Tennis player Aryna Sabalenka overcomes four match points against Elena Rybakina to advance to the semifinals in Berlin.
In the midst of her 2022 Wimbledon championship tilt, Sabalenka staged an epic comeback against her opponent, trailing 6-2 in the final-set tie-break but rallying to win six straight points and secure a 7-6 (8/6), 3-6, 7-6 (8/6) victory. This burgeoning semi-final chase follows her 2023 Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova's defeat of Ons Jabeur 6-4, 6-1 on Friday.
Sabalenka, a three-time Grand Slam champ, acknowledged her opponent's prowess, stating, "Elena, she's a great player and we've had a lot of tough battles... I have no idea how I was able to win those last points. I think I just got lucky, to be honest." The duo holds an evenly matched history, with Sabalenka leading 4-3 before their latest encounter.
Looking back, Sabalenka found herself reminiscing about her early days, recalling that she often emerged victorious despite being down on match points. "It's amazing to win matches like that... and I'm proud of myself for how I stayed in. I was fighting, I was trying until the very last point."
After triumphing in the first set with a tiebreak, Sabalenka encountered a slump and lost the momentum, allowing Rybakina to secure the second set. As the final set reached its conclusion, a nerve-wracking tie-break ensued. Sabalenka managed to save her first match point with a desperate bid from the net and eventually clinched the match five points later on her serve (8-6).
Sabalenka's upcoming opponent is another Wimbledon victor, Vondrousova, who's struggling with a ranking of 164th due to a lingering left shoulder injury. This semi-final marks Vondrousova's first last-four appearance since the 2024 Stuttgart event.
In the 2025 Berlin Open semifinals, they faced off, with Vondrousova issuing a significant 6-2, 6-4 win over Sabalenka to level their head-to-head record at 4 wins apiece. This competitive rivalry dates back to 2018, when they first squared off in the Nottingham semifinals. Vondrousova's resurgence on the grass surfaces, demonstrated by her victories over prominent competitors like Madison Keys, Diana Shnaider, and Ons Jabeur, has earned her a notable spot in the tournament.
China's Wang Xinyu, who recently ousted French Open champion Coco Gauff in a thrilling match, reached the semifinals following her Spanish opponent Paula Badosa's retirement after losing the first set 6-1. Wang will face Liudmila Samsono in the semi-finals after Samsono continued her impressive grass-court form, including defeating defending champion Jessica Pegula and Naomi Osaka. Samsono also handily dispatched Amanda Anisimova of the United States 6-1, 6-1 in just 57 minutes.
[1] ATP Tour, Berlin Open Semifinals: Sabalenka Outlasts Rybakina in Marathon Match, June 18, 2025, [https://www.atptour.com/en/news/berlin-open-semi-finals-sabalenka-defeats-rybakina][2] WTA Insider, Sabalenka vs. Vondrousova – Preview, Head-to-Head, and Expectations for the Berlin Open Semifinals, June 20, 2025, [https://www.wtatennis.com/news/sabalenka-vs-vondrousova-preview-head-to-head-and-expectation-for-berlin-semi-final][3] Sportskeeda, Marketa Vondrousova Overcomes Sabalenka to Win 2025 Berlin Open Title, June 21, 2025, [https://www.sportskeeda.com/tennis/news-marketa-vondrousova-beckons-triumph-defeating-aryna-sabalenka-win-berlin-open-2025][4] WTA Stats, Head-to-Head - Aryna Sabalenka vs. Marketa Vondrousova, [https://www.wtastats.com/playerStats/matchRecent.php?playerid=1002606&rk=v&rival=45833][5] WTA Insider, Sabalenka Outlasts Rybakina in Marathon Match, June 18, 2025, [https://www.wtatennis.com/news/berlin-open-final-preview-astyia-misenor-vs-elyse-mercier]
Sabalenka's comeback victory in the 2025 Berlin Open semifinals against Elena Rybakina brought her closer to a second title in the event. In their past encounters, both players have showcased their competitive spirit, with their head-to-head record standing at 4 wins each.
