By Tennis Now | @TennisNow | Monday, February 3, 2025
Photo credit: Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open Facebook
In a clash of former Abu Dhabi finalists, the lucky loser was wondrous winner.
Lucky loser Veronika Kudermetova saved match point fighting off fifth-seeded Liudmila Samsonova 5-7, 6-1, 7-6(5) in a 2 hour, 55 minute marathon to reach the Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open second round.
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It was a family-aided win.
Veronika Kudermetova, who lost in qualifying, gained entry to the main draw when younger sister Polina Kudermetova withdrew.
In a topsy-turvy test, Veronika Kudermetova built a 5-2 lead only to see the hard-hitting Samsonova reel off five games in a row to seize a one-set lead.
Resetting, Kudermetova surged through nine of the next 11 games to take the second set and go up 3-1 in the third.
Samsonova broke back for 3-all then gained match point with Kudermetova serving at 4-5, 30-40.
Kudermetova saved match point and pulled out a dramatic tiebreaker when Samsonova’s final drive narrowly missed long.
“I had luck on my side twice,” said Kudermetova afterwards. “I got in, and I won. Just a good day for me today. “Already this season I lost a lot of matches when I led.
“I told myself, ‘This time, Veronika you have to work on that thing. If you will be sad, for sure you will lose this match.'”
World No. 51 avenged her 2023 quarterfinal loss to the 2023 finalist beating Samsonova for the fourth time in a row. Kudermetova improved to 6-2 lifetime vs. Samsonova—her most wins over any single opponent.