The 2025 National Bank Open in Montreal delivered a third-round thriller between top seed Coco Gauff and Russia’s Veronika Kudermetova, but the match was nearly overshadowed by an unexpected off-court drama that drew a cryptic reaction from tennis provocateur Nick Kyrgios. As Gauff battled her way to a 4-6, 7-5, 6-2 victory on July 31, 2025, at IGA Stadium, a surprising revelation about Kudermetova and ATP star Holger Rune sparked buzz across the tennis world, amplified by Kyrgios’ enigmatic emoji response on social media.
The match itself was a rollercoaster, showcasing Gauff’s resilience and Kudermetova’s tenacity. The world No. 2, fresh off a grueling three-set win over Danielle Collins where she committed 23 double faults, faced another test of her mental fortitude. Kudermetova, ranked No. 42, seized the first set 6-4, capitalizing on Gauff’s seven double faults and shaky serve. “It was a tough match,” Gauff reflected post-match, emphasizing her mental strength on return despite her service struggles. “I thought I did well mentally, especially on the return. I was playing an opponent that served really well.” Kudermetova’s momentum carried into the second set, where she broke early to lead 2-0, but Gauff clawed back, leveling the set at 3-3 and eventually forcing a decider with a 7-5 scoreline. In the third set, Gauff found her rhythm, cutting her double faults to just one and breaking Kudermetova twice to secure the win in over two and a half hours.
Yet, as the on-court drama unfolded, the broadcast booth stole the spotlight. During the second game of the first set, Tennis Channel commentator Victoria Duval veered into gossip, sharing a tidbit from Kudermetova’s recent podcast appearance with Elena Vesnina. “I don’t know if you heard about this tea… not tennis related, but there was news that Holger Rune apparently texted Kudermetova, and she said she was too old for him and married,” Duval remarked, prompting a mix of amusement and criticism from fans. Kudermetova had revealed that the 22-year-old Dane, world No. 9, messaged her on Instagram, only to be rebuffed when she pointed out their six-year age gap and her marriage to her coach, Sergei Demekhine. “Rune recently texted me. I told him, ‘Boy, I’m probably too old for you. If you looked at my Instagram, you’d see I have a husband.’ He replied, ‘Oh, sorry.’ After that, he stopped saying hi to me,” Kudermetova shared, her lighthearted anecdote turning into instant meme fodder.
Nick Kyrgios, known for his outspoken takes and social media flair, couldn’t resist weighing in. Responding to a post by a tennis parody account on X, which playfully highlighted Duval’s on-air detour, Kyrgios posted a single laughing emoji, leaving fans to speculate on his thoughts. Was he amused by the gossip, the commentator’s timing, or the Rune-Kudermetova exchange itself? His cryptic reaction fueled online chatter, with some praising his knack for stirring the pot and others questioning the relevance of the off-court drama during a high-stakes match.
Kudermetova, a former top-10 player and 2025 Wimbledon doubles champion alongside Elise Mertens, showed no signs of distraction on court. Her Montreal campaign included strong wins over Cristina Bucsa and 29th seed Olga Danilovic, underscoring her singles resurgence despite a patchy 26-18 season. Gauff, meanwhile, continues to grapple with her serve, racking up 14 double faults against Kudermetova, bringing her tournament total to 37. “I was practicing well and I don’t think I transferred it today, but hopefully I got my bad match of the tournament out of the way,” Gauff said after her Collins match, a sentiment that echoed her relief at advancing past Kudermetova.
The Rune controversy, while lighthearted, added an unexpected layer to the narrative. Rune, who was competing in Toronto’s ATP event, had recently faced scrutiny for a bold post-Wimbledon comment claiming he’d beat Nicolas Jarry “nine times out of ten” if not for a knee injury. Kyrgios had previously dubbed Rune his “villain of the week” for that remark, suggesting a pattern of the Dane drawing attention. The Instagram exchange with Kudermetova, though, painted Rune in a more humorous light, with fans on X joking about his quick retreat after her response.
As Gauff advances to face Canada’s Victoria Mboko in the Round of 16, the tennis world remains abuzz with both her on-court grit and the off-court antics that keep the sport’s drama alive. Kyrgios’ emoji might have been brief, but it perfectly encapsulated the blend of competition and intrigue that makes events like the National Bank Open unforgettable.
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