TOKYO — Former Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin has prolonged her excellent report in opposition to Wang Xinyu, beating the Tenth-seeded Chinese language participant 6-1, 6-4 in a first-round match on the Pan Pacific Open on Tuesday.
The 25-year-old American, who received the Australian Open in 2020 and was a French Open finalist the identical 12 months, received her fourth straight match over Wang. Her earlier victories over Wang had been twice at Wimbledon — in 2021 and 2023 — and at Auckland, New Zealand final 12 months.
Kenin beat Garbiñe Muguruza within the Melbourne Park Grand Slam singles last in 2020 and misplaced to Iga Swiatek within the French Open last a number of months later.
After her Australian Open win, she achieved her highest rating of No. 4, however a sequence of accidents over the previous a number of years has seen her rating slip to her present No. 155. She additionally needed to withdraw from the 2021 U.S. Open as a consequence of COVID-19.
Kenin was joined within the second spherical by Canadians Bianca Andreescu, who beat Serena Williams for the U.S. Open title in 2019, and Leylah Fernandez, who received their opening matches Monday.
The highest-seeded participant within the Pan Pacific this 12 months is Olympic gold medalist Zheng Qinwen.
