Last year’s Australian Open was special for WTA star Sofia Kenin. She did not just defeat the young sensation in Coco Gauff after losing the first set, but she dismantled her with a 6-0 final set win and then defeated number one seed, Ashleigh Barty, to reach the finals. There, she crowned herself champion in the tournament that preceded an unforeseen COVID-19 hiatus.

This year, the 22-year-old will step on the court with the responsibility to defend her hard-earned title, and the youngster is amped to achieve that. But the road to the final will not be easy with every top player ready to claim victory.

Sofia Kenin and her habit of scanning the draws

The one-time Grand Slam champion lost to Garbine Muguruza 2-6, 2-6 in the quarterfinals of the Yarra Valley Classic 2021 WTA 500 tournament. Later in an interview, a smiling and confident Sofia expressed how she would rather lose to Garbine in this tournament than in the Australian Open. 

She wisely accepted that she has this habit of looking at her draw and figuring who is she going to match against.

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“I mean it’s tough, I obviously look quite far ahead, till 4 rounds, but after that, it’s like okay, I obviously know what player, but ya, four rounds, not trying to be mean or anything but I kind of see who I’d rather play/not play, so we’ll see what’s gonna happen.

“I’m still gonna play my game, worry about my results. Then off court, I’m gonna do watching the matches and hoping I’m not gonna play some opponents, not gonna say who. (Chuckles)” 

That last sentence from her explains that a few names do worry her to some extent. One can guess the likes of Serena Williams and Simona Halep to be on that list. 

The superstitions that won’t lose the grip

The 4th seed American’s first-round opponent is going to be Australian Maddison Inglis. She can potentially meet the tournament favorite Ashleigh Barty in the semifinal and hype up a rematch from last year. However, it is Serena who will have to face a tougher draw with Naomi Osaka and Simona Halep in the same half.

For Sofia Kenin, perhaps it will be comparatively easier at least to make it to the semis. She later added more about her habit in her interview, “I do this (scanning draws) at all grand slams coz I’m very superstitious. Last year I looked at the draw until 4th round, Paris, 4th round and then the US Open, so why change?” 

Her crazy loss to Iga Swiatek in the French Open 2020 will still be stinging her. But since it’s a hard court tournament and a new Slam, she can forget that and start the year with another championship. 

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