Terrific Sabalenka comeback in Berlin thwarts Rybakina

World No.1 Aryna Sabalenka has shown nerves of steel and a champion's resolve to defeat Elena Rybakina 7-6 (8-6) 3-6 7-6 (8-6) in their Berlin Open quarter-final, saving four match points in the final-set tiebreak.
Rybakina had led 6-2 in the deciding breaker on Friday and appeared on the brink of securing a place in the semis but after she was cruelly denied victory on her first match point by a net cord, the momentum swung in Sabalenka's favour.
The Belarusian reeled off five straight points, eventually clinching the win as Rybakina faltered under pressure.
Sabalenka's grit and power proved decisive against the 2022 Wimbledon champion.
The first set was a see-saw battle, with Rybakina breaking for a 4-2 lead before Sabalenka hit straight back. Both players held serve from 4-4 to force a tiebreak, which Sabalenka edged 8-6.
Rybakina responded by racing into a 2-0 lead in the second set and breaking again late to close it out 6-3.
The deciding set was fiercely contested, with Sabalenka breaking for 5-4 but failing to serve out the match as Rybakina broke back and held for 6-5.
Sabalenka then held under pressure to force a tiebreak, which produced the match's most dramatic twist.
"Elena, she's a great player, we had a lot of tough battles in the very last stages and she's an amazing player honestly no idea how I was able to win those last points, I think I just got lucky," Sabalenka said after the match.
"When I was just starting, I won a lot of matches being down match points and actually not so long ago I was thinking, 'it's been a while since I've had some crazy comeback' and so here I am.
"It's amazing to win matches like this, it trains your fighting spirit for the next tournaments and I'm proud of myself for trying 'til the very last point."
Sabalenka will next face Czech Marketa Vondrousova, who is aiming for her first final since winning Wimbledon in 2023.
Vondrousova defeated Ons Jabeur 6-4 6-1 in a rematch of the 2023 Wimbledon final.
Chinese qualifier Wang Xinyu advanced to the semi-finals after the injury-plagued eighth seed Paula Badosa retired due to a right hip problem during their quarter-final.
Wang, the world No.49, was leading 6-1 when Badosa pulled out of the contest. The Spaniard, visibly frustrated, smashed her racquet and hurled it across the court following the post-match handshakes.
The 23-year-old Wang has enjoyed a breakout week in the German capital, beating second seed Coco Gauff in the previous round. She will next face either American Amanda Anisimova or Russia's Liudmila Samsonova for a place in the final.
World No.1 Aryna Sabalenka has shown nerves of steel and a champion's resolve to defeat Elena Rybakina 7-6 (8-6) 3-6 7-6 (8-6) in their Berlin Open quarter-final, saving four match points in the final-set tiebreak.
Rybakina had led 6-2 in the deciding breaker on Friday and appeared on the brink of securing a place in the semis but after she was cruelly denied victory on her first match point by a net cord, the momentum swung in Sabalenka's favour.
The Belarusian reeled off five straight points, eventually clinching the win as Rybakina faltered under pressure.
Sabalenka's grit and power proved decisive against the 2022 Wimbledon champion.
The first set was a see-saw battle, with Rybakina breaking for a 4-2 lead before Sabalenka hit straight back. Both players held serve from 4-4 to force a tiebreak, which Sabalenka edged 8-6.
Rybakina responded by racing into a 2-0 lead in the second set and breaking again late to close it out 6-3.
The deciding set was fiercely contested, with Sabalenka breaking for 5-4 but failing to serve out the match as Rybakina broke back and held for 6-5.
Sabalenka then held under pressure to force a tiebreak, which produced the match's most dramatic twist.
"Elena, she's a great player, we had a lot of tough battles in the very last stages and she's an amazing player honestly no idea how I was able to win those last points, I think I just got lucky," Sabalenka said after the match.
"When I was just starting, I won a lot of matches being down match points and actually not so long ago I was thinking, 'it's been a while since I've had some crazy comeback' and so here I am.
"It's amazing to win matches like this, it trains your fighting spirit for the next tournaments and I'm proud of myself for trying 'til the very last point."
Sabalenka will next face Czech Marketa Vondrousova, who is aiming for her first final since winning Wimbledon in 2023.
Vondrousova defeated Ons Jabeur 6-4 6-1 in a rematch of the 2023 Wimbledon final.
Chinese qualifier Wang Xinyu advanced to the semi-finals after the injury-plagued eighth seed Paula Badosa retired due to a right hip problem during their quarter-final.
Wang, the world No.49, was leading 6-1 when Badosa pulled out of the contest. The Spaniard, visibly frustrated, smashed her racquet and hurled it across the court following the post-match handshakes.
The 23-year-old Wang has enjoyed a breakout week in the German capital, beating second seed Coco Gauff in the previous round. She will next face either American Amanda Anisimova or Russia's Liudmila Samsonova for a place in the final.
