Representing the U.S. in Fed Cup for the third time but seeking her first Fed Cup victory, Sofia ‘Sonya’ Kenin got it done and then some on Sunday in San Antonio, defeating Swiss veteran Timea Bacsinszky, 6-3, 7-6(4), to clinch the United States’ victory over Switzerland in this World Group Playoff tie to maintain the Americans’ place in the World Group for 2020.

The 20-year old Kenin, who had gone 0-3 in Fed Cup singles matches since making her debut in the 2018 Final in Prague, ensured the U.S. the right to compete for its 19th Fed Cup title next year in a tie for which she was originally nominated to play doubles. But after world No. 8 Sloane Stephens won her second singles match of the weekend inside Freeman Coliseum Sunday to stake the U.S. a 2-1 lead, defeating Viktorija Golubic, 6-4, 6-3, U.S. Captain Kathy Rinaldi subbed Kenin for Madison Keys to close out the Swiss.

Though there was drama – Kenin served for the match at 6-5 in the second set, but was broken – the Pembroke Pines product steadied her hand in the tiebreaker and raced to a 6-1 lead, converting her fourth match point.

“I’m just really happy, and I really left it all out there on the court,” Kenin said in her news conference. “Sloane just said, You know what? Just fight. Leave it all out on the court. Be all bloody and stuff.So I left it all on court.Yeah. Just amazing support from my teammates, from Maddie, Jenny, and Jessica, and Kathy, of course. And I’m just so thankful and really happy to share this moment with all of them and all of you.”

“I knew I had to play my aggressive game. We had a plan, and I tried to stick with it and I think I did a really good job with.She’s a grinder. She got so many balls back. And I knew that I had to play my best in order to win. And Ididn’t want to lose obviously, but, you know, if she was going to beat ME, she was going to have to really fight to beat me. Luckily I won. I’m very happy.”

The Swiss made it a 3-2 final score with Conny Perrin and Ylena In-Albon defeating Jessica Pegula and Jennifer Brady, 7-5, 6-2, in a dead doubles match.

MATCH RESULTS

Saturday

Viktorija Golubic (SUI) d. Madison Keys (USA), 6-2, 6-3

Sloane Stephens (USA) d. Timea Bacsinszky (SUI), 6-4, 6-3

Sunday

Sloane Stephens (USA) d. Viktorija Golubic (SUI), 6-3, 6-2

Sofia Kenin (USA) d. Timea Bacsinszky (SUI), 6-3, 7-6(4)

Conny Perrin and Ylena In-Albon (SUI) d. Jennifer Brady and Jessica Pegula (USA), 7-5, 6-2