Vondrousova Beats World No 1 Sabalenka to Reach Berlin Final

Marketa Vondrousova stunned world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka by defeating her 6-2, 6-4 in the semi-finals of the Berlin Open, securing her first WTA Tour-level final since winning Wimbledon in 2023. The Czech player, currently ranked 164 due to injury setbacks, controlled the match with strong serving and composure, limiting her unforced errors to 12 compared to Sabalenka's 30. Vondrousova broke Sabalenka twice in the first set and sealed the victory with an ace on her first match point after a closely contested second set. This victory marked Vondrousova's first against a reigning world No. 1, leveling her career head-to-head record with Sabalenka at 4-4. She will face either Liudmila Samsonova or qualifier Wang Xinyu in the Berlin final, with a win likely to boost her back into the top 100. Vondrousova expressed gratitude for her return to health and the opportunity to compete after a shoulder injury sidelined her for three months.