A Battle of Grand Slam Champions
The contest was a heavyweight clash between two former Wimbledon champions — Rybakina, the 2022 titleholder, and Sabalenka, the reigning Australian Open champion. After a tense opening set decided by a tiebreak, Sabalenka ceded control in the second and found herself facing elimination in the third set’s tiebreaker.
Trailing 2-6 in the decisive breaker, Sabalenka appeared all but out. But what followed was a remarkable display of mental fortitude as she reeled off six consecutive points, turning defeat into victory in a matter of minutes.
“Elena is such a tough opponent, and we’ve always had tight matches,” Sabalenka said after the win. “Honestly, I have no idea how I pulled that off. Maybe it was luck — but I kept fighting until the very last point.”
Resurgence of a Fighting Spirit
The win marks Sabalenka’s eighth semi-final of the year and her latest reminder of a comeback instinct that once defined her early career. Reflecting on her journey, she recalled: “When I was starting out, I used to win a lot of matches from match points down. It had been a while since I did something crazy like that — and now I have.”
The Belarusian now leads the head-to-head against Rybakina 7-4 in what has become one of the tour’s most compelling rivalries.
Next Challenge: A Returning Champion
Awaiting Sabalenka in the semi-finals is 2023 Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova, who made light work of Tunisia’s Ons Jabeur with a 6-4, 6-1 victory earlier on Friday. Vondrousova, who has been sidelined for much of the season due to a shoulder injury, has tumbled to world number 164 but is finding her rhythm just in time for the grass-court swing.
The match will be Vondrousova’s first semi-final appearance since Stuttgart in April and a chance to continue her steady comeback after months away from the tour.
Chinese Breakthrough and Russian Momentum in Bottom Half
In the other semi-final, China’s Wang Xinyu will face Russia’s Liudmila Samsonova in a battle of in-form players.
Wang, who stunned French Open champion Coco Gauff on Thursday, advanced after her quarter-final opponent Paula Badosa retired following a lopsided 6-1 opening set. This marks a major milestone in the 22-year-old’s career as she eyes her first WTA title at this level.
Samsonova, meanwhile, has been a dominant force in Berlin, steamrolling Amanda Anisimova 6-1, 6-1 in under an hour. The Russian has already taken down big names this week, including defending champion Jessica Pegula and four-time Grand Slam winner Naomi Osaka.
Grass Season Heating Up
With three Grand Slam champions in the final four and a surging Chinese talent, the Berlin Open has quickly become a highlight of the grass-court season. As Wimbledon approaches, the intensity and unpredictability on the tour show no signs of letting up.