Barty even more dangerous than 2020: Kenin
THE woman who blocked Ash Barty’s path to a maiden Australian Open title says the world No.1 has improved her game markedly since their semi-final clash almost two years ago at Melbourne Park.
One of the few women to have halted Barty at her best, Sofia Kenin upset the Queenslander 7-6, 7-5 in the Australian Open semi-final in 2020 before going on to beat former Wimbledon and French Open champion Garbine Muguruza to win her maiden grand slam title at age 21.
And she believes Barty is definite chance to halt Australia’s 42-year title drought.
The pair met again at the Adelaide International last week, where Barty took just over an hour to dismantle the American’s game in their quarter-final clash before going on to claim the title.
“She’s playing better and better each match, against me she served really well,” Kenin said of the weapon many believe
can carry Barty to a third grand slam singles title. “I was really shocked by it. I can see she’s definitely improved and has a lot of confidence.
“She’s got a great team around her, and they’re doing everything right.”
Barty is a “role model” for the 23-year-old, who had a tough 2021 after pushing to as high as world No.4 in 2020 following her Australian Open victory and making the final at Roland Garros in efforts that earnt her endorsement from some of the world’s biggest companies, including telecommunications giant Motorola.
“She’s my role model and I try to see what she does and try to take some things from her,” Kenin said of Barty.
“Unfortunately I cannot take the slice and the serve, but other things she does.
“She deserved to win that match (in Adelaide). I didn’t play for six months and that was like my third match (back), so of course it was obviously not the easiest situation.”