Sofia Kenin allowed nerves to get the better of her after the defence of her Australian Open title ended in the second round.
The American claimed her maiden grand slam title at last year’s event, but there is to be no repeat as she was dumped out 6-3 6-2 by world number 65 Kaia Kanepi.
Kenin, who was close to tears in her press conference after the game, admitted she struggled to handle the pressure of being the defending champion.
‘I obviously felt like I couldn’t find my rhythm. I was obviously way too nervous,’ she said. I guess it’s like the outside pressure. But I felt really nervous. I haven’t felt my game for I don’t know how long, but I haven’t really felt my game so well, even in my first round.
‘I feel like everyone was always asking me, ‘Would you want to? Do you see yourself getting there and winning again?’ Obviously I said yes.
‘I know I couldn’t really handle the pressure. I’m not obviously used to this, so right now I just got to figure out how to play at that level that I played at.’
World No,1 Ashleigh Barty, meanwhile, came out on top of the all-Australian battle with Daria Gavrilova to make it through to the third round.
Barty looked on course for a comfortable win on the Rod Laver Arena as she was serving for that match at 6-1 5-2 before a Gavrilova comeback saw her take the second set to tiebreak. Barty, who has had the best part of a year off after opting not to travel during the coronavirus pandemic, survived set points to eventually won 6-1 7-6 (7).
Britain’s hopes in the Australian Open women’s singles ended, however, when Heather Watson was beaten by Anett Kontaveit in the second round.
After Johanna Konta and Fran Jones had fallen at the first hurdle, it was left to Watson to fly the flag but, despite winning the first set, she succumbed 6-7 (5) 6-4 6-3 to the 21st seed.
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