Cincinnati Tournament: Kudermetova brutally ends Gracheva’s run
Veronika Kudermetova easily defeated Varvara Gracheva 6-1, 6-2 on Friday at the Cincinnati tournament, marking the Frenchwoman’s first Masters 1000 quarterfinal appearance.
Veronika Kudermetova, Cincinnati 2025 | © Zuma / PsNewz
Russian Veronika Kudermetova gave no chance to Varvara Gracheva in what was the Frenchwoman’s first WTA 1000 quarterfinal. Kudermetova advanced to the semifinals of the Cincinnati tournament by defeating the qualifier convincingly, 6-1, 6-2, at the Lindner Family Tennis Center on Friday.
Kudermetova will play her third Masters 1000 semifinal, after Madrid en Rome in 2023.
Gracheva was outpaced in speed and power by the former world No. 9, who broke immediately and took five service games from her opponent without conceding a single break point. Ranked 106th in the WTA, Gracheva will rise about twenty places in the next WTA rankings release.
On her way in Cincinnati, she eliminated German qualifier Ella Seidel (2-6, 6-1, 6-1), Czech Karolina Muchova, the No. 11 seed (6-2, 6-4), American Sofia Kenin, the No. 24 seed (6-7 , 6-3, 6-3), and American wild card Katie Volynets (6-4, 3-6, 6-3).
Kudermetova, ranked 42nd in the WTA, will face the winner of the match between Italian Jasmine Paolini, the No. 7 seed, and American Coco Gauff, the No. 2 seed, in the Cincinnati WTA 1000 semifinals.
She earned her place by dominating Polish No. 31 seed Magda Linette (6-4, 6-3), Danish No. 16 seed Clara Tauson (3-6, 7-6 , 6-4), Swiss No. 17 seed Belinda Bencic (6-4, 7-6), and Dutch player Suzan Lamens (6-1, 6-3)
