“I say ‘I have a husband,’ after that Holger Rune stopped” – Veronika Kudermetova makes surprising revelation about shutting down Dane’s advances
Veronika Kudermetova has made a surprising and candid revelation about shutting down advances from Holger Rune, offering a rare glimpse into a personal encounter that unfolded off the tennis court. The 28-year-old Russian tennis star shared this unexpected story during a recent interview on the BB Tennis YouTube channel, shedding light on an interaction with the 22-year-old Danish sensation, currently ranked ninth in the ATP. Kudermetova, fresh off her Wimbledon doubles title win alongside Elise Mertens in July 2025, disclosed, “I recently wrote to Rune. I say, ‘Boy, I’m probably too old for you, and I have a husband.’ He replied, ‘Oh, I’m sorry.’ After that, he stopped greeting me.” This bold admission highlights her firm establishment of boundaries, using her marital status to halt what she perceived as unwanted attention, leaving Rune visibly embarrassed and subsequently distant.
The context of their exchange remains shrouded in mystery—whether it stemmed from a casual message, a flirtatious advance, or a misinterpreted gesture—but Kudermetova’s response was unequivocal. Married to her coach and former player Sergei Demekhine since 2017, she leveraged her personal commitment to shut down the interaction, a move that underscores her prioritization of her family life amid her professional career. The six-year age difference and her established relationship likely played a role in her decisive stance, contrasting with Rune’s reputation for a confident, sometimes brash demeanor on tour. The Dane, who reached the French Open final in 2022 and has a career-high ranking of No. 4, has yet to publicly address the incident, though his cessation of greetings suggests an awkward fallout.
This revelation adds an intriguing layer to Kudermetova’s narrative, a player who has steadily climbed to a career-high singles ranking of No. 9 and a doubles ranking of No. 2, with notable wins at the 2021 Charleston Open and her recent Wimbledon success. Her comments, made as she prepares for the National Bank Open in Toronto starting today, July 29, 2025, at 05:36 AM WAT, reflect a balance between her on-court achievements and off-court integrity. The timing, following her doubles triumph, suggests confidence in addressing personal matters publicly, though it has sparked varied reactions. Fans on X have weighed in, with @TennisTalks noting, “Veronika shutting down Rune—respect for standing her ground!” while @RuneFanatic wonders, “Was it a misunderstanding or a real move?”
As the early morning hours unfold in West Africa, Kudermetova’s surprising disclosure paints a picture of a player navigating the complexities of fame, where personal boundaries intersect with professional relationships. Rune’s silence and altered behavior hint at a lesson learned, while Kudermetova’s clarity reinforces her focus on her marriage and career, setting a tone of resilience as she faces her next challenge on the WTA tour. This moment, though personal, amplifies her presence beyond the court, blending vulnerability with strength in the high-stakes world of tennis.
