Americans Kenin, Sandgren claim first tour titles

With a maiden WTA title under her belt, American youngster Sofia Kenin has her sights fixed on doing some damage at the Australian Open.

The 20-year-old claimed the Hobart International on Saturday, surging past unseeded Slovakian Anna Karolina Schmiedlova 6-3 6-0 in her first top-level singles final.

Across the Tasman Sea, Kenin’s compatriot Tennys Sandgren also secured his first ATP title at the ASB Classic in Auckland with victory over Briton Cameron Norrie, 6-4 6-2.

Kenin is world No.56 but the Hobart win is expected to push her inside the top 40 for the first time.

“I’m really happy. I didn’t want to overthink it and I’m happy with the way I composed myself,” she said.

She didn’t drop a set at the tournament in an eye-catching run that included the scalps of top seed and world No.19 Caroline Garcia, wily veteran Kirsten Flipkens and former Hobart champion Alize Cornet.

#HobartTennis champion @SonyaKenin can’t wipe the smile off her face right now ???? #TassieStyle pic.twitter.com/U9QN4Mb4rP

— Hobart International (@HobartTennis) January 12, 2019

Moscow-born Kenin plays qualifier Veronika Kudermetova in the opening round of the Australian Open before a potential second-round clash with world No.1 Simona Halep.

It’s been an impressive start to the season for Kenin, who won the Auckland doubles title with Eugenie Bouchard last week.

“I couldn’t ask for a better start,” Kenin said, adding she was taking a lot of confidence into the year’s first major.

“Hopefully I can do some damage there. I’d love to play against Halep. I’m just going to take it one match at a time and hopefully I can play her I guess.”

Sandgren rose to prominence in Melbourne 12 months ago with a giant-killing run to the quarter-finals, with wins over the likes of Stan Wawrinka and Dominic Thiem.

The 27-year-old went on to enjoy a solid 2018, climbing to No.63 in the world after reaching a maiden final in Houston.

He went one better against the 93rd-ranked Norrie, using the impregnable serving game that had carried him to five straight-set wins this week.

.@TennysSandgren has won the 2019 ASB Classic Singles Final!!!! #LoveItAll pic.twitter.com/ZPjbUkob7d

— ASB Classic (@ASB_Classic) January 12, 2019

Sandgren expressed disbelief at making a breakthrough which had taken longer than ideal in coming.

“A lot of work, a lot of training and a lot of sacrifice goes into even making the final. To get a win, I’m kind of speechless,” he said.

“I’m just grateful to be able to play and compete. I’ve dealt with some injuries so playing well feels really good.

“It helps to serve well, it makes up for some of my other shortcomings.”

Sandgren thanked his Australian coach Carsten Ball, who he linked with two weeks ago.

“It’s going well so far,” he said.

It was the first final appearance for Auckland-raised left-hander Norrie, who captured crowd support this week despite switching allegiance to Great Britain six years ago.

Sandgren will face 75th-ranked Yoshihito Nishioka of Japan in the first round of the Australian Open.

Norrie’s debut in the main draw is against 50th-ranked American Taylor Fritz, the man he beat in the Auckland quarter-finals on Thursday.