World No.1 Aryna Sabalenka has shown nerves of steel and a champion's resolve to defeat Elena Rybakina 7-6 (8-6) 3-6 7-6 (8-6) in their Berlin Open quarter-final, saving four match points in the final-set tiebreak.
Rybakina had led 6-2 in the deciding breaker on Friday and appeared on the brink of securing a place in the semis but after she was cruelly denied victory on her first match point by a net cord, the momentum swung in Sabalenka's favour.
The Belarusian reeled off five straight points, eventually clinching the win as Rybakina faltered under pressure.
Sabalenka's grit and power proved decisive against the 2022 Wimbledon champion.
The first set was a see-saw battle, with Rybakina breaking for a 4-2 lead before Sabalenka hit straight back. Both players held serve from 4-4 to force a tiebreak, which Sabalenka edged 8-6.
Rybakina responded by racing into a 2-0 lead in the second set and breaking again late to close it out 6-3.
The deciding set was fiercely contested, with Sabalenka breaking for 5-4 but failing to serve out the match as Rybakina broke back and held for 6-5.
Sabalenka then held under pressure to force a tiebreak, which produced the match's most dramatic twist.
"Elena, she's a great player, we had a lot of tough battles in the very last stages and she's an amazing player honestly no idea how I was able to win those last points, I think I just got lucky," Sabalenka said after the match.
"When I was just starting, I won a lot of matches being down match points and actually not so long ago I was thinking, 'it's been a while since I've had some crazy comeback' and so here I am.
"It's amazing to win matches like this, it trains your fighting spirit for the next tournaments and I'm proud of myself for trying 'til the very last point."
Sabalenka will next face Czech Marketa Vondrousova, who is aiming for her first final since winning Wimbledon in 2023.
Vondrousova defeated Ons Jabeur 6-4 6-1 in a rematch of the 2023 Wimbledon final.
Chinese qualifier Wang Xinyu advanced to the semi-finals after the injury-plagued eighth seed Paula Badosa retired due to a right hip problem during their quarter-final.
Wang, the world No.49, was leading 6-1 when Badosa pulled out of the contest. The Spaniard, visibly frustrated, smashed her racquet and hurled it across the court following the post-match handshakes.
The 23-year-old Wang has enjoyed a breakout week in the German capital, beating second seed Coco Gauff in the previous round. She will next face either American Amanda Anisimova or Russia's Liudmila Samsonova for a place in the final.
World No.1 Aryna Sabalenka has shown nerves of steel and a champion's resolve to defeat Elena Rybakina 7-6 (8-6) 3-6 7-6 (8-6) in their Berlin Open quarter-final, saving four match points in the final-set tiebreak.
Rybakina had led 6-2 in the deciding breaker on Friday and appeared on the brink of securing a place in the semis but after she was cruelly denied victory on her first match point by a net cord, the momentum swung in Sabalenka's favour.
The Belarusian reeled off five straight points, eventually clinching the win as Rybakina faltered under pressure.
Sabalenka's grit and power proved decisive against the 2022 Wimbledon champion.
The first set was a see-saw battle, with Rybakina breaking for a 4-2 lead before Sabalenka hit straight back. Both players held serve from 4-4 to force a tiebreak, which Sabalenka edged 8-6.
Rybakina responded by racing into a 2-0 lead in the second set and breaking again late to close it out 6-3.
The deciding set was fiercely contested, with Sabalenka breaking for 5-4 but failing to serve out the match as Rybakina broke back and held for 6-5.
Sabalenka then held under pressure to force a tiebreak, which produced the match's most dramatic twist.
"Elena, she's a great player, we had a lot of tough battles in the very last stages and she's an amazing player honestly no idea how I was able to win those last points, I think I just got lucky," Sabalenka said after the match.
"When I was just starting, I won a lot of matches being down match points and actually not so long ago I was thinking, 'it's been a while since I've had some crazy comeback' and so here I am.
"It's amazing to win matches like this, it trains your fighting spirit for the next tournaments and I'm proud of myself for trying 'til the very last point."
Sabalenka will next face Czech Marketa Vondrousova, who is aiming for her first final since winning Wimbledon in 2023.
Vondrousova defeated Ons Jabeur 6-4 6-1 in a rematch of the 2023 Wimbledon final.
Chinese qualifier Wang Xinyu advanced to the semi-finals after the injury-plagued eighth seed Paula Badosa retired due to a right hip problem during their quarter-final.
Wang, the world No.49, was leading 6-1 when Badosa pulled out of the contest. The Spaniard, visibly frustrated, smashed her racquet and hurled it across the court following the post-match handshakes.
The 23-year-old Wang has enjoyed a breakout week in the German capital, beating second seed Coco Gauff in the previous round. She will next face either American Amanda Anisimova or Russia's Liudmila Samsonova for a place in the final.

