AS the WTA Tour comes to a close for the 2020 season, Draft Central is counting down the top five standout performers across a severely disrupted year who have stepped up to a new level since the Tour’s return. Coming in at number five is American Sofia Kenin who started her year on a high with an Australian Open title, and has maintained her hot form since then to finish within the top five.

Kenin has had a remarkable year, and while it has not been the most consistent overall there is no doubt the 21-year-old – who turns 22 next week – has had a red hot year after rising up the rankings toward the end of 2019. While 2019 was ultimately Kenin’s breakout year, racking up three WTA Tour titles and sitting within the top 20 for the first time, the American has maintained her winning form this year with two titles despite the disruption – though both were prior to tennis’ shutdown – and made her second grand slam final at Roland Garros, going down to fellow young gun Iga Swiatek.

Kenin started out the 2020 season ranked 14th, and following the jump to seventh after the Australian Open, she has maintained top 10 status since then. Although she has made just the one final since the Tour’s return, the 21-year-old has proved she is more than capable of performing on both hard and clay-court surface. Not only that, but the American is also a proven performer when it counts, winning 10 matches (77 per cent) in the deciding set and utilising her serve on those occasions, registering a 3.7 per cent ace rate in deciding sets compared to her average of 3.1 per cent. 

While there have been significantly less matches on tour this season, Kenin has maintained an excellent win-loss ratio regardless with a 73 per cent winning efficiency credit to 24 wins from 33 matches. Interestingly, while her winning rate has improved, her individual set winning efficiency has only changed marginally, winning 64.6 per cent of sets compared to her 2019 rate of 63 per cent. 

Ultimately, Kenin’s form in 2020 comes down to her ability to win under pressure and outlast her opposition. While she may not have won a title since the return of the Tour, the 21-year-old’s consistent form and continued rise up the rankings sees her hold the mantle of top-ranked American – across both the women’s and men’s – and a formidable one at that given she is still so young. Her big improvement will need to be her form against fellow top 20 competitors, with just two wins from six attempts in 2020, and with that further growth in her game, there is no doubt Kenin will be even more of a force to be reckoned with in the future.