Vondrousova defeats Sabalenka to reach Berlin final
It will be her first final since Wimbledon 2023
Marketa Vondrousova is into the Berlin final, beating world No 1 Aryna Sabalenka 6-2, 6-4 – her first final since she won Wimbledon in 2023.
And she did it by beating the current top-ranked player for the first time in her career, having lost to Ash Barty at Adelaide in 2020 and to Iga Swiatek in Cincinnati in 2023 and at Roland-Garros in 2024.
“I tried to stay in every point and tried to stay relaxed,” she said, reflecting on how she stayed focused after saving break points and then seizing her first match point.
“I’m so happy to be back healthy and to be able to play these matches.”
It is the first semi-final Sabalenka has lost all year – making the final on the seven previous occasions.
Conversely, this was the Czech’s first semi-final of the year; indeed, her first since Stuttgart last year when she lost to Marta Kostyuk.
Both players served four aces, with Sabalenka equalling that tally with her number of double faults compared to Vondrousova’s three. Though the world No 1 hit 26 winners, she also made 30 unforced errors, and won 64 per cent of her first serves and just 31 on her second.
