Australia's resurgent No.1 Rodionova thwarted and frustrated Kenin at every turn on Tuesday, emerging victorious with an energy-sapping 7-5 7-6 (9-7) win.
But the 34-year-old needed a wildcard to compete in Brisbane and will require similar fortune to feature in Melbourne.
Rodionova's ranking has fallen over the past 18 months due to a wrist injury but the world No.113 was more than a match for 37th-ranked Kenin in a near two-and-a-half hour battle royale.
Asked if she was hopeful Australian Open bosses would look favourably on her, Rodionova replied: "If it was up to me, I would give it to myself but I think there's other people involved.
"Hopefully they like the way I'm playing this week.
"I've done all the hard work, I put myself in the best position and there's nothing else I could have done to get myself closer."
Rodionova sounded a warning of an upset when she broke Kenin in the first set and despite the American breaking back the home favourite was able to hang on to take the set.
But the ding-dong head to head was typified by the gripping seventh game of the second set which lasted 17 minutes.
Kenin had broken Rodionova's serve and looked to be on her way to squaring the match and sending it to a third set.
The Australian gave Kenin a scare but was left to rue her failure to convert eight break points with her American opponent going 5-2 up.
Kenin may have won the battle but Rodionova the war, with the veteran holding serve either side of a break to force a tiebreak where she calmly eked out victory.
Arina Rodionova thanked fans for their support but playfully said she won't share her prize money. (Jono Searle/AAP PHOTOS)
"I wouldn't mind if the match would go into the third set because the more time I spend on this court, I'm truly having fun there at the moment," Rodionova said.
"I don't care if it's three hours. I'll stay there for three hours. If it's four, I'll stay for four. It's better for me."
Bad weather delayed the many of Tuesday's matches in both the men's and women's draws in Brisbane, but two-time Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka progressed with a 6-1 7-6 (10-8) defeat of Russia's Anna Kalinskaya.
The other scheduled tie of note on Tuesday was the all-Australian meeting between Olivia Gadecki and Kimberly Birrell with the winner set to face Kazakhstan's world No.3 Elena Rybakina.
