< American Sofia Kenin reaches her first major final at the age of 21, winning Thursday in the semifinals of the Australian Open.

Faces Muguruza in the women’s final Saturday

Melbourne, Australia — Sofia Kenin enjoys the bright lights and the big city, which is why she aspires to reside in Manhattan one day and perhaps explains why she is thriving on the Grand Slam stage right now.

"Maybe because of 'Gossip Girl.' ... I love New York. I just love it there," the 21-year-old American said. "Central Park. All of Fifth Avenue. All those shops. I'm a fancy girl. I like those shops, living the life."

Kenin sure is at the center of it all at the Australian Open, where she will face two-time major champion and former No. 1 Garbiñe Muguruza in the final Saturday.

"I don't want to be (on) defense against her. She can really put the ball away. She's really aggressive," Kenin said. "So I feel like it's going to be who's controlling the points more, who is dictating. Of course, defense is obviously going to help."

This will be the 14th-seeded Kenin's debut in a Slam title match; she never had been past the fourth round until now.

But her gritty and varied style carried her past 15-year-old star-in-themaking Coco Gauff and the top-seeded Ash Barty in Week 2 at Melbourne

Park.

"You don't experience this so often. Of course, I'm going to enjoy it. This is so exciting. Literally, butterflies," said Kenin, whose words tumble out of her mouth as speedily as her legs carry her around a court. "I'm just going to also focus on what I need to do, focus on my game. I got here. It's time to shine."

She's still just as precocious and self-believing as she was at age 7, when she told a TV interviewer in a video clip making the rounds on social media that she could return a serve from 2003 U.S. Open champion Andy Roddick.

That sort of attitude was on display in her semifinal against Barty on Thursday, when Kenin twice was a point from losing the first set and then twice a point from losing the second before closing out the 7-6 (6), 7-5 victory.

"She has the ability to adapt. She has the ability to try different things, control the center of the court," said Barty, the reigning French Open champion.

"She's extremely confident at the moment, as well," Barty said.

Kenin began 2019 ranked No. 52 and with zero tour-level titles and finished it at No. 12 and with three singles trophies.