Hashtags

Sports

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Alcaraz reaches Queen's final as Lehecka sinks Draper

Perth Now

6 hours ago

Perth Now

Alcaraz reaches Queen's final as Lehecka sinks Draper

Carlos Alcaraz swept past fellow Spaniard Roberto Bautista Agut to stretch his winning streak and set up a Queen's Club final against Czech Jiri Lehecka. Top seed Alcaraz, 22, had too much firepower for his 37-year-old opponent during a 6-4 6-4 victory in London on Saturday, his 17th successive win and the 250th of his career. British fans had hoped to witness a final showdown between Alcaraz and home favourite Jack Draper but Lehecka earlier ripped up that script with a superb 6-4 4-6 7-5 defeat of the second seed. Lehecka, 23, is the first Czech man to reach a top level grass-court final for 15 years. "It means a lot. You don't meet a player like Jack every day, he's an amazing competitor," Lehecka said. Alcaraz, Queen's champion in 2023, was stretched to the absolute limit against compatriot Jaume Munar earlier in the week during a tussle lasting more than three hours. But he was more comfortable against Bautista Agut, who provided stubborn resistance but never really looked like springing an upset on a sultry afternoon in west London. An early break of serve in each set proved sufficient for Alcaraz, who reached his fifth final in a row. "I'm feeling I'm playing great tennis and feeling more comfortable," said Alcaraz, who won his fifth Grand Slam title this month at the French Open. "I love stepping on court and love playing with a smile on my face. That's why I'm making good results." The two-time defending Wimbledon champion, who is into his fifth straight final, ominously declared after his latest win: "Grass mode is activated." He added: "I said at the beginning of the tournament I was trying to feel more comfortable every day. "I feel I'm playing great tennis, more comfortable after every match and making the final here in Queen's is so special." Earlier, world No.30 Lehecka silenced the crowd by beating Draper, whose run to the semi-finals means he will be seeded fourth at Wimbledon which starts on June 30. Second seed Draper, bidding to follow in the footsteps of five-times Queen's champion Andy Murray, dropped his opening service game and Lehecka barely a put a foot wrong as he took the first set in clinical fashion. Left-hander Draper saved a break point early in the second set and broke fellow 23-year-old Lehecka's serve for the first time in the 10th game to level the match. Both players were rock solid on serve in the decider with Lehecka having the first chance of a break at 4-4 but Draper survived to pile the pressure on his opponent. Lehecka did not flinch, though, and broke serve at 5-5 with two stunning passing shots, one a forehand and then a backhand, to leave Draper smashing his racket in rage against a court-side electronic advertising board and receiving a code violation. Lehecka still needed to hold his serve to reach the final and he did so in style, roaring his delight after clinching his first victory against a top-10 player since beating Alcaraz in Doha in February. The last Czech man to reach a top-level grasscourt final was Tomas Berdych at Wimbledon in 2010 and the last to do so at Queen's was Ivan Lendl in 1990. Draper said he would take a few days off to recover from tonsillitis, explaining he was low on energy due to the illness and was getting angry in a bid to gee himself up. "I'm proud of the way I went about things, considering, but it's tough," Draper said. "My main goal is to go into Wimbledon as prepared as possible and as fresh as possible."

