Deja vu for Sabalenka, defeated again at Bett1 Open Berlin by Kudermetova

WTA
Thursday, 22 June 2023 at 16:48
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It is deja vu in multiple ways at the Bett1 Open Berlin on Thursday afternoon with Veronika Kudermetova through to the Quarter-Finals of the grass court staple tournament 6-2, 7-6.
But for Kudermetova, it is another year of defeating Sabalenka at this tournament with victory over the World No.2 to end her run last year.
This being one of the only tournaments that Sabalenka actually played due to the ban of Russian and Belarusian players at Wimbledon.
But in a year which sees that ban lifted, it is again Russian players that star in the run-up tournaments.
Last week, Kudermetova lost out to Ekaterina Alexandrova in the final of Libema Open in 's-Hertogenbosch and will face her again little under a week later.
Alexandrova took down Coco Gauff earlier today as the American continues her shocking form as of late not making it past the second round in the last five tournaments.
But credit of course has to go to both Russian players who again put themselves in the mix for the Wimbledon title with Elena Rybakina out early, Sabalenka now out and Iga Swiatek only playing limited warm-up tournaments.
Also earlier today, Marketa Vondrousova moved through with Jule Niemeier retiring after defeating Ons Jabeur earlier this week.
The Czech ace who downed Bianca Andreescu will face the winner of the final match of the day which sees Maria Sakkari face Aliaksandra Sasnovich.
The other Quarter-Finals see Carolina Garcia face Petra Kvitova and Elina Avanesyan take on Donna Vekic as the business end is reached in Berlin.

Kudermetova d. Aryna Sabalenka 6-2 7-6(2) Déjà vu in Berlin Veronika has now beaten Sabalenka 2 years in a row at this event With Elena Rybakina & Sabalenka both out early in Berlin, Wimbledon is starting to feel a bit more unpredictable.

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