Kaia Kanepi secured her 8th career win vs a top 10 opponent at the Australian Open by stunning defending champion Sofia Kenin 6-3, 6-2 in a mere 1 hour and 4 minutes. Kanepi fired 22 winners and 10 aces in the win. Kenin hit 22 unforced errors in the loss.
A tight start to the match
The world number 4 got off to a good start earning three breakpoints in the opening game of the match but the Estonian was up to the task of saving the with her big serve.
She would hold serve and at 2-1 set up two breakpoints thanks to a couple of unforced errors from the number four seed and would break the American with another backhand error to take a 3-1 lead.
Kenin responded immediatly earning four breakpoints the very next game but once again the Estonian saved them doing a good job forcing the error from the American before holding serve.
She would serve out the set to take it 6-3 and was one set away from pulling off another upset.
Kanepi closes it out
After both players held their opening service games Kanepi went on the offensive earning two break points off more unforced errors from Kenin and would break as she hit a third consecutive error to take the first lead of the set.
At 4-2, the Estonian had more chances to increase her lead earning more breakpoints and she would break one more time thanks to another unforced error from Kenin.
She would serve it out to take the match in straight sets and send the world number 4 out of the tournament.
Kanepi was very efficient in her on court interview explaining how she was able to pull it off.
“I served really well today, I think this helped a lot but my game plan was to play aggressive as I normally do “
She will next face Donna Vekic of Croatia in the third round on Friday.
