Dmytro Tursunov has coached some of the biggest names on the WTA circuit, but his latest collaboration was short-lived. Veronika Kudermetova, the last student of the Russian, explained why she left his services after only two months.

Dmytro TursunovPhoto: Rob Prange / Zuma Press / Profimedia

Dmytro Tursunov, fired by Veronika Kudermetova: “He was too direct. We are very emotional”

Kudermetova, who is ranked 19th in the WTA rankings, spoke about Tursunov’s lack of tact in dealing with the players he coaches.

“What happened? Dmytro was too direct. We players are very emotional, there should be a lot of tact in communication with us. You have to know how to say that I need to do this or that. When you absolutely do not care about my opinion, there is such a moment” – Veronika Kudermetovaquoted by PuntoDeBreak.

He also talked about this parting Sergey Demkhin (Veronika’s husband and new coach): “Longer with Dmytro would be too much.”

Tursunov, who said it he refused to cooperate with Emma Reducanu because her family was too involved, he helped Kudermetova win the tournament in Tokyo (then he defeated Igo Svyatek and Jesika Pegula).

Who is Dmytro Tursunov?

Formerly ranked 20th in the ATP ranking (won 7 career titles), Tursunov (39 years old) still coached Olena Vesnina (December 2017 – March 2018), Aryna Sabalenko (July 2018 – December 2019 and February – August 2020), Annette Contaveit (August 2021 – June 2022), Emma Radukanu (July 2022 – October 2022), Belinda Bencic (October 2022 – April 2023) and Veronika Kudermetova (September 2023 – November 2023).

Together with the athletes he coached, the Russian won 18 titles in the WTA standings (14 in singles and 4 in doubles).

  • simple

Aryna Sabalenko: New Haven, Wuhan (2018), Shenzhen, Wuhan, Elite Trophy (2020), Doha (2021).

Annette Kontaveit: Cleveland, Ostrava, Moscow, Cluj-Napoca (2021) and St. Petersburg. Petersburg (2022)

Belinda Bencic: Adelaide and Abu Dhabi (2023)

Veronika Kudermetova: Tokyo (2023).

  • Double

Aryna Sabalenka (with Elise Mertens): Indian Wells, Miami and US Open (2019)

Veronika Kudermetova (with Beatrice Haddad Maya): Elite Trophy (2023).