San Diego: Kenin through to first final since 2020, meets Krejcikova in battle of former Grand Slam champs

The former Australian Open champ edged out fellow American Emma Navarro 6-2, 5-7, 6-4 in the semis on Friday

Sofia Kenin at the 2023 US Open Image Credit: Zuma / Panoramic

Haresh Ramchandani

September 16, 2023

Cymbiotika San Diego Open •Semi-final • completed

See draw

S. KeninvsE. Navarro

American Sofia Kenin moved into the final of the Cymbiotika San Diego Open by edging out qualifier Emma Navarro 6-2, 5-7, 6-4 on Friday evening.

Kenin, ranked No 93 in the world, needed a wildcard to enter the main draw and made good use of the opportunity as she reached her first final on the WTA Tour since 2020 – the same year she won the Australian Open title.

In the final, the 24-year-old will face No 4 seed and former Roland-Garros champion Barbora Krejcikova. The Czech defeated American Danielle Collins in the first semi-final of the day. Krejcikova holds a 1-0 edge over Kenin in career head-to-head, winning their round of 32 clash in Rome in 2021 in straight sets.

The American is up to No 53 in the live rankings after her semi-final win, having begun the season ranked No 227 and being ranked outside the top 400 in August 2022.

Kenin won against Russian Veronika Kudermetova, the No 6 seed (6-4, 6-4), wildcard Katie Volynets (1-6, 6-4, 6-2) and Russian Anastasia Potapova (6-2, 6-3) in the previous rounds.

Navarro, ranked No 61, defeated Italian Jasmine Paolini (7-5, 6-0), Belarusian qualifier Aliaksandra Sasnovich (7-5, 6-4) and Greek Maria Sakkari, the No 3 seed (6-4, 0-6, 7-6 (4)) earlier in the week.

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