Sofia Kenin had almost forgotten what winning felt like. The 2020 Australian Open champion entered the Credit One Charleston Open carrying a 1-7 record that had eroded her confidence. On the green clay of South Carolina, she found redemption with a 6-4, 6-4 second-round victory over Bianca Andreescu.
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The matchup between two former Grand Slam champions carried a weight that transcended the early rounds of a WTA 500 event. Kenin seized control early, with a single break enough to secure the opening set 6-4. The second set appeared headed for a swift conclusion when she raced to a 5-1 lead.
Then the match took a dramatic turn. Andreescu mounted a fierce comeback, reeling off three consecutive games and saving multiple match points. Kenin finally sealed the win after one hour and thirty-six minutes.
For Kenin, this was more than just a second-round victory. It was proof that the fire still burns. At 27, she remains young enough to mount a meaningful resurgence. Her path since Melbourne 2020 has been anything but smooth, but talent of Grand Slam caliber does not simply vanish.
Kenin will face young American Iva Jovic in the third round, a test of whether this renewed confidence can carry her deeper into the draw.
