World number 93 Kenin reached her first WTA semi-final since Hobart in January, booking a Friday meeting against the winner of a later match between Greek third seed Maria Sakkari and American Emma Navarro.

Azarenka, the 24th seed from Belarus, won her titles at Melbourne Park in 2012 and 2013, while American Kenin prevailed to lift the champion's Daphne Akhurst Cup in 2020.

The US Tennis Association announced the recipients ahead of the August 29 start of the year's final Grand Slam tournament at New York

Barty took just 64 minutes to see off the seventh seeded Rybakina 6-3, 6-2 and claim the 14th singles title of her career

World number one Ashleigh Barty fired off 17 aces as she downed former Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin 6-3, 6-4 in the quarter-finals of the Adelaide International on Friday.

With Simona Halep missing the top seeds in Qatar are world number one Ashleigh Barty, and Sofia Kenin, fourth in the world and winner of the Australian Open in 2020.

Australian Open: The Grand Slam is finally in its full flow, and has seen some exciting tennis. Defending champion Sofia Kenin has been knocked out.

Australian Open: Defending champion Sofia Kenin lost 3-6, 2-6 to Kaia Kanepi in the second round.

Australian Open 2021: Sofia Kenin defeated wildcard Maddison Inglis 7-5, 6-4 in one hour and 26 minutes.

Ashleigh Barty and Naomi Osaka got off to winning starts as they got their Australian Open preparations underway in Melbourne.