Kenin wins Mallorca for second career WTA title

Twenty-year-old Sofia Kenin continued her breakout season by winning the grass-court title in Mallorca, Spain, saving three championship points against Belinda Bencic en route to a 6-7, 7-6, 6-4 victory in Sunday’s final.

The WTA International trophy is Kenin’s second career title, with her first coming in Hobart, Australia in January. Kenin’s hot 2019 also included her first career Fed Cup victory, which came via a tie-clinching win against Switzerland in April's Fed Cup World Group qualifying.

Kenin entered the tournament as the No. 7 seed, with a career-high ranking of No. 30 after a Round-of-16 run at the French Open. Her career-best major result included a third-round win over Serena Williams, and she took that form into her first grass-court tournament of the year.

In Mallorca, she won three consecutive three-setters against seeded opposition, taking out No. 4 Elise Mertens (quarterfinals), No. 2 Anastasija Sevastova (semis) and No. 3 Bencic to earn the title.

Kenin trailed in the final by a set and 5-4 when her Swiss opponent set up three match points in a deuce game on serve. But the American saved all three and ultimately secured the break to give herself new life. After taking the second-set tiebreaker, 7-5, she rode strong serving to the trophy.

In five service holds in the decideing set, Kenin dropped four total points, including just one on 16 first-serve points. In the end, it was a wide first serve on her second championship point that sealed the win, after a Bencic forehand found the net. 

The subdued, businesslike celebration from the youngster could be seen as indication of her lofty expectations. Despite being on the brink of defeat, Kenin never stopped fighting—a trait that is becoming synonymous with this fearless rising star. 

The aggressor throughout the contest, Kenin ended with 48 winners to Bencic’s 28. The Bencic second-serve was also a major factor, as the Swiss hit 13 double faults—including one on match point—in 17 service games.

The American will continue her Wimbledon preparations in the U.K., where she will compete for her first WTA Premier title, in Eastbourne.