Rogers reaches San Jose final after taking out Kudermetova
Shelby Rogers gets the best of Veronika Kudermetova in straight sets at the WTA event in San Jose on Saturday. Rogers awaits either Paula Badosa or Daria Kasatkina in Sunday’s final.
Shelby Rogers at the Adelaide International tennis tournament at Memorial Drive on February 23, 2021 in Adelaide, Australia.
Credit: ICON SMI / PANORAMIC
For the first time in six years, Shelby Rogers is back in a WTA final.
Rogers, who last played for a title at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro tournament, booked her spot in the San Jose Open final by beating Russia’s Veronika Kudermetova 6-3, 6-4 on Saturday afternoon. The American needed one hour and 21 minutes to advance at the San Jose State University Tennis Center.
Into the biggest final of her career ✨@Shelby_Rogers_ defeats Kudermetova in straight sets 6-3, 6-4. #CitiOpen pic.twitter.com/XogDgs1hDy
— Tennis Channel (@TennisChannel) August 6, 2022
Rogers return too much for Kudermetova
Rogers’ return of serve led her to victory on Saturday. The world No 45 broke Kudermetova five times, capitalizing on most of her seven break-point opportunities. Kudermetova won only 54 percent of the points even when she put her first serve in play.
In appropriate fashion, Rogers clinched victory with a break. With Kudermetova serving at 4-5, 15-40, the No 9 seed netted a forehand on match point after Rogers struck a strong forehand return.
Badosa or Kasatkina next for Rogers
Rogers awaits either second-seeded Paula Badosa or No 7 Daria Kasatkina on Sunday.
Prior to Saturday’s success, Rogers defeated Canadian Bianca Andreescu (6-4, 6-2), top-seeded Greek Maria Sakkari (6-1, 6-3), and Amanda Anisimova (6-4, 6-4).
Kudermetova had previously taken out Italian Camila Giorgi (7-6(2), 4-6, 7-5), American Claire Liu (6-2, 7-5), and Tunisia’s Ons Jabeur (7-6(5), 6-2).
