By Richard Pagliaro | Wednesday, January 18, 2023
Veronika Kudermetova was reminded of a tennis fact down beneath: What you do not know can damage you.
Unheralded American qualifier Katie Volynets is not the largest title within the Australian Open discipline, however she scored one of many greatest upsets right now.
On her third match level, Volynets blocked a volley into the open court docket beautiful the ninth-seeded Kudermetova 6-4, 2-6, 6-2 to attain her greatest profession win on Margaret Court Arena.
In her sixth profession Grand Slam essential draw, the 21-year-old Volynets reached a significant third spherical for the primary time.
A tournament-high 18 American ladies began the primary attract Melbourne. Volynets joins 2022 finalist Danielle Collins, third-seeded Jessica Pegula, seventh-seeded Coco Gauff, Bernarda Pera and Tenth-seeded Madison Keys within the group of Americans already into spherical three.
“I’ve never played in a stadium this packed and that many people keeping the energy up for me.”
Start getting used to it, Katie Volynets ????#AusOpen • #AO2023 pic.twitter.com/Ms5hLb00L0
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 19, 2023
We understand a lot of you, like a few of us, could not know rather a lot about Katie Volynets.
Here’s a number of information about her to know extra forward of her third-round conflict.
World No. 113 Volynets has attained a profession milestone in Melbourne successful back-to-back Tour-level main-draw matches for the primary time.
In spherical three, Volynets will face both Petra Martic or Twenty third-seeded Shuai Zhang.
She is coached by German Henner Nehles.
Including qualifying, Volynets has scored 5 match wins in Melbourne Park. She wears adidas attire and performs with Head racquets.
Volynets defeated world No. 9 Kudermetova in her first profession match vs. a Top 10 opponent.
Prior to right now’s win over Kudermetova, the highest-ranked opponent Volynets confronted was No. 15 Bianca Andreescu on the 2019 US Open.
The pleasure of Walnut Creek, California received the USTA’s Roland Garros Wild Card Challenge final yr to earn her method into the French Open draw.
If you are not conversant in Volynets’ type, she’s a quick-footed counterpuncher who redirects tempo successfully and is an correct ball striker. Volynets just isn’t a very huge hitter however performs sensible mixtures: She dedicated 28 unforced errors in opposition to Kudermetova, which was 19 fewer than the world No. 9.
The 21-year-old Volynets certified for the ASB Classic in Auckland earlier this month the place she misplaced to 42-year-old Venus Williams within the opening spherical. It was former No. 1 Williams’ first main-draw win in additional than a yr.
Volynets, who has performed extensively on the ITF Tour, advised ITFTennis.com her objective is to turn out to be a whole participant.
“I’ve definitely grown a lot as a player through the ITF programme,” Volynets advised ITFTennis.com. “When I first began taking part in I solely performed 25ks after which I obtained to progress to 60ks and now to a number of 100ks. As you progress the extent you additionally construct your recreation.
“We’ve labored on a number of psychological features, bodily features, completely different instruments within the recreation and being a well-rounded participant. Having no holes as a participant is the final word objective and we’re working in the direction of it daily.”
Photo credit score: Clive Brunskill