Vondrousova downs Sabalenka to reach Berlin final

The Advertiser

7 hours ago

The Advertiser

Vondrousova downs Sabalenka to reach Berlin final

Marketa Vondrousova has powered past world No.1 Aryna Sabalenka 6-2 6-4 at the Berlin Open to book a place in her first final since she won Wimbledon in 2023. Czech Vondrousova controlled the tempo from the outset on Saturday with powerful serving on the grass as she wrapped up the win in one hour and 20 minutes. She will now meet Wang Xinyu in Sunday's final of the Wimbledon warm-up after the Chinese qualifier beat Liudmila Samsonova, the 2021 Berlin champion, 6-4 6-1. Vondrousova broke the Belarusian twice in the first set while saving both break points she faced. The second set saw the players trade early breaks and Sabalenka saved two break points to stay in touch at 3-2, before the match settled into a rhythm at 4-4. Sabalenka, who saved four match points against Elena Rybakina on Friday, could not repeat that escape 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. While Sabalenka struggled to find consistency, racking up 30 unforced errors, Vondrousova stayed measured and composed throughout, limiting her own tally to 12. Despite previous wins over Sabalenka, this was Vondrousova's first career victory against a reigning No.1. 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. Vondrousova now faces Wang Xinyu who beat Russian Samsonova in an hour and 15 minutes to reach the first final of her career. After securing the first break of the match, Wang built up a 5-2 lead before Samsonova hit back to narrow the gap. But Wang held firm, converting her fourth set point to break again and close out the set. Wang dominated the second set, breaking for 3-1 and saving two break points to hold for 4-1. She broke again for 5-1 on her fourth chance and calmly served out the match. The 23-year-old Wang, ranked 49th in the world, has enjoyed a breakout week in the German capital, beating second seed Coco Gauff in the round of 16. "This week has been a dream for me. I've been playing unbelievable tennis here. I don't know, it's something with Berlin I guess," Wang said. "Coming to every match here, I wasn't expecting anything, you know. For me, it was really just to enjoy the stage... We're always saying that (you should) celebrate before the final because if you lose that, you don't celebrate anything for this incredible week." Marketa Vondrousova has powered past world No.1 Aryna Sabalenka 6-2 6-4 at the Berlin Open to book a place in her first final since she won Wimbledon in 2023. Czech Vondrousova controlled the tempo from the outset on Saturday with powerful serving on the grass as she wrapped up the win in one hour and 20 minutes. She will now meet Wang Xinyu in Sunday's final of the Wimbledon warm-up after the Chinese qualifier beat Liudmila Samsonova, the 2021 Berlin champion, 6-4 6-1. Vondrousova broke the Belarusian twice in the first set while saving both break points she faced. The second set saw the players trade early breaks and Sabalenka saved two break points to stay in touch at 3-2, before the match settled into a rhythm at 4-4. Sabalenka, who saved four match points against Elena Rybakina on Friday, could not repeat that escape 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. While Sabalenka struggled to find consistency, racking up 30 unforced errors, Vondrousova stayed measured and composed throughout, limiting her own tally to 12. Despite previous wins over Sabalenka, this was Vondrousova's first career victory against a reigning No.1. 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. Vondrousova now faces Wang Xinyu who beat Russian Samsonova in an hour and 15 minutes to reach the first final of her career. After securing the first break of the match, Wang built up a 5-2 lead before Samsonova hit back to narrow the gap. But Wang held firm, converting her fourth set point to break again and close out the set. Wang dominated the second set, breaking for 3-1 and saving two break points to hold for 4-1. She broke again for 5-1 on her fourth chance and calmly served out the match. The 23-year-old Wang, ranked 49th in the world, has enjoyed a breakout week in the German capital, beating second seed Coco Gauff in the round of 16. "This week has been a dream for me. I've been playing unbelievable tennis here. I don't know, it's something with Berlin I guess," Wang said. "Coming to every match here, I wasn't expecting anything, you know. For me, it was really just to enjoy the stage... We're always saying that (you should) celebrate before the final because if you lose that, you don't