Berlin Open 2025: Vondrousova Beats World No 1 Sabalenka in straight sets to enter final
Marketa Vondrousova
defeated world number one
Aryna Sabalenka
6-2, 6-4 at the
Berlin Open
semi-final on Saturday, June 21, 2025, and stormed into her first final since she won Wimbledon in 2023. After the stunning win against Sabalenka, Vondrousova, ranked No. 164, will face the winner of the match between Russian Liudmila Samsonova and Chinese qualifier Xinyu Wang in the final on Sunday, June 22, 2025.
Vondrousova was in control from the beginning with surprisingly big serving on grass as she wrapped up the win in one hour and 20 minutes. She broke the Belarusian twice in the first set while saving both break points she faced. In the second set, the two players traded early breaks, and Sabalenka saved two break points to stay in touch at 3-2 before the match came neck and neck at 4-4.
Sabalenka, who saved four match points against Elena Rybakina on Friday, could not repeat her performance as Vondrousova broke for 5-4 and served it out on her first match point with an ace.
"I feel like on grass you have to take risks, you know, and that was the point; I was like, Okay, let's try. The match would continue otherwise, so you have to go for it. I was feeling really well today, so, yeah, I'm just very happy," Vondrousova said.
"I didn't play for a long time, so I'm just so happy to be back healthy and so grateful to play these matches. When I saw the field, I was like, Okay, let's try to win the first round, and now this is happening. So thank you, guys, for the support," she added.
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While Sabalenka struggled to find consistency, racking up 30 unforced errors, Vondrousova stayed measured and composed throughout, limiting her own tally to 12. She will play either Russian Liudmila Samsonova or Chinese qualifier Wang Xinyu in Sunday's final.
Despite previous wins over Sabalenka, this was Vondrousova's first career victory against a reigning number one. Currently ranked 164, the Czech has battled injuries since July 2024 and entered Berlin unseeded after missing three months this season with a shoulder injury.
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