World No. 50, 28-year-old Russian tennis player Veronika Kudermetova discussed her approach to dealing with long waiting periods before scheduled matches.
Your match in Rome was initially scheduled for an early start, but now it`s evening and getting dark. How did you manage the long wait?
It was actually fine; I can`t complain. I got here, practiced, ate, did some recovery work before the match, and only waited about an hour and a half to two hours. I`ve definitely been in worse situations, so this was manageable.
Kudermetova also addressed the intensity of the tournament schedule. Having played in the doubles final in Madrid on Sunday [May 3rd], she traveled straight to Rome the next day.
Since you were in Madrid until the very end, playing the doubles final on Sunday, when did you get to Rome, and have you had a chance to adapt?
I arrived on Monday and have practiced twice. It`s definitely difficult. The conditions here are very different; even if the balls are the same, they fly differently, the speed and the courts are distinct. Everything is quite specific, so more time is needed for adaptation. I wish I had more.
Furthermore, Kudermetova commented on her sister Polina Kudermetova`s first-round loss in the Rome singles event. World No. 57 Polina, aged 21, was defeated by Romania`s Elena-Gabriela Ruse (world No. 88, Q) with a score of 7/6(10), 4/6, 2/6.
Your sister lost today; were you able to follow her match?
Yes, I watched the first set and part of the second set until it was 4-4, then I had to go to my own match. Naturally, it`s disappointing that she couldn`t win, but she really fought hard until the end. I believe these kinds of tough, competitive matches are very beneficial for her development.
Have you had a chance to see her since?
Yes, just for a quick moment. She`s understandably sad, but that`s just part of being an athlete. Some days you`re sad, some days you`re happy.
Veronika Kudermetova, 28, won her first-round match against Italian Lucrezia Stefanini 7/5, 6/2 and progressed to the next round, where she will face American Amanda Anisimova (17).
Marcus Blakely