Staff Reporter.
The former Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova upset Aryna Sabalenka, the world No 1, to reach the final of the Berlin Open.
The unseeded Vondrousova came through 6-2, 6-4 against Sabalenka to progress to a first final since her victory in 2023. She will play Chinese qualifier Wang Xinyu in Sunday’s showpiece in Germany.
“I didn’t play for a long time. I am just happy to be back healthy and so grateful to play these matches,” Czech Vondrousova said on the WTA Tour website.
“When I saw the field here, I was like, ‘OK, let’s just try to win the first round’ and then, you know, now this is happening.”
Sabalenka saved two break points in the opening game but was broken in her second service game and again to trail 5-2 in the first set.
The three-time Grand Slam champion sealed a break at the first time of asking to lead 2-0 in the second but Vondrousova hit back immediately.
A tense scrap ensued with the set staying on serve until 25-year-old Vondrousova broke for 5-4 and then served out the match.
Wang beat 2021 Berlin Open champion Liudmila Samsonova 6-4 6-1 in the other semi-final to reach her first WTA singles final.
In another of the grass-court events leading up to Wimbledon, Daniil Medvedev held off a fightback from world number three Alexander Zverev to win 7-6 (7-3) 6-7 (1-7) 6-4 and reach Sunday’s Halle Open final.