“I don’t approve of her decision, she didn’t consult anyone”: Veronika Kudermetova perturbed by sister Polina Kudermetova’s nationality change

Former world No. 9 Veronika Kudermetova responded in a recent interview with Tatar Russia about the widely discussed “Battle of the Sexes” that took place a month ago, where Nick Kyrgios defeated world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka—a match that sparked both excitement and criticism. She also spoke about her disagreement with her sister Polina Kudermetova’s decision to change her sporting nationality from Russia to Uzbekistan.

On the Battle of the Sexes, the 28-year-old Russian agreed that even the top WTA players have little chance against top-200 ATP men. “The level of the men is much higher than the women’s,” said Kudermetova. “They are physically stronger and can do more on the court than we can. I have no doubt that a player ranked in the top 200—or even the top 300 or 400—could beat a woman in the top 10.”

Kudermetova had been preparing for the Australian Open, but her withdrawal from the tournament was confirmed this Friday, following a surprising exit from the seeded order. This joins the absence of Qinwen Zheng, announced just days earlier.

One of the topics that caught attention during the offseason was the nationality changes of Russian players, who will start the new season representing new countries, adding to several cases from last season. The most recent include Anastasia Potapova (Austria), Kamila Rakhimova (Uzbekistan), and Veronika’s sister, Polina Kudermetova (Uzbekistan).

When asked about this, Veronika said she does not share her sister’s decision and speculated on her possible reasons for switching nationality. “Frankly, it’s a sensitive topic for me. I don’t approve of her decision; she didn’t consult anyone—it was a personal choice,” she said. “I believe her motivation to change sports nationality is both economic and the desire to qualify for the Olympics.

"As a Russian athlete, it was difficult for her to reach a high ranking. But as part of Uzbekistan, she could achieve third or even second place in the ranking.”

Kudermetova also reflected on her relationship with former world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka and the champion mentality she has shown throughout her career. One aspect she highlighted about the Belarusian is her mental strength.

“I had a very close relationship with Aryna back in 2022. I spent a couple of weeks at her house and got to know her difficult psychological situation,” Kudermetova recalled. “She faced an enormous number of challenges and problems back then. The fact that she overcame everything inspires admiration and respect. Her world No. 1 ranking is fully deserved.”

Regarding the champion mentality, she added: “Of course, I’ve heard about it many times. People love to talk about it because it’s essentially what guarantees success. But this mentality is not built overnight. It develops gradually: you realize you need to take more responsibility in matches and blame no one but yourself for mistakes. In training and in matches, you must always talk to yourself. You have to believe that nothing is impossible. Progress is only possible when you are stable internally.”

Speaking about the four-time major champion, Veronika noted that Sabalenka’s mentality has even influenced her own abilities on court. She also clarified that, in terms of pure power, some players hit harder than Sabalenka. “It might surprise you, but Aryna Sabalenka is not the hardest hitter on the tour. Of course, there are women who hit much harder. It’s just that Aryna has a magical energy on the court,” Kudermetova said. “The way she channels all her energy into the ball, the way she accompanies each shot with a shout—it’s that aura that creates the impression she hits very hard every time, even if she doesn’t.”