Russian doubles star Elena Vesnina has made a stunning comeback coming out of retirement this season. After reaching the French Open 2021 mixed doubles final, she also made it into the Tokyo Olympics 2020 mixed doubles final. However, she lost the bronze medal in women’s doubles with partner Veronika Kudermetova against Brazilian Luisa Stefani and Laura Pigossi.
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Coming into this match, Vesnina had an opportunity to conquer one of the two potential medals. Eventually, she and Team Russia scraped four match points to lose the medal at 6-4, 4-6, 9-11.
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Elena Vesnina and Team Russia take the first set in the bronze medal match in Tokyo Olympics 2020
Seemingly, Vesnina and Kudermetova enjoyed their tennis right from the first swing in this match. As a result of their confidence, they even secured the first break in the opening set, leading 2-0.
Reuters
Tokyo 2020 Olympics – Tennis – Women’s Doubles – Bronze medal match – Ariake Tennis Park – Tokyo, Japan – July 31, 2021. Elena Vesnina of the Russian Olympic Committee and Veronika Kudermetova of the Russian Olympic Committee in action during their bronze medal match against Laura Pigossi of Brazil and Luisa Stefani of Brazil REUTERS/Yara Nardi
Following that, Team Russian delivered a 40-0 hold, clarifying their dominance in the competition. However, at 4-2, Stefani and Pigossi stormed back and recovered their break loss.
Despite the recovery, Team Brazil did not find a free-flowing rhythm of quality shots as compared to the Russians. Consequently, at 5-4, the Brazilian pair did not hold the crucial game, losing the set 6-4.
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Team Brazil makes a comeback against Vesnina and Kudermetova
Most significantly, Vesnina had the confidence of overcoming Novak Djokovic and his team in mixed doubles yesterday. But Team Brazil was not going to lose the medal without a fight.
Reuters
Tokyo 2020 Olympics – Tennis – Women’s Doubles – Bronze medal match – Ariake Tennis Park – Tokyo, Japan – July 31, 2021. Laura Pigossi of Brazil and Luisa Stefani of Brazil in action during their bronze medal match against Elena Vesnina of the Russian Olympic Committee and Veronika Kudermetova of the Russian Olympic Committee.REUTERS/Yara Nardi
Surprisingly, Stefani and Pigossi broke the Russian’s serve in the second set straightaway. The pair then comfortably managed to hold their lead to take the medal battle to the third set.
At 3-5, Russia saw off a set point to keep the second set alive. Now, the pressure had shifted to the Brazilians to close the set, and they did it without any hesitation. The score was 6-4, 4-6, with the third-set tiebreaker remaining.
The decider tie-breaker: Vesnina/Kudermetova vs. Stefani/Pigossi
After 1-1 in the decider, the Russians got a significant break in the race for the bronze medal. Impressively, Vesnina and Kudermetova converted that one break point into a 4-1 lead.
Reuters
Tokyo 2020 Olympics – Tennis – Women’s Doubles – Bronze medal match – Ariake Tennis Park – Tokyo, Japan – July 31, 2021. Elena Vesnina of the Russian Olympic Committee and Veronika Kudermetova of the Russian Olympic Committee in action during their bronze medal match against Laura Pigossi of Brazil and Luisa Stefani of Brazil REUTERS/Yara Nardi
Furthermore, the Russians got another free point due to the pressure and found themselves halfway near the medal. In no time, they stretched the lead from 5-1 to 8-3.
Stunning everyone, the Brazilians found momentum and saved four medal points to level the match at 9-9. Stefani and Pigossi booked the bronze medal for themselves in an epic turnaround, denying Vesnina and Team 6-4, 4-6, 9-11.
For the gold medal in women’s doubles, Swiss professionals Belinda Bencic and Viktorija Golubic will take on Czech Republic’s Barbora Krejcikova and Katerina Siniakova. Which pair would become the Tokyo Olympics women’s doubles champions?