Google News
Veronika Kudermetova came back to win a title on the WTA Tour, almost two and a half years after the last time, when she triumphed in the WTA in Charleston. The Russian player had a dream week in Tokyo and achieved victories that were as prestigious as they were fought for.
The Russian player revealed all her emotions in an interview with the official WTA website: "I'm really happy, because it wasn't an easy period for me: I went through really difficult moments. Now I'm really happy and motivated in view of the next few weeks.
Jessica Pegula is a great player, a real fighter and I think I prepared well for this match. In the first set, when we were at 5-5, I said to myself: Veronika, you just have to fight, you just have to do everything you can to win.
And that's what I did."
Kudermetova lived a sensational week
For Kudermetova this is the second title won in her career. Precisely by virtue of the path undertaken in Tokyo, the Russian received a bye at the WTA in Beijing, the last 1000 of the season.
On her debut she will find one between Lesia Tsurenko and home player Lin Zhu on the other side of the net. The first seed in her side of the draw bears the name and surname of Coco Gauff.
Her journey at the Toray Pan Pacific Open Tennis began with her match against Harriet Dart, which ended in straight sets.
A double 6-3 inflicted on Kayla Day allowed her to reach former world number one Iga Swiatek in the quarterfinals.
The Pole seemed to have re-established the hierarchy at the end of the second set, which ended 6-2 in her favour, but Kudermetova did well not to give up and played the key points of the decisive set with greater precision.
In the semi-final she then won the Russian derby with Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, winning again in three sets. Kudermetova finally completed her masterpiece by overcoming number two seed Jessica Pegula 7-5, 6-1.