Sofia Kenin Bagels Coco Gauff to Make Maiden Australian Open 2020 Quarterfinals

No.14 seed Sofia Kenin came back from a set down to put an end to the dream campaign of  15-year-old Coco Gauff in the fourth round of the Australian Open 2020. Kenin edged past her compatriot 6-7(5-7), 6-3, 6-0 to extend her best run at a Grand Slam tournament, reaching the quarterfinals at Melbourne Park.

The stats show 26 winners and 21 unforced errors from Kenin, while Gauff was unsurprisingly more aggressive throughout, with 38 winners but committed 46 unforced errors of her own. Gauff’s serve proved most problematic with 7 double faults and only 56% first serve percentage, giving her opponent the opportunity to make use of her strong returns and win 66% of second serve points.

Coco Gauff edged Sofia Kenin in the first set tiebreaker

The World No.15 started the match with form worth smiling for. She broke Gauff in her opening service game. The teenager then fought back to get the re-break in the eighth game at 4-4.

The American teenager held her nerves to save two break points in the next game. She then earned a set point while Kenin was serving to stay in the set at 5-6 but could not capitalize onto it as the set was forced to a tie-break.

With momentum shift towards Gauff at the end of the set, she dominated the tiebreaker before the 21-year-old saved three set points. However, Gauff claimed the first set after almost an hour, winning the tiebreaker 7-5.

Sofia Kenin levelled the match after winning the second set

Foreshadowing the momentum swing, Kenin broke Gauff in the fourth game of the set to get a 3-1 lead. While serving to stay in the set, Gauff saved a set point at 3-5 and held a crucial service game. However, Sofia Kenin served out the second set 6-3 in just 38 minutes, levelling back the match at 1-set all. Coco Gauff could not earn a single breakpoint chance in the second set.

Kenin bageled Gauff to seal the match

Sofia Kenin broke thrice and saved two breakpoints on her way to bagel Coco Gauff 6-0 in the deciding set and win a thrilling three-setter in 2 hours and 11 minutes.

Playing her maiden Grand Slam quarterfinals, Kenin will next face Ons Jabeur, who defeated the No.27 seed Wang Qiang in the fourth round.