Women's tennis 'never been more open' as Kenin becomes latest Slam surprise

last five women's Grand Slams have w been won by five different players. Good luck trying to predict who triumphs at French Open. Sofia Kenin's three-set victory over Garbine Muguruza in Saturday's final at Australian Open underlined just how open women's game is. young American was seeded 14th in Melbourne and her best performance at a Slam prior to this was reaching round of 16 at Roland Garros last year.

But here fiery 21-year-old was, beating world number one and home hope Ashleigh Barty in semi-finals and n defeating two-time Slam champion Muguruza. A Kenin-Muguruza final was 750-1 with British bookmakers before tournament. Kenin's victory was last episode in a wildly unpredictable draw in which six of top-10 women's seeds, including Serena Williams and holder Naomi Osaka, went out in round three.

Moscow-born Kenin, who will w jump to seventh in world and above Williams as top-ranked American, has confidence in bucketfuls. unwavering belief that she was destined for biggest st in tennis shone through in past fortnight in Melbourne. Yet she was reticent when asked if she will be one who emerges from pack behind 38-year-old Williams to win multiple Major titles.

"I would love to, that would be amazing," said Kenin, glass of champagne in hand after defeating Spain's Muguruza.

"Right w I still can't believe what just happened. I need to somehow come down and just let it all sink in.

"Hopefully I can just keep going, build up on everything that I've done se past two weeks, just move forward."

Free-for-all

re is a marked contrast between men's and women's tennis. Last year's Grand Slam titles in women's game were won by Osaka (Australian Open), Barty (French Open), Simona Halep (Wimbledon) and Bianca Andreescu (US Open). Yet in men's game vak Djokovic triumphed at last year's Australian Open and Wimbledon, and Rafael Nal won French and US Opens.

Those two, along with 20-time Grand Slam champion Roger Federer, have reigned over men's tennis for best part of two deces. re is at least a chance for Austria's Dominic Thiem to gate-crash "Big Three" on Sunday when he plays Djokovic in men's Melbourne final. But 33-year-old Spaniard Nal will once more be hot favourite at French Open in May-June, having won crown re a remarkable 12 times.

In comparison, women's draw in Paris looks like being ar bun fight. Williams will once more be chasing a record-equalling 24th Grand Slam title, but it is her least-favourite surface. She may need to wait until Wimbledon if she is to equal Margaret Court's record for career Slam titles. Defending champion Barty and former winners Halep and Muguruza will be expected to challenge at Roland Garros. w d Kenin to mix. Osaka has never been past round three. Or could it be ar Jelena Ostapenko, n-47th ranked Latvian who -- much like Kenin -- came out of left field to win in 2017? She has lifted one title since. Some argue that, Williams aside, it shows up weakness of women's tennis. British coach Nigel Sears believes opposite.

"I think women's tour is very open, I felt that for quite a while w," said Sears, coach of Estonian quarter-finalist Anett Kontaveit.

"I have said quite often that I feel re are at least 35 quality players on WTA Tour w, and any one of 20 different players could win this Slam or any of ors," he said prior to Kenin's victory.

"I think it's never been more open, I think depth in women's tennis has improved ermously."