Sofia Kenin and Bethanie Mattek-Sands rise from alternates to Miami Open doubles champions

For the second straight year, an all-American female doubles team wins the Miami Open. Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula lifted the trophy in 2023, but the improbable team of Sofia Kenin and Bethanie Mattek-Sands are the 2024 champions.

Kenin and Mattek Sands are not an improbable team because of their skill and reputation; they are the 2024 Abu Dhabi Open champions. They also won the 2019 China Open. Three of Kenin's four career doubles titles have been with Mattek-Sands as her partner. However, they did not expect to play the Miami Open but snuck in as an alternate after another team withdrew.

The rest is history. In an Olympic year when Pegula and Gauff have had limited match play and success, Kenin and Mattek-Sands are the current force to reckon with in USA doubles tennis.

Kenin and Mattek-Sands have perfect chemistry

Doubles teams succeed because of on and off-court chemistry. Kenin is an accomplished singles player and Grand Slam champion; the 25-year-old won the 2020 Australian Open while finishing as a finalist at the French Open the same year. She has struggled with form, confidence, and injuries. She is shy and quieter off the court than her partner, the gregarious Mattek-Sands.

Mattek-Sands is 39 years old and the winner of 34 doubles and mixed doubles titles including 8 Grand Slams and 2016 Olympic gold in mixed doubles. She won the 2015 French Open in both doubles and mixed doubles.

She has seen the ups and downs of the sport, dealt with multiple serious injuries, and continues to play for the love of the game. Mattek-Sands is frequently smiling and has enjoyed a long career having turned pro 25 years ago in 1999.

Mattek-Sands is the yin to Kenin's yang; their opposing styles and personalities make them a fun team to watch and cheer for in US women's doubles. Congratulations to Sofia Kenin and Bethanie Mattek-Sands!

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