Berlin Open: Sabalenka beats Rybakina with ‘crazy comeback', enters semifinal
Top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka staged a 'crazy comeback', saving four match points before beating Elena Rybakina 7-6, 3-6, 7-6 in the quarterfinals of the Berlin Open tennis tournament on Friday.
Sabalenka was 6-2 down in the final-set tiebreak but came storming back, winning six straight points to reach her eighth semifinal of the season.
'Elena is a great player and we've had a lot of tough battles,' Sabalenka said. 'I have no idea how I was able to win those last points. I think I just got lucky.
ALSO READ: Nottingham Open — Boulter's hat-trick bid ends after loss to Kessler
'I remember a long time ago when I was just starting, I won a lot of matches being down match points, and not so long ago I was thinking that it's been a while since I've made a crazy comeback, and here I am.
'It's amazing to win matches like that. I'm proud of myself for how I stayed in it. I was fighting, I was trying until the very last point.'
Sabalenka next faces Marketa Vondrousova, who defeated Ons Jabeur 6-4, 6-1.
Liudmila Samsonova also went through with a 6-1, 6-1 victory over Amanda Anisimova.
Samsonova will next meet Wang Xinyu after her opponent, Paula Badosa, was forced to withdraw due to a rib injury after losing the first set 6-1.
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The Hindu
4 hours ago
- The Hindu
Berlin Open: Sabalenka beats Rybakina with ‘crazy comeback', enters semifinal
Top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka staged a 'crazy comeback', saving four match points before beating Elena Rybakina 7-6, 3-6, 7-6 in the quarterfinals of the Berlin Open tennis tournament on Friday. Sabalenka was 6-2 down in the final-set tiebreak but came storming back, winning six straight points to reach her eighth semifinal of the season. 'Elena is a great player and we've had a lot of tough battles,' Sabalenka said. 'I have no idea how I was able to win those last points. I think I just got lucky. ALSO READ: Nottingham Open — Boulter's hat-trick bid ends after loss to Kessler 'I remember a long time ago when I was just starting, I won a lot of matches being down match points, and not so long ago I was thinking that it's been a while since I've made a crazy comeback, and here I am. 'It's amazing to win matches like that. I'm proud of myself for how I stayed in it. I was fighting, I was trying until the very last point.' Sabalenka next faces Marketa Vondrousova, who defeated Ons Jabeur 6-4, 6-1. Liudmila Samsonova also went through with a 6-1, 6-1 victory over Amanda Anisimova. Samsonova will next meet Wang Xinyu after her opponent, Paula Badosa, was forced to withdraw due to a rib injury after losing the first set 6-1.
Time of India
7 hours ago
- Time of India
World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka saves four match points in epic comeback at Berlin Open; Carlos Alcaraz enters Queen's semis
Belarus' Aryna Sabalenka (Andreas Gora/dpa via AP) World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka pulled off a thrilling comeback to reach the semi-finals at the Berlin Open on Friday, saving four match points to defeat 2022 Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina. Sabalenka trailed 6-2 in the final set tie-break but won six straight points to seal a 7-6 (8/6), 3-6, 7-6 (8/6) win after two hours and 42 minutes of intense battle. The Belarusian, now into her eighth semi-final of the season, will face 2023 Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova next. Vondrousova advanced with a dominant 6-4, 6-1 win over Tunisia's Ons Jabeur, a rematch of their Wimbledon final last year. The Czech, who has struggled with injuries and dropped to world No. 164, will be playing her first semi-final since April. In the other Berlin semi-final, China's Wang Xinyu will face Russia's Liudmila Samsonova. Wang advanced after Paula Badosa retired hurt following a 6-1 first-set loss. Samsonova crushed Amanda Anisimova 6-1, 6-1, continuing her impressive run which included wins over Naomi Osaka and Jessica Pegula. Meanwhile, at Queen's Club, Carlos Alcaraz extended his winning streak to 16 matches with a composed 7-5, 6-4 win over Arthur Rinderknech. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 오스템 임플란트 받아가세요 임플란터 더 알아보기 Undo The French Open champion, now in the semi-finals, will face fellow Spaniard Roberto Bautista Agut, who beat Holger Rune in three sets. British No. 1 Jack Draper also made headlines, reaching the Queen's semi-finals for the first time with a gritty 6-4, 5-7, 6-4 win over Brandon Nakashima. Draper's run will push him to a career-high world ranking of No. 4, ensuring he avoids top seeds Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner until the Wimbledon semis. Draper will next face Czech Jiri Lehecka, who defeated Jacob Fearnley in straight sets. With major names battling it out on both grass courts, the stage is set for a thrilling run-up to Wimbledon. Game On Season 1 kicks off with Sakshi Malik's inspiring story. Watch Episode 1 here
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First Post
a day ago
- First Post
Aryna Sabalenka apologises for 'unprofessional' remarks at Coco Gauff: 'I absolutely regret what I said'
Aryna Sabalenka has revealed that she personally apologised to Coco Gauff after dismissing the American's French Open win with 'unprofessional' remarks. read more Arya Sabalenka has apologised to Coco Gauff for comments after French Open loss. Image: Reuters World number one Aryna Sabalenka said she has apologised to Coco Gauff after dismissing the American's maiden French Open triumph, adding that she regrets the comments she made about the 21-year-old after the final. Sabalenka had been poised for victory after claiming the opening set in a tiebreak, only to watch Gauff orchestrate a stunning 6-7(5) 6-2 6-4 comeback to claim her second Grand Slam title. Sabalenka regrets 'unprofessional' remarks at Gauff Sabalenka made 70 unforced errors in the final and later said at a press conference that Gauff won 'not because she played incredible, (but) because I made all of those mistakes' – comments she has since regretted making. 'It was just totally unprofessional of me, I let my emotions get the better of me. I absolutely regret what I said back then,' Sabalenka told Eurosport. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 'We all make mistakes. I'm only human and I'm still learning in life. We all have those days when we lose control. 'The difference with me is that the world watches me do it, I get a lot more hate afterwards for what I did than other people.' Sabalenka said she had reached out to Gauff personally afterwards to apologise. 'I wanted to apologise and make sure that she knows that she absolutely deserved to win the tournament and that I respect her. I never intended to attack her,' Sabalenka added. 'I was super emotional and not very smart at that press conference. I'm not necessarily grateful for what I did. 'It took me a while to look at it again, to go into it with my eyes open and to understand. I realised a lot about myself.' Having lost two Grand Slam finals this year, Sabalenka will now turn her attention to the grasscourt swing, warming up for Wimbledon by playing at the Berlin Open this week.
