Russia’s Daria Kasatkina will compete in a Grand Slam semi-final for the first time this week after the 25-year-old overcame the challenge of compatriot Veronika Kudermetova on Wednesday to qualify for the final four at Roland Garros.
The 20th seed held off Kudermetova to win in straight sets by a score of 6-4, 7-6(5) in what was her 26th appearance at a major, taking two hours and eight minutes in what was arguably the biggest single win of her career, after she lost out in her two prior Grand Slam quarter-finals at the French Open and Wimbledon in 2018. Both Kasatkina and Kudermetova came into the match in impressive form, with Kasatkina’s 22 wins this season good for the fifth best record on the tour.
Kudermetova was hot on her heels with 20 wins in the books so far in 2022.
But it was Kasatkina who was better able to continue her hot streak which has seen her drop just 14 games en route to the quarter-finals – the fourth best record by a woman up to this point in tournament history.