NEW DELHI: Eighth-seeded Veronika Kudermetova secured her first title of the season and second overall with an impressive victory over world number four Jessica Pegula in the Pan Pacific Open final held in Tokyo on Sunday.
Kudermetova's aggressive style was on full display as she wasted no time unleashing her potent shots from the baseline. In the opening stages, she managed to break Pegula's serve early, taking a commanding 3-0 lead. However, Pegula countered, breaking Kudermetova's serve in the fifth game and levelling the score in the first set.
An untimely double fault from Pegula proved costly as it gifted Kudermetova the crucial opening set. The Russian, ranked 19th in the world, elevated her intensity in the following set, racing to a 5-1 lead. She sealed the match on her third match point with a powerful serve.
This victory marked Kudermetova's second win over Pegula this season, the previous one coming in the Madrid quarter-finals. Impressively, it also marked her fifth win in the last six encounters against top-10 opponents. Notably, Kudermetova had overcome world number two Iga Swiatek earlier in the tournament.
Kudermetova's stellar performance in Tokyo has showcased her prowess on the court, and the Russian tennis sensation is certainly one to watch in future tournaments. With this title win, she adds another significant achievement to her burgeoning career.
(With Reuters inputs)
