Australian Open fans clip 'childish, unprofessional' Sofia Kenin
Australian Open viewers have taken aim at Sofia Kenin's petulance in the women's final against Garbine Muguruza.
The 21-year-old American - who beat Aussie Ash Barty in straight sets to seal a spot in Saturday night's decider - was aiming to clinch her maiden grand slam singles title.
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However, it was the experience of two-time major winner Muguruza that put the Spaniard in the driving seat early on.
The former World No.1 broke Kenin in the third game of the opening set to take an early advantage in the contest.
As the opening stanza wore on, Kenin became increasingly frustrated with her own game, banging her racquet into the ground on a number of occasions.
The American's frustrations were briefly allayed when she struck back midway through the opening set with a break of her own.
However, complacency appeared to creep into Kenin's next service game as Muguruza broke straight back to set up a chance to serve for the set.
It prompted yet another outburst from Kenin, who was increasingly taking her anger out on her racquet.
The American's petulance drew criticism from fans on social media.
Kenin’s racket won’t survive the first set. #SmashySmashy
— Elaine Buckley (@ElaineBucko) February 1, 2020
Garbine has broken back straight away and Kenin almost broke her racquet.
— Jeremy (@jez99) February 1, 2020
Kenin really needs to stop the racket tantrums! I don't know how many times already she's smashed the racket into the ground thrown it at the end of the set.. I know it's a big occasion but it's no need to be smashing your racket around looks childish & unprofessional #AusOpen
— Coco (@SpenceCoco) February 1, 2020
4 - 2 wins Muguruza#Kenin Two times she has already thrown the racket on the ground
Whats happen with the Education of the #NextGen (Mevdevez, Sverev, Kyrgios...)#AusOpen— Ángel Vidal (@HM20PIIb) February 1, 2020
Kenin “playing with so much maturity, beyond her years” according to Molik. Throwing her racquet and swearing every time she misses? Yeah ok
— Court (@AusTennisFan) February 1, 2020
Kenin with no answer to Muguruza serve in opening set
“One of the problems for Kenin right now is she's really struggling to return this first serve of Mugaruza,” commentator Jim Courier said on Channel 9.
“Mugaruza has won nine out of 10 points when she's landed the first portfolio and Kenin she's battling when she's making first serves to hold on.
“There is a big height differential between the two and that's meaningful. The angle that Mugaruza can hit down to the court is just frankly different than what Kenin's able to do.”
Kenin claims the second!
She went to another place in that set. 💪
Watch: @Channel9
Stream: https://t.co/jbbOi47INB#9WWOS #AusOpen pic.twitter.com/PRP1O7jJ6e— Wide World of Sports (@wwos) February 1, 2020
To her credit, Kenin figured out a way to combat the Muguruza serve in the second set, grabbing her own break in the fourth game.
The Russian-born 21-year-old consolidated her own serve to take a commanding 4-1 lead.
Muguruza hung in briefly the keep the pressure on Kenin but the American rode the shift in momentum to break the Spaniard’s serve again and send the final into a deciding set.
