Fans Urge Sofia Kenin to End Professional Relationship with Dad Alex After Controversial Conduct During Match- “Should Be Banned From Court Side”

Sofia Kenin kick-started her campaign for the 2026 season at the Brisbane International. After knocking out a fellow unseeded Elena-Gabriela Ruse in the first round, the American succumbed to a straight-set defeat at the hands of seventh seed Ekaterina Alexandrova.

When the match was slipping away from Kenin’s hands, Kenin’s dad and coach, Alex Kenin, who always looks stressed during her matches, couldn’t control his emotions. He angrily threw a bottle against the wall.

During her childhood, Kenin used to work with Rick Macci, also the childhood coach of the legendary Serena Williams and Venus Williams. But throughout her professional career, she played under the guidance of Alex.

But in May 2021, they split. They started working again in September of the same year. Kenin also worked with renowned coach Nicholas Bollettieri.

Fans criticize Sofia Kenin’s father, Alex Kenin, after his controversial behavior during the Brisbane International

Some fans who noticed Alex Kenin’s conduct took to X to express their frustration, urging Sofia Kenin to end her professional relationship with her dad. But some fans felt Kenin, even if she starts working with another coach, wouldn’t be able to find her form, citing her past coaching situation.

Check out their reactions here:

All parents should be banned from court side.

They do no good at all.

— 🇺🇦🇪🇺Geoff#IMeHeYouRejoinEU (@garside_geoff) January 6, 2026

Kenin’s dad just angrily chucked a water bottle against the wall when Kenin DF’d to lose the match and I feel so bad for her that she has to be around that energy all the time

— Owen (@kostekcanu) January 6, 2026

She won't win again with him. Should have dumped him a year after winning Australia.

— Mike (@ParadiseKauaiHI) January 6, 2026

But she doesn't have to be. She can find a proper coach

— Anna Zofia Niezgodzka (@Anna_Niezgodzka) January 6, 2026

Yes I recall. I think she’s gotten herself back up to a good ranking. This year is really important for her – she should try a new voice imo

— 🎾nebby🎾 (@1gamesetmatch) January 6, 2026

This is why she looks so miserable on the court. She should have cut him years ago. He is a God awful coach

— Katie Travlos (@TravlosKat15913) January 6, 2026

yikes. their relationship gets a fraction of the talk that is given to stefanos tsitsipas and his father, but you really have to wonder what kenin could (have) accomplish with an outside coach.

as a sonya fan, i always wish the best for her https://t.co/IQCw0ROrbp

— 🎾nebby🎾 (@1gamesetmatch) January 6, 2026

She tried. Like many players with … dads it just didn’t work.

— Stephanie Myles (@OpenCourt) January 7, 2026

Last year, during the Dubai Open match versus Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, Alex was spotted showing the middle finger to the camera. Kenin lost that match in straight sets.

Papa Kenin has had it _|_ #AbuDhabi pic.twitter.com/zzqH4cT54q

— Tennis GIFs🎾🎥 (@tennis_gifs) February 4, 2025

Sofia Kenin is searching for her first title since the 2020 Lyon Open

Last year, Kenin reached just one final. She played the title clash of the Charleston Open, losing the match to 2024 US Open finalist Jessica Pegula. Her final tournament of the 2025 season was the Hong Kong Open, where the fourth seed suffered an opening round defeat at the hands of Himeno Sakatsume. She finished the season in the 22nd spot on the rankings table.

In 2023 and 2024 as well, Kenin made just one final, at the San Diego Open and the Pan Pacific Open, losing the matches to Barbora Krejcikova and Qinwen Zheng, respectively. The last time the 27-year-old won a title was at the 2020 Lyon Open by defeating Anna-Lena Friedsam.

In the same season, Kenin lifted her career’s biggest title by defeating Garbine Muguruza in the Australian Open final. Kenin also made the 2020 French Open final but failed to go past the now six-time Grand Slam champion Iga Swiatek.

Since that defeat, Kenin failed to progress to another Grand Slam singles quarterfinals, reaching the fourth round just twice, at the 2020 US Open and the 2021 French Open. Last year, Kenin produced her best Grand Slam performance at Roland Garros as she reached the third round. Her campaign at the Australian Open and the US Open ended in the first round, while at Wimbledon, she suffered a second-round exit.

Kenin reached her career-best singles ranking of No.4 in March 2020. Only once she qualified for the WTA Finals, in 2019, failing to progress to the semifinals.

Since winning the 2020 Australian Open, Kenin reached the second round of the Melbourne Slam just once, in 2021. In her next four appearances, she succumbed to defeat in the first round.

Kenin has yet to taste success in a WTA 1000 tournament. She produced her best performance in this level by reaching the semifinals of the 2019 Canadian Open and Cincinnati Open the same year. She also reached the last four of the Guadalajara Open in 2023.

Last year in WTA 1000 events, Kenin made just one quarterfinal- at the Dubai Open, where her run was ended by 2022 Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina. In the other WTA 1000 events, she failed to advance to the fourth round. Kenin will next be participating at the WTA 500 Adelaide International, which starts on January 12.

Also read: Mirra Andreeva Gets Real About ‘Impossible’ Expectations After Brisbane Win