celebrate anything for this incredible week." Marketa Vondrousova has powered past world No.1 Aryna Sabalenka 6-2 6-4 at the Berlin Open to book a place in her first final since she won Wimbledon in 2023. Czech Vondrousova controlled the tempo from the outset on Saturday with powerful serving on the grass as she wrapped up the win in one hour and 20 minutes. She will now meet Wang Xinyu in Sunday's final of the Wimbledon warm-up after the Chinese qualifier beat Liudmila Samsonova, the 2021 Berlin champion, 6-4 6-1. Vondrousova broke the Belarusian twice in the first set while saving both break points she faced. The second set saw the players trade early breaks and Sabalenka saved two break points to stay in touch at 3-2, before the match settled into a rhythm at 4-4. Sabalenka, who saved four match points against Elena Rybakina on Friday, could not repeat that escape 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. While Sabalenka struggled to find consistency, racking up 30 unforced errors, Vondrousova stayed measured and composed throughout, limiting her own tally to 12. Despite previous wins over Sabalenka, this was Vondrousova's first career victory against a reigning No.1. 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. Vondrousova now faces Wang Xinyu who beat Russian Samsonova in an hour and 15 minutes to reach the first final of her career. After securing the first break of the match, Wang built up a 5-2 lead before Samsonova hit back to narrow the gap. But Wang held firm, converting her fourth set point to break again and close out the set. Wang dominated the second set, breaking for 3-1 and saving two break points to hold for 4-1. She broke again for 5-1 on her fourth chance and calmly served out the match. The 23-year-old Wang, ranked 49th in the world, has enjoyed a breakout week in the German capital, beating second seed Coco Gauff in the round of 16. "This week has been a dream for me. I've been playing unbelievable tennis here. I don't know, it's something with Berlin I guess," Wang said. "Coming to every match here, I wasn't expecting anything, you know. For me, it was really just to enjoy the stage... We're always saying that (you should) celebrate before the final because if you lose that, you don't celebrate anything for this incredible week." Marketa Vondrousova has powered past world No.1 Aryna Sabalenka 6-2 6-4 at the Berlin Open to book a place in her first final since she won Wimbledon in 2023. Czech Vondrousova controlled the tempo from the outset on Saturday with powerful serving on the grass as she wrapped up the win in one hour and 20 minutes. She will now meet Wang Xinyu in Sunday's final of the Wimbledon warm-up after the Chinese qualifier beat Liudmila Samsonova, the 2021 Berlin champion, 6-4 6-1. Vondrousova broke the Belarusian twice in the first set while saving both break points she faced. The second set saw the players trade early breaks and Sabalenka saved two break points to stay in touch at 3-2, before the match settled into a rhythm at 4-4. Sabalenka, who saved four match points against Elena Rybakina on Friday, could not repeat that escape 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. While Sabalenka struggled to find consistency, racking up 30 unforced errors, Vondrousova stayed measured and composed throughout, limiting her own tally to 12. Despite previous wins over Sabalenka, this was Vondrousova's first career victory against a reigning No.1. 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. Vondrousova now faces Wang Xinyu who beat Russian Samsonova in an hour and 15 minutes to reach the first final of her career. After securing the first break of the match, Wang built up a 5-2 lead before Samsonova hit back to narrow the gap. But Wang held firm, converting her fourth set point to break again and close out the set. Wang dominated the second set, breaking for 3-1 and saving two break points to hold for 4-1. She broke again for 5-1 on her fourth chance and calmly served out the match. The 23-year-old Wang, ranked 49th in the world, has enjoyed a breakout week in the German capital, beating second seed Coco Gauff in the round of 16. "This week has been a dream for me. I've been playing unbelievable tennis here. I don't know, it's something with Berlin I guess," Wang said. "Coming to every match here, I wasn't expecting anything, you know. For me, it was really just to enjoy the stage... We're always saying that (you should) celebrate before the final because if you lose that, you don't celebrate anything for this incredible week."

Vondrousova ousts world No.1 to reach Berlin final