Sofia Kenin downs Jelena Ostapenko to reach Guadalajara Open QFs

Guadalajara [Maxico], September 21 (ANI): Former World No. 4 Sofia Kenin advanced to her first WTA 1000 quarterfinal in four years by defeating No. 6 seed Jelena Ostapenko 6-4, 7-5 at the Guadalajara Open.

While surviving 36 winners (and nine aces) from Ostapenko’s racquet in a high-calibre two-setter that lasted one hour and 44 minutes, Kenin hit 19 winners to only three unforced errors, tying her overall record against the Latvian to 2-2.

Kenin will next face Leylah Fernandez of Canada in the quarterfinals. 

Ostapenko only committed 25 unforced errors in total, but even with a 3-0 lead in the second set, she was unable to win the match. She also missed all three break points in the eighth game as well as six in a game with seven deuces on Kenin’s serve that decided the match.

“I’m playing really well. I’m super happy with the way I’ve adapted here. It’s my first time here … the hospitality is amazing, the site is nice, and it feels like home here,” Kenin was quoted as saying by WTA.

Kenin defeated Fernandez in their lone previous encounter, winning 6-4, 6-3 in the second round of the 2020 US Open.

Other top-half players who qualified for the quarterfinals were Caroline Garcia, the third seed, and Caroline Dolehide, another American. Garcia defeated Hailey Baptiste, a third American, 7-5, 6-4, while Dolehide defeated No. 8 seed Ekaterina Alexandrova 6-1, 6-2.