Tennis-Confident Kenin continues resurgence by reaching Guadalajara semis

Tennis - WTA 1000 - Guadalajara Open - Panamerican Tennis Center, Guadalajara, Mexico - September 21, 2023 Sofia Kenin of the U.S. celebrates after winning her quarter final match against Canada's Leylah Fernandez REUTERS/Henry Romero

GUADALAJARA, Mexico (Reuters) - Former Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin reached back-to-back semi-finals for the first time since 2019 as the American downed unseeded Canadian Leylah Fernandez 6-4 6-7(6) 6-1 in the Guadalajara Open on Thursday.

Kenin had reached a career-high number four in the world rankings after her 2020 Melbourne triumph and finished runner-up at the French Open later that season, before injuries, illness and off-court issues saw her drop to 235 last year.