Kenin bulldozes through Hobart draw

Sofia Kenin has rocketed off to a great start this year. The 20-year-old, recently listed as one of Baseline's youngsters to watch in 2019, is into the quarterfinals in Hobart.

Undeterred by a tough draw, the world No. 56 upset top seed Caroline Garcia in the first round, 6-3, 6-2. She then beat Ons Jabeur, 7-6 (6), 6-3.

The signs have all been there for the American to make a bigger splash on the WTA tour. She's been rising steadily since starting her career in 2015 (she closed 2016 ranked No. 212 and 2017 ranked No. 113).

Named to the United States Fed Cup team at the end of last year, the youngster dropped both her singles matches, against Barbora Strycova and Katerina Sinakova, in three tight sets, showing a ton of guts and fight along the way.

After a busy offseason, she ousted No. 4-seeded Petra Martic in Hobart and then won the doubles title with Eugenie Bouchard.

Kenin is still adapting to a full WTA schedule. Her best weeks last year include making the semifinals in Mallorca, winning an ITF $60,000 title in July and reaching the third round of the US Open.

In Hobart, she'll took out veteran Kirsten Flipkens in the quarterfinals and plays Alize Cornet on Friday for a spot in the final.

ATP/WTA Sydney (1/5 to 1/12)

• Stefanos Tsitsipas, Frances Tiafoe, Simona Halep and Sloane Stephens headline the Sydney International. Watch live coverage on Tennis Channel Plus.

WTA Hobart (1/5 to 1/11)

• Watch the action from the Hobart International featuring Caroline Garcia, Belinda Bencic and Maria Sakkari.

ATP Auckland (1/6 to 1/11)

• See John Isner and Fabio Fognini live on Tennis Channel Plus beginning Monday, Jan. 7 at 6:00 pm ET.

FAST 4—Sydney (1/7)

• The game’s best compete in the always entertaining Fast4 format, with appearances by Nick Kyrgios, Grigor Dimitrov and Milos Raonic. Live coverage begins on Monday, Jan. 7 at 3:30pm ET.

World Tennis Challenge—Adelaide (1/7 to 1/9)

• Watch Borna Coric, CoCo Vandeweghe and Victoria Azarenka live from Adelaide starting Monday, Jan. 7 at 3:00 am ET.

AO Qualifying Rounds (1/8 to 1/11)

• Australian Open officially begins with qualifying action. Tennis Channel Plus has fall the action live! Coverage begins Tuesday, Jan. 8 at 6:00 pm ET.