(Paris) They don’t have the track record of the Williams sisters, but Veronika and Polina Kudermetova both qualified for the quarter-finals of the Seoul tournament on Wednesday. It’s the first time that they will both be present at this stage of the competition in the same WTA tournament.
The eldest, Veronika, 27 and former world number 9 in 2022, defeated her Russian compatriot Liudmila Samsanova in two sets 6-4, 6-2. Polina, 21, beaten in qualifying, but repêché thanks to the withdrawal of Magdalena Frech, won 6-2, 7-5 against Ekaterina Alexandrova, seeded number 7, in another 100% Russian duel.
“We train together all the time,” said the cadet, who assures that she is “continuously learning.” “It was a great experience because Veronika was world number 9. And I’m only climbing in the rankings now,” assures the 163e worldwide.
“Our mother is here too,” Veronika continues, happy to experience this tournament with her family. “We go to dinner together every night. You don’t feel as much stress when your family is near you,” she confided.
If they both qualify, the two sisters will meet in the semi-finals. They have never faced each other on the WTA circuit.