Top 10 Youths to Watch in 2020: No. 10, Sofia Kenin

The new year is almost upon us, and there's a crop of young players ready to make even bigger marks on the world in 2020. Let's count down the Top 10 ATP and WTA youth to watch:

10

Sofia Kenin

Age: 21

Ranking: No. 14

Sofia Kenin is not your typical tennis player. She doesn't do things the way others do them.

For one little trinket: She has a unique on-court look, playing with her ears tucked into her visor. Watch her serve, and see how she doesn't even look at the ball when the she tosses it up, instead keeping her eyes focused downward until the last possible instant.

She's also brimming with confidence—and always has been. Here she is at age 7, breaking down perfectly and plainly how she would return Andy Roddick's serve:

Kenin's serve, return and self-belief all came together for her during her breakout 2019, a year in which she won her first three WTA titles, in Hobart, Mallorca and Guangzhou, raising her ranking from No. 52 to No. 14.

For all of this and more, she was named the WTA's Most Improved Player of the Year.

In 2020 and beyond, she should certainly be ready to replicate those results against bigger opponents and on grander stages. For evidence, look no further than her 6-2, 7-5 win over Serena Williams at Roland Garros.