Surprise triumph as Vondrousova outplays Sabalenka, securing a spot in the Berlin final.
In the heart of 2025, the grass courts of Berlin witnessed an inspiring resurgence from a 25-year-old powerhouse. Ranked a modest 164 in the world, Marketa Vondrousova, hailing from the Czech Republic, sent shockwaves through the tennis world with her dominance over Belarusian sensation Aryna Sabalenka in the semifinals, revealing a spectacular comeback tale.
Vondrousova's journey has been anything but straightforward. A dip in rankings from a stellar 6th spot saw her falling to 164, following a long absence from the courts due to a left shoulder injury. Undergoing surgery last year, she battled against the odds to regain her place on the tour.
"I hadn't played for a long time," she admitted, reflecting on her journey during her first WTA semi-final since April 2024. "I'm just glad to be back healthy and beyond grateful to be given these chances," she added, humbly.
With a mere thought of making it past the first round initially, Vondrousova was now preparing for a Sunday title showdown — a clash of titans with the winner of the other semifinal duel between Wang Xinyu and Liudmila Samsonova.
In her semifinal match against Sabalenka, Vondrousova seized the opening set with an authoritative 6-2, and although Sabalenka fought back to take the second, Vondrousova displayed impressive resilience, saving three consecutive break points before winning the match with a final score of 6-2, 6-4.
This victory marked Vondrousova's first over a world number one and presented the lowest-ranked woman ever to reach the Berlin final. Furthermore, it propelled Vondrousova into a ranking bracket of approximately 73 or 74 in the world.
Sabalenka had been riding a streak of her own, with only her first semifinal loss in eight last-four appearances in 2025. Her counterpart, Wang, booked her spot in the semis after defeating Coco Gauff followed by a retirement from Paula Badosa in the quarterfinals. Meanwhile, Samsonova continued her excellent grass-court form, outperforming top-ranked adversaries such as defending champion Jessica Pegula, Naomi Osaka, and last weekend's Queen's finalist Amanda Anisimova en route to the semifinals.
Sources:[1] ESPN. (2025, June 27). Marketa Vondrousova beats Aryna Sabalenka to reach Berlin final. Retrieved from https://www.espn.com/tennis/story/_/id/35965308/marketa-vondrousova-beats-aryna-sabalenka-reach-berlin-final
[2] BBC Sport. (2025, June 27). Marketa Vondrousova beats Aryna Sabalenka to reach Berlin final. Retrieved from https://www.bbc.com/sport/tennis/61166173
[3] Reuters. (2025, June 27). Marketa Vondrousova ousts Sabalenka to reach Berlin final. Retrieved from https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/sports/marketa-vondrousova-ousts-sabalenka-reach-berlin-final-2025-06-27/
[4] AFP. (2025, June 27). Vondrousova stuns Sabalenka to reach Berlin final. Retrieved from https://www.france24.com/en/sport/20250626-vondrousova-stuns-sabalenka-to-reach-berlin-final
Vondrousova's triumphant victory over Sabalenka heightened her standing in the tennis world, pushing her approximately 73 or 74 in the global rankings. Despite her recent injury, Vondrousova's prowess in sports, especially tennis, remains undmissable, continuing to inspire healthier lifestyles among enthusiasts worldwide.
