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MELBOURNE, Australia — Sofia Kenin became the youngest Australian Open champion in 12 years on Saturday, beating Garbiñe Muguruza 4-6, 6-2, 6-2 to claim her first Grand Slam title.
Kenin’s victory, in her first major final, represents a growing youth takeover in women’s tennis. At 21 years and 80 days of age, Kenin is 22 days younger than Naomi Osaka was when she won the title last year. In the previous Grand Slam tournament, the United States Open in September, the champion was the 19-year-old Bianca Andreescu. The youngest champion in Melbourne before Kenin was a 20-year-old Maria Sharapova.