Now That I Have Your Attention . . .
YOU South Africa|13 February 2020
American Sofia Kenin struggled to be taken seriously in tennis – but her stunning Aussie Open win put paid to that
Jane Vorster
Now That I Have Your Attention . . .

It's a question tennis fans have been asking for a while: when Serena Williams bows out, who’ll step up to replace her?

Of course, nobody wants to see the champ go, but at age 38 her days must be numbered, so the nagging question persists.

And in a blistering final at the Australian Open in Melbourne recently, Sofia Kenin provided a resounding answer. As she came back from one set down to defeat Spain’s Garbine Muguruza 4-6, 6-2, 6-2, the parallels with Serena’s own stellar rise to fame were uncanny.

Sofia is also American and at 21 she’s the youngest US woman to win a Grand Slam since Serena, who was 17 when she bagged her first US Open in 1999.

And, just like Serena, the person she credits for her success is her father – who also just happens to be her coach.

But thankfully for Sofia, Alex Kenin isn’t anything like the pushy Richard Williams. For years the Russian immigrant has sat on the sidelines, quietly supporting his daughter as she tried to score her major break. And his faith in her has been rewarded big time.

Sitting in the stands, Alex struggled to contain his emotions as he watched Sofia, who just a few years ago was seeded well outside the top 100, step out of the shadows and show the world she had the pedigree of a champion.

After lifting the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup, Sofia paid tribute to him and her mother, Lena, as she explained that for all of them it’s far more than just a shiny trophy – it’s a sign all their sacrifices had been worth it.

“They wanted to give me the American dream,” she said. “I’m really thankful. Without them, I wouldn’t be where I am today.”

THINGS were tough for her parents when they arrived in New York from the Soviet Union in 1987, barely able to speak a word of English and with just a few hundred dollars between them.

هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة 13 February 2020 من YOU South Africa.

ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.

هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة 13 February 2020 من YOU South Africa.

ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.

المزيد من القصص من YOU SOUTH AFRICA مشاهدة الكل
PUSHED TO THE LIMIT
YOU South Africa

PUSHED TO THE LIMIT

The unusual relationship between an heiress and her husband has taken a sinister twist

time-read
5 mins  |
5 September 2024
HOW TO MAKE A SUPERBABY
YOU South Africa

HOW TO MAKE A SUPERBABY

Noor Siddiqui says her company can test embryos for hundreds of conditions from diabetes to Alzheimer's. Critics call it social engineering but she insists she's just giving prospective parents the means to avoid a lot of future heartache

time-read
10+ mins  |
5 September 2024
THE GROWN-UP BRAIN
YOU South Africa

THE GROWN-UP BRAIN

If you think your brain deteriorates as you age, think again!

time-read
3 mins  |
5 September 2024
THE eyes HAVE IT
YOU South Africa

THE eyes HAVE IT

They're the windows to our soul - and the first place to show the stresses of everyday life. Juliette Winter reveals expert tips to de-puff, brighten and smooth this delicate area

time-read
1 min  |
5 September 2024
WE'RE IN THIS TOGETHER
YOU South Africa

WE'RE IN THIS TOGETHER

It hasn't been an easy road but now this bodybuilding couple are making waves in the industry

time-read
4 mins  |
5 September 2024
I CAN'T WAIT FOR SUMMER!
YOU South Africa

I CAN'T WAIT FOR SUMMER!

Annetjie's about to get effective treatment for the skin condition that has blighted her life and she's looking forward to hitting the shops and facing the world

time-read
5 mins  |
5 September 2024
'SHE NO THREAT TO ANYONE'
YOU South Africa

'SHE NO THREAT TO ANYONE'

When SA boxer Chris van Heerden's Russian girlfriend went to visit her parents she was thrown in jail and accused of treasonnow he's in a fight to free her

time-read
5 mins  |
5 September 2024
SUNK IN 16 MINUTES!
YOU South Africa

SUNK IN 16 MINUTES!

A sun-drenched holiday turned into a living nightmare for those aboard this luxury vessel

time-read
5 mins  |
5 September 2024
READY TO SMILE AGAIN
YOU South Africa

READY TO SMILE AGAIN

A groundbreaking surgical procedure will restore this Limpopo teen's badly damaged jaw and teeth

time-read
5 mins  |
5 September 2024
HARRY AT A CROSSROADS
YOU South Africa

HARRY AT A CROSSROADS

As the prince turns 40, royal experts paint a picture of a troubled soul- isolated, homesick and struggling to find a purpose in life

time-read
8 mins  |
5 September 2024