Reigning Australian Open champion is knocked out in straight sets by an unseeded player in surprising upset at Melbourne Park
Reigning Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin has become the highest-ranked player to be knocked out of the Grand Slam after a surprising defeat.
The American world no.4 lost in straight sets, 6-3, 6-2, to unseeded Estonian veteran Kaia Kanepi, 35, at Melbourne Park on Thursday.
It was a surprising defeat given the 22-year-old beat Australian world no.1 Ash Barty in the semi-final and Spain’s Garbine Muguruza in the final to win the Open last year.
Reigning Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin (pictured) suffered a 6-3, 6-2 defeat to unseeded Estonian veteran Kaia Kanepi, 35, at Melbourne Park on Thursday
Kenin choked back tears as she faced the press in the post-match conference.
‘I know I couldn’t really handle the pressure,’ she told reporters.
‘I’m not obviously used to this, so I’ve just got to figure out how to play at that level that I played at.
‘Because like today and those matches it just hasn’t been there.’
More to come.
Estonia’s Kaia Kanepi makes a backhand return to Kenin during their second round match on Thursday. The unseeded player managed to take victory in straight sets
