Sofia Kenin has been on course for the top for some considerable time.
The journey has travelled from Moscow to Florida and after five full successful seasons on tour the American is making her major move in Melbourne.
In the past fortnight teenage sensation Coco Gauff has been nudged away from the spotlight by Kenin’s formidable power and the 21-year-old then dashed home hopes with a pulsating passage past Ash Barty.
Let’s have a look at the steps the world No.15 has taken to the top…
2005 – star encounters providing the inspiration
Leaving Russia as a young child, Kenin fine-tuned her game under the tutelage of her father Alexander, still coach today, over at Pembroke Pines, Florida.
From there the vocal, wide-eyed youngster was making waves across the local tennis circuit.
Even back then the child prodigy was mingling with the stars, given a backstage tour of the Miami Open by champion Kim Clijsters in a feel-good video by the WTA, which has since resurfaced on social media.
In the same year a Tennis Channel interview with the ambitious youngster has since gone viral again, in a sweet conversation Kenin describes how she could return a Andy Roddick serve.
Well, 15 years on and the 2003 US Open champion has thrown his support behind Kenin’s cause in Melbourne.
The former world No.1 tweeted after his compatriot’s Barty battle “This girl has become the goods! Kick ass and bring home the title".
The tweet prompted tears of joy in the locker room from the 2020 finalist.
2014 – Junior on course
Home schooled, Kenin could concentrate on building the foundations of her fierce game in Florida.
That hard work and endeavour came to fruition in 2014, the promising junior reached No.2 in the rankings as a result of winning the prestigious Orange Bowl title.
In the very next season Kenin advanced to the US Open girls’ final, prior to lifting her first professional singles title in Wesley Chapel, Florida to start 2016 in style.
The progress was steady, it was only a matter of time for Kenin to burst onto the Grand Slam scene…
2017 – Taking new strides in New York
Featuring in only a second major appearance the US Open 2016 further illustrated her potential, giving eventual finalist Karolina Pliskova a stern test 6-4 6-3 in the opening round.
Back at Flushing Meadows the next fall and Kenin clinched her maiden major victories. The wildcard defeated No.32 seed Lauren Davis in straight sets and then another fellow American Sachia Vickery.
Thrust into the limelight, Kenin gave a valiant account of her credentials for the top in a 7-5 6-2 third round defeat by the returning Maria Sharapova.
The five-time Grand Slam champion simply labelled Kenin “dangerous". She had a taste for the Grand Slam gauntlet.
2019 – Breakout brilliance amongst the trophies
Beginning the season ranked 56, Kenin broke into the world top 20 by August in a sparkling campaign.
Four finals punctuated her 2019 with three trophies held aloft in Hobart, Mallorca and Guangzhou, alongside doubles triumphs in Auckland and Beijing.
Players, fans and media had certainly taken notice and the 21-year-old was voted the WTA Most Improved Player of the Year.
2019 – Take off after Serena
Until AO2020, Kenin’s finest Grand Slam showing was Roland Garros last June, when the American manoeuvred her way into the last 16.
That Parisian quest was halted by champion Barty, but the 6-2 7-5 third round victory over Serena Williams really struck a chord with Kenin.
“That was the first time I experienced getting to the second week (of a Slam). Obviously it felt really different. It's so much different,” reflected the 21-year-old at Melbourne Park.
“I feel like that match really changed things. I obviously saw that I can play on this level, I could play with the best. Of course, it just happens to be Serena, my idol. Yeah, it was a really exciting match. I feel like after that, things took off.”
Kenin’s course has certainly taken off down under.