Markéta Vondroušová has reached the final of the Berlin tournament after beating world number one Aryna Sabalenka in straight sets on Saturday. This is her first final since winning Wimbledon two years ago.
The 25-year-old Czech player, currently ranked 164 in the world, played confidently and won 6-2, 6-4. She will now face either Wang Xinyu or Liudmila Samsonova in Sunday’s final.
Vondroušová had dropped in the rankings after spending several months out with a left shoulder injury, which required surgery. Speaking after the match, she said, “I didn’t play for a long time. I’m just happy to be back healthy and so grateful to play these matches. When I saw the strong line-up here, I just hoped to win my first match, now here I am in the final.”
Sabalenka struggled with her serve in the first set, but started the second set well with an early break. Vondroušová, however, came back quickly, drawing level at 2-2 and then breaking serve again to take a 5-4 lead. She finished the match after saving three break points and hitting an ace, securing her first-ever win over a world number one.
This was Sabalenka’s first loss in a semi-final after winning her previous seven at this stage during 2025.
Elsewhere in the tournament, China’s Wang Xinyu had reached the semi-final after defeating French Open champion Coco Gauff and progressing when Paula Badosa retired in their quarter-final. Samsonova, Wang’s semi-final opponent, had impressed by beating several top players, including Naomi Osaka and defending champion Jessica Pegula.
