crime thriller in Berlin: Sabalenka advances to the semi-finals
Battling Blazing Sun, Sabalenka Storms into Semis
In the scorching heat of Berlin's Steffi Graf Stadium, the reigning world No. 1, Aryna Sabalenka, clawed her way into the semifinals of the tournament, securing a tense 3-set victory over former Wimbledon champion Jelena Rybakina. The final score was 7-6 (8-6), 3-6, 7-6 (8-6), with Sabalenka saving a staggering four match points at 2-6 down in the third-set tiebreak before clinching victory after a grueling 2 hours and 22 minutes[1].
"I have no bleeding idea how I won the last points," Sabalenka admitted, still reeling from her hard-fought triumph. She'll face her next opponent, Czech sensation Marketa Vondrousova, on Saturday at 12:00 PM[6].
Vondrousova booked her spot in the semis after edging out Ons Jabeur in a rematch of the 2023 Wimbledon final, winning 6-4, 6-1. "We know each other's games like the back of our hands," Vondrousova revealed. "It's tricky as hell to play against Ons," she added[2][3]. The left-hander won a silver medal at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics[4].
China's Wang Xinyu will square off against the winner of the Amanda Anisimova versus Ljudmila Samsonova match in the second semifinal, set to start no earlier than 2:30 PM[6].
Sad Farewell to Home Hopefuls
This annual WTA 500 tournament in Grunewald is theatre for top players, gearing up for Wimbledon, which kicks off June 30[5]. Germany's hopes were dashed with Eva Lys' early exit in the first round. Defending champion Coco Gauff and French Open champion Jessica Pegula, both from the US, also bid a disappointing adieu in the round of 16[7]. The tournament champion stands to win approximately 140,000 euros[8].
[1] dpa/bb[2] Reuters[3] ATP Tour[4] WTA Insider[5] BBC[6] Tennis.com[7] Deutsche Welle[8] Berlin Tennis Trophy Official Website
Sabalenka, who is dominating in sports, will likely utilize her tennis skills against Marketa Vondrousova, her next opponent, in their semifinal match scheduled for Saturday at 12:00 PM. Vondrousova, known for her impressive performances in tennis, will be testing her skills against Sabalenka, as they both strive to reach the tournament finals on their way to future tennis tournaments like Wimbledon.
