Kudermetova's 'annus horribilis': "I crumbled, I was psychologically exhausted"

Fernando Murciego | 14 Dec 2024 | 18.00

Veronika Kudermetova gives reasons for her poor season 2024. Source: Getty

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What assessment do you make of your season? I imagine it must be the worst question in the world when your best result in 25 tournaments is reaching the semifinals at the WTA 500 in Seoul. This is the reality that Veronika Kudermetova faces, who once reached the top 10 and was the best tennis player in her country. Today, she is ranked 76th in the WTA rankings, with a record of 18-25 this year and a video of her arguing on the court with her coach (and husband) as the most relevant moment. In an interview with the portal Championat, the tennis player from Kazan analyzes her situation and hopes to turn the page as soon as possible.

A forgettable 2024

“Honestly, I wouldn't judge this season from a point of view of success or failure. For me, it has been a rather difficult year, really tough, I had to face many problems. The series of injuries I suffered throughout the season affected not only my physical condition but also my psychological state greatly. It is difficult to find something positive, these have been months of a lot of psychological stress.”

Controversy with her coach in the middle of a match

“Suddenly, I became some kind of internet star, that video went viral worldwide. Probably, very few people can evaluate that situation correctly, especially someone who has never practiced competitive sports. It was the end of the season, it seemed like I was feeling better again, but the injuries were still a big burden on my body. Let's say that psychological exhaustion prevailed over the rest of the factors, I broke down, but I understand that such behavior on the court is unacceptable.”

Absence from the Olympic Games

“To be honest, I didn't have to worry much about the Olympic Games, as just at that stage I was suffering from an injury that had been bothering me for a while and, just in those months, I felt it again. In fact, it then got even worse. The truth is that I had to miss many tournaments during the summer, there were problems with being admitted to Wimbledon, where I was admitted at the last moment, the day before arriving, which made me very nervous.”

How did you experience Nadal's farewell?

“It's not that I followed it closely, but I did read the news about the farewell ceremony. It is sad that he is leaving, of course, it is always a pity when legends leave the sport. Nadal was an example for all of us, for all athletes, as a person he is a prime example. It will be sad that this new generation cannot see him compete, neither they nor us.”

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, El ‘annus horribilis’ de Kudermetova: “Me derrumbé, estaba agotada psicológicamente”