Australia's resurgent No.1 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 Rodionova needed a wildcard to compete in Brisbane and will require similar fortune to feature in the Melbourne Park main draw from January 14.
Rodionova has slumped 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 took the war, with the veteran holding serve either side of a break to force the set into 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 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.
In the other big tie of day five, Olivia Gadecki edged out Billie Jean Cup teammate Kimberly Birrell 4-6 6-0 6-4 in a quality tussle between two Gold Coast super talents.
"It was definitely a bit of a rollercoaster," Gadecki said.
"I was a little bit nervous that first set, but I'm really happy with how I played.
"Kim put up a good fight and I thought she raised her level in the third set but I just stayed in there and really enjoyed competing."
Mentored by Ash Barty, Gadecki plays 2022 Wimbledon champion and 2023 AO runner-up Elena Rybakina on Wednesday night and said she "wouldn't want it any other way".
"I'm very excited, so I'm gonna go and recover a bit and get ready to play."
