Three years ago sofia.kenin was the toast of the Australian Open after capturing her maiden Grand Slam title at Melbourne Park. Several weeks later she peaked at her career high ranking of No. 4 in the world, but it has been a drastic decline for the American ever since, who due to injury and patchy form has slid all the way to her current mark of 280. However if her form – and mindset – in the first two rounds of the Hobart International are any indication, the 24-year-old could be about to leap back into the upper echelons of the WTA tour once again. Kenin made light work of Belgian qualifier Maryna Zanevska in Tuesday’s second round, needing just 68 minutes to register a 6-2 6-3 victory and power into the quarter-finals, just her second last eight appearance at WTA level since January 2021. The 2019 Hobart champion has dropped just nine games in her two matches and in an ominous sign declared post-match she back feeling “like herself” on the court. “I feel like I played better ...