Freshly naturalized Uzbek!
New version of Polina for 2026?
Polina Kudermetova, younger sister of Veronika, made a splash in Brisbane 2025 by reaching the final and even taking a set off Sabalenka. What followed on the WTA tour, however, was disastrous. Between lack of motivation, limited off-court work and behavioral issues, the year felt very long, especially due to the absence of structure. A shame, because in Brisbane she had clearly shown what she was capable of.
Her ranking at the cut-off allowed her to avoid qualifying. Polina then surprised everyone, including her sister, by becoming a naturalized Uzbek citizen. That even created a bit of family tension. That said, in my view, this choice is above all strategic. It could become a real golden ticket for the rest of her career, starting with putting together a new coaching team, notably with Dinara Safina. Former WTA world number one, 12 titles, a real heavyweight of the 2000–2010 era.
A strategic choice as well not to defend her final in Brisbane in favor of a W125 in Canberra. Even if she dropped places in the WTA rankings, the gamble seems relevant: she lost a tight final, but above all we saw a Polina dictating the rallies and finally at peace with her tennis. It had been a long time, speaking as someone who follows her closely. A real beginning of stability.
The draw is fairly kind with ITF surprise package Maristany, who handled her three matches perfectly to reach the first round of her first Grand Slam. She actually has very little WTA experience, which could quickly become a factor. I’m not expecting an easy match for Polina either: the Spaniard has nothing to lose and will be able to fund a good part of her 2026 ITF season thanks to this run. She remains aggressive, even if her profile is more that of a clay-courter, less comfortable on faster surfaces.
Curious to see how Polina develops tonight
