Vladimir Sidorenko secured the most prestigious victory of his career at the WTT Champions in Montpellier, defeating Sora Matsushima 12-10, 9-11, 11-8, 11-6 in the round of 16. Working alongside Boris Abraham for the first time on the international circuit, Sidorenko capitalized on rigorous training during a prolonged ban from major tournaments following the invasion of Ukraine.
Stepping In on the International Circuit
Boris Abraham serves as the coach and general manager for Pro A club Garde du Vœu d’Hennebont. Though he and Sidorenko work together daily in club competition, Abraham had never previously collaborated with the athlete on the international circuit. When Sidorenko’s coach failed to secure a visa for the French tournament, the player reached out to Abraham once again.
Abraham had declined previous requests due to a heavy professional schedule. With the event taking place in France, he accepted the assignment. The administrative process required to seat him on the bench at the Sud de France Arena proved lengthy and cumbersome, but the clearance was finalized in time for the tournament.
A Tactical Plan
Sidorenko opened his tournament run at the Montpellier venue by defeating Slovenia’s Darko Jorgic in the opening round. That set up a high-stakes clash against Sora Matsushima of Japan. To prepare for the matchup, Abraham drew directly from the pair’s previous encounter in July at the final of the U.S. Grand Smash, which the Japanese player had won.
The focus was on ensuring Sidorenko entered the match and established his tempo. The objective involved dictating play and utilizing his forehand aggressively as his main attacking weapon. That tactical adjustment paid dividends as Sidorenko closed out the four-game victory.
Patience and Perseverance
The triumph in Montpellier represents a significant milestone. Following the outbreak of the war in Ukraine in February 2022, Sidorenko was long banned from international tournaments of this caliber. During his absence, Sidorenko trained hard and never gave up. Abraham noted that the performance stems directly from that sustained determination and patience.
Remaining Fixtures and Next Opponents
Abraham acknowledged that while beating the world No. 1 proves that any outcome is possible, every remaining fixture brings a difficult test. Sidorenko advances to face either Dimitrij Ovtcharov or Hugo Calderano in the quarter-finals.
A victory in the next round could potentially set up a semi-final clash against fellow Hennebontais player Simon Gauzy, depending on the progression of the bracket.
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