Sabalenka Saves Four Match Points to Reach Berlin Semi-Finals

World number one Aryna Sabalenka staged a thrilling comeback to defeat 2022 Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina in a tightly contested Berlin Open quarter-final. After Rybakina led 6-2 in the deciding set tiebreak and held multiple match points, Sabalenka capitalized on a crucial net cord and won six consecutive points to clinch the match 7-6(8/6), 3-6, 7-6(8/6). The match featured intense momentum swings, with both players breaking serve multiple times and demonstrating fierce resilience. Sabalenka credited her victory to fighting spirit and described the win as a valuable experience that trains her mental toughness for future tournaments. She will face 2023 Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova in the semi-finals, who recently defeated Ons Jabeur in a rematch of the 2023 Wimbledon final. Meanwhile, Chinese qualifier Wang Xinyu also advanced to the semi-finals after her opponent withdrew, marking a breakout week for the world No. 49.