Share

Kenin's Melbourne heroics forged from turbulent family past

Melbourne - Sofia Kenin's father on Friday reflected on their journey from the Soviet Union all the way to Saturday's Australian Open final, saying it helped make his daughter the player she is today.

The 21-year-old Kenin, who plays Spain's Garbine Muguruza in the Melbourne final, has made a name for herself in the past fortnight for her aggression and tenacity.

Kenin - who prefers to go by the name "Sonya" - was born in Moscow but is a fiercely proud American.

The 14th seed, who stunned world No 1 Ashleigh Barty in the semi-finals, has a racquet decorated with the stars and stripes.

On the eve of the biggest match of her fast-burgeoning career, her father Alexander, who is also her coach, retold the family story.

He and wife Lena left the Soviet Union in 1987, initially for New York, returning to Russia for Sofia's birth in 1998 so a grandmother could help with the newborn.

The family would later settle in Florida and Kenin says her parents sacrificed themselves "so I could have the American dream".

Alexander said: "I wanted a better future for my kids and it (then Soviet Union) was a completely different country (to what it is today).

"Nothing was allowed and we tried to get out for eight years.

"They controlled everything, we didn't see the world, you were just stuck."

Leaving friends and family behind and heading into the unknown of the United States was a wrench, said Alexander, and life was tough eking out a living in New York.

Alexander was a taxi driver by night and went to English and computer school by day.

"I don't think she experienced all the sacrifices we had to go through, but she knows about them," he said.

"It was very, very tough. I had to work at night, go to school in the morning. Driving in New York, speaking English on the (taxi) radio. I had no idea what they were saying.

"But it's amazing the things you do to survive. She knows about that and I think it made her tough."

Kenin, who will usurp Serena Williams as the top-ranked American if she wins the final, picked up a racquet for the first time at three-and-a-half, hitting balls in the driveway of their Florida home.

She never showed any interest in dolls, her father said.

Unlike Kenin's hero Maria Sharapova, who made a similar journey with her family to the United States but represented Russia, Alexander says there was never a debate about where her loyalties lay.

"She has very little connection with Russia, except the fact she was born there," he said.

Asked how he would describe his daughter, the surprise-package of the Australian Open, his face lights up.

"She's the best person in the world, that's it," he said.

We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Voting Booth
Should Siya Kolisi keep the captaincy as the Springboks build towards their World Cup title defence in 2027?
Please select an option Oops! Something went wrong, please try again later.
Results
Yes! Siya will only be 36 at the next World Cup. He can make it!
26% - 1273 votes
No! I think the smart thing to do is start again with a younger skipper ...
29% - 1470 votes
I'd keep Siya captain for now, but look to have someone else for 2027.
45% - 2244 votes
Vote
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE