[호주오픈] ‘Defending Champion’ Kenin, Kanepi struck down…

▲ Sophia Kenin (Photo: AFP = Yonhap News)

Sophia Kenin, the defending champion, who challenged the season’s first tennis Grand Slam Australian Open 2 consecutive wins, stopped early.

Kenin was held in Melbourne, Australia on the 11th (Korean time) In the second round of women’s singles at the 2021 Australian Open (A$80 million in total prize money), he lost to 35-year-old veteran Kaia Kanepi (Estonia, 65th place) with a set score of 0-2 (3-6, 2-6).

In the first round Kenin, who had a 2-0 victory over Madison English (Australia, 133rd place), but made 27 mistakes and showed anxiety. He blew away and became a victim of an abnormal situation.

Kenin won the first Grand Slam title in his life at the Australian Open last year, and finished runner-up in the French Open, a major tournament held last year.

On the other hand, Kanepi, who had once reversed against Kenin in 2018, gained a second victory over Kenin, whom he met again after three years, and continued to win the 2nd match against Kenin.

▲Kaia Kanepi (Photo: AP = Yonhap News)

In the’Gibsonland Trophy’, a tournament organized by the Women’s Pro Tennis (WTA) Tour, to check the condition of the Australian Open players and restore their sense of performance, Kanepi, who in turn defeated the WTA top rankers and took second place It continued the upward trend while preventing a straight defeat.

Kanepi’s advance to the third round of the Australian Open has been three years since 2018, and the highest record ever achieved at the Australian Open is also the third round. Excluding the Australian Open, the Grand Slam (French Open, Wimbledon, US Open) has advanced to the quarterfinals.

Kanepi will compete with Donna Bekić (Croatia, 33rd place) to advance to the fourth round (16th round) of the Australian Open. Kanepi lost to Bekic in the second round of the 2019 US Open.

[저작권자ⓒ 스포츠W(Sports W). 무단전재-재배포 금지]