​Two years ago, Sofia Kenin was able to triumph at the Australian Open, and a few weeks after that, she rose to the 4th place in the WTA (the best ranking in her career). However, a dark period has come for the American, and she has now left the world TOP-300.

Sofia Kenin from the winner of Grand Slam tournaments to leaving the WTA TOP-300

At the WTA Toray Pan Pacific Open Tennis tournament (Tokyo) on Tuesday, Kenin was eliminated in the first round, losing in sets 7-6(7), 6-4 to world number 181 Fernanda Contreras Gomez of Mexico (arrived from qualification).

The below-expected results and some medical problems slightly pushed Sofia out of the world TOP-300 (she is currently on 315th place).

After winning the Australian Open 2020, the American was seen as one of Ashley Barty’s rivals and athletes at the top of the WTA hierarchy.

In the same year (2020), Sofia also reached the Roland Garros final, and from that point on, Kenin’s career went downhill (that season ended with 24 wins and 9 losses).

The American’s shine has dimmed, and Kenin has only 4 wins and 11 losses this season. This after he went 11 wins and 10 losses in 2021. In the current season, Sofia collected $303,605 in tennis prize money.

From Maria Sharapova’s idol to her father’s release

Sofia’s family history is very interesting: her parents moved from Moscow to New York many years before Sofia was born.

The athlete was born in the Russian capital, and a few months later the family returned to the United States.

Sofia started playing tennis at the Nick Bollettieri Academy, and her big idol was Maria Sharapova.

In the most important moments of her career (Australian Open 2020 and Roland Garros final of the same year), Sofia was prepared by her father. He fired him last May.