🎾 Charleston WTA: Begu vs Kudermetova – Match Preview

🎾 Charleston WTA: Begu vs Kudermetova – Match Preview

🧠 Form & Context

🟨 Irina-Camelia Begu

• 🎢 Sunshine Swing drama: Lost close three-setters to Boulter and Bondar despite fighting hard.
• 🧱 Clay queen: 29 of 30 wins in 2024 came on clay. Won or reached finals in three 125k events and reached SF in Palermo.
• 📈 Still top-100: Her clay record has been key to maintaining a solid ranking at age 34.
• 🌿 Charleston history: A three-time quarterfinalist at the Credit One Open.

🟥 Polina Kudermetova

• 🚀 Breakout 2024-25: Reached Brisbane final as a qualifier; over a dozen wins already in 2025.
• 💪 Top-tier scalps: Defeated Kasatkina and Alexandrova for her first top-20 wins.
• 📈 Fast climb: Ranked outside top 190 in March 2024, now near top 50 after 15+ quarterfinals at all levels.
• 📉 Minor hiccup: Fell to Ruse in Miami, but otherwise consistently impressive.

🔍 Match Breakdown

This is a true generational battle: Begu, a proven clay specialist with deep tournament know-how, versus Kudermetova, a rising star with nothing to lose and lots to prove.

The Romanian’s comfort on clay and past success at Charleston make her a dangerous opponent. Kudermetova’s ball-striking and recent form suggest she won’t go down quietly, but she’s still building her clay credentials at the WTA level.

Begu won their only meeting convincingly last fall on clay in Montreux and will look to replicate that blueprint—depth, defense, and patience.

🔮 Prediction

Pick: Begu in 3 sets

Kudermetova could push the tempo early, but if this becomes a physical battle on Charleston’s green clay, Begu’s experience and surface mastery give her the edge once again.