"I say hi, some reply, some not": Kudermetova reveals effort made with Ukrainian players on tour but expected cold response
WTAMonday, 03 July 2023 at 23:00
Veronika Kudermetova is the latest player to share insight on the frosty relations between Russian and Belarusian players on tour since the war began.
Kudermetova began her Wimbledon campaign with a hard fought win over 7-6, 6-4 over Kaia Kanepi. Missing the tournament last year and being from the main nation involved, of course it was part of the questioning.
She spoke about the on tour dynamic and said that she makes an effort to say hello to Ukrainian players with mixed results.
"I say hi to them. I say hi. Some people, they reply; some not," she said in her post-match press conference.
In addition, it is for her about blurring the lines between politics and sport and that she is merely there to do a job.
"We are here just a tennis player. It's like that," she added.
But despite that, she was glad to be back at Wimbledon and seal the opening win in the end.
"I was happy to come back here... And the crowd was very good for me. They support. I think it doesn't matter from which country you are, we are here to compete and try to show our best," she said.
"I'm happy to win that match, but for sure I show not my best tennis, not my best level. But anyway, the final results, yeah, I win and I'm happy."
Samuel GillEditor-in-Chief
Samuel Gill is the Chief Content Officer (CCO) of TennisUpToDate.com, a role he has held since 2020. He is responsible for editorial governance across the platform, including setting content standards, overseeing accuracy and consistency, and guiding long-term editorial strategy. Since joining, he has contributed more than 10,000 articles and editorial pieces across the TennisUpToDate network, playing a central role in the daily operation and development of the site.
Based in Leicester, Samuel has a broad background in tennis media. In his current role, he works closely with editors and writers to ensure coverage meets clear journalistic standards, with particular attention to verification, consistency, and timely updates when new information becomes available.
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