In the high-stakes world of professional tennis, stories of prodigies emerging from meticulously planned academies are common. Less common, perhaps, is the tale of two sisters who carved their own path to the top, guided by a former ice hockey star father who readily admits he had to learn the game alongside them. This is the intriguing narrative of Veronika and Polina Kudermetova, recounted by their father, Eduard Kudermetov, a man whose insights into sport, dedication, and the sheer unpredictability of an athlete`s journey are as refreshing as they are stark.
An Unplanned Beginning: “They Just Went”
Eduard Kudermetov, a seasoned forward for top Russian hockey clubs and the national team, paints a picture of a household where sports weren`t initially imposed but rather gravitated towards. “There wasn`t even a moment where someone `sent` them to tennis,” he explains, a touch of amiable bewilderment in his voice. “They just went.” Before the racquets, there were dances and art classes. Then, one day, a young Veronika, then eight and a half, simply declared her intention to play tennis. “Well, if you want to, go ahead,” Eduard recalls thinking. “You`ll stay fit, and sport instills discipline.”
The journey, it turned out, was less about a grand strategy and more about a persistent, organic pull. With a six-year age gap, Polina, at two and a half, became an inadvertent participant. Their mother, the unsung hero, juggled the demanding logistics of taking Veronika to training, often with a toddler in tow. Meals were frequently consumed in the car, a testament to the relentless schedule and parental sacrifice. “When the older sister is involved, the younger one just follows,” Eduard shrugs, acknowledging the inescapable gravitational pull of the tennis courts where their mother spent countless hours.
From Puck to Racket: A Parent`s Steep Learning Curve
Transitioning from the brutal geometry of ice hockey to the nuanced artistry of tennis was, for Eduard, a formidable challenge. “Of course, it wasn`t easy,” he admits. Rather than imposing his hockey wisdom, he became a student of the game, meticulously observing other coaches, attending courses, and absorbing knowledge from seasoned professionals. This humility, this willingness to learn alongside his daughters, is a fascinating aspect of the Kudermetova story.
However, the parental involvement extended beyond mere observation. Eduard initially took on coaching duties for Polina, a role he eventually stepped back from. The reason? The inescapable intensity of the “24/7” dynamic. “It`s exhausting when you`re both parent and child, coach and player, together all the time,” he reflects with a wry smile. “You want one thing, they do another…” This constant proximity, unlike the natural separation between a player and an external coach, can breed friction. “With another coach, you get a break. You go home, the child goes home, and everything`s fine the next day.” This realization led to Polina training with a different coach, a pragmatic decision born from the unique pressures of family and elite sport.
The “Lottery” of Professional Development and the Weight of Expectation
Eduard was never Veronika`s primary tennis coach, focusing instead on her physical conditioning and travel accompaniment. He vividly describes the immense financial burden and inherent gamble of nurturing a professional athlete. Covering a coach`s travel, accommodation, food, and salary—all before any guarantee of success—is a “lottery,” he calls it. This frank assessment cuts through the glamour often associated with professional sports, revealing the stark economic realities faced by aspiring athletes and their families.
Beyond the financial, there`s the profound psychological toll. Eduard speaks with gravitas about the “breaking point” at ages 16-18, when young athletes, having dedicated their lives to a sport, might suddenly declare, “That`s it! I don`t want to play anymore, never wanted to. It`s what *you* wanted.” The abrupt transition from a highly disciplined, structured life to the undefined expanse of adulthood can be psychologically devastating. “It`s very difficult to go through all of that,” he emphasizes.
The 1% Talent, 99% Work Ethic
Eduard Kudermetov`s core philosophy, a mantra he imparted not just to his daughters but to all the children he coached, is simple, brutal, and profoundly true: “It`s not about talent. One percent is your talent, and 99% is hard work.”
“Those who work harder will play. Period. The one who truly wants it, who has the desire to push themselves, will play,” Eduard asserts. He paints a vivid, almost haunting, picture for those who might rely solely on perceived talent: “You, the `promising, talented` one, will finish with sport, get nowhere, come home, and turn on the TV. And those who seemed worse than you, but who *toiled*, you`ll be watching them on TV. Commentators will talk about them, they`ll have sponsors, fame, everything you could wish for. And then you`ll feel terrible. You`ll always tell yourself, `I could have, but laziness was my priority or something else.` So, think!”
This powerful admonition underscores the Kudermetova sisters` success. It`s a testament not just to their inherent abilities, but to the unwavering dedication fostered in a household that understood the true currency of achievement in elite sport. From unplanned beginnings to Grand Slam courts, the journey of Veronika and Polina Kudermetova is a compelling narrative of self-drive, immense parental support (both logistical and philosophical), and the unyielding belief that sustained effort, not mere giftedness, is the ultimate determinant of success.
