Veronika Kudermetova singles out self-belief over tactics as reason behind win over Iga Swiatek
Veronika Kudermetova believes that a positive mindset was the key to her finally earning a victory over current world No 2 Iga Swiatek.
Swiatek held a 4-0 lead in their head-to-head before their meeting in Tokyo on Friday and hadn’t dropped a set to Kudermetova.
However, Kudermetova remedied that early, taking the opening set of the encounter before holding off a Swiatek fightback in winning the decisive set.
When asked if she deployed any special tactics against Swiatek, Kudermetova said that she hadn’t but felt that it was her positive mindset that made all the difference this time around.
“I tried to just believe that I can beat her,” Kudermetova said after she claimed her first win in five matches against Swiatek.
“Today it happened. I’m really happy that I managed to switch [the head-to-head] and win one match.”
After a trying summer, Kudermetova began the match against Swiatek on the rise at least. Her initial victories over Kayla Day and Harriet Dart were her first back-to-back triumphs since Berlin during the grass season. She has already defeated Aryna Sabalenka this season, and her victory over Swiatek marks her second win over a current No 2 this term.
Kudermetova took advantage of Swiatek’s poor start to sprint to a 4-0 lead after 17 minutes. Swiatek managed only three winners in the first set while making 20 unforced errors. Kudermetova had a better, more disciplined game, hitting three winners to nine unforced errors.
Swiatek began to find her range at the end of the 40-minute opening set, but she failed to break in the two games when she was presented a break point. Swiatek would carry that increased level into the second set though, winning eight of the first nine games and earning her first break of the match. Swiatek would defend and then increase her lead in the final game of the set, breaking again to claim the second and force a decisive set.
Kudermetova’s season record of 12-5 record in deciding sets was put to the test in the third set. Kudermetova came through on her third break point to take a 3-1 lead after a long fourth game.
With Swiatek eager to build a comeback, Kudermetova defended her serve well to secure the victory. Kudermetova did not face a break point in the third set despite taking on the game’s toughest returner.
“In the last game, I just focused on playing the point,” Kudermetova said. “I don’t need to hit aces. I think that was the key. I was ready to play the rally, not just finish with the serve.”
