Tennis: Kenin breaks through for first WTA title

Sports Saturday 12/January/2019 14:53 PM
By: Times News Service
Tennis: Kenin breaks through for first WTA title

HOBART: Composed American Sofia Kenin broke through to clinch her first WTA title Saturday with a straight sets win over Slovak Anna Karolina Schmiedlova at the Hobart International.
The unseeded 20-year-old put in a dominant performance to win 6-3 6-0.
"I'm really happy to have won. I didn't want to overthink it and I’m happy with the way I composed myself during the match," said Kenin, ranked 56 in the world.
The 77th-ranked Schmiedlova started strongly, earning three break points on the Kenin serve in the fourth game, but couldn't convert and never threatened from then on.
Kenin's power and depth of groundstrokes made the difference and Schmiedlova succumbed in 71 minutes.
She has made a blistering start to the season, winning her first WTA doubles title in Auckland last week and not dropping a set in Hobart with her exploits set to see her break into the world's top 40 when the new singles rankings are released on Monday.
"I feel in great form and I'm really proud of myself," she added ahead of making her way to Melbourne for the Australian Open, where she will play Russian qualifier Veronika Kudermetova in round one.