British teenager Mika Stojsavljevic produced a remarkable upset at the Hong Kong Open on Monday, defeating former Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin in straight sets to secure her first-ever WTA Tour main-draw victory, and she did it with barely an hour's warning.
The 17-year-old had fallen in qualifying but was handed a lifeline as a lucky loser, entering the main draw at short notice. Ranked 411th in the world, more than 200 places below her American opponent, Stojsavljevic showed composure beyond her years to claim a 6-3 4-6 6-4 win.
A Whirlwind Entry
Speaking after the match, the teenager admitted she had little time to prepare mentally for the challenge. "I only knew an hour before I was going to be playing. I kind of just went out and swung today," she said. "I know she's a Grand Slam champion and it was never going to be an easy match, but I believed in myself and it worked out."
Kenin, now 27, has struggled to recapture the form that saw her lift the Melbourne title in 2020, but she remains a formidable opponent, ranked 224 spots above the British youngster. Yet Stojsavljevic matched her shot for shot, registering six winners to Kenin's none and saving three of the eight break points she faced.
Rising Star on the Rise
The victory marks the second significant scalp of the year for Stojsavljevic, who previously upset then world number 56 Talia Gibson at Billie Jean King Cup qualifying in April. Her journey in the sport began at the age of seven at Ealing Lawn Tennis Club in north-west London, where she first picked up a racket after watching her brother train.
In 2024, she became the first British player in 15 years to win the US Open junior title, reaching a career-high junior ranking of fifth. She turned professional in 2025 and earlier this year reached the quarter-finals of the WTA 125 event in Birmingham, a tier just below the main Tour.
Stojsavljevic will now face world number 67 Zeynep Sonmez of Turkey in the second round, with her confidence surely buoyed by a breakthrough performance that signals her arrival on the senior stage.
