Sofia Kenin celebrates her Austrian premiere

She won the Australian Open at the age of 21! Sofia Kenin, Melbourne 2020 triumphant and a dazzling personality in women's tennis, is stepping onto Austrian soil for the first time in her life this year. The US-American enriches the Linz WTA tournament at the Design Centre. She receives a wildcard for the Upper Austria Ladies Linz 2023 from tournament director Sandra Reichel!

"I'm very grateful to have got the wildcard for this great tournament. I had a pretty good start to 2023 by reaching the semi-finals in Hobart," said the 24-year-old. "Now I'm delighted to be taking part in the Upper Austria Ladies Linz. I'm totally excited and full of anticipation because it's my very first visit to Austria. And I'm fit and hungry for success."

Winning the Australian Open 2020 was the biggest success in Sofia Kenin's career. She defeated world number one Ashleigh Barty in the semi-finals, and in the final the US American triumphed over Spain's Garbiñe Muguruza in three sets 4:6, 6:2, 6:2. She reached her career highlight in fourth place in the WTA rankings on 4 March 2020. She was named Player of the Year by the WTA at the end of the year. The 24-year-old, who has brought her father Alex back into her coaching team, has won five WTA tournaments to date and collected almost eight million US dollars in prize money. In the past two years, she has had to battle with several injuries.

Two out of four wildcards for the main competition of the Upper Austria Ladies Linz 2023 have thus been awarded! Tournament director Sandra Reichel had previously promised Austria's number one Julia Grabher a wildcard.