Sofia Kenin is an American professional tennis player who achieved a career-high ranking of world No. 4 in singles. She was the 2020 WTA Player of the Year, highlighted by winning the Australian Open and reaching the French Open final that same year. Kenin has secured five WTA singles titles and four WTA doubles titles, including the 2019 China Open and the 2024 Miami Open partnering with Bethanie Mattek-Sands, demonstrating her prowess in both singles and doubles competition.
In 1987, Sofia Kenin's family moved to New York City from the Soviet Union, before returning to Russia for her birth.
On November 14, 1998, Sofia Anna "Sonya" Kenin was born. She is an American professional tennis player.
In 1999, Serena Williams was the last American player to win the WTA award for Most Improved Player of the Year prior to Sofia Kenin in 2019.
In 2001, Lindsay Davenport achieved a similar feat by defeating the world No. 1 in back-to-back weeks, a historical comparison to Kenin's achievement.
In 2002, Serena Williams Wimbledon win is referenced as the last time an American woman younger than Kenin won a major singles title prior to Kenin's Australian Open win in 2020.
In 2003, Jennifer Capriati had the earliest loss for a defending champion at the Australian Open. This event is relevant to Kenin's loss in 2021.
The 2006 US Open is mentioned, referencing Maria Sharapova's victory which is relevant to Kenin's match against her in 2017.
In 2012, at the age of 13, Sofia Kenin began playing in low-level Grade-4 events on the ITF Junior Circuit.
In 2013, Sofia Kenin began playing low-level tournaments on the ITF Women's Circuit, securing her first two professional match wins at the age of 14.
In 2013, Sofia Kenin won her first titles in both singles and doubles on the ITF Junior Circuit.
In 2014, Sofia Kenin made her junior Grand Slam debut and won the Junior Fed Cup representing the United States.
In 2015, Sofia Kenin finished as runner-up in the US Open girls' singles event.
In 2015, Sofia Kenin made her Grand Slam debut at the US Open, receiving a wild card due to her USTA Junior National Championship win.
In 2015, Sofia Kenin won the USTA International Spring Championships and earned a wild card into the main draw of the US Open.
In 2016, Sofia Kenin reached the semifinals of the US Open.
In 2017, Sofia Kenin advanced beyond the first round of a Grand Slam tournament for the first time at the US Open and decided to turn professional, forgoing her college scholarship.
In 2018, Sofia Kenin made her debut in the top 100 of the WTA rankings as a teenager.
In 2018, Sofia Kenin primarily played on the WTA Tour, reaching her first WTA quarterfinal at the Auckland Open and entering the top 100.
In 2019, Sofia Kenin had a breakthrough season, winning her first WTA doubles and singles titles, reaching the fourth round of the French Open, and improving her world ranking.
In 2019, Sofia Kenin won her first three WTA titles and was named the WTA Most Improved Player of the Year.
In 2019, Sofia Kenin won the China Open in women's doubles, partnering with Bethanie Mattek-Sands.
Sofia Kenin success at the lower-level tournaments in 2019.
In 2020, Sofia Kenin participated in World TeamTennis, leading the Philadelphia Freedoms to a first-place regular-season finish.
In 2020, Sofia Kenin was named the WTA Player of the Year after winning the Australian Open and finishing as runner-up at the French Open.
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.
In May 2021, Sofia Kenin announced she was parting ways with her father as her coach. Additionally, due to an injury, she did not participate in any warmup events before Wimbledon.
In May 2021, Sofia Kenin's primary coach changed from her father.
In November 2021, Sofia Kenin's primary coach changed back to her father.
On 9 November 2021, Kenin announced that her father had returned to her coaching team as she prepared for the 2022 Australian Open.
In January 2022, Sofia Kenin, seeded 11th at the Australian Open, lost in straight sets to Madison Keys in the first round, causing her world ranking to plummet to No. 95 due to defending maximum points from her 2020 win and the WTA rankings freeze.
As a result of her performance at the Miami Open, on 3 April 2023 Sofia Kenin moved back into the top 150.
In September 2023, Sofia Kenin reached the semifinal at the Guadalajara Open, then moved more than 20 positions up to world No. 31 on 25 September 2023.
Following the China Open, in October 2023 Sofia Kenin returned to the top 30 on 9 October 2023.
In 2023, Sofia Kenin experienced a first round loss to Jule Niemeier at the Linz Open.
In April 2024, Kenin and Bethanie Mattek Sands won the Miami Open in doubles and Kenin won her first tour-level singles match since January at the Italian Open, defeating Lucia Bronzetti. Kenin also received an obscenity warning during the match.
In October 2024, Sofia Kenin reached the semifinal at the Pan Pacific Open, returning to the top 100 on 28 October 2024 but lost the final to Zheng Qinwen.
In 2024, Sofia Kenin won the Miami Open in women's doubles, partnering with Bethanie Mattek-Sands.