Marketa Vondrousova achieved an impressive victory over the world number one, Aryna Sabalenka, with a score of 6-2 and 6-4 at the Berlin Open. This triumph secures her a place in her first final since winning Wimbledon in 2023. Vondrousova dominated the match from the start, showing a powerful serve on the grass court and completing the victory in one hour and twenty minutes. She achieved two breaks in the first set and saved both break points she faced. In the second set, both players exchanged early breaks. Sabalenka saved two break points to stay in the game at 3-2, before the match stabilized at 4-4. Sabalenka, who had saved four match points against Elena Rybakina on Friday, couldn’t repeat that feat. Vondrousova achieved a crucial break to go up 5-4 and secured the match on her first match point with an ace.
I feel like you have to take risks on the grass, and that was the point; I thought, ‘ok, let’s try it’. The match would continue differently, so you have to go for it. I felt very good today, so I’m very happy.
Marketa Vondrousova
Sabalenka struggled to maintain consistency, committing 30 unforced errors, while Vondrousova remained composed and controlled, limiting her errors to 12.I didn’t play for a long time, so I’m very happy to be back healthy and very grateful to play these matches. When I saw the draw, I thought, ‘ok, let’s try to win the first round’, and now this is happening. So thank you for the support.
Marketa Vondrousova
Despite previous victories over Sabalenka, this is Vondrousova’s first victory against a world number one. Currently ranked 164th, the Czech tennis player has dealt with injuries since July 2024 and arrived in Berlin unseeded after missing three months this season due to a shoulder injury.
Vondrousova will face qualifier Wang Xinyu in Sunday’s final. Xinyu defeated Liudmila Samsonova with a score of 6-4 and 6-1 in one hour and fifteen minutes, securing her place in the first final of her career. After securing the first break of the match, Wang built a 5-2 lead before Samsonova reacted to reduce the difference. However, Wang held firm, converting her fourth set point to break again and close out the set. Wang dominated the second set, achieving a break to go 3-1 and saving two break points to hold serve at 4-1. He got another break to go 5-1 and served calmly to close out the match. Wang, 23 years old and ranked 49th in the world, has had an outstanding week in the German capital, defeating second seed Coco Gauff in the round of 16.This week has been a dream for me. I’ve been playing incredible tennis here. I don’t know, I think it’s something with Berlin.
Wang Xinyu
Coming to each match here, I didn’t expect anything. For me, it was really just enjoying the stage… We’re always saying that (you should) celebrate before the final because if you lose, you don’t celebrate anything for this incredible week.
Wang Xinyu
