Sofia Kenin poses with her maiden Australian Open title during a special photo shoot session. (Getty Images)
Australian Open champions Novak Djokovic and Sofia Kenin posed with their trophies in a special photo shoot following their respective title-winning campaigns on Monday.
Novak Djokovic returned to the top spot in the ATP rankings after claiming his eighth Australian Open crown while youngster Sofia Kenin’s maiden win at the Grand Slam took her to a career-high No.7 in the WTA rankings respectively.
Now let’s take a quick glance into both the winners’ journey at this year’s first Major Grand Slam event.
Djokovic, for whom the long-term association with Australia started with his first ever-title in 2008, the first round was not much of an effort as he overcame German Jan-Lennard Struff 7-6, 6-2, 2-6, 6-1 to set up a second-round clash against the unseeded Japanese Tatsuma Ito.
Ito was more of an easier opponent than Struff as the Serbian advanced into the next round with a 6-1, 6-4, 6-2 straight-set victory.
It seemed to be the smooth ride for the reigning champion as he comfortably went past another Japanese Yoshihito Nishioka 6-3, 6-2, 6-2. For the first time, Djokovic faced a major challenge in the form of Argentine Diego Schwartzman in the fourth round.
However, in an unusual turn of events, the Argentine never looked in control of the game and lost 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 to Djokovic, who was serving brilliantly throughout the game.
Djokovic’s game for the first time was tested by Canadian Milos Raonic in the quarterfinal, but the 32nd seed found the going hard as he lost to former 6-4, 6-4, 7-6.
Next was a match for the tennis fans around the world as Djokovic set up a semi-final blockbuster clash against his long-time rival Federer.
Proving his credentials right, the Serbian displayed his dominance over Federer overcoming the 38-year old 7-6, 6-4, 6-3 to take on newbie Dominic Thiem in the final.
The match against Thiem proved to be the toughest of all in the competition as he bounced back from 2-1 sets down to retain his title with a 6-4, 4-6, 2-6, 6-3, 6-4 win over the Austrian.
Kenin was not even in the list of favourites to win the title, however, it proved to be a breakthrough tournament for the youngster who bagged her first-ever Grand Slam title.
Seeded 14, Kenin began her campaign with ease winning 6-2, 6-4 against Italian Martina Trevisan in the first round. She next faced fellow American Ann Li whom she knocked out with a comfortable 6-1, 6-3 margin.
Next in line was Chinese player Zhang Shuai, who too lost 7-5, 7-6 to the higher-ranked Kenin.
Kenin’s next game was the much-awaited one as she played countrymate and teenage sensation Coco Gauff in the fourth round. However, unlike the expectations of many, Gauff found Kenin too hot to handle losing 7-6, 3-6, 0-6.
It was a rather easy outing in the quarters for Kenin as she went past opponent Ons Jabeur 6-4, 6-4 to set up a clash against World No.1 and local girl Ashleigh Barty.
Kenin, meanwhile, had different ideas as she shocked the top-seed 7-6, 7-5 to enter her maiden Grand Slam final.
Kenin won hearts as she came from behind in the firsts to register a 4-6, 6-2, 6-2 win against seasoned campaigner Spaniard Garbine Muguruza to bag her first Major title.
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