Polina Kudermetova is the rising tennis star who recently switched her sporting nationality to Uzbekistan
In short: Born in Russia, Polina Kudermetova has rapidly ascended the professional tennis ranks. After a breakout 2025 season that saw her reach her first tour final and crack the top 60, she made a major career shift in 2026, transitioning to compete under the Uzbekistani flag on the international stage.
Born on 4 June 2003, Polina Eduardovna Kudermetova is the daughter of Russian ice hockey champion Eduard Kudermetov and the younger sister of professional tennis player Veronika Kudermetova. Her professional journey gained significant momentum in 2023 when she qualified for her first Grand Slam main draw at the Australian Open. She quickly proved her ability to challenge elite competition, notably defeating top-10 player Daria Kasatkina during her run to the 2025 Brisbane International final.
The 2025 season served as a pivotal year for Kudermetova's career trajectory. Following her performance in Brisbane, she climbed 50 positions in the WTA rankings to reach No. 57 on 6 January 2025. Later that year, she achieved a career-high singles ranking of No. 54 on 14 April 2025. Her major tournament experience also expanded, including a second-round appearance at the US Open after her opponent retired, and a subsequent first-round exit against world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka.
As of 2026, Kudermetova has entered a new chapter in her professional life. On 15 December 2025, it was announced that she would change her sporting nationality to represent Uzbekistan, joining fellow players Kamilla Rakhimova and Maria Timofeeva in this transition. Competing as the Uzbekistani No. 2, she began her 2026 season by reaching the final of the Canberra Tennis International and securing her first-ever main-draw victory at the Australian Open against Guiomar Maristany. Her career continues to evolve as she navigates high-level WTA 1000 events and seeks her first major tour title.
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