PETE ZIEBRON in CINCINNATI
Veronika Kudermetova, preceeded by Monica Puig, enters Court 10 in Cincinnati. Pete Ziebron Images
Veronika Kudermetova hit ten aces and cruised to a 6-2 6-1 victory over Monica Puig to advance to the Main Draw of the 2019 Western & Southern Open.
The Russian and 10th seed in qualifying, opened the match with a service game at love and also closed the match with a service game at love. In the fourth game of the opening set, Kudermetova finally broke Puig in her fourth break opportunity. The break was consolidated at 15 in the next service game and the Russian now held a 4-1 lead.
After Puig held, Kudermetova quickly fell behind 15-40. What happened next was remarkable as she would save both break points, the second with an ace, save another break point with an ace and finally close out the game with two more aces. Three consecutive aces were hit as well as four aces in the last five points of the game!
Veronika Kudermetova hit 10 Aces en route to her second qualifying win in Cincinnati. Pete Ziebron Images
With the third seeded Puerto Rican serving to stay in the opening set at 2-5, Kudermetova broke at 30 to take the set in 32 minutes. The Russian won 94% of her first service points, struck 6 aces, and saved all three break points against.
Kudermetova held comfortably to open the second set and broke Puig in her second opportunity to take a 2-0 lead. In the next game, the Russian hit two more aces to race to 3-1. After each player held, Puig was broken yet again as Kudermetova would serve for the win and a place in the Main Draw.
Just as she did in the opening game of the match, the Russian won the game at love and closed the game with two consecutive aces, giving her a total of ten for the match.
Kudermetova will play American Wild Card Bernarda Pera on Court 8 on Monday. Monica Puig managed to still get entry into the Main Draw as a Lucky Loser as Canadian Open Champion Bianca Andreescu withdrew, Puig will play Lesia Tsurenko of Ukraine.
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