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Sofia Kenin of the United States celebrates after winning her Women’s Singles Semifinal match against Ashleigh Barty of Australia on day eleven of the 2020 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 30, 2020 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)
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Sofia Kenin of the United States celebrates after winning her Women’s Singles Semifinal match against Ashleigh Barty of Australia on day eleven of the 2020 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 30, 2020 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)
The latest update from the Australian Open 2021 brought the list of women’s doubles teams. World No. 1 and World No. 2 in doubles, Hseih Su-Wei and Barbora Strycova, will play another season together. America’s Sofia Kenin has decided to partner with Swiss player Belinda Bencic for the opening Grand Slam.
At the 2020 Qatar Open, Kenin and Bencic played as a doubles team for the very first time. They made a successful run till the quarterfinals of the tournament, falling to the eventual champions Hseih and Strycova. However, the pair has shown great promise and are ready to play their first major tournament together.
Sofia Kenin to play women’s doubles event with Belinda Bencic at Australian Open 2021
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MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – FEBRUARY 01: Sofia Kenin of the United States poses with the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup after her Women’s Singles Final match against Garbine Muguruza of Spain> on day thirteen of the 2020 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on February 01, 2020, in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
With a combined ranking of 16, the American-Swiss duo stands at the fifth position. They have faced each another once in the finals of 2019 Mallorca Open where Kenin won the match. The American also won the 2020 Australian Open singles’ event.
Both the players have each won two WTA doubles titles. Sofia’s extensive collection of shots and Bencic’s strategical play will be a sight to behold at the Australian Open next year.
Playing in her home country, the World No. 1 in singles, Australian Ashleigh Barty, has teamed up with American Jennifer Brady. Earlier this year, the Australian encountered the Kenin-Bencic team in the first round of Doha. She had then partnered with Dutch player Demi Schuurs and suffered a loss in two straight sets against Kenin-Bencic.
Read More: Ashleigh Barty to Partner Reigning US Open Semifinalist at Australian Open 2021
Competitors for Kenin and Bencic in Australia
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PERTH, AUSTRALIA – JANUARY 01: Belinda Bencic and Roger Federer of Switzerland celebrate winning the mixed doubles match against Serena Williams and Frances Tiafoe of the United States during day four of the 2019 Hopman Cup at RAC Arena on January 01, 2019, in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)
The defending champions of the Australian Open doubles, Timea Babos and Kristina Mladenovic, are at the second position in the list. From 2018 to 2020, the pair has lifted the Australian Slam twice and have competed once in the finals.
Bencic, who has partnered with compatriot Roger Federer in the past, will be confident to play her part. On the other side, the 22-year-old Sofia will aim to add more versatility to her game.
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Scheduled to start from February of 8, fans are eagerly waiting for the first Grand Slam of the year. Besides tennis, the bubble and the exclusive conditions for players during quarantine have made the Slam one of its kind.
Also Read: Naomi Osaka Determined to Atone for Disastrous 2020 Australian Open
