Reigning Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin's nightmare return to the scene of her greatest triumph has hit a new low after she was hospitalised for emergency surgery to get her appendix out.
Kenin was brought to tears in an emotional press conference following her shock second round exit last week and she made headlines again for the wrong reason days later when she lost to an unknown Australian teenager in the Phillip Island Trophy.
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That 6-2 6-7 (4-7) 4-6 loss to 18-year-old Olivia Gadecki catapulted the world No.727 into the global spotlight but in doing so became arguably the most embarrassing loss in the world No.4 Kenin's career.
Yet her sudden hospitalisation just a day after that loss perhaps goes some way to explaining it.
Kenin shared the news on social media today after a successful surgery removed her inflamed appendix.
"Hey guys! I want to share with you what happened to me a few days ago..," her tweet started. "I went to the tournament physician office on Monday, February 15th with acute abdominal pain. I was evaluated by the tournament physician and referred to the hospital for further evaluation.
https://twitter.com/SofiaKenin/status/1361898175917817857?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
"Acute appendicitis was diagnosed following the completion of my CT scan. I had to have surgery and had my appendix removed on Monday, February 15, at Epworth Hospital Richmond. I want to thank everyone at Epworth Hospital Richmond for taking such good care of me."
Kenin's return to Australia to defend her maiden Grand Slam title has been a stark contrast to her breakout summer 12 months ago.
Kenin was irrepressible in the 2020 edition, crushing the hopes of millions of Australians by ending Ash Barty's tournament in a see-sawing semi-final before coming from a set down to beat Spanish star Garbine Muguruza 4-6 6-2 6-2 in the final.
It was the springboard for an incredible year, with the American winning the WTA Player of the Year award, and finishing 2020 with a career-high ranking.
However, in an emotional press conference, following the end of her Australian Open defence in the second round, she revealed how difficult she had found the pressure she carried.
"I felt really nervous. I haven't felt my game for, like, I don't know how long, but I haven't really felt my game so well, even in my first round," Kenin said as she wiped away tears.
"Since last year, like, I won, then obviously I feel like everyone is kind of expecting me to do that. It's obviously tough.
"Everyone was always asking me, 'Would you want to? Do you see yourself getting there and winning again?' Obviously I said 'yes', (but) with the way I'm playing, no."
The attention brought by her poor form only grew with her loss to Gadecki, with the medical emergency sure to give the 22-year-old and her fans are healthy dose of perspective and understanding.
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