AO - Women’s Final - Kenin d Muguruza

The 2020 Australian Open Women’s Singles final had me happy for a set and a bit. And at one stage in the third set I was about to stand and applaud, but that moment went as quickly as it had materialised.

My ultimate disappointment was nothing in comparison to that which must have been felt by Garbiñe Muguruza who for that period of my happiness appeared on track to take home her third Grand Slam tournament trophy.

How Sofia Kenin denied her is on the one hand fascinating, and on the other quite tragic.

The first set was a tale of how to hold serve with great difficulty, and it took two games for its telling to begin. Muguruza had three cracks at breaking the Kenin serve in game three, and on the third break point, the American relented and pushed her forehand wide. 

Muguruza was taken to deuce in order to consolidate, and again to deuce in the sixth game to retain the break advantage.

It was all to much for Kenin who fell behind 0-40 in game seven, and Muguruza seemed set to grab a double break, but as was the case with the Barty debacle, the young American refused to concede without good reason. And Muguruza wasn’t able to provide one. Accordingly all three break points were saved, plus another for good measure.

Not pleased, having wasted a prime opportunity to break, the Spanish blood boiled even longer once Kenin decided to make a mess of the next Muguruza service game.

An ace was good. Not that good were a forehand and backhand both landing long, then two double faults. Kenin was back on level terms.

But only for an instant, because her next service game was just as ordinary. Two American forehands out of court, a Muguruza winning forehand, and a netted Kenin forehand. Muguruza 5-4 and serving for the set.

A forehand winner, a service winner and return into the net, resulted in two set points. One saved with a Spanish forehand dumped into the net. Kenin pulled a forehand wide and the set went to Spain 6-4.

Funny how a new set can change the mood. Three love games and Kenin ahead 2-1 on serve. Muguruza was first to see the error of this trend, and from her promising 30-15 hit a forehand long, a backhand wide and backhand long to contribute a break to the Kenin charity.

Strangely, comfort returned immediately to the server, and for three games deuce wasn’t even considered.

Kenin led 5-2, but Muguruza was at the line and still just one break of serve behind.

A forehand and backhand error put Muguruza in danger, but a backhand winner and Kenin backhand error brought her to 30-30, better yet still precarious. A Kenin return backhand winner and set point. A Muguruza backhand hit long gave Kenin the set 6-2.

If one game could be singled out as the crucial moment of the final, then game five of the deciding set was it.

Games were 2-2, and Muguruza was receiving the Kenin serve. Down 0-40, Kenin saved all three break points for the second time in the match, all with clean winners.

Next game, after leading 40-15, Muguruza hit a forehand long, then a backhand into the net, a backhand wide and a double fault for the break.

It all fell apart when Muguruza served at 2-5 to stay in the match. At 40-15, double fault. At 40-30, double fault. At deuce, a Kenin backhand winner and match point. Saved when a return landed long. Second match point with another winner, this a forehand.

Double fault ended the contest. 

Sofia Kenin won the 2020 Australian Open 4-6 6-2 6-2. A terrible finish, but fully deserved Grand Slam tournament glory for Kenin. She was unstoppable after the first set.

Both players have given themselves excellent launching pads for a successful 2020, Kenin now at #7 and Muguruza up 16 spots to #16.