Sofia Kenin's father reveals stunning sacrifice to help daughter fulfil tennis dream

When Sofia Kenin steps onto Rod Laver Arena on Saturday night, for father and coach Alexander, it will be a crowning moment in a journey forged in lonely nights driving cars through New York City streets.

Alexander left the Soviet Union in 1987 and juggled day-time computer and English classes with night-time work for a car driving service.

More than three decades later, Alexander will sit courtside as his daughter chases grand slam victory against Garbine Muguruza in the Australian Open women's singles final.

Sofia never experienced the hardships that defined her father's early years in America, but the 21-year-old is acutely aware of them.

"I think it gives her some toughness. I don't think she experienced that much, all the sacrifices that we had to go through but she knows about them," he said.

"And when we just got to the country, that was very, very, very, very tough. I had to work at night, go to school in the morning and to drive in New York without speaking English.

"On the radio they were telling me to go, I didn't know the words - what they said. It was very tough.

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"But it's amazing, the things you do when you need to survive. She knows about them but thank god she didn't have to experience them."

The family briefly returned to Moscow, where Sofia was born in 1998, before settling in Florida.

It was on the long driveway of their Pembroke Pines home where the younger Kenin - obsessed with balls, not dolls - found her love for tennis.

At three, Sofia was taking her first swings with her father's oversized racquets. By 10, she was leaving Alexander in her wake.

"We had a very big driveway, so it was logical - 'alright, what shall we do after work?' So I gave her two racquets and we played in the driveway," Alexander said.

"All of a sudden I noticed that she started hitting the ball - at that point you can hardly call it hitting the ball - but at least she had great hand-eye coordination."

Alexander had to persuade their local tennis coach to let his young daughter play with the bigger kids. Then, she started to surpass them.

From there, they didn't look back, as Alexander once again found himself driving at all hours - this time to find practice courts near USTA junior tournaments.

"We were in the strangest places all around the United States and I was driving at night to find some community where we could find a court to practise in the morning," he said.

In the years since, the younger Kenin has developed a reputation as an aggressive, counter-punching player - always out to prove a point.

On Saturday night, she'll have the chance to underline her credentials on her biggest stage yet, with her biggest supporter in her corner.

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