partnering with Bethanie Mattek-Sands to win the decisive doubles rubber.

2020: Kenin Reaches Semifinal at Hobart International

In 2020, Kenin reached her first tour-level semifinal since the 2020 French Open at the Hobart International.

2020: First Top-20 Win Since 2020 French Open

In 2020, Kenin recorded her first top-20 win since the 2020 French Open by defeating world No. 15, Liudmila Samsonova, at the Qatar Ladies Open.

2020: World TeamTennis Participation

In 2020, Sofia Kenin led the Philadelphia Freedoms to a first-place regular-season finish in World TeamTennis with a 10–4 record in singles.

2020: WTA Player of the Year

In 2020, Sofia Kenin was named the WTA Player of the Year. This was due to her winning the Australian Open and finishing as runner-up at the French Open.

2020: Australian Open Title

In 2020, Sofia Kenin won the Australian Open, becoming the youngest American to win a major women's singles title since Serena Williams in 1999.

2020: Kenin Wins Australian Open

In 2020, Sofia Kenin won the Australian Open, earning maximum ranking points.

2020: Australian Open Win and Lyon Open Title

In 2020, Sofia Kenin won the Australian Open, her first Grand Slam singles title, and also won the Lyon Open. She became the youngest American woman to win a major singles title since Serena Williams won Wimbledon in 2002.

January 2021: Kenin Signs Endorsement Deal with Motorola

In January 2021, Sofia Kenin signed an endorsement deal with Motorola.

May 2021: Kenin Parts Ways with Father as Coach

In May 2021, Sofia Kenin announced that she was separating from her father as her coach. She also did not participate in any warmup events before Wimbledon due to an injury.

May 2021: Coaching Change

In May 2021, Sofia Kenin temporarily stopped being coached by her father.

May 2021: Kenin Becomes Brand Ambassador for KT Tape

In May 2021, Sofia Kenin was announced as a brand ambassador for the fitness kinesio-therapeutic tape brand KT Tape.

November 2021: Father Returns as Coach

In November 2021, Kenin announced that her father had returned to her coaching team as she prepared for the 2022 Australian Open.

November 2021: Reunited with her Father

In November 2021, Sofia Kenin started being coached by her father again.

2021: First Quarterfinal Appearance Since Melbourne

In 2021, Kenin reached the quarterfinals of Adelaide 1, where she lost to Ashleigh Barty. This was her first quarterfinal appearance since Melbourne 2021.

2021: Kenin's Second Round Loss at Australian Open

In 2021, Sofia Kenin lost in the second round of the Australian Open, earning 70 ranking points.

2021: Kenin Plays at French Open Since 2021

Sofia Kenin played at the French Open in 2021 for the first time since 2021, winning her opening match against Laura Siegemund. She then advanced to the third round with a victory over Caroline Garcia, before losing to Clara Tauson.

January 2022: Kenin's Ranking Plummets After Australian Open Loss

In January 2022, Sofia Kenin lost to Madison Keys at the Australian Open. Because she was defending maximum points from winning the tournament in 2020, her world ranking plummeted to No. 95 after the tournament.

2022: Kenin Sponsored by Free People Movement

Since 2022, Kenin has been sponsored by the American athletics company Free People Movement.

2022: Kenin Finishes Year Ranked No. 12

Sofia Kenin finished the year 2022 ranked No. 12 in singles.

April 2023: Kenin Moves Back into Top 150

As a result of her performance at the Miami Open, on April 3, 2023, Kenin moved back into the top 150 in the rankings.

September 2023: Kenin Reaches WTA 1000 Semifinal in Guadalajara

In September 2023, Sofia Kenin reached the semifinal at the Guadalajara Open, only her third in her career at a WTA 1000 level. As a result, she moved more than 20 positions up to world No. 31 on 25 September 2023.

October 2023: Kenin Returns to Top 30

Following the China Open, on 9 October 2023, Sofia Kenin returned to the top 30 in the world rankings.

2023: Kenin Plays for Team USA at Billie Jean King Cup

In 2023, Kenin was selected to play for Team USA at the Billie Jean King Cup, winning her first tie against Switzerland's Viktorija Golubic but losing to Marketa Vondrousova in the tie against the Czech Republic. Team USA finished 2nd in the group.

2023: First Round Loss at Linz Open

In 2023, Sofia Kenin lost in the first round of the Linz Open to Jule Niemeier.

2023: First singles semifinal in more than a year

In October 2024, Kenin made it into the second round at the US Open and then lost to Jessica Pegula. She reached her first singles semifinal in more than a year (since 2023 in Guadalajara) at the Pan Pacific Open.

April 2024: Kenin Returns to Top 50 in Doubles Rankings

On April 1, 2024, Sofia Kenin returned to the top 50 in the doubles rankings after winning the Miami Open.

October 2024: Kenin Reaches Pan Pacific Open Final

In October 2024, Sofia Kenin reached the final of the Pan Pacific Open after entering as a wildcard and winning against multiple seeded players. As a result, she returned to the top 100 on 28 October 2024.